Editing Virtua Fighter (video game)

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Short description|1993 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title         = Virtua Fighter
| image         = VirtuaFighter arcadeflyer.png
| caption       = North American arcade flyer
| developer     = [[Sega AM2]]
| publisher     = [[Sega]]
| series        = ''[[Virtua Fighter]]''
| director      = [[Yu Suzuki]]
| producer      = Yu Suzuki
| designer      = [[Seiichi Ishii]]
| programmer    = Toru Ikebuchi
| composer      = [[Takayuki Nakamura]]
| platforms     = [[Arcade game|Arcade]], [[Sega Saturn|Saturn]], [[32X]], [[R-Zone]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
| genre         = [[Fighting game|Fighting]]
| modes         = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
| arcade system = [[Sega Model 1|Model 1]], [[Sega Titan ST-V|ST-V]] <small>(Remix)</small>
| released      = '''Arcade''' {{vgrelease|WW|October 1993<ref name="Akagi">{{cite book |last1=Akagi |first1=Masumi |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971–2005) |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971–2005) |date=October 13, 2006 |publisher=Amusement News Agency |language=ja |location=Japan |isbn=978-4990251215 |pages=131–3 |url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n133/mode/2up}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Megadrive Review: Virtua Racing|magazine=[[Mean Machines]]|issue=19|pages=48–50|url=https://archive.org/stream/mean-machines-sega-magazine-19/MMSega_19_May_1994#page/n49/mode/2up|access-date=July 24, 2015}}</ref>}} '''Saturn''' {{Video game release|JP|November 22, 1994|NA|May 11, 1995|EU|July 8, 1995}} '''Arcade (''Remix'')''' {{vgrelease|JP|April 1995<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kakuge.info/k/history/ac.htm|title=格闘ゲーム歴史年表 アーケード版 （仮）}}</ref>|NA|November 1995<ref name="Akagi"/>|EU|1995}} '''Saturn (''Remix'')''' {{Video game release|JP|July 14, 1995|NA|October 2, 1995|EU|October 27, 1995}} '''32X'''<br />{{Video game release|NA|October 10, 1995|JP|October 20, 1995|EU|November 30, 1995}}'''Windows 95 (''Remix'')'''<br />{{Video game release|NA|September 10, 1996|EU|1996}}
}}
{{nihongo foot|'''''Virtua Fighter'''''|バーチャファイター|Bācha Faitā|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1993 [[fighting game]] developed and published by [[Sega]] for [[Arcade video game|arcades]]. It was developed for the [[Sega Model 1]] arcade platform by [[Sega AM2|AM2]], a development group within Sega headed by [[Yu Suzuki]]. An early prototype version was location tested in Japan by August 1993, before the complete game was released worldwide in December 1993.<ref>{{Cite web |title=バーチャファイター – 株式会社セガ |url=https://sega.jp/history/arcade/product/9122/ |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=セガ・アーケードゲームヒストリー｜株式会社セガ |language=ja}}</ref> It was the first arcade fighting game to feature fully 3D [[Polygonal modeling|polygon graphics]]. The game was [[porting|ported]] to [[Sega Saturn]] as a global launch title in 1994 and 1995, and also received a port to the [[Sega 32X]].

The game was critically acclaimed and a major hit, becoming one of Sega's best-selling [[arcade games]] of all time with more than 40,000 arcade units sold while the Saturn versions sold over {{nowrap|1 million}} copies. ''Virtua Fighter'' was highly regarded for its in-depth 3D fighting engine and real-world fighting techniques, and has been revolutionary and highly influential in the evolution of the genre and video games in general.<ref name="NG11" /><ref name="1UP" /> Its success led to the ''[[Virtua Fighter]]'' series, with its sequel ''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'' released in 1994.

In 1995, an update titled '''''Virtua Fighter Remix''''' was developed and released by [[Sega AM1|AM1]],<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Preview: Die Hard Arcade|magazine=[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]|issue=16 |publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|date=February 1997|page=24}}</ref> featuring drastic graphical improvements.<ref name=":0" /> This improved version was quickly ported to the Saturn console<ref name="NG12">{{cite magazine |date=December 1995 |title=Virtua Fighter Remix |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |page=209 |issue=12}}</ref> and later also received a port to [[Microsoft Windows]]. The game's remake, '''''Virtua Fighter 10th Anniversary''''', was released for the [[PlayStation 2]] in 2003 as a stand-alone title in Japan and as a bonus to ''[[Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution]]'' in North America.

==Gameplay==
[[Image:Virtua Fighter.png|thumb|left|[[Lau Chan]] vs. [[Jacky Bryant]] (arcade)]]
The ''Virtua'' label indicates that the onscreen action takes place in a 3D environment; however, movement is restricted to 2D. The graphics were made using wireframe and flat-shaded quad polygons. The game retains the fighting game staple of having multiple characters, each with their own distinctive moves.

In the game's single-player mode, the player faces all eight characters (including a duplicate of the chosen character) in a pre-determined order, followed by a fight with the game's [[Boss (video gaming)|boss]], Dural. Each fight is a best-of-three match, and the player has three ways of winning: knocking out the opponent, forcing them out of the ring, or having more health left when time runs out.

Unlike other fighting games of the early 1990s (such as ''[[Street Fighter II]]'' or ''[[Mortal Kombat (1992 video game)|Mortal Kombat]]''), the game relies on a control stick and only three buttons, punch, kick and guard (block), although different situations and button combinations led to a vast variety of moves for each character. {{clear left}}

==Plot==
===Characters===
{{Further|List of Virtua Fighter characters#Introduced in Virtua Fighter}}
* [[Akira Yuki]]—An assistant [[kung fu]] teacher from Japan, fights with [[Bajiquan]].
* [[Pai Chan]]—A [[martial arts film]] star from Hong Kong, fights with [[Mizongquan]].
* [[Lau Chan]]—Pai's father and a cook from China, fights with a fictional fighting style {{nihongo|Hǔ Yàn Quán|虎燕拳|Koen-ken|"Tiger Swallow Fist"}}.
* [[Wolf Hawkfield]]—A professional wrestler from Canada, fights with [[professional wrestling]] maneuvers.
* [[Jeffry McWild]]—A fisherman from Australia, fights with [[Pankration|Pancratium]].
* [[Kage-Maru]] ("Kage")—A ninja from Japan, fights with [[Jujutsu]].
* [[Sarah Bryant (Virtua Fighter)|Sarah Bryant]]—A college student from San Francisco, CA who had been abducted and brainwashed by a criminal organization, fights with [[Jeet Kune Do]] (Sega changed her fighting style to "martial arts", which also includes [[Tae Kwon Do]], [[Savate]] and [[Karate]] as of ''[[Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution]]'').
* [[Jacky Bryant]]—Sarah's older brother and a race car driver also from San Francisco, fights with Jeet Kune Do.
* [[Dural (Virtua Fighter)|Dural]]—A [[gynoid]] that is the game's boss character and is Kage's missing mother, Tsukikage. She fights with a mix of all the other characters' styles.

