Take any of my ratings of non-Smash fighting games with a grain of salt, as they're usually based off a single run or two through the arcade ladder and general surface impressions.

A good showing right out of the gate for the series - very solid gameplay feel, that commitment to authenticity is there, and the game looks... well, it was groundbreaking for '93, and it's charmingly of-its-era now. I think it's not quite at the heights of VF2 - compared to its sequel, this is floatier, not as tight to control, and less visually interesting (yeah, it's mostly texture work and set dressing, but that makes a huge differents). I actually think Shun Di and Lion Rafale add a ton to 2's roster, being far less straightforward to fight than the VF1 cast. Still, for what this is - very strong start to the series.

Reviewed on May 28, 2023


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