Virtua Fighter 4

From Sega Retro

n/a

  • NAOMI 2
  • PlayStation 2

VirtuaFighter4 title.png

VirtuaFighter4 PS2 JP SSTitle.png

Virtua Fighter 4
System(s): Sega NAOMI 2, Sega NAOMI 2 GD-ROM, PlayStation 2
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Supporting companies:
Distributor:
Sony PlayStation 2
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (Europe)
Genre: Fighting

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Arcade (NAOMI 2)
JP
¥? ?
Arcade (NAOMI 2)
US
$? 840-0080C
Arcade (NAOMI 2)
UK
£? ?
Arcade (NAOMI 2 GD-ROM)
JP
¥? GDS-0012C


















Sony PlayStation 2
JP
¥6,800 (7,140)6,800 (7,140)[3] SLPM-62130
Sony PlayStation 2
US
SLUS-20323
ESRB: Teen
Sony PlayStation 2
US
(Greatest Hits)
SLUS-20323GH
ESRB: Teen
Sony PlayStation 2
EU
(Promo)
SCES-50759
Sony PlayStation 2
EU
SCES-50759
ELSPA: 15+ OK
Sony PlayStation 2
DE
SCES-50759
USK: 12
Sony PlayStation 2
ES
SCES-50759
aDeSe: 13+
Sony PlayStation 2
FR
SCES-50759
SELL: 12+
Sony PlayStation 2
UK
£39.9939.99[5] SCES-50759
ELSPA: 15+ OK
Sony PlayStation 2
FI
SCES-50759
VET: 15+
Sony PlayStation 2
IT
SCES-50759
ELSPA: 15+ OK
Sony PlayStation 2
AU
SCES-50759-ANZ
OFLC: M15

Virtua Fighter 4 (バーチャファイター4) is a fighting game developed by Sega-AM2 and released for Sega NAOMI 2 arcade hardware in 2001. It is the fouth major entry in the Virtua Fighter series and a direct sequel to Virtua Fighter 3. The game was originally announced under the working title of Virtua Fighter X, before appearing with its final name at AOU Show 2001.

The game changed the Japanese arcade landscape due to use of internet and physical cards to save progress, which was the VF.NET (later ALL.Net) system.

It was succeeded by Virtua Fighter 5 in 2005.

Gameplay

Characters

Virtua Fighter 4 is the only game in the history of the Virtua Fighter series to remove a character from the core lineup of playable characters. Taka Arashi, who debuted in Virtua Fighter 3 and would return in Virtua Fighter 5 R, was not included due to technical difficulties.

Notavailable.svg Akira Yuki
Notavailable.svg Pai Chan
Notavailable.svg Lau Chan
Notavailable.svg Wolf Hawkfield
Notavailable.svg Jeffry Mcwild
Notavailable.svg Kagemaru
Notavailable.svg Sarah Bryant
Notavailable.svg Jacky Bryant
Notavailable.svg Dural
Notavailable.svg Shun Di
Notavailable.svg Lion Rafale
Notavailable.svg Aoi Umenokoji
Notavailable.svg Lei-Fei
Notavailable.svg Vanessa Lewis

History

Development

The NAOMI 2 arcade version of Virtua Fighter 4 uses up to 20,000 polygons for each character, while each background uses over 50,000 polygons, with up to 16 hardware light sources per polygon, at 60 frames per second. This was the highest character polygon count and lights per polygon for a video game up until 2001, giving it the most detailed character graphics and lighting effects of its time (such as dynamic search lights).[6] In comparison, the same year, Dead or Alive 3 on the Xbox used 10,000 to 15,000 polygons for the characters. Virtua Fighter 4's character polygon count was unsurpassed until Virtua Fighter 5 in 2005.[7] In terms of textures, the game uses 128 MB of texture data for the characters.[8]

The PlayStation 2 version of Virtua Fighter 4, due to hardware limitations, reduced the polygon count down to 7,000 polygons for the characters and had much fewer light sources. The texture details were also reduced for the PlayStation 2 version.[9]

Legacy

Like its predecessors, Virtua Fighter 4 saw several minor upgrades during the course of its lifespan, titled "Ver. B" and "Ver. C" respectively. It was ported to the PlayStation 2 in 2002 with slight graphical downgrades and online modes removed in exchange for more single player options.