An [[Arab]] fighter named Siba was planned, and his character model appeared on some ''Virtua Fighter'' arcade cabinets (though, in some cases, Akira's name was placed under his portrait). Siba was originally to be the protagonist of the franchise. He was ultimately dropped, but later appeared in ''[[Fighters Megamix]]''. Two other characters were also discovered. One was an early design of Akira Yuki, who was shirtless and wore pants and shoes. The other was a military man named Jeff.{{cn|date=September 2022}}

===Story===
Once in the [[Shōwa period]], the defunct Japanese army intended to approach [[Puyi]], the last Emperor of the [[Qing Dynasty]] in their effort to take advantages. However, they were defeated by the Imperial guards who used the martial art called Hakkyoku-ken. During [[World War II]], the [[Japanese Imperial Army|Japanese army]] research the mysteries of Hakkyoku-ken to create supersoldiers, developing the ultimate martial art.

Approximately half a century has passed since then, the ultimate World Fighting Tournament is about to start, and all kinds of fighters from around the world engage to determine the world's best. Behind the Tournament, however, there exists an intrigue designed by a sinister syndicate.

==Development and release==
===''Virtua Fighter''===
The game's development began in 1992, following the development of ''[[Virtua Racing]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Horowitz |first1=Ken |title=The Sega Arcade Revolution: A History in 62 Games |date=July 6, 2018 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |isbn=978-1-4766-3196-7 |page=293 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7qZhDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA293 |quote=Work on Sega's ground-breaking 3D fighter began in 1992, using the same Model 1 Pro Board that powered ''Virtua Racing''.}}</ref> ''Virtua Fighter'' was developed to run on [[Sega Model 1]] arcade hardware,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sega-16.com/2010/02/history-of-virtua-fighter|title=Sega-16 – History of: Virtua Fighter}}</ref> developed internally at [[Sega]].<ref name="Real3D">{{cite web |title=Sega Enterprises Ltd. |url=http://www.real3d.com/sega.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970102114017/http://www.real3d.com/sega.html |website=[[Real3D]] |publisher=[[Lockheed Martin]] |year=1996 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 2, 1997 |access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref><ref name="thg">{{cite web |title=Second Hand Smoke – One up, two down |url=http://www.thg.ru/smoke/19991022/print.html |website=[[Tom's Hardware Guide]] |publisher=[[Tom's Hardware]] |access-date=April 19, 2021 |date=October 22, 1999 |archive-date=February 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222220103/http://www.thg.ru/smoke/19991022/print.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to Sega of Japan's publicity manager, Kurokawa, "We deliberately didn't publicize all the [fighting] moves at the same time but instead revealed them to gamers one at a time by means of the Japanese videogame press."<ref>{{cite journal|title=AM2 |journal=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=4|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=April 1995|pages=68–69}}</ref> ''Virtua Fighter'' also used 3D [[motion capture]] technology.<ref name="CVG158"/><ref name="Maximum"/> Before ''Virtua Fighter'', [[Sega AM3]] simulated 3D using a creative method of sprite scaling on the 1993 arcade fighting game ''Dark Edge''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dark Edge - Videogame by Sega |url=https://www.arcade-museum.com/Videogame/dark-edge |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=Museum of the Game |language=en-US}}</ref>

According to Suzuki, an issue during the game's development was performing fast [[Division (mathematics)|division]] calculations for 3D operations. The only applications he was aware of performing fast enough divisions at the time were [[nuclear reactors]] and space [[rockets]]. The team "were working away with craftsmanship equivalent to inscribing 100 words on a single grain of rice" to achieve fast 3D division operations, according to Suzuki.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Yu Suzuki Interview |title=セガハードヒストリア |trans-title=Sega Hard Historia |date=March 2021 |publisher=[[SB Creative]] |isbn=978-4-7973-9943-1 |language=ja}} ([https://www.phantomriverstone.com/2021/08/mar-2021-yu-suzuki-interview-sega-hard.html Part 1] and [https://www.phantomriverstone.com/2021/08/march-2021-yu-suzuki-interview-part-two.html Part 2])</ref>

An early prototype version of the arcade game featured an [[Arab]] fighter called Siba. This early version did not have Akira Yuki, who was added later in development as a replacement for Siba, with Akira becoming the game's protagonist.<ref>{{cite news |title=Before Shaheen There Was (Almost) Siba |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/2015/01/01/before-shaheen-there-was-almost-siba/126867/ |access-date=May 30, 2021 |work=Hardcore Gamer |date=January 1, 2015}}</ref> This early prototype version was location tested in Japan and then demonstrated at the [[Amusement Machine Show]] (AM Show) in August 1993.<ref name="RePlay">{{cite magazine |title=Once Again, JAMMA Says "Bigger is Better" |magazine=RePlay |date=October 1993 |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=129–150 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-19-issue-no.-1-october-1993-600dpi/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2019%2C%20Issue%20No.%201%20-%20October%201993/page/129}}</ref><ref name="Edge2">{{cite magazine |title=New wave graphics dominate AMS '93 |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |date=September 30, 1993 |issue=2 (November 1993) |pages=16–8 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/b/b9/Edge_UK_002.pdf#page=16}}</ref>

