Difference between revisions of "Virtua Fighter"

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| bobscreen=Virtua Fighter Title.png
 
| bobscreen=Virtua Fighter Title.png
 
| publisher=[[Sega]]
 
| publisher=[[Sega]]
| developer=[[Sega AM2]]
+
| developer=[[Sega AM2]] {{32X}} [[Sega CS]]
 
| system=[[Sega Model 1]], [[Sega 32X]], [[Sega Saturn]], Tiger R-Zone
 
| system=[[Sega Model 1]], [[Sega 32X]], [[Sega Saturn]], Tiger R-Zone
| romsize={{Arcade}} 30MB {{ref|http://www.mamedb.com/game/vf}}, {{32X}} 4MB, {{SAT}} 545MB
+
| romsize={{Arcade}} 30MB{{ref|http://www.mamedb.com/game/vf}}, {{32X}} 4MB, {{SAT}} 545MB
 
| sounddriver={{SAT}} SCSP/CD-DA (18 tracks)
 
| sounddriver={{SAT}} SCSP/CD-DA (18 tracks)
 
| peripherals=
 
| peripherals=
 
| players=1-2
 
| players=1-2
| genre=Fighting, Action {{ref|http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/32x/soft.html}}
+
| genre=Fighting, Action{{ref|http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/32x/soft.html}}
 
| releases={{releases
 
| releases={{releases
| arcade_date_jp_1=1993-09 {{fileref|EGM US 051.pdf|page=66}}
+
| arcade_date_jp_1=1993-09{{fileref|EGM US 051.pdf|page=66}}
 
| arcade_type_jp_1=prototype
 
| arcade_type_jp_1=prototype
| arcade_date_jp_2=1993-10 {{fileref|MeanMachinesSega22UK.pdf|page=93}}
+
| arcade_date_jp_2=1993-10{{fileref|MeanMachinesSega22UK.pdf|page=93}}
 
| arcade_type_jp_2=complete
 
| arcade_type_jp_2=complete
| arcade_rrp_jp_2=900,000 {{fileref|MeanMachinesSega22UK.pdf|page=93}}
+
| arcade_rrp_jp_2=900,000{{fileref|MeanMachinesSega22UK.pdf|page=93}}
| arcade_date_us_1=1993-09 {{fileref|EGM US 051.pdf|page=66}}
+
| arcade_date_us_1=1993-09{{fileref|EGM US 051.pdf|page=66}}
 
| arcade_type_us_1=prototype
 
| arcade_type_us_1=prototype
 
| arcade_date_us_2=1993
 
| arcade_date_us_2=1993
 
| arcade_type_us_2=complete
 
| arcade_type_us_2=complete
| arcade_date_eu=1993-10 {{fileref|MeanMachinesSega19UK.pdf|page=51}}
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| arcade_date_eu=1993-10{{fileref|MeanMachinesSega19UK.pdf|page=51}}
| arcade_rrp_uk=6,000 {{fileref|MeanMachinesSega22UK.pdf|page=93}}
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| arcade_rrp_uk=6,000{{fileref|MeanMachinesSega22UK.pdf|page=93}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{releasesSat
 
{{releasesSat
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| sat_rrp_jp=8,800
 
| sat_rrp_jp=8,800
 
| sat_code_jp=GS-9001
 
| sat_code_jp=GS-9001
| sat_date_us=1995-05-29
+
| sat_date_us=1995-05-11{{intref|Press release: 1995-05-19: Sega Saturn launch takes consumers and retailers by storm}}
 
| sat_code_us=81005
 
| sat_code_us=81005
 
| sat_rrp_us=pack
 
| sat_rrp_us=pack
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| 32x_date_us=1995-10-10{{intref|Press release: 1995-09-19: Sega Genesis 32X price comes down to $99}}
 
| 32x_date_us=1995-10-10{{intref|Press release: 1995-09-19: Sega Genesis 32X price comes down to $99}}
 
| 32x_code_us=84701
 
| 32x_code_us=84701
 +
| 32x_rrp_us=69.99{{fileref|GamePlayers US 0811.pdf|page=68}}
 
| 32x_date_eu=1995-11-30
 
| 32x_date_eu=1995-11-30
 
| 32x_code_eu=MK84701-50
 
| 32x_code_eu=MK84701-50
| 32x_rrp_uk=49.99 {{fileref|CVG UK 168.pdf|page=36}}
+
| 32x_rrp_uk=49.99{{fileref|CVG UK 168.pdf|page=36}}
 +
| 32x_rrp_es=19,900{{fileref|HobbyConsolas ES 052.pdf|page=73}}
 
| 32x_date_jp=1995-10-20
 
| 32x_date_jp=1995-10-20
 
| 32x_rrp_jp=7,800
 
| 32x_rrp_jp=7,800
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'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' (バーチャファイター) is a fighting game developed by [[Sega AM2]] and published by [[Sega]] for [[Sega Model 1]] arcade hardware in 1993. It is the first game in the ''Virtua Fighter'' series. It is often cited as being the first fully 3D fighting game released to the general public, and is a basis for almost all subsequent games in the genre.
 
'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' (バーチャファイター) is a fighting game developed by [[Sega AM2]] and published by [[Sega]] for [[Sega Model 1]] arcade hardware in 1993. It is the first game in the ''Virtua Fighter'' series. It is often cited as being the first fully 3D fighting game released to the general public, and is a basis for almost all subsequent games in the genre.
  
It was an influential game in the development of 3D polygon graphics, popularizing it among a wider audience (along with ''[[Virtua Racing]]''), demonstrating 3D human character models effectively with physics, creating the basic template for 3D fighting games (such as ''Tekken'', ''[[Soul Blade|Soul]]'' and ''[[Dead or Alive]]''), and playing a key role in the development of early fifth-generation consoles (the [[Sega Saturn]] and Sony PlayStation). It was followed by a 1994 sequel, ''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]''.
+
It was an influential game in the development of 3D polygon graphics, popularizing it among a wider audience (along with ''[[Virtua Racing]]''), demonstrating 3D human character models effectively, with realistic movement and physics, creating the basic template for 3D fighting games (such as ''Tekken'', ''[[Soul Blade|Soul]]'' and ''[[Dead or Alive]]''), and playing a key role in the development of early fifth-generation consoles (the [[Sega Saturn]] and [[Sony PlayStation]]). It was followed by a 1994 sequel, ''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]''.
  
 
==Story==
 
==Story==
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==Gameplay==
 
==Gameplay==
''Virtua Fighter'' is a versus fighting game, pitting two of nine characters against each other in a three-dimensional arena to fight until one is "knocked out". Unlike other games in the genre at the time (such as ''[[Street Fighter II]]'' or ''[[Mortal Kombat]]''), ''Virtua Fighter'' relies only on a control stick and three buttons, "Defense" (guard), "Punch" and "Kick" . Simple button combinations will trigger special attacks, and the large number of moves leads to a relatively complex fighting game.
+
''Virtua Fighter'' is a versus fighting game, pitting two of nine characters against each other in a three-dimensional arena to fight until one is "knocked out". Unlike other games in the genre at the time (such as ''[[Street Fighter II]]'' or ''[[Mortal Kombat]]''), ''Virtua Fighter'' relies only on a control stick and three buttons, {{block}} ("Defense" (guard/block)), {{punch}} ("Punch") and {{kick}} ("Kick"). Simple button combinations will trigger special attacks, and the large number of moves leads to a relatively complex fighting game.
  
Movements in ''Virtua Fighter'' are seen as more realistic than many of its popular 2D rivals from the likes of [[Capcom]] or [[SNK]]. ''Virtua Fighter'' opts for a slower-pace with fighting styles modeled on those seen in the real world. ''Virtua Fighter'' also involves "ring outs", where if a player either walks or is knocked out of the ring, he or she is instantly disqualified.
+
Movements in ''Virtua Fighter'' are seen as more realistic than many of its popular 2D rivals from the likes of [[Capcom]] or [[SNK]] (although in this original game at least, characters still have the ability to jump the height of an average human). ''Virtua Fighter'' opts for a slower-pace with fighting styles modeled on those seen in the real world, alongside a "ring out" system, where fights can be lost if a player either walks or is knocked out of the ring.
  
Also unique to ''Virtua Fighter'' upon release, some characters receive "damage" if hit in certain areas and will lose part of their clothing (for example, hats).
+
While fights take place in a 3D arena, players can only manipulate their characters in two dimensions. Movement on the third dimension is dictated by the movesets of opposing characters, however regardless of orientation on the ring, fighters will always face each other head-on and the control scheme will never change.
 +
 
 +
Unique to ''Virtua Fighter'' upon release was the concept of characters receiving "damage". If hit with a barrage of attacks, loose items of clothing (for example, Pai's hat or Kage's mask) will fall off and lie on the arena floor until the match is over. This feature makes no difference to gameplay, but would become a staple in many of Sega's fighting games going forward.
  
 
===Characters===
 
===Characters===
:''Main article: [[:Category:Virtua Fighter Characters|Virtua Fighter Characters]]''
 
 
 
''Virtua Fighter'' contains eight characters each employing a different fighting style. A ninth character, Dural, is not readily available to players.
 
''Virtua Fighter'' contains eight characters each employing a different fighting style. A ninth character, Dural, is not readily available to players.
  
 
As well as detailing their careers and hobbies, ''Virtua Fighter'' also lists the character's blood type, which in Japanese culture [[wikipedia:Blood_types_in_Japanese_culture|can determine one's personality]].
 
As well as detailing their careers and hobbies, ''Virtua Fighter'' also lists the character's blood type, which in Japanese culture [[wikipedia:Blood_types_in_Japanese_culture|can determine one's personality]].
 +
 +
''Virtua Fighter'' claims to feature over 700 moves, many of which were left undocumented for players to find.
 +
 +
:Note: Move lists assume the player is standing, facing right. If facing left, {{left}} and {{right}} should be reversed.
 
