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

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is the latest 2025 game in SEGA's legendary fighting game series now available on PC via Steam. Carrying on the legacy of Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown (otherwise known as Virtua Fighter 5 E-Sports in Japan in 2021), this version aims to be the culmination of the evolution of the VF5 series.

In this short review, we look at aspects ranging from combat mechanics, visual enhancements, to multiplayer features and control systems that support a competitive gaming experience.

Gameplay and Fight Mechanics

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. retains the core essence of the previous series with a simple three-button combat system that has high strategic depth. The basic mechanics-where guarding counters attacks, throwing defeats defense, and attacks cancel out throw attempts-form the foundation of easy-to-understand yet skill-demanding gameplay.

Each round lasts only 45 seconds, encouraging players to make quick decisions and execute moves with precision. While character basics can be learned in a short period of time, mastering techniques and frame data requires months of practice, providing an ever-evolving challenge even for veteran players.

Visuals and Graphics

With support Dragon Engine RGG Studio's Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. features significant visual improvements.

• Resolution and Details:
  Supporting up to 4K resolution, it produces more realistic environments with sharper lighting and texture details.
• Animation and Visual Effects:
  Despite the improvements, the character models and animations still carry a classic style that may feel less modern to some players.
• Hardware constraints:
  To enjoy optimal visuals with a frame rate of 60fps-especially in online mode-requires capable hardware, so low-spec PCs may experience some stuttering.

Character Roster and Balance

The R.E.V.O. version retains the diverse character roster that has become a hallmark of the series. Each character has a unique fighting style, ranging from realistic techniques like Jacky Bryant's Jeet Kune Do and Jean Kujo's Karate, to more theatrical styles like Kage-Maru's Ninjutsu and Wolf's professional wrestling. A notable change in the fighting mechanics is also seen in the character weight system, which is now divided into five classes:

• Super Heavyweight: (e.g. Taka-Arashi)
• Heavyweight: (e.g. Wolf and Jeffry)
• Midweight: (e.g. Akira and Lau)
• Lightweight: (e.g. Sarah and Pai)
• Super Lightweight: (e.g. Aoi and Eileen)

These weight adjustments aim to create a fairer balance between characters, so that each battle relies more on the player's skill and strategy.

Multiplayer and Online

One of the major improvements in Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is the implementation of netcode rollback which allows online battles to run more smoothly, even between players from different parts of the world.

• Online Features:
  International match support with a relatively stable connection despite the geographical distance.
• Matchmaking Challenge:
  Although the netcode has been optimized, the matchmaking system still has issues, such as connection quality indicators that are not always accurate and settings that sometimes revert to default, making the online experience sometimes feel like a lottery.

Single Player Content and DLC Customization

For single player mode, the game offers some basic options:

• Arcade, Training, and VS CPU modes
  It is more focused as a means of training on each fighter's mechanics that will be used when fighting against enemies.
• Character Customization:
  The once more extensive customization features are now mostly locked as DLC content, so longtime fans may feel like the customization options have become limited and it feels like content that was intentionally separated to be sold separately. Perhaps this is one way to monetize the game.

Game Modes in Virtua Fighter 5 Revo:

For those of you who want to experience an exciting battle in Virtua Fighter 5 RevoThere are various game modes that you can try out, both online and offline. Here are some of the main modes available:

Ranked Match

Want to test your skills and climb the ranks? Ranked Match is an online mode where you can fight against other players to collect points and increase your ranking. Fight to become the best fighter!

Room Match

Create or search for your own custom match room! Room Match allows up to 16 players to fight or simply watch the match. This mode is perfect for playing with friends or the community.

Tournament Match

This mode allows you to organize your own tournaments! There are two tournament formats to choose from:

• Single Elimination: The losing player is eliminated immediately.
• Double Elimination: Players still have a second chance before being completely eliminated.

League Match

Compete in a league system with a group of players! Points will be awarded based on the number of wins and rounds won. The player with the most points at the end of the league will be the champion.

Kumite Match

Enjoy non-stop combat in Kumite Match! Choose one player as the main fighter, then let opponents take them on one by one in a survival challenge.

Team Match

Team battle between Red Team vs Blue Team!

• Each team sends one fighter to fight.
• The losing player will be eliminated and replaced by the next team member.
• The team that defeats all members of the opponent will be the winner.

Spectating Matches

Don't just play, you can also watching other players' matches inside the lobby! This mode allows you to view the match in full screen and communicate with other viewers using the sticker feature.

Tournament

Join the official tournaments held every weekend! The better you perform, the bigger the prizes you can earn.

Training Mode

Master fighting techniques with three training modes:

• Tutorial: Learn the basics of the game.
• Command Training: Practice combos and attack commands.
• Free Training: Practice without time constraints or rules.

Arcade Mode

A classic mode that features combat fight the AI in 8 stages of battle. Perfect for testing your skills before facing real opponents.

Offline Versus

Fight against friends in local in 1v1 mode. This mode requires two wireless DUALSHOCK®4 controllers so that they can be played together.

Customization

Personalize your character with various options costumes and accessories! This feature is available with DLC purchase Legendary Pack.

Technical Specifications for Playability

Here is a list of Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O.'s main specifications and features:

Specifications	Minimum	Recommended

System

64-bit processor and operating system

64-bit processor and operating system

OS

Windows 10 22H2 (OS Build 19045)

Windows 10 22H2 (OS Build 19045)

Processor

Intel Core i5-7600, 3.5 GHz or AMD Ryzen 3 1300X, 3.4 GHz

Intel Core i7-4790, 3.6 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 1600, 3.2 GHz

Memory

8 GB RAM

16 GB RAM

Graphics

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti, 4 GB or AMD Radeon RX 570, 4 GB or Intel Arc A380, 6 GB

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, 8 GB or AMD Radeon RX 6750, 12 GB or Intel Arc A770, 8 GB

DirectX

Version 12

Version 12

Network

Broadband Internet connection

Broadband Internet connection

Storage

22 GB of available storage space

22 GB of available storage space

Sound Card

Windows Compatible Audio Device

Windows Compatible Audio Device

Additional Notes

1080p Low @ 60 FPS w/ Balanced FSR 1.0; CPU must support AVX and SSE4.2 instructions

4K High @ 60 FPS w/ Quality FSR, DLSS, or XeSS; CPU must support AVX and SSE4.2 instructions

This time, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. comes with significant improvements in visual aspects and online technology through netcode rollback. A combat system that emphasizes skill and character balance keeps this game challenging and interesting for competitors.

Despite shortcomings such as limited single player content and customization locked behind DLC, the game is a great choice for fighting fans who are ready to invest the time to master the fighting mechanics. For players looking for a competitive experience and a technical challenge, VF5 R.E.V.O. offers a combination of classic and modern that is worth checking out.