The king of fighting games proves its royalty. This is the fighting genre at its best.
Virtua Fighter 5 features some jaw-dropping graphics. After seeing the amazing graphics featured in DoA4 I was absolutely sure that it wouldn't be outdone any time soon by any of the competing fighters. VF5 proves this is not the case. The textures are extremely detailed (face bumps and cloth threads included). Every texture looks like just that--TEXTURES! You almost get the impression that if you were to reach out and touch anything that's in the game you'd know how it feels before hand. Yes, they're that good! These graphics make me feel good that technology has gotten us this far.
However great the graphics may be, the game-play is where the cream is. This game plays so much smoother and faster than any of the previous Virtua Fighters. Not to mention, the huge addition of moves added to each characters dramatically improves on the visual appeal of the game. Many people have criticized previous Virtua Fighter games of seeming too boring and stiff. Although some people may still argue that the game seems stiff in comparison to other fighters, watching two experienced players go at it is nothing short of amazing. Virtua Fighter remains perhaps the most complicated and sophisticated fighting game available and this naturally pushes casual gamers away. But if you're one who appreciates great, balanced fighting games you'll more than appreciate the steep learning curve. This game is pure all the way.
Add deep character customization, an extensive training mode, and online play, and any person who remotely enjoys fighting games will have no reason not to buy this game. I guess the only drawback on this title is the character story lines. These character backdrops almost seem like they were written by overly dramatic 14 year olds. The stories ranged from brainwashed assassins to murdered fathers to kidnapped mothers. They're not even worth mentioning, in my opinion. Other than that, this game is an instant classic within the genre.