Title: Virtua Fighter Released: 1995 Genre: 3-D Fighter Developer: Sega Publisher: Sega Regions: USA, UK, Japan Availability: Rare

Historically, American gamers have never really appreciated or understood the concepts behind Sega’s Virtua Fighter series, preferring the flash and guts of Tekken, Mortal Kombat, and Killer Instinct. In fact, Virtua Fighter is the inspiration for most every three-dimensional game you've ever seen... Street Fighter EX, Soul Calibur, Dead or Alive, and the Tekken series are all heavily influenced by Sega’s arcade head-turner. It seems fitting that Virtua Fighter is arguably the best game ever produced for the Sega 32X, and certainly the most technologically advanced of the thirty-nine games that were released worldwide during the system’s short lifetime. Every game from the Virtua Fighter series rank among the best fighting games ever made, and the 32X is home to an excellent version of the game that started it all.

The original Virtua Fighter appeared during the early nineties, running off of Sega’s revolutionary Model 1 arcade board. Model 1 was essentially a great big polygon generator, and Virtua Fighter was the first fighting game to be built entirely with polygons. Contrary to popular belief, Virtua Fighter was not the first three-dimensional fighting game, but a spectacular two-dimensional fighting game with three-dimensional visuals. The control scheme was and still is very simple... one button for punching, one button for kicking, one button for blocking, and a joystick for all other movement. American gamers found the game to be visually impressive but rather simplistic, not comprehending the true depth of the game play. The game never lived up to Sega’s expectations in America, but Japanese gamers were enthralled.

Virtua Fighter 2 debuted in 1994 and immediately captivated American gamers with its amazing visuals and tight control. Running off of the new Model 2 board (the same power behind Daytona USA), Virtua Fighter 2 added texture mapping, new characters, and three-dimensional backgrounds, making it the best-looking fighting game of the period. It still looks impressive today. American fighting fans embraced the game enthusiastically, and the Virtua series finally began to command some of the respect it deserved. The Japanese went absolutely crazy for the sequel, sending Virtua Fighter 2 to the very top of the Japanese arcade charts, where it stayed for an incredible two years.

A couple of years later, Sega released their powerful Model 3 board, and Virtua Fighter 3 was the first title to run off of Sega’s premier arcade hardware. Times had changed, however, and Americans had moved onto the flashy (but less deep) antics of the Tekken series. Virtua Fighter 3, while certainly a deep and graphically stunning game, simply wasn’t that different from the previous offering. The incredibly high cost of the arcade unit didn’t help matters at all, making Virtua Fighter 3 a rare acquisition for all but the largest arcades.

The various incarnations of the Virtua Fighter series have had an equally inconsistent history on home consoles (several versions of the series were made for the PC, but that’s another story.) The first available version of Virtua Fighter, for the under-appreciated Saturn, wasn’t quite finished when Sega made the disastrous decision to release the Saturn months ahead of schedule in an attempt to gain an edge on Sony’s Playstation. Virtua Fighter was the pack-in game for the system, and was unfortunately riddled with bugs. The game played well, but the graphics were glitchy and didn't demonstrate the potential of the system, particularly when compared with the flashy but overly simple Battle Arena Toshinden for the Playstation. Months later, Sega released a much-improved update of Virtua Fighter, aptly titled Virtua Fighter Remix. This “new” game offered much-improved graphics and the addition of texture mapping, a feature not found in the arcade parent. Sega went so far as to release Virtua Fighter Remix for the arcades, running on Sega’s low-cost Saturn-based Titan board. The Japanese market, on the other hand, went crazy over the Saturn port of Virtua Fighter, sending both the game and the Saturn itself to the top of the sales charts.

For Christmas 1995, Sega wowed the video gaming press with Saturn versions of the arcade hits Virtua Cop, Sega Rally, and the amazing Virtua Fighter 2. Sega Rally remains one of the best racing games ever made, and Virtua Fighter 2 is almost arcade-perfect. Aside from a lower resolution, the deletion of part of Chun Li’s bridge stage, and the switch from three-dimensional backgrounds to very convincing looking two-dimensional facsimiles, Virtual Fighter 2 looks remarkably like its arcade parent. Gamers were impressed, and Sega saw a sharp upward spike in Saturn hardware sales. Even the lowly Genesis got its own version of Virtua Fighter 2, albeit in a vastly different, non-polygonal, two-dimensional form similar to Street Fighter 2 or Mortal Kombat. The 8-bit Game Gear (as well as the Brazillian Master System) got the 2-D treatment as well with Virtua Fighter Animation. In 1999, Sega graced its fledgling Dreamcast console with an impressive port of Virtua Fighter 3, but the game was (undeservedly) passed over in favor of admittedly awesome games like Dead or Alive 2 and Soul Caliber. A graphically downgraded port of Virtua Fighter 3 was rumored to be completed for the Saturn, but it was never released due to the Saturn's waning market share.

