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This is not a typical review. It is a battle of the next generation fighting games; Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection and Virtua
Fighter 5 for the PS3. Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection appeared as a downloadable game from the Playstation Network Store for
19.99. Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection is from Namco. While Virtua Fighter 5 appeared as a Blu-Ray disc bound game in local
and online retailers for $59.99. Which comes from Sega and AM2 which are also responsible for the arcade version of the title.
At first glance these games may seem very different. Since both games are about a month from launch, it seems to be a good
time to review both. Time to get everything squared away with both games before a comparison is done of the two games.
Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection appeared for the first time in July of 2006 on the PSP. On that system it was a big hit
with ad hoc play and the ability to download other players ghost profiles from the internet. As well as play in an arcade
mode. One could also unlock special modes and other stuff as you played through. It was a great package for $40.
The new PS3 version has few of these features. The PS3 version has an arcade mode, a ghost battle mode(that is completely
offline), it also has a local versus mode where you can play with other people on your home console. Both Arcade and ghost
battle modes allow you to win gold and XP, that allows you to advance in both ranking and buy items from the item shop to
customize your character.
The PS3 version has much better graphics than the PSP version and that is wonderful. But the incredible graphics don't
substitute for the lack of modes and features in the PS3 version. The game doesn't even allow the player to see how the character
looks with items bought from the shop before you buy them. The actual gameplay is excellent and if not for how stripped down
the game is, it would have been worth at least twice the current PS3 Shop price.
While on the other side there is Virtua Fighter 5 for the PS3. The game that has turned Japanese arcades into fighting
game arenas comes to America on the console only. This game offers the following modes: Arcade mode which is basically
a play through with any character to get to the end for a time trial rating and nothing else, versus(offline, same console).
Quest mode(just like ghost battle).Quest mode provides a group of fights that take place in various virtual arcades
with opponents loosely based on real life players. The tournaments here can be very easy or very hard depending on the tourney
and the skill level of the player. AM2 could have probably tweaked the tournament qualifying a little so that some one who
is 2nd Kyu isn't fighting someone who is 8th dan. But this is a minor point, although this also means that you don't get
any more title promotion for beating someone 3 times your level than you would get if you fought someone of your same level.
This seems unfair but it was a hold over from Viruta Fighter 4 EVO. Perhaps, that was something else they should have changed.
Dojo(practice mode), while this is a good practice mode it really needs the inclusion of the ability to see all moves
preformed and/or specifically training in one move or set of moves with a custom move list rather than just playing through
a character's complete move set.
VFTV(replay mode), This would be great if it could be turned on and off at will. But replays can only be done in versus
matches which is kind of limiting.
Customize(change your name, items, etc...). This is a great mode but it would have been so much better if it supported
an online store with new items added all the time.
The actual gameplay here is excellent. This also has a very stripped down feel to it's structure. The comparison between
the two games boils down to pure gameplay. In Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection, it is not only required that you hit your opponent
when you hit your opponent when they are down bu to continuously attack your opponent as they are rising. Otherwise, you
will lose the momentum and end up on the losing end of your opponents counter attacks. Tekken has no reversals and once you
get into a juggling or chain combo stream it is very hard for opponents to easily break them.
Virtua Fighter 5, however, is more strategic because rushing headlong into a fight like you would in Tekken will result
in your smackdown. Virtua Fighter 5 also relies on a similar version of comboing and juggling which allows for big damage
situations against your opponents. But in Virtua Fighter 5 you can also do reversals which keep opponents from simply spamming
you with the same effective attack.
Virtua Fighter 5, however, is more strategic because rushing headlong into a fight like you would in Tekken will result in
your smackdown. Virtua Fighter 5 also relies on a similar version of comboing and juggling which allows for big damage situations
against your opponents. But in Virtua Fighter 5 you can also do reversals which keep opponents from simply spamming you with
the same effective attack.
As an all most after thought. The graphics in both games are of the highest quality and only Virtua Fighter wins this
battle because it's graphical backgrounds are more detailed. However, most of these backgrounds are reused from Virtua Fighter
4 EVO. Neither game slows down or goes into slow motion.
Both games suffer from a lack of modes and destructible environments. Some of Virtua fighter 5's walls have minor destructible
elements and the floor of a couple of the environments have minor destructible features. But neither have anything like Dead
or Alive 4 or Mortal Kombat Armageddon.
Both games have no online features or play of any kind. Not even any downloadable content. I can certainly understand
the hardcore fighting fans not wanting their frames dropped online. But it is hard to understand how the PS3 can get 32 players
into Resitance: Fall of Man matches with a silky smooth frame rate and great graphics. When Virtua Fighter 5 can't handle
two players because the internet is too slow. There is also the argument that if the hardcore fans don't like the online
of Virtua Fighter 5, then they shouldn't play it. As harsh as this statement is, it has the ring of truth.
Both games have uninteresting voice talent and forgettable music. Having subtitled translation for the non-English speaking
fighters would have been nice. Keep the original voice talent folks, I would just like to know what they are saying.
In conclusion, both games are extraordinary fighters hampered by their surprising lack of features. Virtua fighter 5
limps ahead of Tekken 5 but considering the game is three times the price of Tekken 5, it should probably be a better game.
So both games are worth owning for the fighting game fan.
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