{{SectionsNewStart|imagewidths=150px}}
 
{{SectionsNewStart|imagewidths=150px}}
 
{{SectionsNew|
 
{{SectionsNew|
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| image=VirtuaFighter Akira Portrait.png
 
| image=VirtuaFighter Akira Portrait.png
 
| desc=Akira is a 25-year-old kung-fu teacher with blood type O. Akira is largely considered the "star" of ''Virtua Fighter'', featuring predominantly on cover art.
 
| desc=Akira is a 25-year-old kung-fu teacher with blood type O. Akira is largely considered the "star" of ''Virtua Fighter'', featuring predominantly on cover art.
 +
{{MoveListStart}}
 +
{{MoveListEnd}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SectionsNew|
 
{{SectionsNew|
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| image=VirtuaFighter Pai Portrait.png
 
| image=VirtuaFighter Pai Portrait.png
 
| desc=Pai is an 18-year-old "action star" whose hobbies include dancing. She has blood type O.
 
| desc=Pai is an 18-year-old "action star" whose hobbies include dancing. She has blood type O.
 +
{{MoveListStart}}
 +
{{MoveListEnd}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SectionsNew|
 
{{SectionsNew|
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During development, Lau was known as both "Lee" and "Tao".
 
During development, Lau was known as both "Lee" and "Tao".
 +
{{MoveListStart}}
 +
{{MoveListEnd}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SectionsNew|
 
{{SectionsNew|
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| image=VirtuaFighter Wolf Portrait.png
 
| image=VirtuaFighter Wolf Portrait.png
 
| desc=Wolf is a 27-year-old Canadian wrestler who enjoys karaoke. He has blood type O.
 
| desc=Wolf is a 27-year-old Canadian wrestler who enjoys karaoke. He has blood type O.
 +
{{MoveListStart}}
 +
{{MoveListRow|Running Clothesline|{{right}} {{right}} {{punch}} }}
 +
{{MoveListRow|Dashing Shoulder|{{left}} {{right}} {{punch}} }}
 +
{{MoveListRow|Knee|{{right}} {{kick}} }}
 +
{{MoveListRow|Uppercut|{{down}} {{right}} {{punch}} }}
 +
{{MoveListRow|Backfall|{{block}} {{punch}} }}
 +
{{MoveListRow|Body Slam|{{right}} {{punch}} }}
 +
{{MoveListRow|Crucifix Piledriver|{{down}} {{right}} {{down}} {{right}} {{punch}} {{kick}} }}
 +
{{MoveListRow|Twirl & Hurl|{{left}} {{down}} {{right}} {{punch}} }}
 +
{{MoveListRow|Double Arm Suplex|{{left}} {{down}} {{punch}} {{kick}} {{block}} }}
 +
{{MoveListRow|German Suplex|{{block}} {{punch}} }}
 +
{{MoveListRow|Single Punch Roundhouse|{{punch}} {{kick}} }}
 +
{{MoveListRow|Running Punches|{{right}} {{right}} {{punch}} {{punch}} {{punch}} }}
 +
{{MoveListRow|Knee Uppercut|{{right}} {{down}} {{right}} {{kick}} {{punch}} }}
 +
{{MoveListEnd}}
 +
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SectionsNew|
 
{{SectionsNew|
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Curiously, Jeffry's prototype name was Dural, a name re-assigned to the final character of the game. He was also briefly known as "Willy".
 
Curiously, Jeffry's prototype name was Dural, a name re-assigned to the final character of the game. He was also briefly known as "Willy".
 +
{{MoveListStart}}
 +
{{MoveListEnd}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SectionsNew|
 
{{SectionsNew|
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Kage was originally known as Yagyu during development.
 
Kage was originally known as Yagyu during development.
 +
{{MoveListStart}}
 +
{{MoveListEnd}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SectionsNew|
 
{{SectionsNew|
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In earlier versions of the game, Sarah's name was spelt without the "h" (i.e. "Sara").
 
In earlier versions of the game, Sarah's name was spelt without the "h" (i.e. "Sara").
 +
{{MoveListStart}}
 +
{{MoveListEnd}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SectionsNew|
 
{{SectionsNew|
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Originally Jacky's name was spelt with an "ie" (Jackie). This was changed for the final version.
 
Originally Jacky's name was spelt with an "ie" (Jackie). This was changed for the final version.
 +
{{MoveListStart}}
 +
{{MoveListEnd}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{SectionsNew|
 
{{SectionsNew|
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| image=
 
| image=
 
| desc=Dural is the last fighter, being an amalgamation of all the other ''Virtua Fighter'' fighters.
 
| desc=Dural is the last fighter, being an amalgamation of all the other ''Virtua Fighter'' fighters.
 +
{{MoveListStart}}
 +
{{MoveListEnd}}
 
}}
 
}}
|}
 
 
===Moves===
 
:Note: Assumes the player is standing, facing right. If facing left, {{left}} and {{right}} should be reversed.
 
{|class="prettytable"
 
!Name
 
!Command
 
|-
 
!colspan="2"|Akira Yuki
 
|-
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
!colspan="2"|Pai Chan
 
|-
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
!colspan="2"|Lau Chan
 
|-
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
!colspan="2"|Wolf Hawkfield
 
|-
 
|Running Clothesline
 
|{{right}} {{right}} {{punch}}
 
|-
 
|Dashing Shoulder
 
|{{left}} {{right}} {{punch}}
 
|-
 
|Knee
 
|{{right}} {{kick}}
 
|-
 
|Uppercut
 
|{{down}} {{right}} {{punch}}
 
|-
 
|Backfall
 
|{{block}} {{punch}}
 
|-
 
|Body Slam
 
|{{right}} {{punch}}
 
|-
 
|Crucifix Piledriver
 
|{{down}} {{right}} {{down}} {{right}} {{punch}} {{kick}}
 
|-
 
|Twirl & Hurl
 
|{{left}} {{down}} {{right}} {{punch}}
 
|-
 
|Double Arm Suplex
 
|{{left}} {{down}} {{punch}} {{kick}} {{block}}
 
|-
 
|German Suplex
 
|{{block}} {{punch}}
 
|-
 
|Single Punch Roundhouse
 
|{{punch}} {{kick}}
 
|-
 
|Running Punches
 
|{{right}} {{right}} {{punch}} {{punch}} {{punch}}
 
|-
 
|Knee Uppercut
 
|{{right}} {{down}} {{right}} {{kick}} {{punch}}
 
|-
 
!colspan="2"|Jeffry Mcwild
 
|-
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
!colspan="2"|Kagemaru
 
|-
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
!colspan="2"|Sarah Bryant
 
|-
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
!colspan="2"|Jacky Bryant
 
|-
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
!colspan="2"|Dural
 
|-
 
|
 
|
 
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
 
===Development===
 
===Development===
''Virtua Fighter'' follows in the footsteps of previous Sega arcade games from the early 1990s. Much like 1992's ''[[Virtua Racing]]'' is credited for revolutionising the racing genre, ''Virtua Fighter'' is an important milestone in fighting games, being the first to render the action with 3D polygons.
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====Model 1 version====
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{{quoteRight| 3D graphics in games were very primitive. You could only make models from triangles, which didn't even have textures. ... There wasn't the opportunity to make graphics that were really beautiful, and because of that I decided to spend all my efforts to make character movements correct and realistic. Yes, Street Fighter had nice sprites, but we had the advantage of very smooth movements | [[Yu Suzuki]]|ref={{ref|1=[http://www.shenmuedojo.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46577 Yu Suzuki Interview]}} }}
  
Polygons are rendered in ''Virtua Fighter'' as quadrilaterals rather than triangles (which became the standard), technology which would later be used with the Sega Saturn. Due to the limitations of the Model 1 hardware, images are created using flat-shaded quads - most future games would use textured polygons made up of easier-to-process triangles. Backgrounds are largely static, and the ground surrounding the play area is open and empty, in order to maintain a constant framerate of 30 frames per second.
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In 1992 [[Sega]] released the three-dimensional fighter, ''[[Dark Edge]]'', which attempts to create 3D gameplay by manipulating [[sprite]]s with the [[Sega System 32]] arcade board. ''Dark Edge'' was, however, riddled with hardware limitations and failed to excite the gaming public - the next milestone in the genre had to use polygons.
  
Akira Yuki is a particularly notable character in ''Virtua Fighter'' as he was a last-minute addition to the game (so much so that early cabinets do not feature him in the artwork at all). He replaced a character known as "Siba", a Middle-Eastern fighter who was axed from the game altogether for unknown reasons. Siba would eventually become an unlockable character in ''[[Fighters Megamix]]'' and join the regular cast of characters in ''[[Virtua Fighter 3]]''.
+
Sega were not the first to come to this conclusion - [[Distinctive Software]]'s niche home computer ''4D Sports Boxing'', released in 1991/1992, was another attempt at a three-dimensional combat game, but was strictly a boxing game, only used 3D polygons for the fighters (who barely resembled humans) rather than the environments, and lacked much of the freedoms enjoyed by ''Virtua Fighter''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay. Similarly to situation surrounding ''[[Virtua Racing]]'', no single game on the market was offering to render a respectible number of polygons in real time while keeping a solid frame rate.
  
During development the game was known as '''''Virtua Fighters''''', the "s" being dropped before release.
+
A "20% complete" build of what was known as '''''Virtua Fighters''''' was shown at the [[Amusement Machine Show 1993]] in August{{fileref|CVG UK 144.pdf|page=12}} alongside ''[[Star Wars Arcade]]'' (then known as ''Virtua Star Wars''). Only two characters out of the planned eight were on show{{fileref|CVG UK 144.pdf|page=18}} - Lau Chan, and the inevitably scrapped character Siba. While ''Virtua Fighters'' raised eyebrows, its early state meant it was not the star of the show - this accolade likely goes to [[Namco]]'s ''Ridge Racer'', a texture-mapped 3D racing game.
  