''Virtua Fighter'' was a [[launch game]] for the [[Sega Saturn]],<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Sega's Saturn Launched in Japan|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=65|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=December 1994|page=60}}</ref> and served as the [[pack-in game|pack-in]] launch game in North America.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Sega Hopes to Run Rings Around the Competition with Early Release of the Saturn|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=72|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=July 1995|page=30}}</ref> Its [[Sega 32X]] version was developed by the same team responsible for the Genesis port of ''[[Virtua Racing]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Virtua Short Stories|journal=Maximum: The Video Game Magazine|issue=1|publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|date=October 1995|page=117}}</ref>

===''Virtua Fighter Remix''===
''Virtua Fighter Remix'' was an update of the original ''Virtua Fighter'' with higher-polygon models, [[texture mapping]], and some gameplay changes. It was given free to all registered Saturn owners in the United States via mail.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal|last=Kalinske |first=Tom |title=Saturn Savaged on the Net: Tom Kalinske Strikes Back|journal=Maximum: The Video Game Magazine|issue=1|publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|date=October 1995|page=115}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sega+|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402164749/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sega+%22Knocks+Out%22+Sega+Saturn+owners+with+free+Virtua+Fighter+Remix...-a017119903|title=Sega "Knocks Out" Sega Saturn owners with free Virtua Fighter Remix giveaway.|website=[[Business Wire]]|publisher=[[Berkshire Hathaway]]|archive-date=April 2, 2016|access-date=August 10, 2019|via=[[The Free Dictionary]]|url-status=live}}</ref> It had an arcade release on the [[Sega Titan Video|ST-V]] (an arcade platform based on the Sega Saturn) and later ported to [[Microsoft Windows]] as ''Virtua Fighter PC''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=NG Alphas: Sega Entertainment |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=22 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=October 1996|page=103 |quote=One of the first titles to appear is ''Virtua Fighter PC'', which has more in common with ''VF Remix'' than the original.}}</ref> In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed it on their August 1, 1995, issue as being the twenty-first most-successful arcade game of the month.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 – TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=500|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=August 1, 1995|page=25|lang=ja}}</ref>

===''Virtua Fighter 10th Anniversary''===
With the 2003 [[PlayStation 2]] release of ''Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution'' arriving in time for the series' tenth anniversary, a remake of ''Virtua Fighter'', ''Virtua Fighter 10th Anniversary'', was released on the PlayStation 2. While the music, stages and low-polygon visual style were retained from the first game, the character roster, animations, mechanics and movesets were taken from ''Evolution''. In the previous PS2 release of ''Virtua Fighter 4'', a button code would make the player's character look like a ''Virtua Fighter'' model. In Japan, the game was included as part of a box set with a book called ''Virtua Fighter 10th Anniversary: Memory of a Decade'' and a DVD. The box set was released in November 2003 and was published by [[Enterbrain]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/10/virtua-fighter-10th-anniversary-hits-japan|title=Virtua Fighter 10th Anniversary Hits Japan|date=October 10, 2003|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|access-date=May 19, 2013}}</ref> In North America, the game was included in the home version of ''Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution'', and in Europe it was only available as a promotional item; it was not sold at retail.

