Side by Side: Virtua Fighter (32X vs. Saturn)

[Melf]

Many people deride the 32X as an under-achieving add-on that never had a chance. That may be true, but there was definitely power there to exploit. How much power? Enough to go head on with the original Saturn version of Virtua Fighter! In the latest installment (http://www.sega-16.com/2005/08/side-by-side-virtua-fighter-32x-vs-saturn/) of our Side by Side series, we compare the two and show which one comes out on top. Miss it not!

[Dartagnan1083]

No love for Jeffery's or Wolf's theme?
For shame :evil:

But it was a great article nonetheless

[ary incorparated]

hmmm,the 32x version does have bigger polygons,but for 32x its a prestation and for sturn it isnt.hmm i think the saturn version is better,the music in the 32x version is logical worser,but also the 32x version could have represented some better sounds in some themes,some of the background music is great and pushed to the limit while some dont seem finished,Like durals theme having some gamegear kind of tunes mixed with some light distorted guitar thats not a point that when youre friend hears it he says that its actually good for a genesis sound cart.saturn version is completer i think,but 32x vetrsion is simpeler,if youve conected youre 32x to youre genesis you still can play youre favorite classics and vVF,if the 32x was added to the nomad it would have looked awesome.I go for the saturn version,saturn has more vf to play and that version is tecnical better.BTW melf why are the saturn pics a bit blurry.

[j_factor]

Good article. The Saturn port of VF1 was so rushed it's pathetic.

[Melf]

The Saturn pics aren't the best because I couldn't get the emulator to run full speed to take my own pics, so I had to find some elsewhere. :(

[ary incorparated]

I know downloading saturn is very difficult and also to make it run.BTW the saturn version is pathetic for a saturn,model 1 software on a updated console.it is a prestation for 32x,But stil i think the saturn version is better,aldo i like the genesis controller.i dont know but saturn has better sound.hhhm if the game was on genesis then poeple maybe liked the game for prestation,but my friens lough at this game,the see those polygons scrolling in 95 and there already where games like tekken and battle toshinden,the game is soooh damn polygonal,okay its a game out 92 but exually they should have made it a svp cart then some people couldnt denie that it looked great.like virtua racing,that game looks good for genesis,but then you a licht polished version of that game on 32x and you think,whathe heck is this 32 bit and polygons al over the place.I still like virtua fighter2 better and its on saturn so therefore idd prefer the sturn version,oke since it isnt a prstation at al but still since virtua figter is good on saturn id bether play em on saturn"

[ary incorparated]

BTW melf finding pics,easy Google and type the name.

[Joe Redifer]

One very notable feature about the 32X version of Virtua Fighter is that it is the first game to run in 16:9 widescreen.... EVER. In the options there is a mode called "SQUEEZE" and it creates an anamorphic image out of the polygons. Unfortunately it doesn't do anything to the bitmapped backgrounds, but when stretched by a 16:9 TV it plays with a wider field of view. Here are some pics I took:

http://pixelcraze.film-tech.net/crap/virtuafighter32x.jpg

Not even the Saturn VF games do this. Pretty cool!

[Melf]

BTW melf finding pics,easy Google and type the name.

Yeah, but I prefer to take my own when I can, and not "borrow" from another site. It's more work, but better for the site, I think.

Joe, that's awesome. I didn't know that's what the squeeze option was for. Sigh, another first that the Genesis/Sega CD/32X are not credited for.

[Joe Redifer]

I agree about taking your own pics. I always do the same for my reviews on another site. I usually use an emulator to grab better pics, but the problem is that I play through the games on a real Genesis setup, so often I am stuck only grabbing scenes from early in the game because I don't want to play through the whole thing on an emulator (I much prefer the real setup over emulators). The VF pics in my post above were before I obtained a 32X emulator.

[ary incorparated]

cool,then its obvious 32x wins,fine with me then i buy that version once. :D joe but what you also can do is connect youre console to pc With a VGA converter etc,dont know exactly never tryd it but read about that.

[ary incorparated]

BTW melf finding pics,easy Google and type the name.

Yeah, but I prefer to take my own when I can, and not "borrow" from another site. It's more work, but better for the site, I think.

Joe, that's awesome. I didn't know that's what the squeeze option was for. Sigh, another first that the Genesis/Sega CD/32X are not credited for.

Thats right,it represents the site whole lot better,Btw you can pick the best ones out of a game,like when you see special features etc.

[Genesis Knight]

Just go this today... Good Gaming Greeks! That sound is just incredible!!! Who knew that a cart could pack such crystal-clear audio?

[Flash1087]

Just go this today... Good Gaming Greeks! That sound is just incredible!!! Who knew that a cart could pack such crystal-clear audio?

If only you knew the horrible, horrible lengths they had to go through to obtain that goal...:D

[Joe Redifer]

And I suppose you know those lengths?

[Genesis Knight]

If you're referring to some clipped polygons, I think I can handle the loss.

Or are you saying you know something we don't? Hmm...

[Flash1087]

No, I was trying to say something more horrible, like sacrificing first-born children or something. I actually have no idea what they had to do, I just have an odd sense of humor, I guess. ;)

[Genesis Knight]

I think I'm getting a reputation for being obtuse.

[Flash1087]

There's something to be said for vagueness, however.

[j_factor]

There's something to be said for brevity, but in its own interest I will not say it.

[Revenge of Joe Musashi]

I actually perfer the remix version of the game.

[Genesis Knight]

Doesn't everyone? Of course, I actually prefer VF 4 to this game. ^_~

[j_factor]

I actually prefer VF2 (the arcade/saturn one, not the genesis one) to all the others.

[Melf]

VF4 Evolution is where it's at. That game is deep as hell. Just one thing though: fuck Akira, the bastard.

[ary incorparated]

Why?he plays good in the games.Whats all the agreesion and violence about,its just a game character,its no use fucking his polygonal ass in VF2.no seriously the music in vf on 32x isnt that great as sead before,actually its a kind of chore,sounds like something it didnt handle well.like the final stage(Dural)sounds like Gamegear sound with ill fated guitar synth.

[Melf]

I mean that Akira is hard as hell when he's the last guy you face. His combos are monster-like and he blocks almost everything.

[ary incorparated]

a that way,i like VF4 best,i think the graphic would have looked cleaner on dreamcast and yes i think it could handle it without slowdown,maybe a bit.i think if it was released on DC the controles would have been tighter.

[Genesis Knight]

Akira on 32X is easy. Just not later; they really toughened him up IMO.

[ary incorparated]

maybe because then he was all polygonal and not in a good shape,okay he had the blocks and sickspack etc but to much of it he got the whole polygonal fitnnes workouts,to much bloks in the stumach=to much training etc you know why.now days he is a bit more clear and concious he got his workouts done wright and hes realising that he doesnt have to do it too much.

[Melf]

Akira on 32X is easy. Just not later; they really toughened him up IMO.

Yeah, I'm talking about VF4. He's a real beast there.

[ary incorparated]

i think hes doable peace off cake just focus on his tactic and hes down,no he ios difficult but who ever has played matrimelee doesnt complain ill bett.

[ary incorparated]

he just worked out,thats all 40 years of fighting spirit in his life so obvious realistick the older,stronger they get after time passes.

[ary incorparated]

But non of both is as good as the arcade version,which a saturn could have handled with ease.