In the original Model 1 arcade version, each 3D character in the game is rendered with around 2000 polygons, while the ground uses more than 220 polygons.{{fileref|NextGeneration US 01.pdf|page=72}} Akira is rendered with 2300 polygons, while Dural uses 2600 polygons. The game thus renders at least 5420 polygons per frame, pushing at least 162,600 polygons/sec at 30 frames/sec.
+
Akira Yuki is a particularly notable character in ''Virtua Fighter'' as he was a last-minute addition to the game (so much so that early cabinets do not feature him in the artwork at all). He replaced Siba (also known as "Majido"), a Middle-Eastern fighter who was axed from the game altogether for unknown reasons. Siba would eventually become an unlockable character in ''[[Fighters Megamix]]''.
 +
 
 +
Suzuki stated that the game program was written with 50,000 lines of code.{{fileref|GameOn US 06.pdf|page=11}}
 +
 
 +
Another scrapped character, "Jeff" also exists within the game's code. Jeff sports a military cap and camouflage attire, and uses an incomplete set of Jacky's moves. [[Seiichi Ishii]], instrumental in ''Virtua Fighter'''s design, would go on to help create the first two ''Tekken'' games by [[Namco]], in which an extremely similar character (albeit as a robot), "Prototype Jack" (P.Jack) appears.
 +
 
 +
====Saturn version====
 +
The Saturn version of ''Virtua Fighter'' was written almost entirely from the ground up alongside the hardware{{fileref|Edge UK 011.pdf|page=29}}. AM2 took a different approach to the arcade game, focusing on the quality of the animations over graphics, to the point where in early builds, characters could have as little as 100 polygons{{fileref|Edge UK 011.pdf|page=28}}. AM2 would then raise the polygon count as high as possible before the frame rate dropped to unacceptable levels.
  
Since the Saturn is capable of texture mapping and Gouraud shading, the number of polygons needed for the Saturn version is less. As a result, the Saturn version renders each character with 550 polygons, while the ground is rendered using 220 polygons, adding up to 1,300 polygons per frame for the Saturn version.{{fileref|NextGeneration US 01.pdf|page=72}} The Saturn version thus renders 39,000 polygons/sec at 30 frames/sec.
+
One of these low polygon, low resolution, "30-40% complete" builds was shown at the [['94 Tokyo Toy Show]]{{fileref|Edge UK 011.pdf|page=29}} in June 1994, where despite being playable, only two punches and two kicks could be performed{{fileref|Edge UK 011.pdf|page=7}}. Sega later clarified that this build represented less than two weeks of work{{fileref|Edge UK 014.pdf|page=47}}. A "45% complete" build was shown a few months later, now with an upped resolution to 640x224 (versus the 320x224 seen previously){{fileref|Edge UK 014.pdf|page=46}} and more features.
  
It can be seen as an evolution of Sega's 1992 three-dimensional fighter, ''[[Dark Edge]]'', which attempts to create three dimensional gameplay by manipulating [[sprite]]s/textures with the [[Sega System 32]], but it was significantly less popular. [[Distinctive Software]]'s niche home computer ''4D Sports Boxing'', released in 1991/1992, was another attempt at a three-dimensional combat game, but was strictly a boxing game, only used 3D polygons for the fighters (who barely resembled humans) rather than the environments, and lacked much of the freedoms enjoyed by ''Virtua Fighter''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay. In comparison, ''Virtua Fighter'' was fully 3D (using 3D polygons for both the fighters and environments), the 3D fighters resembled humans (using polygons for individual limbs, fingers, eyes, ears, nose, mouth and hair), and it had a character physics engine, free-flowing camera system and realistic martial arts simulation gameplay.
+
Yu Suzuki had originally planned for 1,000 polygons for each scene in ''Virtua Fighter'', but this milestone was met in the Tokyo Toy Show build{{fileref|Edge UK 014.pdf|page=47}}. This newer build was running with 1,300 polygons (550 per character and 220 for the ground), with hints that 2,000 may be possible in the final product{{fileref|Edge UK 014.pdf|page=47}}. The Saturn version was never set to hit the arcade's number of polygons overall, instead using texture mapping to reduce the number needed for facial expressions and floor textures{{fileref|Edge UK 014.pdf|page=47}}.
  
 +
====32X version====
 
The 32X version was meant to debut alongside the cancelled [[Sega Neptune]] project{{fileref|SegaMagazine UK 15.pdf|page=12}}.
 
The 32X version was meant to debut alongside the cancelled [[Sega Neptune]] project{{fileref|SegaMagazine UK 15.pdf|page=12}}.
 +
 +
<!-- move this somewhere
 +
In comparison, ''Virtua Fighter'' was fully 3D (using 3D polygons for both the fighters and environments), the 3D fighters resembled humans (using polygons for individual limbs, fingers, eyes, ears, nose, mouth and hair). The human body had never before been rendered with such detail using polygons in a video game.{{fileref|GameOn US 06.pdf|page=6}} It also had a character physics engine, free-flowing camera system, and realistic martial arts simulation gameplay.
 +
 +
In the original Model 1 arcade version, each 3D character in the game is rendered with around 2000 polygons, while the ground uses more than 220 polygons.{{fileref|NextGeneration US 01.pdf|page=72}} Akira is rendered with 2300 polygons, while Dural uses 2600 polygons. The game thus renders at least 5420 polygons per frame, pushing at least 162,600 polygons/sec at 30 frames/sec.
 +
 +
Since the Saturn is capable of texture mapping and Gouraud shading, the number of polygons needed for the Saturn version is less. As a result, the Saturn version renders each character with 550 polygons, while the ground is rendered using 220 polygons, adding up to 1,300 polygons per frame for the Saturn version.{{fileref|NextGeneration US 01.pdf|page=72}} The Saturn version thus renders 39,000 polygons/sec at 30 frames/sec.
 +
-->
  
 
===Impact===
 
===Impact===
 
{{cleanup}}
 
{{cleanup}}
Its blocky, plainly detailed polygon fighters were revolutionary in 1993 and were responsible for the game's distinctive look. According to GameSpot, ''Virtua Fighter'' and ''Virtua Racing'' were smash hits with arcade gaming audiences, and their popularity marked the beginning of video games rendered with 3D graphics, introducing it to the masses.{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20100412225953/www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/15influential/p13_01.html}} In 1995, ''Next Generation'' magazine referred to ''Virtua Fighter'' as "the most significant game of the 1990s" and stated it "is the biggest game in Japan since ''Super Mario World''". {{ref|http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/virtuafighter/virtuafighter.htm}}
+
Up until that time, fighting games (such as Capcom's ''Street Fighter'' series) were designed and rendered on sprite-based 2D graphics hardware—both the character animation and background scenery were composed of 2D sprites and tilemaps, which when using multiple layers produced a [[wikia:w:c:gaming:Parallax scrolling|parallax scrolling]] effect as the screen moved to follow the characters. ''Virtua Fighter'' dispensed with the 2D graphics, replacing them with [[wikipedia:Shading#Flat_shading|flat-shaded]] triangles rendered in real-time, using the [[Sega Model 1]]'s 3D rendering hardware, allowing for effects and technologies that were impossible in sprite-based fighters, such as characters that could move left and right rather than just backwards and forwards, and a dynamic camera that could zoom, pan, and swoop dramatically around the arena.  The game had a more realistic take on the genre, attempting to represent actual martial arts disciplines, making it more of a fighting simulation.{{ref|http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/virtuafighter/virtuafighter.htm}}
  
Up until that time, fighting games (such as Capcom's ''Street Fighter'' series) were designed and rendered on sprite-based 2D graphics hardware—both the character animation and background scenery were composed of 2D sprites and tilemaps, which when using multiple layers produced a [[wikia:w:c:gaming:Parallax scrolling|parallax scrolling]] effect as the screen moved to follow the characters. ''Virtua Fighter'' dispensed with the 2D graphics, replacing them with [[wikipedia:Shading#Flat_shading|flat-shaded]] triangles rendered in real-time, using the [[Sega Model 1]]'s 3D rendering hardware, allowing for effects and technologies that were impossible in sprite-based fighters, such as characters that could move left and right rather than just backwards and forwards, and a dynamic camera that could zoom, pan, and swoop dramatically around the arena. It was also the first game to implement polygonal 3D human characters in a useful way, introducing a 3D physics engine where, according to 1UP, when "a character was hit in the head, they fell backwards as would realistically happen," and if "they were hit with a spin kick, they would spin away before hitting the ground," portrayed "in a realistic manner (where players could feel the impact when a character hit the ground and the character did not automatically bounce back up)".{{ref|http://www.1up.com/features/essential-50-virtua-fighter}} The game had a more realistic take on the genre, attempting to represent actual martial arts disciplines, making it more of a fighting simulation. {{ref|http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/virtuafighter/virtuafighter.htm}}
+
''Virtua Fighter''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s graphics, however, eventually became obsolete due to rapid advances in polygon technology that allowed for rounder, more detailed, textured, higher-polygon-count character models, as seen in ''Virtua Fighter 2''. Nevertheless, ''Virtua Fighter'' forever revolutionized the fighting game genre, introducing a more realistic style of gameplay to the genre with its move to 3D.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20011120061225/gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/15influential_rc/p4_01.html}}  
  
''Virtua Fighter''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s graphics, however, eventually became obsolete due to rapid advances in polygon technology that allowed for rounder, more detailed, textured, higher-polygon-count character models, as seen in ''Virtua Fighter 2''. Nevertheless, ''Virtua Fighter'' forever revolutionized the fighting game genre, introducing a more realistic style of gameplay to the genre with its move to 3D.{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20011120061225/gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/15influential_rc/p4_01.html}} In addition, it also laid the groundwork for 3D action-adventure game suchs as ''[[Shenmue]]'', ''[[Virtua Quest]]'',{{ref|http://www.1up.com/features/essential-50-virtua-fighter}} and ''[[Tomb Raider]]''.{{ref|http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1410480.stm}}
+
===Legacy===
 +
''Virtua Fighter'' was a phenomenal success for Sega, particularly in Japan which was already consumed by arcade game fighting culture. After a slow start, it became one of Japan's highest-grossing arcade games of all time.{{fileref|UltimateFutureGames UK 02.pdf|page=28}} Its success has guaranteed future entries in the franchise ever since, and is amongst [[Sega AM2]]'s most recognisable products.  
  
