Virtua Fighter 5 is still one of our favorite games for the PS3, no doubt. We played our hearts out when it released, desperately finding ways to counter cheap Jackie players long enough to learn the nuances of new characters and altered classics. But two things marred the almost flawless release of Sega's fighting masterpiece on Sony's system: the lack of online multiplayer and no American release for an official PS3 fighting stick. The 360 version, which we've seen in Sega's offices and played briefly in Leipzig, will correct both problems in one fell swoop.

Ain't No Business Like Bruisin'

Although we still haven't gotten to set up our own Live competition (wait for the VF5 edition of 'Spy-Hunter, it will be legendary), Sega did send us two of the 360-licensed Hori EX2 fighting sticks and a preview build of Virtua Fighter 5 for the 360. After a weekend of intense field testing, we have to admit that we're pleased with both. Despite initial misgivings about graphical differences, the 360 version of VF5 held up quite well.

That's right, Jacky players: he's super cheap.

In our previous looks at VF5, we'd noticed that the overall visual sheen didn't seem quite up to the PS3's level. However, with this build, the overall level of polish is easily on par with the PS3's. Framerates were solid, cloth flowed correctly, and bare skin didn't have the early HD-gen plastic look that it had in our earlier looks at the game. Our current build doesn't have the crucial online feature up and running yet, but it was a sincere relief to see the 360 handle the game without hesitation, framerate drop, or plastic fighters.

Although the lack of a fighting stick for the PS3 could be solved by generous applications of hot or cold cash to your favorite import store, being able to drop sixty dollars and pick up a fighting stick at your local EB or GameStop is both easier and cheaper. After shipping, in the range of "half as much" cheaper. And from our time switching off between the gamepad and the EX2 it's well worth the price.


The EX2 closely resembles Hori's Dead or Alive stick for the 360, with six convex face buttons on the right, a Japanese-style ball and short-stick joystick, and the Left Bumper, Right Bumper, Start, Select, and Xbox Guide buttons arranged across the top, out of convenient reach. The wired connection runs from the top of the pad, while the bottom has a Live headset plug.

Playing with an actual fighting stick is, bluntly, night and day. Using the default set up of punch, kick, and block set to the A, B, and X buttons, we had an immediately easier time side-stepping and switching off from one button to the next for attacks with the Hori than with the gamepad. There are some nits to pick -- for example, we'd really like to see the buttons click more noticeably when you depress them, and to be set more firmly into their slots overall. As it stands, they're a bit loose. Overall, however, it's a beautiful stick -- especially since the VF5 icons and button labels are just stickers, giving you the option to leave the stick itself pristine (and to put VF5 stickers on random things, like vacationing co-workers' PS3s).

We'll be looking at the EX2s a bit more closely in our SpyGear column in the next few weeks, and we'll certainly be putting Virtua Fighter 5 through its paces when the game finally arrives in finished form for the 360 -- and more importantly, for Xbox Live. As it stands now, though, both the game and the stick seem spot on; together, they should be nothing short of sublime.