==Reception==
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="float:right; font-size:90%; text-align:center; margin:1em; margin-top:0; padding:0; background:none;" cellpadding="0"
! colspan=4 style="font-size: 100%" | Reception
|-
! colspan=4 | [[Video game journalism|Review scores]]
|-
! rowspan=2 | Publication
! colspan=3 | Scores
|-
! [[Arcade video game|Arcade]]
! [[Sega Saturn]]
! [[32X]]
|-
| ''[[Computer and Video Games]]''
| 83%<ref name="CVG147">{{cite magazine |last1=Skews |first1=Rik |title=Arcade Action: Virtua Fighters |magazine=[[Computer & Video Games]] |publisher=[[EMAP]] |issue=147 (February 1994) |date=January 15, 1994 |pages=100–1 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/4/4c/CVG_UK_147.pdf#page=100}}</ref>
| 94%<ref name="CVG158">{{cite magazine |last1=Patterson |first1=Mark |last2=James |first2=Steve |last3=Lawrence |first3=Eddy (Radion Automatic) |last4=Lord |first4=Gary |title=Sega Saturn exclusive! Virtua Fighter: fighting in the third dimension |magazine=[[Computer and Video Games]] |location=United Kingdom |issue=158 (January 1995) |date=December 15, 1994 |pages=12–3, 15–6, 19 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/8/84/CVG_UK_158.pdf#page=12}}</ref>
| 95%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_168_1995-11_EMAP_Images_GB#page/n37/mode/2up |title=Computer and Video Games – Issue 168 (1995–11)(EMAP Images)(GB) |website=Archive.org |date=November 1995 |access-date=March 11, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]''
| Positive<ref name="Edge2"/>
| 9/10<ref name="Edge"/>
|
|-
| ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]''
| Positive<ref name="EGM51"/>
| 31.5/40<ref name="EGM72"/>
| 29/40<ref name="EGM76"/>
|-
| ''[[Famitsu]]''
|
| 36/40<ref name="Fam335"/>
| 30/40<ref name="Fam358"/>
|-
| ''[[Game Informer]]''
|
| 8/10<ref name="GI">{{cite magazine |title=Legacy Review Archives |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/legacyreviews |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214131120/https://www.gameinformer.com/legacyreviews |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 14, 2018 |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref>
|
|-
| ''[[GamesMaster]]''
|
| 96%<ref>''[[GamesMaster]]'', episode 73 (series 4, episode 11), November 29, 1994</ref>
|
|-
| ''[[Hyper (magazine)|Hyper]]''
|
| 90%<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Bures |first1=Julian |last2=Serda |first2=Jason |title=Virtua Fighter vs Toshinden |magazine=[[Hyper (magazine)|Hyper]] |date=May 1995 |issue=18 |pages=32–5 |url=https://archive.org/details/hyper-018/page/n31/mode/2up}}</ref>
|
|-
| ''[[EMAP|Maximum]]''
|
| {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="Maximum" />
|
|-
| ''[[Mean Machines Sega]]''
|
| 96%<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Saturn Review: Virtua Fighter |magazine=[[Mean Machines Sega]] |date=December 30, 1994 |issue=28 (February 1995) |pages=16–21 |url=https://archive.org/details/mean-machines-sega-magazine-28/page/n15/mode/2up}}</ref>
|
|-
| ''[[Mega (magazine)|Mega]]''
|
| 97%<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Saturn Review: Virtua Fighter |magazine=[[Mega (magazine)|Mega]] |date=January 1995 |issue=29 (February 1995) |pages=38–41 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d3/Mega_UK_29.pdf#page=38}}</ref>
|
|-
| ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]''
| {{rating|3|5}} <br> (''Remix'')<ref name="NG12"/>
| {{rating|4|5}} (original)<ref name="NGen4"/> <br> {{rating|5|5}} (''Remix'')<ref name="NGen10"/>
| {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="NGen11"/>
|-
| ''[[:de:SEGA Magazin|Sega Magazin]]''
|
| 87% (original) <br> 91% (''Remix'')<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Die Hits de Leser |trans-title=The Reader Hits |magazine=[[:de:SEGA Magazin|Sega Magazin]] |date=February 14, 1996 |issue=28 (März 1996) |page=21 |lang=de |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/5/5d/SegaMagazin_DE_28.pdf#page=21}}</ref>
|
|-
| ''[[Sega Power]]''
|
| 97%<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Saturn: Virtua Fighter |magazine=[[Sega Power]] |date=December 15, 1994 |issue=63 (February 1995) |pages=14–5 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c5/SegaPower_UK_63.pdf}}</ref>
|
|-
| ''[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]''
|
| {{Rating|5|5}} (''Remix'')<ref name="SSM"/>
|
|-
| ''[[Sega Saturn Tsūshin]]''
|
| 38/40<ref name="SST"/>
|
|-
| ''[[Future Publishing|Ultimate Future Games]]''
|
| 96%<ref name="UFG">{{cite magazine |title=The game that killed the 16-bit machines: Virtua Fighter |magazine=Ultimate Future Games |date=January 1, 1995 |issue=3 (February 1995) |publisher=[[Future Publishing]] |pages=78–81 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/f/f5/UltimateFutureGames_UK_03.pdf#page=78}}</ref>
|
|-
! colspan=4 | Awards
|-
! Publication(s)
! colspan=3 | Awards
|-
| [[:ja:ゲーメスト大賞|''Gamest'' Awards]] (1994)<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[:ja:Gamest|GAMEST]]|issue=136|language=ja|page=40|url=http://www.netlaputa.ne.jp/~dummy/gamest/magazine/gamest/v136.html|title=第8回ゲーメスト大賞}}</ref>
| colspan=3 | [[List of Game of the Year awards|3rd Best Game of the Year]], <br> 3rd Best Fighting Game, 6th Best Graphics
|-
| AMOA Awards (1994)<ref name="AMOA">{{cite magazine |title=AMOA Jukebox And Game Awards Nominees Announced |magazine=[[Cash Box]] |date=July 23, 1994 |page=30 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1994/CB-1994-07-23.pdf#page=30}}</ref>
| colspan=3 | Most Played Videogame (nominee), <br> Most Innovative New Technology (nominee)
|-
| ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly|EGM]]'', ''[[1UP.com|1UP]]'',<ref name=EGM2006>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.1up.com/features/egm-200-greatest-videogames |title=The Greatest 200 Videogames of Their Time |date=February 6, 2006 |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |access-date=November 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017222736/http://www.1up.com/features/egm-200-greatest-videogames |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[Famitsu]]'',<ref name=Famitsu2006>{{cite magazine | date=March 3, 2006 | title=Japan Votes on All Time Top 100 | url=http://www.next-gen.biz/features/japan-votes-all-time-top-100 | magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] / [[Famitsu]] | access-date=November 24, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723051728/http://www.edge-online.com/features/japan-votes-all-time-top-100 | archive-date=July 23, 2008 | url-status=dead }}</ref> <br> ''[[Computer Gaming World]]''<ref name=cgw150/>
| colspan=3 | [[List of video games considered the best|Best Games of All Time]]
|-
| [[GameSpot]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/15influential_rc/p4_01.html |title=GameSpot Presents: Readers' Choice: 15 Most Influential Video Games of All Time |access-date=March 11, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011120061225/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/15influential_rc/p4_01.html |archive-date=November 20, 2001 }}</ref> ''[[1UP.com|1UP]]''<ref name="1UP"/>
| colspan=3 | Most Influential Games of All Time
|}

===Arcade===
Sega began location testing an early prototype version in Japan prior to the game's demonstration at the [[Amusement Machine Show]] (AM Show) in August 1993. Sega reported it to be their highest-earning location test performance of all time, with each test machine earning a daily average of {{JPY|60,000}} or {{US$|600|long=no|1993}}. At the 1993 AM Show, it was rated the "hit of the show" by many visitors.<ref name="RePlay"/> In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed ''Virtua Fighter'' on their January 1, 1994, issue as being the most-popular upright/cockpit arcade game for the previous two weeks.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 – アップライト, コックピット型TVゲーム機 (Upright/Cockpit Videos)|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=464|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=January 1, 1994|page=35|lang=ja}}</ref> It went on to become Japan's highest-grossing [[1994 in video games|arcade game of 1994]],<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Best Videos '94: "Puyo Puyo", "Ridge Racer" DX |magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]] |issue=487 |publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]] |date=January 1–15, 1995 |page=36 |lang=ja |url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19950101p.pdf#page=19}}</ref> and one of the highest-grossing arcade games of all time in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/Ultimate_Future_Games_Issue_02_1995-01_Future_Publishing_GB#page/n27/mode/2up |title=Ultimate Future Games – Issue 02 (1995-01)(Future Publishing)(GB) |website=Archive.org |date=January 1995 |access-date=March 11, 2016}}</ref> According to ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' magazine in 1995, ''Virtua Fighter'' was "the biggest game in Japan since ''[[Super Mario World]]''."<ref name="NG11">{{cite magazine |title=The Art of Virtua Fighter |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |date=October 24, 1995 |issue=11 (November 1995) |page=1 |url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-011/page/n1/mode/2up}}</ref> In North America, ''RePlay'' reported ''Virtua Fighter'' to be the sixth most-popular upright arcade game in February 1994,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Player's Choice – Top Games Now in Operation, Based on Earnings-Opinion Poll of Operators: Best Upright Videos|magazine=RePlay|volume=19|issue=5|publisher=RePlay Publishing, Inc.|date=February 1994|page=6}}</ref> and it went on to be one of America's top five highest-grossing arcade video games of 1994.<ref name="AMOA"/> In the United Kingdom, it was the second top-grossing arcade game in London during early 1994 (below ''[[Ridge Racer (video game)|Ridge Racer]]''),<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Arcade Action |magazine=[[Computer and Video Games]] |publisher=[[Future Publishing]] |location=United Kingdom |issue=149 (April 1994) |date=March 15, 1994 |pages=82–6 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/7/7f/CVG_UK_149.pdf#page=82}}</ref> and went on to be one of the most popular coin-ops of the year.<ref name="CVG158"/>