===Critical Reception===
+
''Virtua Fighter'' was followed by ''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'' in 1994, which sports significantly improved visuals and two new characters. AM2's [[Seiichi Ishii]] would also leave following his work on this game to create ''Tekken'' for [[Namco]], seen as an important competitor to ''Virtua Fighter'' during the 1990s.
:''See [[#Physical scans|Physical scans]] section for review scores''
 
  
The arcade game was critically acclaimed. Following its North American debut at the 1993 [http://www.coin-op.org/about/ American Amusement Machine Association] (AAMA) show, the October 1993 issue of ''[[wikipedia:Electronic Gaming Monthly|Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' hailed ''Virtua Fighter'' as a demonstration of "just how far video games have come in the last eight years." They expressed "amazement at the graphics" as "an incredible display of technological wizardry" and described the animation as "fluid and lifelike" while praising the gameplay "as equally impressive." ''EGM'' made particular note of how the camera moves along different axes depending on the fighters' location, the use of multiple viewpoints in the instant replay, the high quality of the gameplay, and the smoothness of the animation. They also noted how the "playing fields change with every match," the "very beautiful" backgrounds, and the "instant replay of the KO" after a bout where "you get to see the action in multiple viewpoints" while rotating the camera "around the ring," which they described as "a gimmick" that "looks damn cool anyway!" They stated that it "boasts some of the most advanced hardware ever seen in a video game," runs "faster" with "smoother animations than any" other "virtual-type" (3D) "arcade game in existence," and "would have been considered an impossibility just a few years ago!" They concluded it "gives us a good taste of things to come in the future." {{fileref|EGM US 051.pdf|page=66}}
+
Likewise, programmer Francois Yves Bertrand (credited as F.Y. Bertrand) was headhunted by [[Atari Corporation]] and put to work on the Atari Jaguar 3D fighting game, ''Fight for Life'', cited as being a killer app for the system designed to rival the PlayStation and Saturn consoles (though mismanagement at the company led to an unfinished build being released).
  
The January 1994 issue of ''[[wikipedia:Electronic Games|Electronic Games]]'' described it as "a glimpse of where future development may be headed" and stated that it "took Sega's award winning polygon graphics into a new arena, with full rotation, overhead angles and instant replays." They concluded that it is "Truly impressive."{{fileref|ElectronicGames2 US 16.pdf|page=18}} In 1995, ''[[wikipedia:Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' magazine stated it "epitomizes Suzuki's skill of finding the perfect blend of state-of-the-art technology with solid gameplay", concluding it to be "fast", "beautiful" and "probably art."{{fileref|NextGeneration US 11.pdf|page=3}}
+
''Virtua Fighter'' was adapted into a comic book, published by Marvel Comics. It was released in May 1995, to coincide with the [[Sega Saturn]]'s North American launch.{{fileref|GameOn US 06.pdf|page=12}}
  
The Saturn port was also critically acclaimed. In Japan, ''Sega Saturn Tsūshin'' (extra issue of Famitsu, not to be confused with [[Tech Saturn]]) scored the Sega Saturn version of the game a 38 out of 40. ''[[wikipedia:Famitsu|Weekly Famitsu]]'' reviewed the same version in the issue 311 (p. 37), with its panel of four reviewers each giving it a score of 9 out of 10, adding up to 36 out of 40 overall. This made it one of the magazine's four highest-rated games of 1994, along with ''Final Fantasy VI'', ''Ridge Racer'' and ''Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem''.{{ref|http://geimin.net/da/db/cross_review/}}
+
===Versions===
 +
As a milestone for both Sega and the fighting game genre as a whole, ''Virtua Fighter'' was widely tipped for release on the [[Sega Saturn]] console. A port was developed in conjunction with the hardware and was released in Japan as a launch title (before becoming the pack-in game for the subsequent North American and European launches of the console).  
  
''Electronic Gaming Monthly''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s panel of four reviewers gave it scores of 8, 8.5, 8 and 7 out of 10, adding up to 31.5 out of 40 overall.{{ref|''Electronic Gaming Monthly'', Video Game Buyer's Guide 1999, p. 127}}
+
Views on the Saturn version are generally mixed, as while its existence led to Sega's console out-selling the PlayStation during its first few months of sale in Japan, it quickly became apparent that the port had been rushed to market with severe graphical and technical issues. Although the disc comes paired with higher quality arranged music inspired by the arcade soundtrack, polygon counts are significantly lower, five-second load times interrupt fights and the screen resolution is reduced over the arcade game.
  
===Legacy===
+
On the Saturn, ''Virtua Fighter'' has issues rendering 3D content, with flickering polygons overlapping in odd ways (some of which occasionally disappear entirely), and animation issues, including an infamous bug where certain characters' feet to point in the wrong direction during their winning poses. The jerky camera of the arcade version is also carried over from the arcade game, and in some situations can behave worse than its arcade counterpart. Similar technical issues would be witnessed in ''[[Daytona USA]]'', also created in parallel with the hardware.
''Virtua Fighter'' was a phenomenal success for Sega, particularly in Japan which was already consumed by arcade game fighting culture. After a slow start, it became one of Japan's highest-grossing arcade games of all time.{{fileref|UltimateFutureGames UK 02.pdf|page=28}} Its success has guaranteed future entries in the franchise ever since, and is amongst [[Sega AM2]]'s most recognisable products. However, the timing of its arcade release caused problems - it could not be brought to the then-less powerful home consoles of 1993, and to this day, no accurate home conversions of ''Virtua Fighter'' (in its original form) exist.
 
  
Across the world (starting in late 1994), ''Virtua Fighter'' was made a launch title for the [[Sega Saturn]] console. This version is considered to have been rushed to market, shipping with several gameplay issues such as five-second load times between fights and lower polygon graphics (although the disc comes paired with a remixed arrange music based off the arcade soundtrack). The problems were largely forgiven in Japan (and in fact, much of the Saturn's success in that region originated from this game), but the late 1995 release in western territories, saw ''Virtua Fighter'' be compared unfavourably to other early Saturn/PlayStation fighting games, such as ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden Remix]]''.
+
By the time of the Western release in mid-1995, ''Virtua Fighter'' compared unfavourably to other early Saturn/PlayStation fighting games, such as ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden Remix|Battle Arena Toshinden]]''. In response, Sega released ''[[Virtua Fighter Remix]]'' shortly before the Winter launch of ''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'', which addresses some of the concerns and textures the 3D models. ''Virtua Fighter Remix'' quickly became the de facto version of ''Virtua Fighter'', being the new console pack-in and the basis for ''[[Virtua Fighter PC]]''.
  
In response, Sega produced ''[[Virtua Fighter Remix]]'' in 1995, which addresses some of the concerns and textures the 3D models. ''Virtua Fighter Remix'' is now the de facto version of ''Virtua Fighter'', and was the basis for a PC port.
+
A version of ''Virtua Fighter'' was also released for the [[Sega 32X]], which in Japan debuted after the Saturn version (but before the Saturn version in other territories). Originally planned to be a [[Sega Neptune]] launch title, it suffers from even lower polygon counts than the Saturn version and various other cutbacks, but is otherwise relatively faithful to the original, subsequently being cited as one of the better games for the system. While the 32X renders fewer polygons at any one time, they are generally more "stable", with clipping and flickering being mostly absent from port (although some animation issues still remain). It is also the only 32X game with support for 16:9 widescreen displays.
  
A version was released for the [[Sega 32X]], which in Japan debuted after the Saturn version (but before the Saturn version in other territories). It suffers from even lower polygon counts than the Saturn version and various other cutbacks, but is otherwise relatively faithful to the original, subsequently being cited as one of the better games for the system. It is also the only 32X game with support for 16:9 widescreen displays. Both home versions of the game added a "Round-Robin" tournament mode. Ports for mobile phones also exist.
+
Both home versions of the game added a "Round-Robin" tournament mode.
  
''Virtua Fighter'' was followed by ''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'' in 1994, which sports significantly improved visuals and two new characters. AM2's [[Seiichi Ishii]] would also leave following his work on this game to create ''Tekken'' for [[Namco]], seen as an important competitor to ''Virtua Fighter'' during the 1990s.
+
Ports for mobile phones also exist.
  
 
==Production credits==
 
==Production credits==
 
===Arcade version===
 
===Arcade version===
{{creditstable|
+
<section begin=credits_arcade />{{creditstable|
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
 
*'''Main Programmer:''' [[Toru Ikebuchi]]
 
*'''Main Programmer:''' [[Toru Ikebuchi]]
Line 281: Line 248:
 
}}
 
}}
 
| source=In-game credits
 
| source=In-game credits
}}
+
}}<section end=credits_arcade />
  
 
===Saturn version===
 
===Saturn version===
{{creditstable|
+
<section begin=credits_sat />{{creditstable|
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
 
*'''Main Programmer:''' [[Keiji Okayasu]]
 
*'''Main Programmer:''' [[Keiji Okayasu]]
Line 294: Line 261:
 
}}
 
}}
 
| source=In-game credits{{fileref|VirtuaF1_Saturn_JP_SSOpening.pdf}}
 
| source=In-game credits{{fileref|VirtuaF1_Saturn_JP_SSOpening.pdf}}
}}
+
}}<section end=credits_sat />
  
 
===32X version===
 
===32X version===
{{creditstable|
+
<section begin=credits_32x />{{creditstable|
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
 
*'''Producer:''' [[Koichi Nagata|Kouichi Nagata]]
 
*'''Producer:''' [[Koichi Nagata|Kouichi Nagata]]
Line 323: Line 290:
 
*'''Manual:''' [[Wendy Dinsmore]]
 
*'''Manual:''' [[Wendy Dinsmore]]
 
}}
 
}}
| source=??
+
| source=US manual{{fileref|Virtuafighter_32x_us_manual.pdf|page=31}}
}}
+
}}<section end=credits_32x />
  
 
==Track list==
 
==Track list==
Line 357: Line 324:
 
==Promotional material==
 
==Promotional material==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
VirtuaFighter 32X DE PrintAdvert.jpg|32X DE print advert
 
VirtuaFighter Saturn JP TVAdvert.mp4|Saturn JP TV advert
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 
{{gallery
 
{{gallery
 
|{{GalleryPrintAd
 
|{{GalleryPrintAd
 
|SSM UK 01.pdf|ssm|1|2
 
|SSM UK 01.pdf|ssm|1|2
 +
|SegaPro UK 57.pdf|segapro|57|36
 
}}
 
}}
 +
|{{galleryPrintAd|text=Saturn Print advert|SSM_JP_1994-01_941201.pdf|ssmjp|1994-01|140}}
 
|{{galleryPrintAd|text=32X Print advert|SSM_JP_19951101_1995-11.pdf|ssmjp|1995-11|6-7}}
 
|{{galleryPrintAd|text=32X Print advert|SSM_JP_19951101_1995-11.pdf|ssmjp|1995-11|6-7}}
 +
|{{galleryPrintAd
 +
|text=32X Print advert
 +
|SegaMagazin DE 27.pdf|segamagazin|27|100
 +
}}
 +
|{{galleryPrintAd
 +
|text=32X Print advert
 +
|HobbyConsolas ES 052.pdf|hobbyconsolas|52|73
 +
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 +
===Television advertisements===
 +
<gallery>
 +
VirtuaFighter Saturn JP TVAdvert.mp4|Saturn JP TV advert
 +
Virtua Fighter 32X US TVAdvert.mp4|32X US TV advert
 +
</gallery>
  
