Editing Virtua Fighter (universe)

{{Title|''Virtua Fighter'' (universe)}}

|publisher        = Sega<br>Tiger Electronics

|latestinstallment = ''{{iw|wikipedia|Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown}}'' (2021)

'''''Virtua Fighter''''' ({{ja|バーチャファイター|Bācha Faitā}}, ''Virtua Fighter'') is Sega's long-running series of fighting games, notable for inventing the 3D fighting game genre.

==Franchise description==

{{iw|wikipedia|Sega AM2}} was created as a development division within [[Sega]] to focus on arcade and console releases, particularly using 3D polygonal graphics. After the success of their first title, ''{{iw|wikipedia|Virtua Racing}}'', in 1992, the team decided to develop a fighting game. They decided to use the same {{iw|wikipedia|Sega Model 1}} hardware and experimented with how a game of this style can work in 3D. The game eventually became ''Virtua Fighter'' in 1993. Directors Yu Suzuki and Seiichi Ishii ended up creating a system of an arena where a player would instantly lose if pushed out of bounds, dubbed the "Ring Out" system. the game was also the very first to use 3D character models with realistic physics and motion capture. The arcade game received universal praise and great sales for its stand-out features and innovations in the genre. The game was ported to all of Sega's major home consoles at the time and has been rereleased several times. Two notable examples include ''Virtua Fighter Remix'', which includes improved graphics like higher polygons and texture mapping, and ''Virtua Fighter 10th Anniversary'', which is a reskinned version of ''Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution'' to look more like this original game. The game was so critically and financially successful that it convinced {{iw|wikipedia|Sony}} to develop their upcoming PlayStation game console hardware with 3D games in mind, as they were previously leaning more towards 2D hardware.

A sequel was released in 1994 titled ''Virtua Fighter 2''. Yu Suzuki was the sole director as Seiichii Ishii defected to [[Namco]] to create {{uv|Tekken}}. This game used the new Model 2 arcade board, which included native texture mapping and a graphics processor created by {{iw|wikipedia|Lockheed Martin}} used to create flight simulations for the United States Military. This allowed more realistic movements, more movements in general, and a higher frame rate over the original. The game once again received praise for its many innovations, giving the series a reputation for pushing the genre forward with every release. An enhanced update titled ''Virtua Fighter 2.1'' released in 1995. Eleven Sega Saturn disc each containing images and artwork for a single character were collectively released in 1995 as ''virtua fighter cg portrait series''.

Also in 1995, a 35 episode anime adaptation of the series, simply titled ''Virtua Fighter''. The series has been praised as among the best adaptations of a fighting game, especially in its era. The anime received a game tie in for Game Gear in 1996 titled ''{{iw|wikipedia|Virtua Fighter Animation}}''. Also in 1996, AM2 released a spinoff/parody of their series titled ''Virtua Fighter Kids''. This game featured a Chibi artstyle and wacky tone, but also added innovations like programmable buttons and ways to test pre-made combos. A final spinoff in 1996 came in the form of ''Fighters Megamix'' for Sega Saturn, a crossover of all major franchises created by AM2, including ''Virtua Fighter'', ''Virtua Cop'', ''Fighting Vipers'', and ''Daytona''.

A proper sequel was released in 1996, titled ''{{iw|wikipedia|Virtua Fighter 3}}''. Developed for the Sega Model 3, the game once again featured improved graphics and movements, as well as elevated surfaces and individually moving elements like water and wind. The game was originally intended to be ported to the Saturn, but was instead released for the new Dreamcast. An upgraded version titled ''Virtua Fighter 3tb'' released in 1997 and included a new ''Team Battle'' mode where teams of players can fight each other.

After going on a brief hiatus, the series came back with ''{{iw|wikipedia|Virtua Fighter 4}}'' in 2001 on the NAOMI 2 arcade board and in 2002 on PlayStation 2. The console choice is due to Sega pulling out of the console market and becoming a third party developer. The game introduced a proper training mode where players can learn and get accustomed to characters and their moves. The game was also among the first arcade games to have internet functionality, allowing arcade player to fight each other online. The game was ported and upgraded several times, including ''Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution'', which tweaked gameplay and added new modes, the aforementioned ''Virtua Fighter 10th Anniversary'', and ''Virtua Fighter 4: Final Tuned'', which again tweaked gameplay and added new content.

AM2 then teamed up with TOSE to create an action RPG game titled ''Virtua Quest'', which released on [[GameCube]] and PlayStation 2 in 2004. The game is a drastic departure from the series by mostly abandoning its realistic fighting roots. The player controls a boy named Sei who enters the digital world to find data chips and defeat enemies. He learns various moves from data version of many fighters from the series. While the game was praised for its ambition, many of the decisions did not work in its favor and became too unfocused for many people's liking.

