14 DAY TRIAL // Video game publisher SEGA has announced that it is planning to launch the definitive version of its fighting game Virtua Fighter 5 as a stand alone title on both the Xbox Live Arcade service from Microsoft and on the PlayStation Network from Sony.
The game will bear the title Final Showdown and the developers are saying that it will offer upgrades for all areas of the initial release, allowing players to engage again with one of the best fighting games around.
All the combat mechanics have been revised, from balance and timing to the hand-to-hand engagements and Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown will offer a control scheme that is more forgiving for first time players while retaining depth for all those who have spent a lot of time honing their technique.
The multiplayer mode has also received attention, with SEGA saying that the one-on-one battle system has very little latency and gives players a chance to compete for the best places on the leaderboards.
All game modes also have a number of new arenas, including some that have fences and walls which move around for every round, making it vital to learn the moves that rely on them and deploy them as needed.
Players will also be able to use 19 playable characters to defeat their enemies, with Jean Kujo representing an entirely new addition to the roster and with Taka-Arashi making a comeback from Virtua Fighter 3.
All of them will be customizable with character items and with a number of costumes.
Haruki Satomi, who is the vice president of Digital Business at SEGA, has stated when the announcement was made, “Virtua Fighter 5 has always been an authentic arcade fighter, even when played from the comfort of a home console. And, like any proper arcade dynasty, we’ve continued to support, expand and tweak the game in the years since its release.”
He added, “With Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown, we get to bring the ultimate expression of competitive one-on-one gaming to console players in one perfect package.”