 
==Photo gallery==
 
==Photo gallery==
Line 374: Line 355:
 
==Physical scans==
 
==Physical scans==
 
===Model 1 version===
 
===Model 1 version===
{{ratings
+
<section begin="arcade_ratings" />{{ratings
 
| icon=Arcade
 
| icon=Arcade
| allgame=100
+
| cvg=83
| allgame_source=''[https://web.archive.org/web/20141114131548/www.allgame.com/game.php?id=11504 AllGame]''
+
| cvg_source={{num|147|page=100-101|pdf=CVG UK 147.pdf|pdfpage=100}}
}}
+
}}<section end="arcade_ratings" />
 
{{ScanArcade
 
{{ScanArcade
 
| type=upright
 
| type=upright
Line 391: Line 372:
  
 
===Saturn version===
 
===Saturn version===
{{ratings
+
<section begin="SAT_ratings" />{{ratings
 
| icon=SAT
 
| icon=SAT
 
| cdconsoles=56
 
| cdconsoles=56
Line 452: Line 433:
 
| ufg=96
 
| ufg=96
 
| ufg_source={{num|3|page=78-81|pdf=UltimateFutureGames UK 03.pdf|pdfpage=74}}
 
| ufg_source={{num|3|page=78-81|pdf=UltimateFutureGames UK 03.pdf|pdfpage=74}}
 +
| ultimageneracion=88
 +
| ultimageneracion_source={{num|1|page=76-79|pdf=UltimaGeneracion ES 01.pdf|pdfpage=79}}
 
| vgce=80
 
| vgce=80
}}
+
}}<section end="SAT_ratings" />
 
{{Scanbox
 
{{Scanbox
 
| console=Saturn
 
| console=Saturn
Line 509: Line 492:
  
 
===32X version===
 
===32X version===
{{ratings
+
<section begin="32X_ratings" />{{ratings
 
| icon=32X
 
| icon=32X
 
| consolesplus=80
 
| consolesplus=80
Line 541: Line 524:
 
| segapro_source_1={{num|56|page=26}}
 
| segapro_source_1={{num|56|page=26}}
 
| superjuegos=91
 
| superjuegos=91
}}
+
}}<section end="32X_ratings" />
 
{{Scanbox
 
{{Scanbox
 
| console=32X
 
| console=32X
Line 556: Line 539:
 
| spinemissing=yes
 
| spinemissing=yes
 
| cart=Virtua Fighter 32X EU Cart.jpg
 
| cart=Virtua Fighter 32X EU Cart.jpg
 +
| manual=VirtuaFighter 32X EU Manual.pdf
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=32X
 
| console=32X
Line 586: Line 570:
 
{{rom|32X|prototype=yes|quality=good|size=|date=1995-05-30|source=}}
 
{{rom|32X|prototype=yes|quality=good|size=|date=1995-05-30|source=}}
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 +
==External links==
 +
*Sega of Japan catalogue page (Japanese): [https://web.archive.org/web/19970129032007/http://sega.highway.or.jp:80/sega/saturn/action/vf/gs_9004.html Sega Saturn]
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
}}
+
|cols=3}}
  
 
{{VirtuaFighter}}
 
{{VirtuaFighter}}
 
[[Category:Model 1 games]]
 
[[Category:Model 1 games]]

Revision as of 20:13, 9 September 2017

n/a

Virtua Fighter Title.png

Virtua Fighter
System(s): Sega Model 1, Sega 32X, Sega Saturn, Tiger R-Zone
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Sound driver:
Sega Saturn
SCSP/CD-DA (18 tracks)
Genre: Fighting, Action[1]

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP
¥8,8008,800 GS-9001
Sega Saturn
US
PACK-INpack 81005
Sega Saturn
EU
MK81005-50
Sega Saturn
BR
PACK-INpack 193016
Sega 32X
JP
¥7,8007,800 GM-4013
Sega 32X
US
$69.9969.99[4] 84701
Sega 32X
EU
MK84701-50
Sega 32X
BR
153020

Virtua Fighter (バーチャファイター) is a fighting game developed by Sega AM2 and published by Sega for Sega Model 1 arcade hardware in 1993. It is the first game in the Virtua Fighter series. It is often cited as being the first fully 3D fighting game released to the general public, and is a basis for almost all subsequent games in the genre.

It was an influential game in the development of 3D polygon graphics, popularizing it among a wider audience (along with Virtua Racing), demonstrating 3D human character models effectively, with realistic movement and physics, creating the basic template for 3D fighting games (such as Tekken, Soul and Dead or Alive), and playing a key role in the development of early fifth-generation consoles (the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation). It was followed by a 1994 sequel, Virtua Fighter 2.

Story

While much of the first Virtua Fighter's story would be retroactively filled in by newer games and merchandise, the basic premise of the first game is that martial artist Akira Yuki, specialising in the forgotten art form of "Hakkyoku-ken" enters the World Fighting Tournament, in an attempt to be recognised as the greatest fighter in the world.

Gameplay

Virtua Fighter is a versus fighting game, pitting two of nine characters against each other in a three-dimensional arena to fight until one is "knocked out". Unlike other games in the genre at the time (such as Street Fighter II or Mortal Kombat), Virtua Fighter relies only on a control stick and three buttons,  BL  ("Defense" (guard/block)), P ("Punch") and K ("Kick"). Simple button combinations will trigger special attacks, and the large number of moves leads to a relatively complex fighting game.

Movements in Virtua Fighter are seen as more realistic than many of its popular 2D rivals from the likes of Capcom or SNK (although in this original game at least, characters still have the ability to jump the height of an average human). Virtua Fighter opts for a slower-pace with fighting styles modeled on those seen in the real world, alongside a "ring out" system, where fights can be lost if a player either walks or is knocked out of the ring.

While fights take place in a 3D arena, players can only manipulate their characters in two dimensions. Movement on the third dimension is dictated by the movesets of opposing characters, however regardless of orientation on the ring, fighters will always face each other head-on and the control scheme will never change.

Unique to Virtua Fighter upon release was the concept of characters receiving "damage". If hit with a barrage of attacks, loose items of clothing (for example, Pai's hat or Kage's mask) will fall off and lie on the arena floor until the match is over. This feature makes no difference to gameplay, but would become a staple in many of Sega's fighting games going forward.

Characters

Virtua Fighter contains eight characters each employing a different fighting style. A ninth character, Dural, is not readily available to players.

As well as detailing their careers and hobbies, Virtua Fighter also lists the character's blood type, which in Japanese culture can determine one's personality.

Virtua Fighter claims to feature over 700 moves, many of which were left undocumented for players to find.

Note: Move lists assume the player is standing, facing right. If facing left, Left and Right should be reversed.
VirtuaFighter Akira Portrait.png Akira Yuki
Akira is a 25-year-old kung-fu teacher with blood type O. Akira is largely considered the "star" of Virtua Fighter, featuring predominantly on cover art.

Template:MoveListStart Template:MoveListEnd

VirtuaFighter Pai Portrait.png Pai Chan
Pai is an 18-year-old "action star" whose hobbies include dancing. She has blood type O.

Template:MoveListStart Template:MoveListEnd

VirtuaFighter Lau Portrait.png Lau Chan
Lau, father of Pai, is a 53-year-old Chinese cook. He has blood type B and enjoys Chinese poetry.

During development, Lau was known as both "Lee" and "Tao". Template:MoveListStart Template:MoveListEnd

VirtuaFighter Wolf Portrait.png Wolf Hawkfield
Wolf is a 27-year-old Canadian wrestler who enjoys karaoke. He has blood type O.

Template:MoveListStart

Running Clothesline Right Right P
Dashing Shoulder Left Right P
Knee Right K
Uppercut Down Right P
Backfall  BL  P
Body Slam Right P
Crucifix Piledriver Down Right Down Right P K
Twirl & Hurl Left Down Right P
Double Arm Suplex Left Down P K  BL 
German Suplex  BL  P
Single Punch Roundhouse P K
Running Punches Right Right P P P
Knee Uppercut Right Down Right K P

Template:MoveListEnd

VirtuaFighter Jeffry Portrait.png Jeffry Mcwild
Jeffry is a 36-year-old fisherman from Australia who enjoys reggae music. He has blood type A.

Curiously, Jeffry's prototype name was Dural, a name re-assigned to the final character of the game. He was also briefly known as "Willy". Template:MoveListStart Template:MoveListEnd

VirtuaFighter Kage Portrait.png Kagemaru
Kagemaru (or just Kage) is a 21-year-old ninja who plays mahjong for a hobby. He has blood type B.

Kage was originally known as Yagyu during development. Template:MoveListStart Template:MoveListEnd

VirtuaFighter Sarah Portrait.png Sarah Bryant
Sarah is a 20-year-old female college student from the United States. She enjoys sky diving and has blood type AB.

In earlier versions of the game, Sarah's name was spelt without the "h" (i.e. "Sara"). Template:MoveListStart Template:MoveListEnd

VirtuaFighter Jacky Portrait.png Jacky Bryant
Jacky, older brother of Sarah is a 22-year-old male from the United States. He is a Indy car racer by trade and of blood type A.

Originally Jacky's name was spelt with an "ie" (Jackie). This was changed for the final version. Template:MoveListStart Template:MoveListEnd

Dural
Dural is the last fighter, being an amalgamation of all the other Virtua Fighter fighters.

Template:MoveListStart Template:MoveListEnd

History

Development

Model 1 version

3D graphics in games were very primitive. You could only make models from triangles, which didn't even have textures. ... There wasn't the opportunity to make graphics that were really beautiful, and because of that I decided to spend all my efforts to make character movements correct and realistic. Yes, Street Fighter had nice sprites, but we had the advantage of very smooth movements

Yu Suzuki[8]

In 1992 Sega released the three-dimensional fighter, Dark Edge, which attempts to create 3D gameplay by manipulating sprites with the Sega System 32 arcade board. Dark Edge was, however, riddled with hardware limitations and failed to excite the gaming public - the next milestone in the genre had to use polygons.