Of all the versions of the Virtua Fighter series released for the home, the one for the 32X is perhaps the most impressive. By mid 1995, the 32X was going down the toilet and Sega knew it. Hardware sales were plummeting, software sales had dried up, and gamers had abandoned the system in droves. In an almost touching show of good faith, Sega decided to continue the development of Virtua Fighter for the 32X, even though it must have known the game would not be a moneymaker. Perhaps the true gamers at Sega knew that the 32X had not yet demonstrated its real potential and they wanted to show the world that their much-maligned add-on really did have the guts to handle a complex game. Perhaps Sega wanted to one-up arch-rival Nintendo, who was having serious problems with the Super-FX chip powered fighting game FX Fighter for the SNES (a direct rip-off of Virtua Fighter and a game that was ultimately cancelled because the SNES simply couldn’t push the polygons. It later appeared on the PC.) Whatever the reason, Sega finished Virtua Fighter for the 32X in 1995, even going so far as to hype the release with the odd Virtua Fighter Training Pack, a “kit” that came complete with a tee-shirt, a how-to video, and a sweepstakes entry (for a Virtua Fighter 2 arcade machine), but no cartridge. As it stands, Virtua Fighter was one of last games released for the little 32X, and arguably the best.

After loading up the game (and catching a glimpse of the legendary AM2 division logo), you are presented with a number of options. Aside from the Arcade mode, you also have the option of choosing between a Versus (two-player) mode, a Ranking mode, and a Tournament mode. Other specialized options are available, including the number of match points necessary to defeat an opponent, the difficulty of an opponent, the size of the “ring” that you fight in, the camera angle, and options for a number of control pad configurations. The character select screen is very similar to the arcade version with your chosen fighter acknowledging your selection with a subtle movement across his or her polygonal face.

The first thing one notices when the actual game begins is how odd the graphics look... indeed, all the characters appear to be comprised entirely of Lego blocks. Character models aren’t nearly as detailed as the arcade or Saturn versions, demonstrating the generational leap between the 32X and its CD-based big brother. The 32X simply wasn’t capable of rendering massive amounts of polygons (compared to Model 1 or Saturn), as shown the first time you look at Sarah’s oddly octagon-shaped head from an aerial view. After playing the game for a moment, one realizes that the LegoLand graphics are actually a worthy trade-off for the speed and smoothness of the game itself. Slowdown is nonexistent, and Virtua Fighter 32X suffers from none of the annoying flicker and graphical pop-ups that plagued its Saturn cousin. All of the eight (nine of you count Dural) characters are smoothly animated, just like the arcade. Control is spot-on, a quality vitally important to the series from a game play standpoint. After a while, the blocky graphics start to grow on you and lend Virtua Fighter 32X a look that cannot be found in any other fighting game, with the possible exception of the awful Fight for Life on the Atari Jaguar. Indeed, Virtua Fighter 32X looks mighty impressive for a game that was essentially a first-generation title on a technologically compromised system with limited developmental resources.

The 32X has no problem duplicating the sound effects of its arcade parent, which really isn’t saying much. Sega choose to compliment the sparse graphics of the original arcade version with simplistic music and sound effects, and the 32X follows suit. The techno music is light and unobtrusive, but nothing particularly memorable. The sound effects range from generic hitting and punching noises to the series trademark thunder and lightning. Each character voices his or her own smart-ass taunt after the winning round, a particularly gratifying effect when playing against a person you don’t like.

Responsive game play is an important aspect of any game, a fact that proves especially true of Virtua Fighter 32X. Perhaps more so than any other fighting game/series, Virtua Fighter depends on control and skill... button-mashers need not apply. The simple three-button control scheme can be very misleading and disguises the fact that Virtua Fighter is actually a very deep and complex game. Each individual fighter possesses his own unique fighting style, all based on a variety of martial arts. Multiple throws and counters are common for each character, on top of a huge selection of regular moves. Virtua Fighter is really a game of complex subtlety, unlike the bone breaking antics of the Tekkens, the screen-filling explosions of innumerable Capcom fighters, or the “fatalities” of the Mortal Kombat series. Virtua Fighter really is as close as you can get to real fighting without having to break a sweat or put yourself in physical danger.

It’s no wonder that 32X enthusiasts rate Virtua Fighter as one of the system’s top games. Smooth and fast graphics, responsive game play, and unparalleled depth and complexity all add up to a game that can still compete with the best of today’s fighting games. This game was released late in the 32X’s short life span and wasn’t produced in particularly large quantities, so it may be a bit harder to locate compared to some other games. It’s worth looking for.
 
