Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. keeps the AM2 crafted experience as smooth as it can possibly be while bringing in a few welcome changes to base game. With Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. being at its core a simpler game to get into in terms of no frill mechanics, there is the deeper need for understanding the technicality, which in turn intensifies the challenge. Despite all the improvements brought in from 2022’s Ultimate Showdown, some of the nuances are still lingering such as the weekly tournament. R.E.V.O. does bring new updates to the table in finding a way to bring the fighter back to PC since Virtua Fighter 2’s 1997 port. Thanks to Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O., the world can see what’s instore for the series going forward and this makes the wait enjoyable for new and older players alike.

67%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

story, stability

67% User Score Based on 852 reviews

Critic Score 73%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $19.99

Buy NowGet on Steam$19.99

About

"Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Virtua Fighter with the enhanced edition, R.E.V.O., featuring additional costumes, soundtracks, artwork, and collaborative DLCs. Engage in the classic 3D fighting experience with all characters and arenas, plus the new "Burning Souls" song. This package is a must-have for both newcomers and devoted fans."

Genres & Tags

Action

Play Modes

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 852 reviews

gameplay60 positive mentions

story10 negative mentions

The core gameplay is unmatched, offering deep mechanics and a satisfying combat experience.
Rollback netcode implementation allows for smoother online play, enhancing the competitive experience.
The game runs well on various hardware, including the Steam Deck, and features native ultrawide support.

Lacks substantial single-player content, with only arcade mode available and no quest mode or offline AI battles.
Customization options are severely limited, with many features locked behind paid DLC, leading to disappointment among fans.
Matchmaking is inconsistent, often pairing players with high ping, resulting in laggy and unplayable online matches.