''Virtua Fighter'' sold more than 40,000 arcade units worldwide by 1996,<ref>{{cite news |title=Virtua Fighter Kids: New Sega Saturn game is way "a-head" of its time |url=https://segaretro.org/Press_release:_1996-09-03:_Virtua_Fighter_Kids:_New_Sega_Saturn_game_is_way_%22a-head%22_of_its_time |access-date=October 11, 2021 |publisher=[[Sega of America]] |date=September 3, 1996}}</ref> with each unit costing between {{US$|15,000|long=no|1993|round=-3}}<ref name="CVG158"/> and £14,000 / {{US$|{{To USD|14|GBR|year=1993|round=yes}},000|long=no|1993|round=-3}}.<ref name="CVG147"/> ''Virtua Fighter'' and ''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'' (1994) became Sega's best-selling arcade games of all time, surpassing their previous record holder ''[[Out Run]]'' (1986).<ref name="SAH">{{cite book |author=Famitsu DC |author-link=Famitsu DC |url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:Sega_Arcade_History_JP_EnterBrain_Book.pdf&page=14 |title=セガ・アーケード・ヒストリー |trans-title=Sega Arcade History |chapter=Interview: Akira Nagai — SEGA Representative |series=Famitsu Books |publisher=[[Enterbrain]] |date=February 15, 2002 |pages=20–23 |language=ja |isbn=978-4-75770790-0 |access-date=April 11, 2024 |archive-date=August 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820193203/https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3ASega_Arcade_History_JP_EnterBrain_Book.pdf&page=14 |url-status=live}} ([http://shmuplations.com/akiranagai/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807024817/http://shmuplations.com/akiranagai/ |date=August 7, 2020 }}).</ref>

Following its demonstration at the 1993 AM Show, ''Virtua Fighter'' received a positive industry reception. ''RePlay'' magazine called "the adaptation of 3-D polygon graphics to video fighting games" a "sensational development that could define and revitalize this already-hot category." California Games CEO Pat Schroeder said ''Virtua Fighter'' "was by far the dawn of a new era of games" with praise for the "computerized 3-D graphics with effects that are unreal" and how it "shows the fighting action" from different angles.<ref name="RePlay"/> ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' magazine called ''Virtua Fighter'' "a tantalising glimpse into the future of fighting games employing the same ground-breaking CG computer graphics system as ''[[Virtua Racing]]''." While criticizing the appearance of the "excessively blocky polygonised people," ''Edge'' said "the 3D scrolling, animation and movement are all silky-smooth and very realistic" and that "the fluid animation and imaginative camera angles quickly won the audience over."<ref name="Edge2"/> ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' hailed ''Virtua Fighter'' as a demonstration of "just how far video games have come in the last eight years." ''EGM'' made particular note of the advanced graphics, how the camera moves along different axes depending on the fighters' location, the use of multiple viewpoints in the instant replay, the high quality of the gameplay, and the smoothness and realism of the animation.<ref name="EGM51">{{cite magazine|title=Virtua Fighters|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=51|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=October 1993|page=66}}</ref>

In January 1994, Rik Skews of ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'' magazine, after playing for 1 hour, initially praised the "brilliant 64-bit" 3D graphics, animation and camera work but compared the gameplay unfavorably to ''Street Fighter II''.<ref name="CVG147"/> ''Computer and Video Games'' was later more positive towards the gameplay, stating in December 1994 that the game "combined cutting edge arcade technology with motion capture techniques and some excellent gameplay design."<ref name="CVG158"/> ''Next Generation'' said in 1995 that it epitomized Yu Suzuki's "skill of finding the perfect blend of state-of-the-art technology with solid gameplay" in "the cut-throat world" of arcades.<ref name="NG11"/>

===Ports===
The console port of ''Virtua Fighter'', which was very close to the arcade game, sold at a nearly 1:1 ratio with the Saturn hardware during the Japanese launch.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kent |first=Steven L. |author-link=Steven L. Kent |title=[[The Ultimate History of Video Games: The Story Behind the Craze that Touched our Lives and Changed the World]] |year=2001 |publisher=Prima Publishing |location=Roseville, California |isbn=0-7615-3643-4 |page=502}}</ref> The [[Future Publishing]] magazine ''Ultimate Future Games'' called ''Virtua Fighter'' the "game that killed" the 16-bit machines.<ref name="UFG"/> The Saturn version sold 630,000 units in Japan, while ''Remix'' sold a further 437,036 units there in 1995, for a combined total of 1,067,036 units sold for the Saturn in Japan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Game Search |url=https://sites.google.com/site/gamedatalibrary/game-search |website=Game Data Library |publisher=[[Famitsu]] |access-date=September 17, 2021}}</ref>