Two major upgrades exist for the game, Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution and Virtua Fighter 4 Final Tuned.

Production credits

NAOMI 2 version

Virtua Fighter 4 Staff
Programmer
CG Designer
  • Chracter Face Director / Akira & Kage: Jun Kubota (iceman)
  • Wolf & Jeffery: Makio Kida
  • Lion, Aoi & Dural: Hiroaki Ota
  • Jacky & Lei-fei: Tetsunari Iwasaki
  • Sarah & Vanessa: Takashi Ito
  • Lau & Pai: Yumiko Sonoyama
  • Shun: Chizuka Tamehira
  • Chracter Concept Design: Kenji Miyawaki
  • Stage Design: Munehiko Makino, Atsushi Kanno
  • Visual Effect Design: Toru Ikeuchi
  • GUI & 2D Graphics: Kazfumi Ohashi
  • Design Support: Akihito Hiroyoshi, Takahito Minei, Hiroshi Hiraga, Kon Goshi, Nobuyuki Fujiki, Masami Naitou, Jin Onodera, Makoto Onuma, Nobuhiko Kosuge, Takahiko Kimura, Mitsugu Tsuchida
Planner
  • Planning & Arrangement: Tomonori Shiino
Motion
  • Motion Director: Kouji Kudou
  • Motion Designer: Yoshiyuki Iwai, Kousuke Sasaki, Makoto Koizumi, Masato Nakamura, Hajime Itou
    • Nova Inc.: Kashow Oda, Kazuaki Kitazawa
    • Anchor Inc.: Masahiro Onoguchi, Toshiyuki Ohashi, Yoshikazu Sumioka, Kiyoshi Kunimori, Mitsuo Shimizu, Shintaro Umeda, Tsutomu Tokumasu
  • Motion Capture Team: Hans Van Veenendall, Yaeko Okadaya, Takeo Iwata
  • Motion Actor
    • Attractive Action Club: Mitsuo Abe, Akira Oohashi, Eiji Morisaki, Tomotaka Watanabe, Jirou Ishimura, Toshinori Sasaki
    • Katsugekiza: Wataru Koga, Iori Sakakibara
    • Stunts Astyn: Motoki Kawana, Akira Sugihara
    • Ray/Orbital Link: Nakazawa Ray
  • Game System Regulator: Tetsuji Sugahara, Masaharu Terabata, Masanori Chida
Sound
VF.NET
Source:
In-game credits[10]

PlayStation 2 version

Staff
Programmers
Designers
Planners
Help Team
Original Game ©Sega ©Sega-AM2/Sega,2001,2002
Source:
In-game credits (JP)
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 JP SSCredits.pdf
[11]

Digital manuals

Magazine articles

Main article: Virtua Fighter 4/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Notavailable.svg
FI TV advert[12]

VirtuaFighter4 NAOMI2 US Flyer.pdf

PDF
NAOMI 2 US flyer
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 AU PrintAdvert.jpg
PlayStation 2 AU print advert
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in 576 Konzol (HU) #48: "Március 2002" (2002-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
PlayStation 2 print advert in GamePro (US) #163: "April 2002" (2002-0x-xx)
also published in:
  • Play (US) #5: "May 2002" (2002-xx-xx)[13]
Logo-pdf.svg
PlayStation 2 print advert in GamePro (US) #164: "May 2002" (2002-0x-xx)

Artwork

Physical scans

NAOMI 2 version

NAOMI 2, US
Virtua Fighter 4 NAOMI2 US Cart Back.jpgVirtuaFighter4 NAOMI2 Cart.jpg
Cart
NAOMI 2, JP
NAOMI 2
GD-ROM,
JP
Virtua Fighter 4 NAOMI2 JP Marquee.jpg
"Top" instructions
Virtua Fighter 4 NAOMI2 JP Bezel1.jpg
"Long" instructions
Virtua Fighter 4 NAOMI2 JP Bezel1.jpg
"Long" instructions (2)
Virtua Fighter 4 Naomi2 GD-ROM Disc.jpg
Disc

