When people talk about 3D fighting games today, the conversation usually goes straight to Tekken 7 or Soulcalibur VI. Those games have carried the genre for years. But long before them, there was another series that basically created the whole style of 3D fighters — Virtua Fighter.
So when Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown released in 2021, Sega was trying to remind everyone where the genre really started.
Let’s talk about how it actually holds up.
A classic fighter returns
The original Virtua Fighter came out in 1993 and was huge at the time. It was one of the first games to use fully 3D characters and arenas, which was mind-blowing back then. The series kept getting updates through the late 90s and early 2000s until Virtua Fighter 5 released in 2006.
After that, things went quiet. For years the series mostly disappeared, apart from small appearances in other games and rereleases.
Ultimate Showdown is basically a modern remake of that same game. It’s built from the last major version of the game called Final Showdown, but rebuilt with modern visuals and online features. The goal is pretty clear: bring Virtua Fighter back and try to build a competitive scene around it again.
In fact, in Japan the game is literally called Virtua Fighter esports, which tells you exactly what Sega is aiming for.
The fighting system (Still one of the best)
The most important thing about a fighting game is the combat. Luckily, this is where Virtua Fighter still shines.
The series uses a three-button system:
- Punch
- Kick
- Guard
That sounds simple, but the depth comes from movement, timing, and positioning. There are throws, counters, reversals, and lots of subtle mechanics that experienced players learn over time.
Unlike some fighters where you mash huge combos, Virtua Fighter fights feel more grounded. Hits have weight to them. Movement matters. You have to read your opponent.
It’s one of those games where beginners can jump in and have fun, but high-level players can spend years mastering it.
Characters
The roster has 19 fighters, each with their own fighting style. Some of the most well-known characters include:
- Akira Yuki – the main character who uses Bajiquan martial arts
- Pai Chan – fast and technical with Chinese martial arts
- Wolf Hawkfield – a huge professional wrestler
- Jeffry McWild – a powerful grappler
- Kage-Maru – the ninja of the roster
- Sarah Bryant and Jacky Bryant – siblings with fast kickboxing styles
- El Blaze – a high-flying lucha libre fighter
- Taka-Arashi – a massive sumo wrestler who even changes how some moves work against him
Every character feels different, and because the game focuses so much on mechanics rather than flashy powers, learning a character can take time. That’s part of the fun.
Online play
Ultimate Showdown clearly puts a lot of effort into online multiplayer.
You can create 16-player lobbies, watch other matches live, and even react during fights with stickers. There are also tournament brackets and spectator modes, which makes it feel designed for competitive play.
Most matches run smoothly, and the matchmaking generally works well.
The big downside is that the original release didn’t include rollback netcode, which is something modern fighting games usually have to make online matches smoother. Later updates and newer versions like Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. added improvements like rollback and crossplay, which helps a lot.
The visual upgrade
One of the biggest changes in Ultimate Showdown is the graphics.
The game was rebuilt using the Dragon Engine, the same engine used in games like Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Because of that, the lighting and stages look much better than the old version.
The arenas are bright and colourful, with neon lights and strong shadows that make fights look dramatic. Hit effects also feel more modern.
However, not everything looks perfect. Some characters look great with updated textures, but others still look a bit like old PlayStation 3 models. It’s noticeable if you look closely, but during fights it doesn’t really ruin the experience.
Where the game falls short
The biggest problem with Ultimate Showdown is the lack of single-player content.
Older versions of Virtua Fighter 5 had quite a lot to do offline, including:
- Quest Mode
- Survival Mode
- Time Attack
- Combo Trials
In this version, most of those are gone.
You basically get:
- Arcade Mode
- Training Mode
- Tutorial Mode
And that’s it.
For a game built around competition that might be fine, but if you like playing solo it can feel pretty limited.
Customization was also reduced. Older versions had lots of silly costumes and accessories to unlock. In this version, characters mostly just have a few preset outfits with colour changes.
DLC and extra content
There are some interesting DLC packs.
The Legendary Pack lets you switch the character models to look like the original 1993 polygon versions of Virtua Fighter. You can also use music from older games in the series.
There are also crossover packs, including one inspired by Tekken 7 and another themed around the Like a Dragon series.
Later updates and the R.E.V.O. version added more content and improvements, especially for competitive play.
Final Thoughts
Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown is a strange mix of old and new.
On one hand, the core fighting system is still fantastic. It’s deep, fair, and extremely satisfying once you start learning how it works. The visual upgrade also gives the game a fresh look without changing the gameplay that fans love.
But on the other hand, the game removed a lot of the single-player content that used to make it more complete.
So the final result feels like this:
- If you love competitive fighting games, this is still one of the best systems ever made.
- If you prefer playing solo modes or unlocking lots of stuff, the game might feel a bit empty.
Either way, it’s great to see Virtua Fighter back again. After years of silence, this game reminded people why the series mattered in the first place — and it set the stage for the next chapter of the franchise.
Final Rating: 8/10