On release of the Saturn version, ''[[Sega Saturn Tsūshin]]'' scored the game a 38 out of 40.<ref name="SST">SegaSaturn GameCross Review: バーチャファイター. Sega Saturn Tsūshin. No.1. Pg.6. December 2, 1994.</ref> ''[[Famicom Tsūshin]]'' would score the same version a 36 out of 40 five months later.<ref name="Fam335">おオススメ!! ソフト カタログ!!: バーチャファイター. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.335. Pg.114. May 12–19, 1995.</ref> ''Computer and Video Games'' reviewed a Japanese import in December 1994, stating "the last machine to generate so much interest in this office was the arrival of" the [[Super Famicom]] with ''[[Super Mario World]]''. Steve James praised the "superlative" moves, "amazingly crisp" sound samples, and "totally realistic" action; Mark Patterson, while criticizing the high UK import price of {{£|70–80|long=no|link=yes}} ({{US$|{{To USD|70|GBR|year=1994|round=yes}}–{{To USD|80|GBR|year=1994|round=yes}}|long=no}}), concluded with "credit to Sega for producing an excellent machine, and even more to AM2 for its near-perfect conversion of this fantastic game."<ref name="CVG158"/> In a review of the Japanese release, ''[[GamePro]]'' praised the retention of the fighters, moves, varying camera angles, and controls of the arcade version, as well as the improved voice and sound effects and home version options, and concluded it to be "one of the best games ever bundled with a system".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Saturn ProReview: Virtua Fighter|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=68|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=March 1995|page=31}}</ref> Their later review of the North American release was similarly laudatory, but remarked that ''[[Tekken (video game)|Tekken]]'' and ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]'' for the soon-to-launch [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] were even better.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=ProReview: Virtua Fighter|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=83|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=August 1995|page=48}}</ref> ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'', which also reviewed the game prior to the Saturn's USA launch, disagreed, contending that "What ''Virtua Fighter'' lacks in ''[Battle Arena] Tohshinden''{{'}}s immediate graphical punch, it makes up for in grinding longevity." They particularly praised the game's depth and realism, and summarized that "The Saturn ''Virtua Fighter'' is, to all intents and purposes, the coin-op game brought home. And away from the arcade, under the harsh light of unhurried examination, its merits grow."<ref name="NGen4">{{cite journal|title=Virtua Fighter |journal=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=4|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=April 1995|page=88}}</ref>

''Maximum'' gave it five out of five stars, calling it "a stunningly close conversion that is quite possibly the best game available for the machine." They remarked that the innovations such as the 3D motion capture remained impressive, as well as the depth and variety of the character's gameplay application: "every fighter has almost limitless scope for coming up with all-new attacks." They also praised the "very clever mixture of superbly exaggerated sound effects coupled with a tangible, realistic impact for every blow."<ref name="Maximum">{{cite journal|title=Virtua Fighter|journal=Maximum: The Video Game Magazine|issue=1|publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|date=October 1995|pages=142–3}}</ref> ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' were more subdued in their reaction, but two of their four reviewers commented that it was nearly identical to the arcade version. They scored it 31.5 out of 40 (average 7.875 out of 10).<ref name="EGM72">{{cite magazine|title=Review Crew: Virtua Fighter|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=72|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=July 1995|page=38}}</ref> ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' rated the Saturn version 9/10, stating: "Saturn ''Virtua Fighter'' has all the pulling power of the arcade version, including the swooping, gliding game camera, the stylish polygon characters, the totally convincing animation and the compulsive gameplay&nbsp;... [The graphics] were impressive enough in the original, but on the Saturn, under the kind of intense scrutiny you can never give a game in the arcades, they emerge as simply astounding&nbsp;... It's arguably the first true 'next generation' console game, fusing the best aspects of combat gameplay with groundbreaking animation and gorgeous sound".<ref name="Edge">{{cite web|title=Virtua Fighter Review|url=http://www.edge-online.com/review/virtua-fighter-review/|publisher=Edge Online|date=December 22, 1994|access-date=January 22, 2014}}</ref>

''[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]'' gave ''Virtua Fighter Remix'' five out of five stars, saying that it fixed the glitches and graphics of the original game while maintaining the already excellent gameplay.<ref name="SSM">{{cite journal|title=Review: Virtua Fighter Remix + CG Portrait Collection|journal=[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]|issue=1|publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|date=November 1995|page=94}}</ref> ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' scored ''Remix'' 29 out of 40 (average 7.25 out of 10). The reviewers praised all the game's improvements, but most of them concluded that it was still not worth buying for players who already owned the original game.<ref name="EGM76">{{cite magazine|title=Virtua Fighter Remix Review|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=76|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=November 1995|page=46}}</ref> ''Maximum'' likewise praised the quality of the game and its low price tag, but felt it was not worth buying, with the release of the even better Saturn conversion of ''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'' less than a month away. They scored it four out of five stars.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Maximum Reviews: Virtua Fighter Remix|journal=Maximum: The Video Game Magazine|issue=2 |publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|date=November 1995|page=143}}</ref> The staff of ''Next Generation'' gave it five out of five stars, applauding the graphical improvements and glitch fixes. They commented: "Perhaps never in videogame history has a problem such as ''Virtua Fighter'' been so quickly and thoroughly corrected. ''Virtua Fighter Remix'' contains all the great gameplay of the original without any of the weak spots."<ref name="NGen10">{{cite journal|title=Reassuring|journal=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=10|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=October 1995|page=113}}</ref> Scary Larry of ''GamePro'' gave the game a highly positive review for its graphical enhancements and retention of all the excellent gameplay of the original Saturn version. ''GamePro'' also ran two reader-submitted reviews for the game; King Kane argued that the graphical and audio improvements make the game worth trying even for those who are not fans of ''Virtua Fighter'', while Tricky Ricky argued that though the game is an impressive upgrade, the lack of changes to the gameplay make its appeal quickly fade.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=ProReview: Virtua Fighter Remix|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=87|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=December 1995|pages=72–73}}</ref> ''Famicom Tsūshin'' scored ''Virtua Fighter Remix'' a 35 out of 40,<ref>NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: バーチャファイター リミックス. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.344. Pg.31. July 21, 1995.</ref> and the [[Sega 32X]] version of the game a 30 out of 40.<ref name="Fam358">NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: バーチャファイター. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.358. Pg.30. October 27, 1995.</ref> ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' reviewed the arcade version of the game, and stated that "The drawback of all Titan games, including ''Remix'', is that the technology isn't as advanced, fast, or powerful as Model 2B [...] and these games are really like playing fast Saturn games in the arcade."<ref name="NG12"/>

