The New Virtua Fighter.. There is hope

Finally,, after watching this interview there is hope. When Seiji Aoki added those hideous hit sparks to VF5US I was very worried that the franchise was going to follow Tekken's 2.5D, Goku, Dragon Ball, Fantasy based , Anime depiction of martial arts, with vampires, kangeroos, pandas, androids, fireballs, weapons, magic, shonen jumps, flying, over-the-top, colored lighting bolt saturated action sequences. Tekken originally had at least some focus on martial arts, and a modicum of reality in their fighting sequences. But since Tekken 7 and the translation to Unreal Engine 4 it all went wrong. And now Tekken is a joke and has a disastrous presentation (from a martial arts POV)

But Ryo Shibasaki the producer of the new Virtua Fighter is saying all the right things in this interview. More realistic blocks, all moves based on motion capture from real practitioners of the various modern martial arts. He promises a game based in realism innovation A true RGG powered narrative. And it looks like VF5US and VF5REVO's hit sparks were just an aberration and mistake on Seiji Aoki's part

It looks like there is going to be a choice: Tekken's Zany, Fantasy -based Magical Martial Arts vs Virtua Fighter's innovation in realism and legit story telling If you can take Ryo Shibasaki's interview at its word, we're in for an amazing game. There is hope

 

Peace @masterpo i'm glad you like the new direction.

Spoiler: deleted

It's better to be kind to others (even when you only mention them online, like Aoki), because how you treat others you treat yourself (checked on my self).
Of course, no one is required to follow the rule, to know the rule, or even to think that the rule is a good idea.
I know that anyone who follows the rule will live a happier and more productive life, but individuals are free to dispute or ignore that advice if they wish.

> And it looks like VF5US and VF5REVO's hit sparks were just an aberration and mistake on Seiji Aoki's part

All "mistakes" are synonym for leasons. By the "mistake" we've leanred that VF is better sparkless. That knowledge is bliss and we only gain it thru doing it. The maturity is to conclude and re-loop your action.

Instead of blame, learn leassons (It makes world better) or be harsh your choice.

 

I've been curious about masterpo's thoughts, seeing as they have been the most skeptical. I said it before, but it's quite something that we were all speculating on what VF6 would do to reach a wider audience, and it turns out RGG is doing so by tripling down on the animations hardcore fans appreciate. The developers really come off as sincere, when every other big studio just blows smoke. VF6 is going to be incredible. I can't wait to see Lei-Fei's move list. Keep him complicated and "low tier" for us psycho Lei players.

 

When Virtua Fighter was released in Japan it was on arcade machines and that was the Japanese first introduction to VF. My first experience was on a PS2. (no arcade) VF4 on the PS2 had plenty of single player content, a trainable AI, Kumite Mode, amazing graphics, and no hit sparks I eventually played the game offline with others, but for the first year or so it was a beautiful single player martial arts simulation (or at least as close as you could get back then) and keep in mind there was no online with VF4, or VF4 EVO in the the states, and I've never seen a VF arcade in the US. Sp the whole competitive scene thing wasn't a thing

So to see VF slowly lose serious and significant single player content, move to an online only focus, add Tekken skins, a Tekken UI, Tekken music, and Tekken style hit sparks was extremely sad , and disappointing. I play VF4, VF4EVO, VF5, VF5FS on the regular with friends and family. I just couldn't stomach what Seiji Aoki had done to VF5US. But the new Virtua Fighter is looking in the pocket. And the single player possibilities are bringing me joy

 

VF4 Evo was my first Virtua Fighter too. I hadn't played a fighting game in a while but suddenly wanted to. I wanted to find whatever the deepest, most technical fighter was. I did some research, and Virtua Fighter seemed like the right choice. I also like single player, but the arcade mode offers very little, and I totally understand why that mod that makes all the rounds equally hard exists. Arcade mode would be a lot cooler if there were scoring and leader boards, but it would still need other single player options to keep from getting boring.

To be honest, I don't even notice VFUS's hit sparks while playing. I think they half assed it. When I watch Tekken, everything is an eye sore. Crazy shit can look cool, but Tekken lacks taste. Flashing arbitrary icons on the screen is worse than hit sparks. Then the camera keeps cutting to shots of just one of the characters and all I can think is, "so is the other player frozen in time or something, because if I were them, I'd be wondering why I can't step or strike while he's posing for photo."

Tekken should retire. The artists at Arc System Works can take care of the over the top awesome looking shit. And Virtua Fighter can snag everybody with ultrasuperheat fatigue.