PlayStation 2 version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
98 May 2002, p78
100 TechTV (2002/04/05)
Sony PlayStation 2
99
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
576 Konzol (HU)
90
[14]
Click!Konsole (PL)
95
[15]
Consoles + (FR) PAL
95
[16]
Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL
80
[5]
Edge (UK) NTSC-J
70
[17]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
98
[18]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
93
[19]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
100
[20]
GMR (US) NTSC-U
100
[21]
Hyper (AU) PAL
94
[22]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
91
[23]
Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (US) NTSC-U
100
[24]
PlayStation 2 Official Magazine - UK (UK) PAL
80
[25]
Players (DE) PAL
90
[26]
Play (PL)
96
[27]
Play (US) NTSC-U
80
[28]
PlayZone (DE) PAL
91
[29]
PSM (US) NTSC-U
90
[30]
PSX Extreme (PL) NTSC-J
93
[31]
Super Juegos (ES)
95
[32]
Sony PlayStation 2
91
Based on
20 reviews

Virtua Fighter 4

PlayStation 2, US
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 US Box.jpg
Cover
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 US Disc.jpg
Disc
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 US Manual.pdf
Manual
PlayStation 2, US (Greatest Hits)
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 US Box GreatestHits.jpg
Cover
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 US Disc GreatestHits.jpg
Disc
PlayStation 2, US
(Hollywood Video)
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 US Box HollywoodVideo.jpg
Cover
PlayStation 2, JP
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 JP Box.jpg
Cover
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 JP Disc.jpg
Disc
PlayStation 2, AU
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 AU Box.jpg
Cover
PlayStation 2, EU
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 EU Box.jpg
Cover
PlayStation 2, EU (Promo)

VirtuaFighter4 PS2 EU promo disc.jpg
Disc
PlayStation 2, UK
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 UK cover.jpg
Cover
PlayStation 2, FR
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 FR Box.jpg
Cover
PlayStation 2, DE
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 DE Box.jpg
Cover
PlayStation 2, ES
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 ES Box.jpg
Cover
PlayStation 2, IT
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 IT Box.jpg
Cover
PlayStation 2, SE/DK/FI/NO
VirtuaFighter4 PS2 SE-DK-FI-NO Box.jpg
Cover

Technical information

Virtua Fighter 4 was the first video game to use normal mapping, an advanced form of bump mapping.

The character models in the original Sega NAOMI 2 arcade version had about 20,000 polygons per character. This was the highest character polygon count in any video game at the time,[33] surpassing the character polygon counts of 2001 Dreamcast game Sports Jam (up to 18,357 polygons)[34][35] and higher than the character polygon counts of any Xbox games (up to 15,000 polygons in Dead or Alive 3 and Dead or Alive Ultimate). The polygon counts in the PlayStation 2 version of Virtua Fighter 4 were reduced to about 7,000 polygons per character.[36]

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sony PlayStation 2
 ?
CRC32 ddcf01e0
MD5 0c91d4105d3969c345bdede385344bf8
SHA-1 56925d84541e709b5a354ea701756752b92be342
691,470,336 CD-ROM (EU) SCES-50759 (V1.00)
Sony PlayStation 2
CRC32 af293820
MD5 6042fc56240778af6f96891d473cbafb
SHA-1 c085481cf6c0b33b1369e8c66af4b0b0d6341654
567,332,976 CD-ROM (JP) SLPM-62130 (V2.00)
Sony PlayStation 2
 ?
CRC32 3ddf5508
MD5 961c46ace3bfc96e4e88ea1e93e35e81
SHA-1 4b867387c089e586d6fe3f4d4d9ea47743870f25
569,800,224 CD-ROM (US) SLUS-20323 (V1.02)
Sony PlayStation 2
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
2002-01-04 CD-R Page
Sony PlayStation 2
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
2002-02-01 CD-R Page