gameplay
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
60%
3%
The gameplay of Virtua Fighter is praised for its quick, reactive mechanics that are easy to learn yet offer significant depth for those willing to master them. Players appreciate the absence of gimmicky comeback mechanics and the focus on pure fighting skills, making it a standout in the genre. However, some users express concerns about online performance issues and a lack of content, which may detract from the overall experience.
- “Gameplay is quick, reactive, and very easy to grasp... but the deeper you go, the more layers of nuance and depth you see.”
- “The core gameplay is unmatched in my opinion, and I've had many more good experiences than bad online so far, so I would recommend this with the above-mentioned caveats.”
- “Virtua Fighter’s mechanics are quirky and unique enough to stand out even in 2025.”
- “Community is nice and welcoming, but expect to be absolutely confused by the gameplay if you are coming from Tekken (a lot of attacks are mid or look like something that should be a low but aren't) and nuclear blasted by older players with years of practice at the current state since everyone is still in lower ranks (release week) albeit I've also found unfortunately several pluggers.”
- “As for arguably the most important part of any fighting game next to the mechanics itself, let's get into the online rollback netcode... as of right now 1/28/25, every single match I have had in Revo's online ranked matches have been a laggy mess.”
- “You'll be saving money, have the same amount of customization (none right now!), and lack of single-player gameplay without having to worry about the beta/buggy rollback that should've probably been tested way more than a weekend in the run up to today/launch.”
graphics
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
80%
5%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many noting that while they are significantly improved through the new Dragon Engine, they still show signs of being dated, especially when compared to contemporary titles like Tekken. Players appreciate the enhanced visuals, including 4K textures and smooth animations, which contribute to an engaging gameplay experience, but some express concerns about performance issues and the need to adjust settings for optimal play. Overall, the remaster is seen as a solid upgrade for a 20-year-old game, though it may not fully satisfy those seeking modern graphical fidelity.
- “The entire game has been superbly reworked in a new engine that supports 4K textures, high-polygon character models, new lighting, and modern graphics-card technology, including NVIDIA DLSS/DLAA and NVIDIA Reflex (+boost) for the first time in a fighting game.”
- “Great game, graphics are amazing and look like reality; the netcode is good under 100 ping.”
- “The definitive version of VF5 by far; the enhanced graphics and higher resolution look amazing and are far superior to its PS4/5 equivalent Ultimate Showdown, which I now cannot go back to due to the high quality we have here and the active online community.”
- “Consequently, the graphics are visibly dated.”
- “The game lags and freezes, eats up resources more than Tekken 8 with graphics three times worse.”
- “I've seen quite a bit of it played and frankly, it had even worse balance and graphical issues than Final Showdown did.”
story
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
74%
14%
The reviews highlight a significant lack of story content in the game, with no dedicated story mode, character endings, or quest modes that were present in earlier iterations. Players express disappointment over the absence of single-player content and customization options, feeling that the game is barebones compared to its predecessors. While the gameplay is praised for its technical excellence, the absence of narrative elements leaves many feeling unfulfilled, particularly for those who value story-driven experiences in fighting games.
- “I miss the quest mode from the original VF5 release, and I’m still frustrated that Sega didn’t consider adding more single-player content (tower-like stuff or giving scenarios to each character, you know the drill) and kept scrapping what they previously had.”
- “The game does not have quest mode, which is very sad to me because the quest mode added a lot of depth to character customization and allowed you to do other things than just fighting other people online, but the actual gameplay is fantastic.”
- “There is an arcade mode but no other modes like story modes or others that are more common in today's fighters.”
- “There's no quest mode and no customization unless you paid for the DLC costumes.”
- “No story mode, no unlockable characters, no quirky missions or extras.”
- “No quest modes, no cutscenes or references to story, just the barebones arcade mode.”
music
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
55%
7%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising the nostalgic soundtracks from previous iterations, particularly the VF2 and Virtua Fighter 3 remix tracks. While some users find the music serviceable and express a desire for more customization options, others highlight the inclusion of a massive soundtrack collection in the anniversary edition as a significant draw. Overall, the music enhances the gameplay experience, contributing to the fun and atmosphere of the game.
- “Will say the 30th anniversary edition is worth getting alongside if just for the massive soundtrack collection alone.”
- “The music is of course excellent, featuring the music found in Ultimate Showdown and a brand new vocal track, 'Burning Souls'.”
- “The soundtrack is also a banger.”
- “The music is also serviceable but nothing to particularly marvel at.”
- “Music - what music?”
- “You can mute sound effects and music, but not voices.”
optimization
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
67%
13%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some praising its rollback netcode and performance presets, while others criticize it for being unoptimized and buggy, particularly on lower-end hardware. Many users recommend lowering graphics settings to improve performance, as some experience significant lag and connection issues, especially during online matches. Overall, while there are elements of good optimization, substantial improvements are needed for a smoother experience across various hardware configurations.
- “A true testament of game optimization without bloat.”
- “The most optimized AAA fighting game I've ever seen.”
- “It has rollback netcode with 3 or 4 different presets including performance, balanced, and quality which alters the amount of rollback frames that are allowed.”
- “A buggy, unoptimized mess of a port.”
- “Game is unoptimized, takes forever to find a match on launch day, and the game just doesn't feel responsive like other fighting games out.”
- “Lastly, the game is optimized so poorly I have to drop my resolution down to 1900x600 and use AMD upscaling to even keep a somewhat decent framerate, which I'd like to make clear isn't even 60.”
stability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's stability is mixed; while it runs well on low-spec systems like the Steam Deck, players report significant issues with lag, freezing, and teleporting opponents during online matches, particularly in high ping scenarios. Ranked matchmaking is described as fast but buggy, and overall, the game performs better offline. Despite these issues, the game is considered a solid online experience with potential for improvement.
- “The requirements for this game are very low and it runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “It runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck (LCD model) out of the box.”
- “The game lags and freezes, eats up resources more than Tekken 8 with graphics three times worse.”
- “A buggy, unoptimized mess of a port.”
- “You'll be saving money, have the same amount of customization (none right now!), and lack of single-player gameplay without having to worry about the beta/buggy rollback that should've probably been tested way more than a weekend in the run-up to today/launch.”
monetization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
88%
The monetization of the game has been criticized as a potential cash grab, with many users expressing disappointment over its perceived lack of value and the presence of bugs. While some players feel they are getting their money's worth, there are concerns that future installments, particularly Virtua Fighter 6, may also fall into the trap of being a barebones release designed primarily for profit rather than quality. Overall, the sentiment leans towards skepticism regarding the game's financial practices and future offerings.
- “Feel like a lazy cash grab.”
- “Heard Tekken haters hype this game up so much and it's trash. Just save your money; it's also riddled with bugs and has bad monetization.”
- “If this is supposed to get us hyped for (or just to fund) VF6, it has me seriously worried that VF6 will be a barebones, absent-minded cash grab.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the stark contrast between its impressive graphics and outdated audio, leading to a comically jarring experience. Players find themselves laughing at the absurdity of modern visuals paired with old sound effects, creating a nostalgic yet funny atmosphere during gameplay. Overall, the humor seems to stem from the game's quirky presentation and the unexpected combination of high-quality visuals with low-quality audio.
- “And the drastic difference between how good everyone looks and how terrible everyone sounds is hilarious -- it feels like they're still using audio from the original 360 version of the game, which is super funny.”
- “Seeing the new models and 4K textures matched up with sound effects and voices that predate the iPhone is pretty hilarious and jarring.”
- “*Please do not buy the game thinking you can enable blast processing, I’m just saying it to be funny.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be heavily focused on repetitive tasks, such as completing a large number of online matches, which can feel tedious and overly time-consuming. This has led to a perception of the game encouraging "click farming" rather than engaging gameplay.
- “Let the click farming begin.”
- “The achievements are mostly 'do 1000 online matches in ranked/casual lol' grinding.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviewers highlight that the game offers exceptional replayability, particularly for dedicated fighting game enthusiasts, with the potential for thousands of hours of gameplay over many years.
- “True fighting game fans get a game that can easily last thousands of hours and years upon years of replayability.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing, with some players feeling that it fosters a competitive environment that discourages those who may be more sensitive or prone to expressing frustration. While the game is recommended for its depth and challenge, there is a sentiment that the community should prioritize skill and resilience over emotional responses.