Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is the newest version of the classic Virtua Fighter 5 which has new balance changes and rollback netcode! Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. Review Overview

What is Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O.?

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is a new and improved PC port of the fifth installment in the franchise and the seventh version of the same game. It’s a direct update to the 2021 remaster that adds new costumes, music, moves, balance changes, and most importantly, rollback netcode with the added benefit of being able to run at 60 FPS and having 4K graphics.

Two players fight each other in realistic 3D stages, where you can use the environment to your advantage by sidestepping to dodge and reposition yourself. It also utilizes a unique three-button control scheme consisting of Punch (P), Kick (K), and Guard (G) combined with directional inputs. Lastly, the game has 19 playable characters with unique fighting styles and strengths and weaknesses.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. features:
　⚫︎　 PC Port of the 2021 Remaster — Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown
　⚫︎　 Rollback Netcode
　⚫︎　 19 Playable Characters
　⚫︎　 Balance Changes
　⚫︎　 Character Customization
　⚫︎　 Three-Button 3D Fighting Game

For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O.’s gameplay and story.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O.
Steam

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Rollback Netcode Engaging Gameplay	Difficult to Master Punishing Design

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. Overall - 70/100

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. marks the long-awaited return of a beloved fighting game franchise, bringing it back into the spotlight where it belongs. Despite its years of absence, it proves that a well-crafted system can turn simplicity into depth. However, the lack of story and single-player content can turn people off, as not everyone is in it for the fight.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. Story - 4/10

The story of Virtua Fighter isn’t exactly its greatest aspect. Without spoiling too much and diving deep into it, a shady organization is out to test its newest combat robot against the world’s strongest martial arts practitioners. It’s honestly not that great; if anything, you could describe it as something they just needed to put in. Most of the other characters are mostly there to prove themselves against the best martial artists and don’t have anything to offer in the overall story.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. Gameplay - 9/10

Being one of the oldest fighting game series, the gameplay refinements and character adjustments in the newest version give veterans a fresh perspective while preserving the series’ core fundamentals. It’s difficult to master, like most fighting games, but it’s bold enough to shake up the meta and let the game’s more than a decade-old systems shine once again, especially with the addition of rollback netcode for a better online experience.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. Visuals - 7/10

The Dragon Engine visual upgrade is completely noticeable. The series has always been known to account for realism with its visuals, as the game doesn’t have flashy visuals from the other fighting game counterparts. It’s not as good as the new games that are currently out there, but it shows that SEGA’s Dragon Engine can be used for other games as well.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. Audio - 7/10

The new version adds more of the classic Virtua Fighter music that fans have grown to love, but other than that, the sound effects, voice acting, and audio design feel dated. It’s not as if the audio is inherently bad because of this; it’s just immediately noticeable that it’s an older game.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. Value for Money - 8/10

For $19.99, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. offers the best version of a historic fighting game with modern adjustments and changes. One could argue that the game lacks enough single-player content for casuals to enjoy, but the fact that the game has rollback netcode and balance changes should justify its not-so-expensive price tag.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. Review: Coming Back For Another Round

Virtua Fighter has always been one of the series to which fighting game players have to pay respect. It’s the OG of 3D fighting games and can even be considered one of the blueprints of other fighting games, especially Tekken. It’s been roughly a decade since the series has had a new release, and to everyone’s surprise, SEGA has announced that the franchise is finally making a comeback. To start this off, they decided to update their last version of Virtua Fighter 5 with a final balance update, a PC port, and rollback netcode in the form of Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O.

Simple Controls, High Skill Ceiling

Like Tekken, Virtua Fighter (VF) is a fighting game where two players battle it out in a 3D environment and can use the open space to maneuver. However, the main difference that VF has over most fighting games is its more realistic approach to fighting, where certain reactions counter specific actions.

Despite being a three-button fighter, VF is notorious for being one of the harder fighting games to get better at. This mostly stems from the fact that you’re constantly playing rock-paper-scissors (RPS) against your opponent. In comparison to a similarly designed game like Tekken, breaking throws in Virtua Fighter is a guessing game. It involves the player being grabbed to guess the last directional input and pressing the throw input (P+G) simultaneously.

Other than the mental aspect of guessing, execution is also a big thing in the game. An example of this is poster boy, Akira Yuki. He’s known to be one of the harder characters to play, despite the common notion that the poster boys are the easier ones to use. He has moves that require precise inputs and need you to press or release them within a single frame. This goes for a lot of the characters in the game, as this isn’t exclusive to Akira alone.

Fast-Paced and More Difficult than Most

One thing about VF is also how punishing the game is. It’s normal to get caught in a combo that deals 50% or get grabbed for 40%. While all fighting games reward proper timing, good decision-making, and reading your opponent, it feels more apparent due to the game’s explosive nature.

Some factors that contribute to this are that rounds typically last 45 seconds, some stages have ring-outs, and stages with full-fenced walls can lead to devastating combos. It’s a very in-your-face type of fighting game, and it’s designed to be that way as it’s depicted as a realistic fight.

Consequences of Difficulty

With the game being as fast and as difficult as it is, it’s one of the more niche fighting games that’s already in a niche genre. It’s arguable that the game is easier to learn since every action has a more obvious counterplay. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s a game where you either get it or you don’t, but it’s one of those competitive games that need a bit more time to understand.

Ultimately, this is the consequence that fighting games face in trying to attract new players. While the trend of new fighting games is making things more accessible, VF is an example of how fighting games have always been in the past decade: fast-paced, full of decision-making scenarios, and competitive.

Actual Netplay

Fighting games have been going away from the arcades, especially when COVID hit, and having good online matchmaking is something that they need nowadays. It’s good that Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. includes rollback netcode, which is the standard for most fighting games to have a decent online presence. Without going too technical on the details, rollback netcode allows for a smoother connection between two players as opposed to a direct or peer-to-peer connection that fighting games used to have. This makes it so that distance and bandwidth are not as big of a factor when it comes to playing online.

Showing Everyone Why It’s The OG

For a game released back in 2006 and having a ton of different versions leading up to the current iteration, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is an example that simple systems are often the best foundation for engaging gameplay. It doesn’t need the flashy things like dashes, superpowers, weapons, and all of that nonsense. Just good old-fashioned fisticuffs. SEGA is bold for remastering a remaster by updating it and giving it a new port, but this is a step in the right direction to get fans excited and ready for the new project.

Is Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. Worth It?

Yes, Especially For Fighting Game Purists!

It’s no secret that fighting games aren’t exactly for everyone. But for the cheap price of $19.99, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is worth the investment. It has everything you need to learn the ins and outs of your character, and the fact that it has rollback netcode just makes it even better. Players can finally play Virtua Fighter against other people in the comfort of their own homes through netplay.

Digital Storefronts
Steam
$19.99

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. FAQ

What makes Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. different from Ultimate Showdown?

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is an updated version and PC port of Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown released back in 2021. The main differences between the two are the characters’ updated movelists, frame data changes, balancing updates, and the addition of rollback netcode.

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Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. Product Information

Title	VIRTUA FIGHTER 5 R.E.V.O.
Release Date	January 28, 2025
Developer	Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher	SEGA
Supported Platforms	PC (Steam)
Genre	Fighting, PvP
Number of Players	1-2
ESRB Rating	T
Official Website	Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. Official Website

Michael Gerra-Clarin

Resident fighting game nerd, avid FFXIV fan, and enjoyer of mostly anything gaming. He is currently addicted to gambling in TFT and dying to Light Rampant in Futures Rewritten Ultimate.