External links

References

  1. http://www.sega-am2.co.jp/vf4/index.html (Wayback Machine: 2001-12-11 23:51)
  2. http://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=thumbs&db=videodb&id=4482
  3. 3.0 3.1 http://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/slpm62130.html (Wayback Machine: 2007-05-15 07:53)
  4. Computer & Video Games, "May 2002" (UK; 2002-04-xx), page 54
  5. 5.0 5.1 Computer & Video Games, "May 2002" (UK; 2002-04-xx), page 80
  6. http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20061025/3dvf5.htm
  7. https://forum.beyond3d.com/threads/yes-but-how-many-polygons-an-artist-blog-entry-with-interesting-numbers.39321/
  8. Next Generation, "August 2001" (US; 2001-07-17), page 51
  9. Next Generation, "August 2001" (US; 2001-07-17), page 54
  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdh-Ue1we9k
  11. File:VirtuaFighter4_PS2_JP_SSCredits.pdf
  12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5xPTSq2UQI&ab_channel=KanavaZeroZero
  13. Play, "May 2002" (US; 2002-xx-xx), page 13
  14. 576 Konzol, "Március 2002" (HU; 2002-xx-xx), page 18
  15. Click!Konsole, "Sierpień 2002" (PL; 2002-xx-xx), page 8
  16. Consoles +, "Mai 2002" (FR; 2002-0x-xx), page 74
  17. Edge, "March 2002" (UK; 2002-02-27), page 90
  18. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 2002" (US; 2002-04-02), page 110
  19. Famitsu, "2002-02-08" (JP; 2002-01-25), page 1
  20. GamePro, "May 2002" (US; 2002-0x-xx), page 90
  21. GMR, "February 2003" (US; 2003-xx-xx), page 93
  22. Hyper, "June 2002" (AU; 2002-05-08), page 50
  23. MAN!AC, "06/2002" (DE; 2002-05-02), page 40
  24. Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, "April 2002" (US; 2002-03-12), page 92
  25. PlayStation 2 Official Magazine - UK, "April 2002" (UK; 2002-03-22), page 82
  26. Players, "6/2002" (DE; 2002-04-24), page 54
  27. Play, "Czerwiec 2002" (PL; 2002-xx-xx), page 24
  28. Play, "March 2002" (US; 2002-xx-xx), page 46
  29. PlayZone, "06/2002" (DE; 2002-04-30), page 66
  30. PSM, "Vol. 6, No. 4: April 2002" (US; 2002-0x-xx), page 24
  31. PSX Extreme, "03/2002" (PL; 2002-0x-xx), page 40
  32. Super Juegos, "Mayo 2002" (ES; 2002-0x-xx), page 14
  33. 3Dゲームファンのための「バーチャファイター5」グラフィックス講座
  34. Character model with shadow
  35. Character model
  36. "Yes, but how many polygons?" An artist blog entry with interesting numbers


Virtua Fighter 4

VirtuaFighter4 title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Development | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception


Books: Prima's Official Strategy Guide: Virtua Fighter 4 (2001) | Virtua Fighter 4 Red Book: Elementary Phase (2001) | Virtua Fighter 4 Perfect Guide (2001) | Virtua Fighter 4 Yoku Wakaru Haoh Yousei Dojo (2002) | Virtua Fighter 4 Kanzen Kouryaku Guide PS2 Ban (2002) | Virtua Fighter 4 Blue Book: Advanced Phase (2002) | PS2 Ban Virtua Fighter 4 Perfect Guide (2002) | Virtua Fighter 4 The Complete (2002)
Music: Virtua Fighter 4 Official Soundtrack (2002)
Sony PlayStation 2
Prototypes: 2001-01-04 | 02-01