Sega were not the first to come to this conclusion - Distinctive Software's niche home computer 4D Sports Boxing, released in 1991/1992, was another attempt at a three-dimensional combat game, but was strictly a boxing game, only used 3D polygons for the fighters (who barely resembled humans) rather than the environments, and lacked much of the freedoms enjoyed by Virtua Fighter's gameplay. Similarly to situation surrounding Virtua Racing, no single game on the market was offering to render a respectible number of polygons in real time while keeping a solid frame rate.

A "20% complete" build of what was known as Virtua Fighters was shown at the Amusement Machine Show 1993 in August[9] alongside Star Wars Arcade (then known as Virtua Star Wars). Only two characters out of the planned eight were on show[10] - Lau Chan, and the inevitably scrapped character Siba. While Virtua Fighters raised eyebrows, its early state meant it was not the star of the show - this accolade likely goes to Namco's Ridge Racer, a texture-mapped 3D racing game.

Akira Yuki is a particularly notable character in Virtua Fighter as he was a last-minute addition to the game (so much so that early cabinets do not feature him in the artwork at all). He replaced Siba (also known as "Majido"), a Middle-Eastern fighter who was axed from the game altogether for unknown reasons. Siba would eventually become an unlockable character in Fighters Megamix.

Suzuki stated that the game program was written with 50,000 lines of code.[11]

Another scrapped character, "Jeff" also exists within the game's code. Jeff sports a military cap and camouflage attire, and uses an incomplete set of Jacky's moves. Seiichi Ishii, instrumental in Virtua Fighter's design, would go on to help create the first two Tekken games by Namco, in which an extremely similar character (albeit as a robot), "Prototype Jack" (P.Jack) appears.

Saturn version

The Saturn version of Virtua Fighter was written almost entirely from the ground up alongside the hardware[12]. AM2 took a different approach to the arcade game, focusing on the quality of the animations over graphics, to the point where in early builds, characters could have as little as 100 polygons[13]. AM2 would then raise the polygon count as high as possible before the frame rate dropped to unacceptable levels.

One of these low polygon, low resolution, "30-40% complete" builds was shown at the '94 Tokyo Toy Show[12] in June 1994, where despite being playable, only two punches and two kicks could be performed[14]. Sega later clarified that this build represented less than two weeks of work[15]. A "45% complete" build was shown a few months later, now with an upped resolution to 640x224 (versus the 320x224 seen previously)[16] and more features.

Yu Suzuki had originally planned for 1,000 polygons for each scene in Virtua Fighter, but this milestone was met in the Tokyo Toy Show build[15]. This newer build was running with 1,300 polygons (550 per character and 220 for the ground), with hints that 2,000 may be possible in the final product[15]. The Saturn version was never set to hit the arcade's number of polygons overall, instead using texture mapping to reduce the number needed for facial expressions and floor textures[15].

32X version

The 32X version was meant to debut alongside the cancelled Sega Neptune project[17].


Impact

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Up until that time, fighting games (such as Capcom's Street Fighter series) were designed and rendered on sprite-based 2D graphics hardware—both the character animation and background scenery were composed of 2D sprites and tilemaps, which when using multiple layers produced a parallax scrolling effect as the screen moved to follow the characters. Virtua Fighter dispensed with the 2D graphics, replacing them with flat-shaded triangles rendered in real-time, using the Sega Model 1's 3D rendering hardware, allowing for effects and technologies that were impossible in sprite-based fighters, such as characters that could move left and right rather than just backwards and forwards, and a dynamic camera that could zoom, pan, and swoop dramatically around the arena. The game had a more realistic take on the genre, attempting to represent actual martial arts disciplines, making it more of a fighting simulation.[18]

Virtua Fighter's graphics, however, eventually became obsolete due to rapid advances in polygon technology that allowed for rounder, more detailed, textured, higher-polygon-count character models, as seen in Virtua Fighter 2. Nevertheless, Virtua Fighter forever revolutionized the fighting game genre, introducing a more realistic style of gameplay to the genre with its move to 3D.[19]

Legacy

Virtua Fighter was a phenomenal success for Sega, particularly in Japan which was already consumed by arcade game fighting culture. After a slow start, it became one of Japan's highest-grossing arcade games of all time.[20] Its success has guaranteed future entries in the franchise ever since, and is amongst Sega AM2's most recognisable products.

Virtua Fighter was followed by Virtua Fighter 2 in 1994, which sports significantly improved visuals and two new characters. AM2's Seiichi Ishii would also leave following his work on this game to create Tekken for Namco, seen as an important competitor to Virtua Fighter during the 1990s.

Likewise, programmer Francois Yves Bertrand (credited as F.Y. Bertrand) was headhunted by Atari Corporation and put to work on the Atari Jaguar 3D fighting game, Fight for Life, cited as being a killer app for the system designed to rival the PlayStation and Saturn consoles (though mismanagement at the company led to an unfinished build being released).

Virtua Fighter was adapted into a comic book, published by Marvel Comics. It was released in May 1995, to coincide with the Sega Saturn's North American launch.[21]

Versions

As a milestone for both Sega and the fighting game genre as a whole, Virtua Fighter was widely tipped for release on the Sega Saturn console. A port was developed in conjunction with the hardware and was released in Japan as a launch title (before becoming the pack-in game for the subsequent North American and European launches of the console).

Views on the Saturn version are generally mixed, as while its existence led to Sega's console out-selling the PlayStation during its first few months of sale in Japan, it quickly became apparent that the port had been rushed to market with severe graphical and technical issues. Although the disc comes paired with higher quality arranged music inspired by the arcade soundtrack, polygon counts are significantly lower, five-second load times interrupt fights and the screen resolution is reduced over the arcade game.

On the Saturn, Virtua Fighter has issues rendering 3D content, with flickering polygons overlapping in odd ways (some of which occasionally disappear entirely), and animation issues, including an infamous bug where certain characters' feet to point in the wrong direction during their winning poses. The jerky camera of the arcade version is also carried over from the arcade game, and in some situations can behave worse than its arcade counterpart. Similar technical issues would be witnessed in Daytona USA, also created in parallel with the hardware.

By the time of the Western release in mid-1995, Virtua Fighter compared unfavourably to other early Saturn/PlayStation fighting games, such as Battle Arena Toshinden. In response, Sega released Virtua Fighter Remix shortly before the Winter launch of Virtua Fighter 2, which addresses some of the concerns and textures the 3D models. Virtua Fighter Remix quickly became the de facto version of Virtua Fighter, being the new console pack-in and the basis for Virtua Fighter PC.

A version of Virtua Fighter was also released for the Sega 32X, which in Japan debuted after the Saturn version (but before the Saturn version in other territories). Originally planned to be a Sega Neptune launch title, it suffers from even lower polygon counts than the Saturn version and various other cutbacks, but is otherwise relatively faithful to the original, subsequently being cited as one of the better games for the system. While the 32X renders fewer polygons at any one time, they are generally more "stable", with clipping and flickering being mostly absent from port (although some animation issues still remain). It is also the only 32X game with support for 16:9 widescreen displays.

Both home versions of the game added a "Round-Robin" tournament mode.

Ports for mobile phones also exist.

Production credits

Arcade version

Source:
In-game credits

Saturn version

Source:
In-game credits[22]

32X version

Source:
In-game credits
  • Special Thanks: Joe Miller, Steve Payne, Joyce Takakura, All Magazines, Chrissie Huneke-Kremer, Diana Bertollt, John Kully, Clint Dyer, Eric Smith, Lorene Goble, Jennifer Titchener, Sandy Tallerico, Graciela Arrue
  • Executive Producer: Michael Latham
  • Associate Producer: Eric Quakenbush
  • Assistant Producers: Erik Wahlberg, Bill Person
  • Marketing Manager: France M. Tantiado
  • Public Relations Coordinator: Terry Tang
  • Test Manager: Mark Lindstrom
  • Lead Tester: Richie Hideshima
  • Assistant (Tester) Leads: Stephen Bourdet, Lloyd Kinoshita, Mike Borg, Nicole Tatum
  • Testers: Rob Prideaux, Joshua Johnson, Ron Allen, Ty Johnson, Mark Fabela, Sako Bezdjian, Raul Orozco, Cesar Lemus, Jay Vo, Scott Hawkins, Kemrexx George, David Paniagua, Richard Cummings, Kim Rogers, Seth Carbon, Rayman Suansing, Joel Breton, Louis Dribbin, Joseph M. Damon, Sean Davin, Stephen C. Wong, Rick Greer, Randy Smaha, Steve Thompson, Anthony Borba, Mike Benton, Eric Molina, Jeffrey L. Loney, Jeff Sanders, Joe Cecchin, Steve Smith
  • Manual: Wendy Dinsmore
Source:
US manual[23]

Track list

Saturn version

1. [data track]  
2. AM2 Logo (00:09) 
3. Stage Clear (You Won) (00:08) 
4. Stage Failed (You Lost) (00:07) 
5. Continue? - Game Over (00:18) 
6. Player Select (05:04) 
7. Jacky Bryant (05:10) 
8. Jeffry Mcwild (05:05) 
9. Sarah Bryant (05:09) 
10. Kage-Maru (05:06) 
11. Pai Chan (05:07) 
12. Wolf Hawkfield (04:55) 
13. Lau Chan (05:11) 
14. Akira Yuki (05:12) 
15. Dural (05:04) 
16. Name Entry (00:50) 
17. Rating - Average (00:09) 
18. Rating - Poor (00:09) 
19. Rating - Excellent (00:12) 
Running time: 53:05

Magazine articles

Main article: Virtua Fighter/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) #1: "November 1995" (1995-10-26)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Saturn Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1994-01: "Extra issue of Beep! MegaDrive" (1994-11-17)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
32X Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1995-11: "November 1995" (1995-10-07)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
32X Print advert in Sega Magazin (DE) #27: "Februar 1996" (1996-01-10)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
32X Print advert in Hobby Consolas (ES) #52: "Enero 1996" (199x-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg

Television advertisements

Photo gallery

Physical scans

Model 1 version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
83 №147, p100-101[25]
Arcade
83
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Arcade
N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Virtua Fighter