The next mainline entry, ''{{iw|wikipedia|Virtua Fighter 5}}'' released on the Sega Lindbergh arcade board in 2006. The game was the first in the series to be available in high definition, as well as more dynamic stage designs and an overall faster game speed. Version B of this game was ported to the PlayStation 3 in 2009, and the enhanced version C was ported to Xbox 360 titled ''Virtua Fighter 5 Online''. A proper enhancement was released in 2009 as ''Virtua Fighter 5 R'', which reintroduced cut characters and adds several gameplay tweaks. Another update titled ''Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown'' was released in 2010, which included new characters and more gameplay tweaks.

The series has mostly been dormant since then. The only original titles have been ''Virtua Fighter: Cool Champ'', a mobile card game in 2011 and ''Virtua Fighter: Fever Combo'', another mobile card game in 2014. Sega has recently made an effort to move into the fighting game e-sports scene and have made an initiative. This included ''Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown'', a remaster of the original game, for PlayStation 4 in 2021. Enhancements include a move to the Dragon Engine, notably used for titles from {{iw|wikipedia|Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio}}'s ''{{iw|wikipedia|Like a Dragon|franchise}}'' franchise, overhauled UI and online features, and a significant amount of new tertiary content. After the remaster's release, it would receive crossovers with other franchises between smaller updates; starting off with the ''Like a Dragon'' franchise in December 2021, then with the ''Tekken'' franchise in March 2022.

 

''Virtua Fighter'' left a mark in the 3D fighting game genre as being its founder. Furthermore, this series is referenced throughout Sega's various IPs; some of the characters' movesets were reused in the {{uv|Sonic the Hedgehog}} franchise such as ''{{iw|wikipedia|Sonic the Fighters}}'', the ''{{iw|wikipedia|Shenmue}}'' series and its spiritual successor, ''Like a Dragon'' (formerly ''Yakuza''), and the {{uv|Bayonetta}} series for example.

*{{Head|Mii Brawler|g=SSB4|s=24x24px}} '''[[Akira Yuki|Akira Outfit]]''' ([[DLC]]): Based on Akira Yuki's gi outfit from the series. His costume uses the polygon model from the first ''Virtua Fighter'' game.

*{{Head|Mii Brawler|g=SSB4|s=24x24px}} '''[[Jacky Bryant|Jacky Outfit]]''' ([[DLC]]): Based on Jacky Bryant's outfit, sourced from ''Virtua Fighter 5''.

*'''[[Akira Yuki|Akira Wig]]''' ([[DLC]]): Based on Akira Yuki's haircut from the series. His haircut uses the polygon model from the first ''Virtua Fighter'' game.

*'''[[Jacky Bryant|Jacky Wig]]''' ([[DLC]]): Based on Jacky Bryant's haircut, sourced from ''Virtua Fighter 5''.

Akira and Jacky's costumes from ''Smash 4'' return as {{SSBU|downloadable content}}, as part of version 6.0.0, within the fourth wave of Mii Fighter outfits along with Challenger Pack 4 and {{SSBU|Terry}}. They were released on November 6th, 2019.

*{{Head|Mii Brawler|g=SSBU|s=24x24px}} '''[[Akira Yuki|Akira Outfit]]''' ([[DLC]]): Returns from ''Smash 4'' as a downloadable costume.

*{{Head|Mii Brawler|g=SSBU|s=24x24px}} '''[[Jacky Bryant|Jacky Outfit]]''' ([[DLC]]): Returns from ''Smash 4'' as a downloadable costume.

*'''[[Akira Yuki|Akira Wig]]''' ([[DLC]]): Returns from ''Smash 4'' as a downloadable headgear.

*'''[[Jacky Bryant|Jacky Wig]]''' ([[DLC]]): Returns from ''Smash 4'' as a downloadable headgear.

 

===''{{iw|wikipedia|Virtua Fighter|video game}}''===

*Playable characters:

**{{GameIcon|SSBU}} Akira appears as an Assist Trophy.

**{{GameIcon|SSBU}} [[List of voice actors#M|Shin'ichirō Miki]] voiced Akira for the first time in this game.

**{{GameIcon|SSBU}} Akira appears as a spirit.

**{{GameIcon|SSB4}} {{SSB4|Bayonetta}}'s Tetsuzanko technique for her forward throw will let her say "十年早いんだよ! (''Ten years too early!'')", which refers to Akira's famous quote, first said in this game.

**{{GameIcon|SSB4}} "'''Begin a New Challenge'''": Used in the Mii costume reveal trailer for both Akira and Jacky, in both ''Smash 4'' and ''Ultimate''.

**{{GameIcon|SSBU}} Akira reuses Shin'ichirō Miki's archived voice lines from this game.

 

**{{GameIcon|SSBU}} Akira's appearance is sourced from the anniversary port.

*Playable characters:

**{{GameIcon|SSB4}} Jacky's Mii costume is based on his appearance in this game.

*''Virtua Fighter'' is the only third-party Assist Trophy universe to not have any standalone game on a Nintendo console. The Sega Genesis version of ''Virtua Fighter 2'', however, was available through the Wii's [[Virtual Console]], and it later also got rereleased as part of the ''Sega Genesis Classics'' compilation for the Nintendo Switch and the Sega Genesis selection of Nintendo Switch Online.

[[Category:Third-party universes]]