 

European Box Art

VF Training Pack

	A Sega Saturn launch title and pack-in game, the original Virtua Fighter was hindered by a lack of development time and Sega's unfamiliarity with the new hardware. The Saturn was launched five months ahead of schedule in an effort to gain ground on the Playstation, and many of the games weren't quite finished yet. It's a close match to the arcade original in terms of gameplay, but the graphics are riddled with glitches and don't compare well to those of the Playstation's Battle Arena Toshindin.
	If at first you don't succeed, try again. Sega finally got it right with Virtua Fighter Remix, adding additional polygons and beautiful texture mapping. Though really not a new game at all, the impressive results of the "remix" demonstrated that the Saturn was indeed as powerful as Sega claimed. The game was given away free to new purchasers of the Saturn and to anyone else who asked for a copy. The update even made it into the arcades on Sega's low-cost Saturn-based Titan ST-V arcade board.
	Sega's stunning Saturn conversion of Virtua Fighter 2 silenced the critics and caused a sharp (if temporary) rise in sales for the beleagured 32-bit console. Beautiful high-definition graphics, flawless control, and deep gameplay combine to form a gaming experience that still tops the lists of many fighting game fans and is considered by many to be the best Saturn fighting game. Also released as part of a 3-pack promotional offer with Daytona USA and Virtua Cop.
	The beautiful Dreamcast port of Virtual Fighter 3tb was passed over by consumers, much like the Model 3 arcade original. It's a fantastic game by all accounts, but the gameplay is too similar to previous incarnations to merit much excitement, plus the graphics aren't as flashy as those in Soul Calibur and Dead or Alive 2.
	Virtua Fighter Kids wasn't taken very seriously by critics or gamers, certainly due to its image as a cutesy child's game. This perception is entirely inaccurate, as Virtua Fighter Kids features the same complex fighting engine as its parent, Virtua Fighter 2. The graphics are are impressive as ever, and the gameplay is altered by the markedly shorter arms and legs of the super-deformed characters, adding a new element of strategy.
	Fighting Vipers is the massively underrated arcade pseudo-sequel to Virtua Fighter 2 and an incredible game in its own right. The Saturn port abandons the high-definition graphics of its predecessor in favor of goraund-shading and a grittier appearance. The addition of armor, enclosed fighting areas, and ass-busting special moves is a real departure from the graceful movements and subtle gameplay of the Virtua Fighter series.
	One of the best fighting games ever made, Fighters Megamix combines characters from Virtua Fighter, Fighting Vipers, Virtua Fighter Kids, Virtua Cop, and even Daytona USA! You'll even find characters from the aborted Saturn version of Sonic: The Fighters. The game is nearly perfect except for the easily defeated computer opponents. Play this one with a friend and you'll come to appreciate Sega's fighting game genius, as well as its admirable commitment to the Saturn.
	Last Bronx debuted in arcades around the time of Virtua Fighter 3 and was completely lost in the shuffle. This fast (60 fps) weapons-based fighter switched back to high-definition visuals for its late-generation Saturn release and represents the pinacle of Saturn fighter graphics. Not as deep as other Sega fighters, but still great fun.
	The programming odyssey from the Model 2 arcade board to the Saturn hardware was always treacherous, but Sega did a fine job with Virtua Fighter 2. Model 3 ports would have been a different story. Sega reportedly finished the Saturn version of Virtua Fighter 3 and readied it for release, but the collapsing Saturn market made the game unattractive from a financial standpoint. It's rumored that the game was little more than a graphically enhanced version of Virtual Fighter 2.
	Like its arcade parent, the boobalicious Saturn port of Tecmo's Dead or Alive utilizes the wonderful Virtua Fighter 2 engine and shares its crisp, high-definition visuals. The excellent gameplay was overshadowed by the bouncing quality of the game's female fighters (all of whom wear additional support in the less titilating sequels that appeared on the Dreamcast, PS2, and X-Box.) Surprisingly, the Saturn version is markedly better than its Playstation cousin.
	Atari's dreadful Fight for Life for the Jaguar is a direct rip-off of Virtua Fighter and was programmed by Franscois-Yves Bertrand, a member of the original Virtua Fighter arcade team. It looks and plays just awful, but it does contain an admittedly cool pause feature that allows you to rewind a fight in progress and look at it from any angle and from any distance.
	Gamers were surprised when Sega announced a port of Virtua Fighter 2 for its aged and 3-D challenged Genesis. The decidedly flat 2-D game replaces the original's polygonal models with conventional sprite-based characters (much like the Super Nintendo's wretched Tekken 2 pirate cart) but retains most of the moves. Genesis VF2 is good fun, but it can't compare to its Saturn cousin.
	Virtua Fighter made the rounds on all of Sega's systems, including the lowly Game Gear. Brazillian game company Tec Toy bought the rights to the GG's Virtua Fighter Animation and ported it over to the ancient Master System in 1997 (which was still active in Brazil at the time, amazingly enough.) It's believed that Virtua Fighter Animation was the final Brazillian Master System release.

Numerous "hack" games  have appeared for the 8-bit and 16-bit consoles, especially fighting games. The original Famicom (our NES) has received several pirate ports of Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter 2, and the Super Nintendo hosted a dreadful version of Tekken 2, complete with flat 2-D graphics and laughable artwork. Virtua Fighter Vs. Tekken has even been discovered, featuring characters from both series, as well as other fighting games like Fighting Vipers.