Model 1, US
VirtuaFighter Model1 US Manual.pdf
Manual
Model 1, JP

Saturn version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
56 №3, p126-129[26]
93 №39, p130-132[27]
94 №158, p12-19[28]
№160, p27[29]
№165, p32[30]
95 №165, p32[30]
92
90 №17, p72-75[31]
80 №21, p78/79
79
82 №46, p25
90 №311, p37
95 Sega Saturn Tsūshin, p6
90
85
95 №68, p31[32]
93 №73, p48[33]
95 №25, p34-37
96 №73
93 №15, p71
91
90 №45, p74[34]
82
100 №1, p142/143[35]
97 №29, p38-41
96 №28, p16-21[36]
95 №35, p88[37]
80 №4, p88[38]
95 №55, p54/55[39]
97 №63, p14/15
95 №41, p36/37
95 №49, p50
90
90 №, p9[40]
96 №3, p78-81[41]
88 №1, p76-79[42]
Sega Saturn
90
Based on
34 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
85
[43]
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
90
[44]
CD Consoles (FR)
56
[26]
Consoles + (FR)
93
[27]
Computer & Video Games (UK) NTSC-J
94
[28]
Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL
95
[30]
Computer + Video Giochi (IT)
91
[45]
Digitiser (UK)
93
[46]
Edge (UK)
90
[31]
Electronic Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
75
[47]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
100
[48]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
79
[49]
Excalibur (CZ)
82
[50]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
90
[51]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
90
[52]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
85
[53]
GamePro (US) NTSC-J
95
[32]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
93
[33]
GamesMaster (UK) NTSC-J
96
[54]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
93
[55]
Joypad (FR)
90
[34]
LeveL (CZ)
85
[56]
MAN!AC (DE)
82
[57]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
82
[58]
Maximum (UK)
100
[35]
Mega (UK) NTSC-J
97
[59]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
83
[60]
Magazina Igrushek (RU)
83
[61]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-J
96
[36]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
95
[37]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-J
75
[38]
Player One (FR)
95
[39]
Power Unlimited (NL)
92
[62]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
89
[63]
Saturn+ (UK) PAL
82
[64]
Score (CZ)
60
[65]
Sega Magazin (DE)
87
[66]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
97
[67]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-J
97
[68]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J
95
[69]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
95
[70]
Sega Megazone (AU)
95
[71]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
90
[40]
Strana Igr (RU)
60
[72]
Super Juegos (ES)
90
[73]
Todo Sega (ES)
92
[74]
Ultimate Future Games (UK) NTSC-J
96
[75]
Ultimate Future Games (UK) PAL
89
[76]
Última Generación (ES)
88
[77]
Video Games (DE) NTSC-J
80
[78]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
80
[79]
Sega Saturn
88
Based on
51 reviews

Virtua Fighter

Saturn, US
Virtuafighter sat us backcover.jpgVirtuafighter sat us frontcover.jpg
Cover
Virtuafighter sat us manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, US (Not For Resale)

VirtuaFighterSaturnUSBack-NFR.jpg

VirtuaFighterSaturnUSDisk-NFR.jpg
Disc
Virtuafighter sat us manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, EU
VirtuaFighter saturn eu cover.jpg
Cover
VirtuaFighter saturn eu cd.jpg
Disc
VirtuaFighterSaturnEUManual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, JP
Virtuafighter sat jp backcover.jpgVirtuafighter sat jp frontcover.jpg
Cover
VirtuaFighter Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
VirtuaFighter saturn JP cd.jpg
Disc
Saturn, BR
VF Saturn BR Cover Front.jpg
Cover
Saturn, Asia
VirtuaFighter Sat Asia Box Back.jpgVirtuaFighter Sat Asia Box.jpg
Cover
VirtuaFighter Sat Asia Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
Saturn, PT

32X version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
80 №47, p136
95 №168, p36-39[5]
76 №75, p36[80]
75 №358, p30
85 Vol 3, №10, p17
86
93 №35, p62/63
92 №18, p59
92
80
93 №37, p70/71[81]
92 №57, p122/123[82]
95 №22, p84/85
96 №73, p52/53
91 №51, p56/57
94 №56, p26
Sega 32X
88
Based on
16 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[83]
Consoles + (FR)
80
[84]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
95
[5]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
76
[80]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
75
[85]
Fun Generation (DE)
90
[86]
Fusion (US) NTSC-U
75
[87]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
85
[88]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
86
[4]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
83
[89]
GamePro (UK)
93
[90]
Gamers (DE)
80
[91]
Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL
92
[92]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
80
[93]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
94
[94]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
88
[95]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
93
[81]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
75
[96]
Player One (FR)
92
[82]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
81
[97]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
95
[98]
Sega News (CZ)
94
[99]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
96
[100]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
91
[101]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
94
[102]
Super Juegos (ES)
91
[103]
Todo Sega (ES)
93
[104]
Top Consoles (FR)
75
[105]
Tricks (RU)
74
[106]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
80
[107]
Sega 32X
85
Based on
30 reviews

Virtua Fighter

32X, US
VF 32X US Box Back.jpgVF 32X US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Virtua Fighter 32X US Cart.jpg
Cart
Virtuafighter 32x us manual.pdf
Manual
32X, EU
VF 32X EU Box Back.jpgNospine.pngVF 32X EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
Virtua Fighter 32X EU Cart.jpg
Cart
VirtuaFighter 32X EU Manual.pdf
Manual
32X, JP
VF 32X JP Box Back.jpgVirtuaFighter MD JP BoxSpine.jpgVF 32X JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
VirtuaFighter MD JP CartTop.jpg
VirtuaFighter MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Virtuafighter 32x jp manual.pdf
Manual
32X, BR
VF 32X BR Box.jpg
Cover
Virtuafighter 32x br cart.jpg
Cart
Virtuafighter 32x br manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega 32X
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
Cartridge
Sega 32X
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1995-07-26 Page
Sega 32X
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1995-07-25 Page
Sega 32X
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1995-07-24 Page
Sega 32X
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1995-07-21 Page
Sega 32X
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1995-07-27 Page
Sega 32X
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1995-06-30 Page
Sega 32X
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1995-06-15 Page
Sega 32X
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1995-05-30 Page

External links

References

  1. http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/32x/soft.html
  2. Press release: 1995-05-19: Sega Saturn launch takes consumers and retailers by storm
  3. Press release: 1995-09-19: Sega Genesis 32X price comes down to $99
  4. 4.0 4.1 File:GamePlayers US 0811.pdf, page 68 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePlayers US 0811.pdf_p68" defined multiple times with different content
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 File:CVG UK 168.pdf, page 36 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 168.pdf_p36" defined multiple times with different content
  6. File:HobbyConsolas ES 052.pdf, page 73
  7. http://www.mamedb.com/game/vf
  8. Yu Suzuki Interview
  9. File:CVG UK 144.pdf, page 12
  10. File:CVG UK 144.pdf, page 18
  11. File:GameOn US 06.pdf, page 11
  12. 12.0 12.1 File:Edge UK 011.pdf, page 29
  13. File:Edge UK 011.pdf, page 28
  14. File:Edge UK 011.pdf, page 7
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 File:Edge UK 014.pdf, page 47
  16. File:Edge UK 014.pdf, page 46
  17. File:SegaMagazine UK 15.pdf, page 12
  18. http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/virtuafighter/virtuafighter.htm
  19. htt (Wayback Machine: 2001-11-20 06:12)
  20. File:UltimateFutureGames UK 02.pdf, page 28
  21. File:GameOn US 06.pdf, page 12
  22. File:VirtuaF1_Saturn_JP_SSOpening.pdf
  23. File:Virtuafighter_32x_us_manual.pdf, page 31
  24. Sega Pro, "May 1996" (UK; 1996-03-21), page 36
  25. File:CVG UK 147.pdf, page 100
  26. 26.0 26.1 File:CDConsoles FR 03.pdf, page 126 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CDConsoles FR 03.pdf_p126" defined multiple times with different content
  27. 27.0 27.1 File:ConsolesPlus FR 039.pdf, page 130 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ConsolesPlus FR 039.pdf_p130" defined multiple times with different content
  28. 28.0 28.1 File:CVG UK 158.pdf, page 12 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 158.pdf_p12" defined multiple times with different content
  29. File:CVG UK 160.pdf, page 27
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 File:CVG UK 165.pdf, page 32 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 165.pdf_p32" defined multiple times with different content
  31. 31.0 31.1 File:Edge UK 017.pdf, page 72 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Edge UK 017.pdf_p72" defined multiple times with different content
  32. 32.0 32.1 File:GamePro US 068.pdf, page 33 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 068.pdf_p33" defined multiple times with different content
  33. 33.0 33.1 File:GamePro US 073.pdf, page 50 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 073.pdf_p50" defined multiple times with different content
  34. 34.0 34.1 File:Joypad FR 045.pdf, page 74 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joypad FR 045.pdf_p74" defined multiple times with different content
  35. 35.0 35.1 File:MAXIMUM UK 01.pdf, page 142 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MAXIMUM UK 01.pdf_p142" defined multiple times with different content
  36. 36.0 36.1 File:MeanMachinesSega28UK.pdf, page 16 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega28UK.pdf_p16" defined multiple times with different content
  37. 37.0 37.1 File:MeanMachinesSega35UK.pdf, page 88 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega35UK.pdf_p88" defined multiple times with different content
  38. 38.0 38.1 File:NextGeneration US 04.pdf, page 90 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:NextGeneration US 04.pdf_p90" defined multiple times with different content
  39. 39.0 39.1 File:PlayerOne FR 055.pdf, page 56 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 055.pdf_p56" defined multiple times with different content
  40. 40.0 40.1 Saturn no Game wa Sekai Ichi~i~i~i!: Satamaga Dokusha Race Zen Kiroku, SoftBank Publishing, page 11 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SnGwSISDRZK Book JP.pdf_p11" defined multiple times with different content
  41. File:UltimateFutureGames UK 03.pdf, page 74
  42. File:UltimaGeneracion ES 01.pdf, page 79
  43. Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 21
  44. Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 74
  45. Computer + Video Giochi, "Gennaio 1995" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 30
  46. Digitiser (UK) (1995-07-10)
  47. Electronic Entertainment, "September 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 80
  48. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 64
  49. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 38
  50. Excalibur, "" (CZ; 1995-06-29), page 1
  51. Famitsu, "1994-12-02" (JP; 1994-11-18), page 1
  52. GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 7: July 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 13
  53. Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 8 August 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 34
  54. GamesMaster (UK) "Series 4, episode 11" (1994-11-29, 24:00) (+8:08)
  55. Games World: The Magazine, "September 1995" (UK; 1995-0x-xx), page 71
  56. LeveL, "Květen 1995" (CZ; 1995-05-01), page 18
  57. MAN!AC, "01/95" (DE; 1994-12-07), page 9
  58. MAN!AC, "08/95" (DE; 1995-07-12), page 46
  59. Mega, "February 1995" (UK; 1995-01-xx), page 38
  60. Mega Fun, "08/95" (DE; 1995-07-19), page 77
  61. Magazina Igrushek, "3/1995" (RU; 1995-xx-xx), page 56
  62. Power Unlimited, "Jaagang 3, Jul/Aug 1995" (NL; 1995-06-28), page 36
  63. Saturn Fan, "1995 February" (JP; 1995-01-07), page 32
  64. Saturn+, "Christmas 1995" (UK; 1995-12-14), page 56
  65. Score, "Červen 1995" (CZ; 1995-06-01), page 26
  66. Sega Magazin, "August 1995" (DE; 1995-07-12), page 62
  67. Sega Magazine, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-07-13), page 56
  68. Sega Power, "February 1995" (UK; 1994-12-15), page 14
  69. Sega Pro, "February 1995" (UK; 1994-12-29), page 36
  70. Sega Pro, "September 1995" (UK; 1995-08-10), page 50
  71. Sega Megazone, "August 1995" (AU; 1995-0x-xx), page 18
  72. Strana Igr, "" (RU; 1996-xx-xx), page 93
  73. Super Juegos, "Agosto 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 96
  74. Todo Sega, "Agosto 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 32
  75. Ultimate Future Games, "February 1995" (UK; 1995-01-01), page 78
  76. Ultimate Future Games, "September 1995" (UK; 1995-08-01), page 72
  77. Última Generación, "Marzo 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 76
  78. Video Games, "8/95" (DE; 1995-07-26), page 62
  79. VideoGames, "June 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 74
  80. 80.0 80.1 File:EGM US 075.pdf, page 36 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:EGM US 075.pdf_p36" defined multiple times with different content
  81. 81.0 81.1 File:MeanMachinesSega37UK.pdf, page 70 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega37UK.pdf_p70" defined multiple times with different content
  82. 82.0 82.1 File:PlayerOne FR 057.pdf, page 122 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 057.pdf_p122" defined multiple times with different content
  83. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 257
  84. Consoles +, "Octobre 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 136
  85. Famitsu, "1995-10-27" (JP; 1995-10-13), page 1
  86. Fun Generation, "06/95" (DE; 1995-0x-xx), page 72
  87. Fusion, "Volume 1, Number 5: December 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 120
  88. GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 10: October 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 17
  89. GamePro, "November 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 68
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  106. Tricks, "Vypusk 8" (RU; 1996-xx-xx), page 28
  107. VideoGames, "October 1995" (US; 1995-09-19), page 84



