Virtua Fighter 5 is addictive.

Hailing from a Sega's AM2 department and following a huge franchise, this game delivers a great and rewarding experience. The more you put into this puppy the more you get out of it. From the standard Arcade mode, online play, through to a Quest mode that has you playing against data taken from arcade machines used in tournaments overseas, this game puts you to your limits!

The ability to make your characters your own is encouraged through the use of unlockable items, clothing and even avatars to put by your name. This always pushes you further to unlock something new, to acquire something that another online opponent has or just to have something cooler than your friend has equipped!

The moves list is huge and mastering a character is easy to begin with but is hard to complete. Though if you're dedicated enough, you will be the envy of friends pulling off amazing moves and combos.

I would suggest this game to avid fighting fans or those that are looking for a fighting game with some depth. While the rewards are great, it's a matter of… the more you put in, the more you get out!

Back in 1993, the now-legendary, SEGA AM2 department released Virtua Fighter. The first 3D fighting game. For it's time it was hailed by many as the most technically impressive game of it's time. Consisting of an arcade stick and 3 buttons, Punch, Kick and Guard. It sounded easy but demanded dedication to master. The popularity of which lead to many sequels for the franchise and lay the way for many other franchises to be born.

Fast forward to 2006, the latest installment: Virtua Fighter 5. On the surface VF5 looks like standard fare for a 3D beat-em-up; beautiful graphics, a decent list of characters and a large move set. But under the surface, is the same level of depth that the original held. Can you beat the game with button mashing? Sure, on lower difficulties, it can be done. But it is a game that demands dedication for you to enjoy all the benefits.

Virtua Fighter has always been about knowing, and being aware, of points where you have an advantage over your opponent or when the opponent has one over you and reacting accordingly. Standard attacks, throws, throw escapes, recoveries, rising attacks… all those are here. As well as more advanced attacks like reversals, deflecting, charged attacks and staggering.

The game also features a Quest Mode, where you go from arcade to arcade beating various challengers. It's a great way to pass time offline or to hone your skills against varying difficulties. Along with this comes more items and titles for you to use to customise characters and/or change your title for online play and increase your ranking.

This is where the Xbox 360 version outshine it's Playstation 3 counterpart, for it has online mode. This is due to the PS3 version being built on the older Version B of the arcade model and is tied to the limitations of that model. Which is great for 360 owners! You can now challenge your friend down the street or across the World. Show off your title, icons, ranking or just the way your character looks with the available items you've unlocked.

Of course, you can still play against your armchair buddy with a second controller. Personally, an arcade stick is my choice for fighting games, but the controller settings are perfect for this game. So no worries there!

Virtua Fighter 5 will test your skill and demand your time, but the more you give to it, the more it gives back. It's a challenging game that rewards the fighter purist and those that are willing to test their mettle.

This game has it all, great graphics and all the fighting styles. I prefer playing with friends as it is more unpredictable but one player is also fun. I believe this game is better than the newest Tekken, in graphics and fighting moves.