''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' scored the 32X version 30.5 out of 40 (average 7.625 out of 10), calling it an excellent conversion given the system it's on, but dated next to the graphically superior Saturn version and especially ''Virtua Fighter Remix'', both of which had already been released.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Virtua Fighter Review|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=75|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=October 1995|page=36}}</ref> ''GamePro'' also noted that the 32X version suffers from more slowdown and fewer polygons than the Saturn version, as well as "tinny sound quality", but praised the additional options not included in the Saturn version and rated it as an overall strong port.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=ProReview: Virtua Fighter|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=86|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=November 1995|page=66}}</ref> A critic for ''Next Generation'' similarly said that the 32X version is not as impressive looking as the Saturn version but has more options and fewer glitches, making it an overall excellent port. He argued that the game was not worth buying a 32X for, since the system was not powerful enough to handle ports of ''Virtua Fighter Remix'' or ''Virtua Fighter 2'' (which was soon to be released for the Saturn), but that it was an essential purchase for those who already own a 32X.<ref name="NGen11">{{cite journal|title=Un-X-Pected!|journal=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=11|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=November 1995|page=177}}</ref>

In 1995, [[Flux (magazine)|''Flux'']] rated the arcade version 16th in its Top 100 Video Games. At the time, they called ''Virtua Fighter'': "The most satisfying fighter in existence."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=April 1995 |title=Top 100 Video Games |url=https://archive.org/details/flux-issue-4/page/n25/mode/2up |journal=Flux |publisher=Harris Publications |issue=4 |pages=27}}</ref> In 1996, ''Computer Gaming World'' declared ''Virtua Fighter PC'' the 121st-best computer game ever released.<ref name=cgw150>{{cite magazine | author=Staff | title=150 Best (and 50 Worst) Games of All Time | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | date=November 1996 | issue=148 | pages=63–65, 68, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 84, 88, 90, 94, 98 }}</ref> In 1996, [[GamesMaster (magazine)|''GamesMaster'']] ranked ''Virtua Fighter'' eighth on their "The GamesMaster Saturn Top 10."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=July 1996 |title=The GamesMaster Saturn Top 10 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/c/cf/GamesMaster_UK_044.pdf |journal=GamesMaster |issue=44 |pages=76}}</ref>

==Legacy and impact==
{{See|Virtua Fighter}}{{See also|Fighting game#Emergence of 3D fighting games (mid-to-late 1990s)}}
''Virtua Fighter'' dispensed with [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]]-based graphics, replacing them with flat-shaded polygons rendered in real-time, by the Model 1's 3D-rendering hardware, allowing for effects and technologies that were impossible in sprite-based fighters, such as characters that could move in three dimensions, and a dynamic camera that could zoom, pan and swoop dramatically around the arena. It has been credited with both introducing and popularizing the use of [[Polygonal modeling|polygon-based]] [[3D graphics]] in fighting games.<ref name="gamespot-influential">{{cite web|title=Virtua Racing – Arcade (1992)|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/15influential/p13_01.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412225953/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/15influential/p13_01.html|archive-date=April 12, 2010|work=15 Most Influential Games of All Time|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|access-date=January 19, 2014|year=2001|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="EGM68">{{cite magazine|title=Future Fights: A Looking Glass into Tomorrow's Fighting Games|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=68|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=March 1995|pages=91–93}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Tekken 2|journal=Maximum: The Video Game Magazine|issue=1|publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|date=October 1995|page=21|quote=At the end of 1993, the genre was re-defined by Sega's Virtua Fighter, which introduced stunningly animated 3D polygon fighters that greatly excited arcade gamers.}}</ref> ''Next Generation'' said in 1995 that ''Virtua Fighter'' was "arguably the most significant game" of the 1990s.<ref name="NG11"/> [[1UP.com|''1UP'']] listed it as one of the 50 most important games of all time. They credited ''Virtua Fighter'' for creating the 3D fighting game genre, and more generally, demonstrating the potential of [[3D computer graphics|3D polygon]] human characters (as the first to implement them in a useful way), showing the potential of realistic gameplay (introducing a character [[Game physics|physics system]] and realistic character animations), and introducing fighting game concepts such as the ring-out and the block button.<ref name="1UP">{{cite web|title=Classic 1UP.com's Essential 50|url=http://www.1up.com/features/essential-50-virtua-fighter|website=[[1UP.com]]|access-date=July 24, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019134155/http://www.1up.com/features/essential-50-virtua-fighter|archive-date=October 19, 2013}}</ref>

At a time when fighting games were becoming increasingly focused on violence and shock value, the popularity of ''Virtua Fighter'' demonstrated that fighting games focused on gameplay were still commercially viable.<ref name="EGM68"/> Nintendo's [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] said that for several years after ''Virtua Fighter'' was released he was disinterested in making fighting games because he felt that "I was beaten to the punch when ''Virtua Fighter'' came out", and that any fighting game he produced would have been perceived as an attempt to copy ''Virtua Fighter''.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Inside the Mind of Shigeru Miyamoto|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=114|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=March 1998|page=55}}</ref> Game designer Yasuyuki Oda remarked that he was impressed by this video game while working for [[SNK]].<ref name="Famitsu">{{cite web|url=http://www.famitsu.com/news/201512/10094237.html|title=『ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ XIV』プロデューサーインタビュー！ 最新作は新旧スタッフが総力を挙げて開発(1/2)|date=December 10, 2015 |publisher=Famtisu|access-date=December 11, 2015}}</ref> In particular, ''Virtua Fighter'' garnered praise for its simple three-button control scheme, with the game's strategy coming from the intuitively observed differences between characters that felt and acted differently rather than the more ornate [[Combo (video gaming)|combos]] of [[2D computer graphics|two-dimensional]] competitors. ''Virtua Fighter''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s fluid animation and relatively realistic depiction of distinct fighting styles gave its combatants a lifelike presence considered impossible to replicate with [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Mott|first=Tony|title=[[1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die]]|year=2013|publisher=Universe Publishing|location=New York City|isbn=978-0-7893-2090-2|pages=226, 250|quote=''Virtua Racing''&nbsp;... was perhaps the first to treat polygons not as a graphical gimmick but as an opportunity to expand the boundaries of traditional driving games&nbsp;... It's like witnessing the discovery of fire&nbsp;... [''Virtua Fighter''] establish[ed] the template that future 3-D fighters would follow}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Steven L.|author-link=Steven L. Kent|title=The Ultimate History of Video Games: The Story Behind the Craze that Touched our Lives and Changed the World|year=2001|publisher=[[Prima Games|Prima Publishing]]|location=Roseville, California|isbn=0-7615-3643-4|pages=501–502}}</ref><ref name="Edge VF">{{cite web|title=''Virtua Fighter'' Review |url=http://www.edge-online.com/reviews/virtua-fighter-review/ |work=Edge |date=December 22, 1994 |access-date=March 5, 2015 |quote=''Virtua Fighter''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s 3D characters have a presence that 2D sprites just can't match. The characters really do seem 'alive', whether they're throwing a punch, unleashing a special move or reeling from a blow&nbsp;... The Saturn version of ''Virtua Fighter'' is an exceptional game in many respects. It's arguably the first true 'next generation' console game, fusing the best aspects of combat gameplay with groundbreaking animation and gorgeous sound (CD music and clear samples). In the arcades, ''Virtua Fighter'' made people stop and look. On the Saturn, it will make many people stop, look at their bank balance and then fork out for Sega's new machine. Over to you, Sony. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210173015/http://www.edge-online.com/reviews/virtua-fighter-review/ |archive-date=December 10, 2014 }}</ref>