Virtua Fighter series
Virtua Fighter (Remix | PC) (1993-1995) | Virtua Fighter 2 (Mega Drive | Sega Ages 2500 Series) (1994-1996) | Virtua Fighter 3 (3tb) (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 Mobile (2008) | Virtua Fighter Cool Champ (2012) | Virtua Fighter Fever Combo (2014) | Virtua Fighter Battle Genesis (2019)
Unlicensed
Virtua Fighter 2 vs. Tekken 2 (199x)
Demo discs
Java Tea Original Virtua Fighter Kids (1996)
Albums
Virtua Fighter: Akira/Kage (1994) | Virtua Fighter (1994) | Sega Saturn Virtua Fighter Maximum Mania (1994) | Virtua Fighter "Sega Saturn" Image by B-univ Neo Rising (1994) | Virtua Fighter 2 Sound Track (1995) | Virtua Fighter 2 Dancing Shadows (1995) | "Kuchibiru no Shinwa" (1995) | "Wild Vision" (1995) | Virtua Fighter Soundtrack Vol. 1: Shinshou Hassei (1995) | Virtua Fighter & Virtua Fighter 2 Music Tracks (1996) | Virtua Fighter Soundtrack Vol. 2: Ryuuko Kaikou (1996) | "Kyouhansha" (1996) | Tianshi Xiang (1996) | "Ai ga Tarinaize" (1996) | "Eien no Mannaka de" (1996) | Virtua Fighter Complete Vocal Collection (1996) | Virtua Fighter Kids Sound Tracks (1996) | Virtua Fighter Soundtrack Vol. 3: Koubou Banjou (1996) | Virtua Fighter 3 Sound Tracks (1996) | Virtua Fighter 3 On The Vocal (1997) | Virtua Fighter 4 Official Soundtrack (2002) | Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution Original Sound Tracks (2002) | Virtua Fighter 5 Original Sound Track (2011) | Virtua Fighter 5 Official Sound (2012) | Virtua Fighter 5 R Official Sound (2012) | Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown Official Sound (2012) | Virtua Fighter Official Sound (2013) | Virtua Fighter 2 Official Sound (2013) | Virtua Fighter 3 Official Sound (2013) | Virtua Fighter Best Tracks + One (2015)
Books
Virtua Fighter Maniax (1994) | Virtua Fighter Maniax Replays (1994) | Virtua Fighter Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Vol. 1 for Novice (1994) | Virtua Fighter Guide Book V-Jump (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 Act.2 (1995) | Virtua Fighter Remix Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Complete (1995) | Virtua Fighter (1995) | Virtua Fighter 2 Act.3 (1995) | Virtua Fighter Strategy Guide (1995) | Virtua Fighter 2 Sega Saturn Fighting Manual Vol. 1 for Novice (1995) | Virtua Fighter 2 Perfect Guide (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 2 Fighter's Bible (1996) | Virtua Fighter Kids Fan Book (1996) | Virtua Fighter Kids Sega Saturn Fighting Manual (1996) | Virtua Fighter 3 Command Game Guide (1996) | Virtua Fighter 3 Act.1 (1996) | Virtua Fighter Relax (1996) | Virtua Fighter 3 Act.2 (1996) | Virtua Fighter Honoo no Maki: Pai Chan Bukyou Gaiden (1996) | Fighters Mega Books Mix Ultimate Guide (1997) | Prima's Virtua Fighter 3: Unauthorized Arcade Secrets (1997) | Virtua Fighter 3 Official Playing Guide (1998) | Virtua Fighter 3tb Kanzen Kouryaku Doku Hon (1998) | Virtua Fighter 3tb Perfect Guide (1998) | Prima's Official Strategy Guide: Virtua Fighter 3tb (1999) | Virtua Fighter 3tb Official Strategy Guide (1999) | Prima's Official Strategy Guide: Virtua Fighter 4 (2001) | Virtua Fighter 4 Perfect Guide (2001) | Virtua Fighter 4 Red Book: Elementary Phase (2001) | Virtua Fighter 4 Yoku Wakaru Haoh Yousei Dojo (2002) | Virtua Fighter 4 Blue Book: Advanced Phase (2002) | Virtua Fighter 4 The Complete (2002) | Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution Perfect Guide (2002) | Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution Green Book: Law of the Junkies (2002) | Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution: Yokuwakaru Hisshou Senjutsu Shinan (2003) | Virtua Fighter 10th Anniversary: Memory of Decade (2003) | 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 White Book: Keep It Real (2006) | Virtua Fighter 5 Black Book: Keep It Moral (2006) | Virtua Fighter 5 Technical Book (2006) | Virtua Fighter 5 Official Strategy Guide (2007) | Virtua Fighter 5 for PlayStation 3 Complete Guide (2007) | Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown Masters Guide (2010)
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)