Master Your Virtua Fighter 

Published November 9, 2007

The Virtua Fighter series is world-renowned for its unparalleled depth and the technical skill required to master any one of its seventeen fighters. Virtua Fighter™ 5 is no exception as there is no room in the arena for random button mashers. Every attack, movement, throw, and counter must serve a purpose and be executed with precision timing. Consider the following tips and you should be well on your way to understanding what it takes to achieve Virtua glory.

Always rotate so your back isn't against the wall.

Choose Wisely
While Virtua Fighter 5 maintains excellent balance across the board, not all characters possess the same learning curve. If you're new to the series, stick with the quicker, more easily accessible fighters like Jacky, Brad, El Blaze, and Vanessa. While none reward button mashing, the faster characters traditionally follow a more logical combo progression.

Try practicing a few minutes in the Dojo with several characters if you're having trouble making a selection, and then choose the character that feels most natural for you. Also, while grapplers like Jeffry and Wolf possess relatively uncomplicated move sets, bear in mind they require near perfect timing during battles to effectively use their more devastating attacks.

Welcome to the Dojo
It must be mentioned that Virtua Fighter 5 cannot be easily mastered by simply picking and playing a character. The move sets simply don't follow standard logic, so you must spend time in the Dojo practicing your character's moves and combinations.

Akira's learning curve is brutal, but worth it.

Don't try to memorize the entire move list at once either, but instead, pick out a few good attacks and combinations and focus entirely on them. Incorporate those attacks into your repertoire, and return to the Dojo to learn more moves only when you're confident you've mastered what you've already practiced.

Hit and Run
Virtua Fighter 5 is a game of adjustments and counter-moves as you prod an opponent's defense, identify a weakness, then attempt to exploit that weakness. To this end, use quick strike tactics to surprise your enemy and then back away immediately before they have time to react. This accomplishes two goals: one, it's a safe tactic unlikely to leave you vulnerable to attack, and two, you can study your opponent's response and adjust your attacks accordingly.

Study Your Opponent
If you play against the same folks consistently online or offline, it's critical that you learn to identify their patterns. There are no unbreakable patterns or combinations in Virtua Fighter 5, so if you know your opponent favors a certain combination, you should be able to identify an easy solution. Try to always mix up your moves, so you don't become predictable yourself. Never rely on just a fraction of your move set.

Avoid the Throw
A smart opponent can quickly bust up your defense by using throws any time you put up your guard for more than a second or two. Counter these throws by pressing the throw button yourself in conjunction with the last direction your opponent pressed to activate the throw.

New to the game? Try Jacky.

It can be exceptionally difficult to diagnose these counters correctly though, unless you have an encyclopedic knowledge of every move set. If your opponent favors the same throws over and over again, enter the Dojo mode with your opponent's character and practice to identify their favorite throws and how you'll counter.

Go Low
Sweeps and other low attacks are not only great as a change of pace, but they also make great combo breakers. Try ducking down for a quick punch or sweep while your opponent is in the middle of a long combination.

Also, nearly every character possesses a powerful move or two that begins from the crouched position. Master these moves and crouch and block to avoid getting hit by constant low attacks, and then immediately launch a mid-level attack to go on the offensive.

Combo Break
Long, uninterrupted combinations are the bread and butter of the novice player, but against stiffer competition, such tactics will quickly become liabilities. There is a moment at the end of each combo where your opponent can unleash their own attacks without constraint. Unless you're juggling your opponent (hitting them while they're defenseless in the air), learn instead to halt your combos mid-string. This will throw off the timing of your opponent.

Now back to the dojo to practice these tips, and good luck in your next arena battle.

Article by Ryan Treit