Based on SEGA seemingly committing to bringing the Yakuza games over to Nintendo platforms, even with some being simultaneous launches, it felt like we would finally have Virtua Fighter 5 on Nintendo Switch 2 through a potential port of Yakuza 6. SEGA had different plans, though, and without needing to wait for it to be playable through a mini-game in a Yakuza title, Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage is out now on Switch 2 following its launch on PC and other consoles. Not only is this the full game with all modes and content intact, but it ships with cross-platform online support, making it more than just a cheap port to buy for portable play. But the question remains, is Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage worth getting to play on Switch 2 when it comes to the port quality and other elements? I aim to answer that even for newcomers who haven’t played a Virtua Fighter game before.
Before getting to what Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage features in its base purchase, there’s a bit of history required. Following Virtua Fighter 5’s arcade release, it saw PS3 and Xbox 360 versions and more arcade editions, bringing notable changes. We then had Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown on PS3 and Xbox 360 as notable releases, with the Xbox 360 version being playable via Xbox One / Series backward compatibility. Until Yakuza 6, that port of VF5 was the only way the game was playable on modern systems. In 2021, Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown was released for PS4 worldwide as a visual remake of Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown, using Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s modern Dragon Engine featuring improved but not rollback netcode.
Virtua Fighter 5 REVO launched on PC a few years later and built on that Ultimate Showdown release by bringing in rollback netcode, 4K visuals, and a new opening featuring the legendary Takenobu Mitsuyoshi. This PC release also brought balance adjustments, which was the first time in over a decade that Virtua Fighter 5 received any since Ultimate Showdown was just a visual overhaul of Final Showdown.
Fast forward to last year, Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage released as a newer version of Virtua Fighter 5 REVO adding cross platform online support, a new World Stage mode that harkened back to VF4’s Quest mode letting you get stronger by taking on CPU opponents based on real world players to progress and unlock more cosmetics for use in Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage. The most notable addition was that Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage would be on Nintendo Switch 2 (in addition to PS5/Xbox) while also retaining the cross-play and rollback netcode support.
This brings us to Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage on Switch 2. I’ve already played a ton of Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage on Xbox Series X, PS5, and Steam Deck, and it is amazing to have a fully-featured release on Switch 2 for portable play, but this isn’t a fighter I can recommend without some caveats, despite its low asking price.
Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage ships with multiple online modes for casual and ranked play, a robust training mode with notable improvements over the PS4 release, like character-specific training featuring useful attacks and throws, an offline versus mode, an arcade mode, and the World Stage mode. Beyond this, you have access to a lot of customization for each character with costumes, accessories, and more. This is the full Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage experience with nothing cut out.
Before playing the open beta, my main concerns with the Switch 2 version of Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage had to do with the netcode and visuals. The former works well as I’ve been able to test both in the open beta and in the final game against randoms on other platforms (pre-patch) and with Shaun once we both had the 1.10 update. It holds up well, and I have no complaints with the netcode now. It isn’t as good as Street Fighter 6 online, but it’s definitely one of the better rollback implementations I’ve experienced.
As for the visuals, well, things aren’t much different compared to the open beta. If you didn’t play it, Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage runs perfectly, but it looks noticeably soft both docked and handheld. There is heavy post-processing and upscaling here, resulting in ghosting in many stages around the main character models and objects in the environment. To give you some more context, Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage looks softer than even Street Fighter 6, which was already nowhere close to crisp on Switch 2.
Ever since Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown brought the game to PS4 a few years ago, it has only gotten better with each port and update. Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage may not be for you if you want a single-player focused experience, but it is an easy recommendation on Nintendo Switch 2 despite the soft visuals. Not only is VF5 with all its updates still a fantastic fighting game, but the low asking price makes it a no-brainer if you want to play a solid 3D fighter on the go.
Version Tested: Nintendo Switch 2
Review Copy Provided by SEGA
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