In-depth VF5 Review at GamersGlobal

Warning: the following is lengthy, and (I think) quite critical. Still, I wanted to provide this feedback on Leonard_McCoy's review since I didn't agree with many things that were said, or the approach that was taken.


The quotes below are extracted from the review at gamersglobal.com.

How is it meant to be played exactly? Or how is it not meant to be played? I was half expecting some kind of explanation on this point later in the review but I must of missed it. I mean it's the big reason you provide as to why this review is so, so late yet there's nothing that convinces the reader that it was worth the wait? Most VF fans are happy with your review, but I suspect most fans would be happy with any review that shines a warm light on VF5, even if some of the home features are flawed or missing.

I must admit that I was confused with the review at times. Mainly with how you addressed the reader. Were you writing it for VF fans, Fighting Game fans, or just gamers in general?

<span style='font-size: 11pt'>WHAT EXACTLY IS "VIRTUA FIGHTER?"</span>

Is it necessary to put down other Fighting Games (FGs) in a VF review? Many people enjoy DOA4 and play it competitively. Most, if not all, of the high level players are not button mashers. I personally think statements like these do more harm than good for VF.

So you're saying that the "core game principle" in VF, a fighting game, is to fight and beat the opponent? Isn't this the "core game principle" of any fighting game? Ringing out isn't unique to VF either.

That's like a car salesman telling you that the car you're eyeing in the showroom drives like an absolute dream.

In explaining "what exactly" VF is you only talk about martial art fireworks with an objective to defeat your opponent, and that's it? I was hoping you would dig deeper into the essence of VF, and maybe touch upon elements that make it stand out when compared to other games in the same genre. But you didn't.

<span style='font-size: 11pt'>HOW IT BECAME WHAT IT BECAME</span>

Again, is it necessary to downplay the other VF installments? At most, you could have alluded to their existence but to "gladly neglect" them comes across as pompous. I thought your negative opinion of them, like the DoA comment, was inappropriate and irrelevant to the review.

Really, there was a deep split in the community? I've been a part of the online VF community since VF1 and don't recall this deep division. If there were any opposition to the introduction of the evade button, then I think it was only felt during the embryonic stages of VF3's life. And for something allegedly so controversial, there's no real mention of it's removal in VF4 (outside the implication of VF2's control scheme), and what impact it had on the community?

I realise I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill, but I just found it really strange that certain things are mentioned which, in the context of the review that was so long in the making, just seemed odd. For example, instead of talking about an alleged community split, I would have thought a mentioning of VF3's uneven terrain, which was just as big a feature as the E button, was worthy of a mention. But it wasn't mentioned at all.

So basically you are saying VF has progressively become easier on the input, and more flashier? I agree with this statement, but you seem to contradict this point later on.

<span style='font-size: 11pt'>"IT'S SO DEEP, SO ULTIMATELY DEEP." BUT NO ONE SAYS WHY!</span>

While it may be true that "Asians" have made this point, I'm sure non-Asians have too. I don't think this qualification was necessary for the reader to understand the analogy. Was that supposed to add credibility?

I can appreciate the explanation for frames in order to explain the concept of advantage. But isn't all of this (frames, advantage, etc) true for most, if not all, Fighting Games? If so, does this make all Fighting Games as deep as VF?

In an attempt to explain VF's depth, you go on to talk about combos:

Are you simply saying the better combos are harder to perform? Again, isn't that mostly the case with all Fighting Games?

And what's meant by "the lack of temporal buffering options?" Are you referring to strings? Because VF has them last I checked. Or are you referring to lack of mega 10+ hit dial-a-combos?

If I were to talk about combos in the context of fighting game depth, I would instead focus on character, weight, stance and hit type dependencies. And you did later on, but only in the context of VF5 being "input oriented" (again, which Fighting Game isn't?) and that didn't make a lot of sense to me.

Who is Adam Deats? Why would the reader care about his opinion? In what context was that quote made? It seems to be a strange quote to make because the competitive fighting genre broke into the pro gaming scene only recently (past couple of years!?). To me, that's a sign of the genre improving it's footing, not losing it?

