fantasy

I wasn't expecting VF4 to be this good, it is just the best fighting game, gameplay wise, to date. The graphics is a step lower than Dead or Alive 3 in terms of graphics catering to PS2's hardware. There are 13 Characters to choose from but don't let that fool you, it will take time before you can master one of them. There are three main buttons, kick-punch-guard, the evade button from VF3 is gone, which makes the controls simple enough for new gamers.

So only three buttons? Another button smashing game? Good luck if you plan to button smash, this game will require skill and precision to execute some advanced combos. Every character has their "stances" and they have their own moves and combos.

The action in VF4 is faster than its predecessors, but not fast that its gonna make you frantic. Recovery from knockdowns are faster now and characters can't jump high(they almost are not used at all). All in all VF4 will satisfy casual gamers and hardcore fighting fans alike, it will satisfy your craving till Tekken 4 or Soul Calibur 2 comes out. It might even be the fighting game of the year.

Graphics 8/10
Gameplay 10/10
Sounds 8/10
Replay Value 10/10 (you'll be coming back for this!)

VIRTUA FIGHTER 4 is undoubtedly the best fighting game out on Playstation 2, edging out DEAD OR ALIVE 2: HARDCORE. There are a total of thirteen fighters, each of whom possesses an entirely unique arsenal of moves and a personal fighting style. The graphics are fluid and impressive (although not as photorealistic as DEAD OR ALIVE 3 on Xbox). New fighters to the game include Lei Fei, a Shaolin Monk. Older fighters reprise their roles and come back with a lot of new moves.

For older Virtua Fighter players, you will find that there is enough to make this a worthwhile purchase. New features include training your own Artificial Intelligence fighter, which is both fun and painstaking (just like keeping a real pet). There is also a Kumite Mode, where you can advance in ranks all the way from the lowly 1st kyu to the mighty High King or Emperor. Reaching the highest ranks requires a considerable amount of skill and time, but is well worth the effort (and is fun to boot!).

For those new to the Virtua Fighter series, there is a lot to recommend here. VIRTUA FIGHTER 4 is not a reversal fest like some other games, and there are enough of a variety of fighters to satisfy both the button mashers and those who need precise control over their fighters. There are also a ton of features (some mentioned above) that make the replay value very high.

Overall, this is an excellent purchase and will definitely compete with Tekken 4 when that comes out. I doubt that will be anything noticeably better until the release of Soul Calibur 2.

This game is extremely generic. Nothing like "Tekken Tag Tournament" or "Tekken 3". The fighters all have annoying cheesy lines before a fight. "Virtua FIghter 4" get's boring really fast. Save your money for a better fighter such as "Tekken Tag Tournament" or "Tekken 3".