When Virtua Fighter 5 released in February as a timed PS3 exclusive, we praised it as an instant classic in spite of its lack of online multiplayer, which seemed to rub some the wrong way. Nevertheless, AM2 managed to deliver an experience that made it an absolute must-buy title for PS3 early adopters, and we still recommend it for owners of Sony's console. We're proud to say, however, that for Xbox 360 owners looking for a new fighter, it's been worth the eight-month wait for this one. What's amazing here is that not only has AM2 managed to reproduce a wonderful translation of the arcade hit, it also delivers an online experience that ups the ante for other Xbox Live fighting games. Whether you're a hardcore fighting game fan or someone who just enjoys them from time to time and is new to the series, VF5 is currently the best brawler on Xbox 360.

What truly makes VF 5 shine is its controls. While VF's detractors have complained that the series is too hardcore for the average gamer, VF 5 is surprisingly accessible for anyone who's ever picked up a 3D fighting game. Indeed, while the hardcore gamers will be purchasing arcade sticks in anticipation of this one, more casual fighting fans will be able to jump in and knock the crap out of a friend in no time. Gamers who've cut their teeth on other blockbuster 3D fighters should have little problem getting into the groove.


As you play, highly evolved, well-timed combos will begin to evolve out of the primordial ooze, and eventually anyone who puts in enough time on characters will begin to see the subtleties at work. It's small things, like combo cancelling, or the fact that sometimes a certain five-punch setup won't work as fast as the player would like because the fighter's animations haven't completed their run, that show off a certain depth that more popular fighters lack. Players can fight cheap in VF 5, but it's going to take a hell of a lot more effort and polish to do it in comparison to other titles.

One thing that we're really glad to see in the 360 version that was missing from the PS3 version is the option to utilize analog controls instead of the d-pad. If you're not quite ready to burn $60 on a fighting stick, there's the option for to use the left stick. It's no substitute for the quality of a Hori, but it's certainly better than being confined to the d-pad, the well-known Achilles' heel of the 360 controller.