Virtua Fighter series
Virtua Fighter (Remix | PC) (1993-1995) | Virtua Fighter 2 (Mega Drive | Sega Ages 2500 Series) (1994-1996) | Virtua Fighter 3 (3tb | 3tb Online) (1996-1997) | Virtua Fighter 4 (Evolution | Final Tuned) (2001-2004) | Virtua Fighter 5 (R | Final Showdown | Ultimate Showdown) (2006-2021)
Spin-offs
Virtua Fighter Kids (1996) | Virtua Fighter Animation (1997) | Virtua Fighter 10th Anniversary (2003) | Virtua Quest (2004)
Cross-overs
Fighters Megamix (Game.com) | Dead or Alive 5 (5+ | Ultimate | Last Round) (2012-2015)
Portrait series
Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series: (1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | The Final) (1995-1996) | GG Portrait: Yuuki Akira (1996) | GG Portrait: Pai Chan (1996)
Others
Virtua Fighter (LCD) (1995) | Electronic Virtua Fighter (199x) | Virtua Fighter (R-Zone) (199x) | Virtua Fighter 3 Win-PC-Collection (1996) | Virtua Fighter (2007) | CR Virtua Fighter (2008) | Virtua Fighter Mobile (2008) | Pachinko CR Virtua Fighter Revolution (2012) | Virtua Fighter Cool Champ (2012) | Virtua Fighter Fever Combo (2014) | Virtua Fighter Pachislot (2014) | Virtua Fighter Battle Genesis (2019)
Unlicensed
Virtua Fighter 2 vs. Tekken 2 (199x)
Demo discs
Java Tea Original Virtua Fighter Kids (1996)
Albums
Music
Virtua Fighter: Saikyou no Senshi (1994) | Sega Saturn Virtua Fighter Maximum Mania (1994) | Virtua Fighter "Sega Saturn" Image by B-univ Neo Rising (1994) | Virtua Fighter 2 Dancing Shadows (1995) | Virtua Fighter Soundtrack Vol. 1: Shinshou Hassei (1995) | Virtua Fighter Soundtrack Vol. 2: Ryuuko Kaikou (1996) | Ai ga Tarinaize (1996) | Virtua Fighter Soundtrack Vol. 3: Koubou Banjou (1996) | Virtua Fighter Complete Vocal Collection (1996) | Virtua Fighter Kids Sound Tracks (1996) | Virtua Fighter 3 Sound Tracks (1996) | Fighters Megamix Sound Tracks (1997) | Virtua Fighter 3 On The Vocal (1997) | Kimi ga Inai Yoru (1997) | Virtua Fighter 4 Official Soundtrack (2002) | Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution Original Sound Tracks (2002) | Yuuki (2004) | Virtua Fighter 5 Original Sound Track (2011) | Virtua Fighter 5 R Official Sound (2012) | Virtua Fighter 5 Official Sound (2012) | Virtua Fighter Best Tracks + One (2015) | Virtua Fighter esports Premium Music Collection (2021) | Virtua Fighter (2023) | Virtua Fighter 3tb Online Premium Music Collection (2023)
Books
Book
Virtua Fighter Maniax (1994) | V Jump Books Game Series: Sega Saturn Virtua Fighter (1994) | Virtua Fighter Maniax Replays (1994) | Virtua Fighter Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Vol. 1 for Novice (1994) | Virtua Fighter Ougi no Sho (1995) | Virtua Fighter Maniax for Windows (1995) | Virtua Fighter 2 Act.1 (1995) | Virtua Fighter Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Vol. 2 for Expert (1995) | Virtua Fighter 2 Maniax Replays (1995) | Virtua Fighter 2 Act.2 (1995) | Virtua Fighter Remix Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Complete (1995) | Virtua Fighter 2 Maniax (1995) | Virtua Fighter 2 Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Vol. 1 for Novice (1995) | Virtua Fighter 2 Act.3 (1995) | Arcade Game Hisshou Hou Special: Virtua Fighter Kids (1996) | Virtua Fighter 3 Command Game Guide (1996) | Virtua Fighter Legend of Sarah (1996) | Virtua Fighter 2 Perfect Guide (1996) | Virtua Fighter 2 Fighter's Bible (1996) | Virtua Fighter 2 Game Guide Book (1996) | Virtua Fighter Graphics "Model 2" (1996) | Tokyo Virtua Monogatari (1996) | Virtua Fighter 2 Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Vol. 2 for Expert (1996) | Virtua Fighter Kids Fan Book (1996) | Virtua Fighter Honoo no Maki: Pai Chan Bukyou Gaiden (1996) | Virtua Fighter Ryuu no Maki: Touken Kairou (1996) | Virtua Fighter Kids Sega Saturn Fighting Manual (1996) | Virtua Fighter Kids Kyuukyoku Hon (1996) | Virtua Fighter Relax (1996) | Virtua Fighter: Arashi no Maki (1996) | Virtua Fighter 3 Act. 0.5 (1996) | Virtua Fighter 3 Act.1 (1996) | Virtua Fighter 3 Act.2 (1996) | Fighters Megamix Fighting Master's Guide (1997) | Fighters Megamix Official Guide (1997) | Virtua Fighter 2: Ten Stories (1997) | Fighters Mega Books (1997) | Fighters Megamix Comic Anthology (1997) | Virtua Fighter 3 Official Playing Guide (1998) | Virtua Fighter 3tb Kanzen Kouryaku Dokuhon (1998) | Virtua Fighter 3tb Perfect Guide (1998) | Virtua Fighter 4 Perfect Guide (2001) | Virtua Fighter 4 Yoku Wakaru Haoh Yousei Dojo (2002) | Virtua Fighter 4 Kanzen Kouryaku Guide PS2 Ban (2002) | PS2 Ban Virtua Fighter 4 Perfect Guide (2002) | Virtua Fighter 4 The Complete (2002) | Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution Perfect Guide (2002) | Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution: Yokuwakaru Hisshou Senjutsu Shinan (2003) | PS2 Ban Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution Complete Guide (2003) | Virtua Fighter 10th Anniversary: Memory of Decade (2003) | Virtua Fighter 2 Technical Archive (2004) | Virtua Fighter 4 Final Tuned Master Guide (2004) | Virtua Fighter Cyber Generation: Judgement Six no Yabou Kouryaku Navigation (2004) | Virtua Fighter 4 Final Tuned Orange Book: Junkies' Last Stand (2004) | Virtua Fighter 5 Technical Book (2006) | Virtua Fighter 5 White Book: Keep It Real (2006) | Virtua Fighter 5 Black Book: Keep It Moral (2007) | Virtua Fighter 5 for PlayStation 3 Complete Guide (2007) | Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown Masters Guide (2010) | Virtua Fighter no Neppa (2018)
TV and Film
Virtua Fighter CGMV (1994) | CGMV Virtua Fighter 2 (1995) | Virtua Fighter 2 (1995) | Virtua Fighter 2 Eternal Battle (1995) | Virtua Fighter (1995) | Virtua Fighter Special Training Pack (1995) | Virtua Fighter 2 Wheel of Fortune (1995) | Virtua Fighter 2 Wheel of Fortune The Best Bout (1996) | Sega Official Video Library Vol. 2: Virtua Fighter Kids (199x) | Virtua Fighter 3 (Columbia video series) (1996) | CGMV Special Virtua Fighter 3: Shippuu no Shou "System" (1996) | CGMV Special Virtua Fighter 3: Geki no Shou "Battle" (1996)