And there's some confusion (maybe contradiction?) here when you say VF is pushing against a trend of "simplicity and flashiness", when in the history section you point out the fact that VF4 was less strict on input (i.e. becoming more simple) and more flashy. This is a trend that VF5 has followed as well. So where does VF lie with respect to trend? Is it a force-push against, or a soft-tech roll with the trend? /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

Same as any other fighting game? (with the exception of foot stance)

Same as any other fighting game?

<span style='font-size: 11pt'>"DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD, ...</span>

What other fighting game today spoon feeds you to the level you describe or demand? The PS2 titles set a really high standard which, unfortunately, was not reached with the PS3/360 titles. But, the game does come packed to the rafters with every character versus character match played at a high level. There's a lot that can be learned from watching the experts play, and as a bonus you can observe their inputs. This doesn't even get a mention.

I personally learnt a few new Ver.C combos watching the 360 replays, but anyway, I digress.

<span style='font-size: 11pt'>... - IT'S JUST A QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE.</span>

Quest Mode may be lacking in some areas, but calling it pathetic is bit over the top IMO. Even PS3's Quest Mode allowed for mechanical training for the intermediate to advanced player, and there's a lot of value in that. Quest Mode on the 360 made it so much better.

Even to this day I have no trouble clocking up hours in Quest Mode.

Hmm, where did I leave that violin? /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

For a review this late, wouldn't the "insiders" already know what the above things are? Instead of patronising "insiders" who probably already know the terms, it would have been great if you explained the implication of the change. Don't just talk about the 'what', but talk about the 'why'? This demonstrates to the reader that not only are you aware of the main gameplay changes, but you've attempted to understand their application within the context of the game.

I mean you've been spending years playing the game the way it was meant to be played, and all you offer on the main VF5 specific changes, the very elements that set it apart from past titles, are defintions?!

Here's what I would have added (not saying it's the right answer either):
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Warning, Spoiler: <input type="button" class="form-button" value="Show" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div').getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div').getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = '';this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div').getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Show'; }" /></div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div style="display: none;">* 0f Throw: makes it harder to turtle against a throw by stopping it with a late attack. Favours offensive throwing more than before.
* Throw Clash: throwing from an advantage could be very risky, but with the throw clash there is some protection, depending on the situation. This is a further boost for offensive throwing.
* Throw Speed: a throw is no longer the fastest guaranteed counter attack as it used to be in previous version. This slightly reduces the bias on counter throws and emphasizes counter attacking more.
* Offensive Movement: allows you to position to the opponent's side, creating a Side Turned situation. Depending on the situation, the OM can even expose the opponent's back.</div></div></div>

You also neglected to mention Side Turned situations, which I think is also a core gameplay change in VF5 (and more so in the upcoming VF5R version).

<span style='font-size: 11pt'>XBOX 360 OR PS3 VERSION?</span>

Recent tournament achievements laugh in the face of that statement. Players like Denkai and CIDKID, both pad players, have made great impressions in the NA scene. They've shown that it's possible to be competitive with a pad.

While I can't personally stand the thought of using a pad for VF, I probably would have mentioned the joysticks with a different approach.

Ultimately, there are just a lot of small, niggly things that I have some kind of issue with. And no offence, but this review (years in the making) didn't really offer much more than those reviews published at the launch of the title. For something this late, played the way it was meant to be played, I expected much, much more. Maybe a summary of everything we know to date, packaged in a convenient and consumable way?

Instead the review seemed to be cluttered with a lot of colourful, pretty and sometimes confusing words, and lacked any real substance for me. While the headings looked like really interesting sub-topics, I felt like you didn't really explain the very questions you setup, particularly when describing the essence of what VF is, and it's depth.

Again, I understand that this is a user-review and that you're entitled to your opinion and interpretation of the game. Also, while I ask many questions in my feedback above, I'm not necessarily expecting answers. These are just the questioning thoughts I had, as I had them, while reading the review. Please don't feel that you have to justify yourself to me.

(If anyone actually read this far, you deserve a medal)