The Virtual Fighter series has been woefully absent from the PC platform for 30 years. SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio fixes that with Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. This is a PC port of the PlayStation 4 version of the game released in 2021, Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown. Which in it of itself is a game that originally released back in 2006. Phew! VF5 R.E.V.O. is a fighting game that all should play, but isn’t a must-play. Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is a great introduction for newcomers and a great continuation for long-time fans, which has stood the test of time, for the most part.
At its core, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. offers a complex and rewarding fighting system. The focus on realistic martial arts and strategic play is refreshing in a world of interesting characters and movesets. Mastering the intricacies of movement, and timing of attacks is crucial to success, and the game provides a satisfying sense of progression as you yourself improve your skills. However, this depth comes at a cost. The learning curve is steep, and newcomers may find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer number of techniques and strategies to learn, especially when taking to fights online.
That said, this game operates a bit slower than modern fighting games. Each attack is slow and deliberate. It’s only when initiating a combo that things tend to speed up. You can guard yourself from attacks. Lastly, there’s no run or jump unless it’s part of a combo attack. This game harkens back to a simpler time, and manages to slow the pace down for more methodical fighters where speed is not king. There’s now 19 fighters to choose from, each with several alternate costumes to select. What’s interesting is that with each Virtual Fighter sequel, each game is additive to the roster. At no point have we lost fighters along the way, which is kind of unique for fighting games that have lasted this long.
In terms of content, R.E.V.O. feels rather bare-bones compared to modern fighting games. The game includes a basic arcade mode, versus mode, and online play. The inclusion of rollback netcode is a significant improvement for online play, providing a smoother and more responsive experience compared to previous versions. However, the size of the online community remains a concern.
However, there is a lack of robust single-player content, such as a story mode or challenge mode. This may disappoint players looking for a more substantial solo experience. There is offline versus so someone with a second controller can face off endlessly.
The ranked matches have you entering the multiplayer scene at the bottom rung of a ladder, and it’s up to you to climb it. The room matches are some of the most unique presentation I’ve seen in a fighting game. You may enter a match and watch a one-on-one battle happen, then it rotates out as new players are cycled in to fight the victor. It really captures the 90s with huddling around a cabinet watching people face off in-person. Then there’s a tournament mode which is standard fare, but welcome here. In general the matchmaking worked as intended, but I did have a few hiccups here and there.
One of my favorite things is that when you’re loading into a match, the game will give you details about the arena you’re about to fight in. It’ll contain the dimensions, whether it’s full, open, a rectangle space, and so on. Having this level of information is critical, and having it so readily puts players evenly matched without some sort of knowledge to be gained elsewhere.
R.E.V.O. boasts improved visuals compared to its original release, with enhanced character models and environments. However, the game still shows its age in some areas. The animations, while functional, lack the fluidity and dynamism of more recent fighting games. Additionally, the overall presentation feels somewhat sterile, lacking the visual flair and bombast that many modern players have come to expect. That said, the game runs great and in ultrawide without any issue.
My PC Specs:
– Microsoft Windows 11 Pro
– Intel Core i9 13900K @ 5.8GHz
– ASUS ROG RYUJIN II 360 ARGB AIO Liquid CPU Cooler
– G.SKILL TRIDENT Z5 6000MHZ 64GB (32×2) DDR5 RAM
– ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4080 16GB GDDR6X
– WD_BLACK SN850X M.2 (4 TB)
– LG UltraGear 34GP950B-G (21:9 Ultrawide @ 3440×1440)
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is a solid fighting game that’s been remastered by the Like a Dragon developers at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio to be the “definitive edition” of Virtua Fighter 5. The combat system is deliberate and enjoyable for anyone to pick-up and play. Unfortunately the dated presentation and overall lack of content when compared to other fighters holds it back, but the inclusion of rollback netcode is essential. Ultimately, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is a 20-year old game that will likely only appeal to the most hardcore of fighting games fans that are fiending for something new, but it’s modest price should attract many.
A Steam code was provided by the publisher for review purposes