''Virtua Fighter'' played a crucial role in popularizing 3D polygonal graphics.<ref name="gamespot-influential"/><ref name="1UP VF">{{cite web|last=Leone|first=Matt|url=http://www.1up.com/features/essential-50-virtua-fighter|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719110526/http://www.1up.com/features/essential-50-virtua-fighter|archive-date=July 19, 2012|title=The Essential 50 Part 35: ''Virtua Fighter''|work=[[1UP.com]]|year=2010|access-date=December 10, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Donovan|first=Tristan|title=[[Replay: The History of Video Games]]|publisher=Yellow Ant|year=2010|page=267|isbn=978-0956507204|quote=One of the key objections to 3D graphics that developers had been raising with Sony was that while polygons worked fine for inanimate objects such as racing cars, 2D images were superior when it came to animating people or other characters. ''Virtua Fighter'', Suzuki's follow-up to ''Virtua Racing'', was a direct riposte to such thinking&nbsp;... The characters may have resembled artists' mannequins but their lifelike movement turned Suzuki's game into a huge success that exploded claims that game characters couldn't be done successfully in 3D&nbsp;... Teruhisa Tokunaka, chief executive officer of Sony Computer Entertainment, even went so far as to thank Sega for creating ''Virtua Fighter'' and transforming developers' attitudes.}}</ref> Some of the [[Sony Computer Entertainment]] (SCE) staff involved in the creation of the original [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] video game console credit ''Virtua Fighter'' as inspiration for the PlayStation's 3D graphics hardware. According to SCE's former producer Ryoji Akagawa and chairman Shigeo Maruyama, the PlayStation was originally being considered as a [[2D computer graphics|2D]] focused hardware, and it was not until the success of ''Virtua Fighter'' in the arcades that they decided to design the PlayStation as a 3D focused hardware.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Feit|first=Daniel|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/09/how-virtua-fighter-saved-playstations-bacon/|title=How ''Virtua Fighter'' Saved PlayStation's Bacon|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|date=September 5, 2012|access-date=October 9, 2014 |quote='''Ryoji Akagawa:''' If it wasn't for ''Virtua Fighter'', the PlayStation probably would have had a completely different hardware concept.}}</ref> [[Toby Gard]] also cited ''Virtua Fighter'' as an influence on the use of polygon characters—and the creation of [[Lara Croft]]—in ''[[Tomb Raider (1996 video game)|Tomb Raider]]'': "It became clear to me watching people play ''Virtua Fighter'', which was kind of the first big 3D-character console game, that even though there were only two female characters in the lineup, in almost every game I saw being played, someone was picking one of the two females."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Thomason|first=Steve|title=The Man Behind the Legend|magazine=[[Nintendo Power]]|volume=19|issue=205|date=July 2006|page=72}} cf. {{cite interview|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1410480.stm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021215074846/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1410480.stm|title=Q&A: The man who made Lara|first=Toby|last=Gard|subject-link1=Toby Gard|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=June 28, 2001|access-date=July 12, 2016|archive-date=December 15, 2002|url-status=live}}</ref> [[John Romero]] also cited ''Virtua Fighter'' as a major influence on the creation of 3D [[first-person shooter]] ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]''.<ref name="nextgen">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=30|date=June 1997|pages=9–12|title=Does John Romero Still Enjoy Shooting People?|url=https://archive.org/stream/NextGeneration30Jun1997/Next_Generation_30_Jun_1997#page/n9/mode/2up}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]|issue=45|date=May 1997|quote=My original idea was to do something like ''Virtua Fighter'' in a 3D world, with full-contact fighting, but you'd also be able to run through a world, and do the same stuff you do in ''Quake'', only when you got into these melees, the camera would pull out into a third-person perspective. It would’ve been great, but nobody else had faith in trying it. The project was taking too long, and everybody just wanted to fall back on the safe thing – the formula.}}</ref> [[Team Ico]]'s [[Fumito Ueda]] also cited ''Virtua Fighter'' as an influence on his animation work.<ref>[https://blog.eu.playstation.com/2016/11/18/watch-the-last-guardians-spectacular-new-cg-trailer/ Watch The Last Guardian’s spectacular new CG trailer], [[PlayStation Blog]], [[PlayStation Network]]</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[Fighting Vipers]]'', also by Sega

Other early 3D fighters:

* ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]''
* ''[[FX Fighter]]''
* [[Tekken (video game)|''Tekken'']]
* ''[[Zero Divide]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Notelist}}

==External links==
* {{KLOV game|id=10328}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19961220034609/http://www.sega.com/segapc/downloads/games/vfighter.html Demo of Virtua Fighter PC] for [[Windows 95]] hosted by [[Sega of America]]

{{Virtua Fighter series|state=expanded}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Virtua Fighter (Arcade Game)}}
[[Category:1993 video games]]
[[Category:32X games]]
[[Category:3D fighting games]]
[[Category:Arcade video games]]
[[Category:Fighting games]]
[[Category:IOS games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Pack-in video games]]
[[Category:R-Zone games]]
[[Category:Sega arcade games]]
[[Category:Sega Saturn games]]
[[Category:Sega-AM2 games]]
[[Category:Video games adapted into comics]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games produced by Yu Suzuki]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Masaru Setsumaru]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Takayuki Nakamura]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Takenobu Mitsuyoshi]]
[[Category:Virtua Fighter]]
[[Category:Windows games]]