Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. has just released, and it’s bringing a whole lot of new players with it. While the latest edition has sparked much interest, some players fear that Virtua Fighter is hard to learn. No need to worry, though, because in this Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. beginner’s guide, you will quickly acquire the fundamentals needed to improve at the game comfortably. I just want to point out that because this guide is for beginner players, it won’t fully explain everything about the game to overwhelm readers. Instead, it will provide players with just enough information needed to learn how to actually play the game. Without further ado, let’s get right into it!
Disclaimer: There will be notations I will use in this guide to describe certain attacks. If you find yourself confused at any of these points, use the guide below as guidance:
Choose Your Character!
Of course, we can’t continue further if you don’t have a character for yourself. Characters are the most essential part of a fighting game for many reasons. The most important one is that they determine whether or not you like the game. So, picking a character that fits the way you want to play the game is important, especially considering that this will be a character you will devote hours to.
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is filled with 19 characters in its roster, all with unique playstyles. Some can be aggressive, defensive, or balanced. I highly suggest watching different characters’ match videos on YouTube to see who fits you best. If you need additional help, VF5 R.E.V.O. has a website consisting of video guides for each character. Once you find the right character for yourself, it’s time to start learning the controls!
Breaking Down the Controls and Approaching the Move List
Just like Tekken and SoulCalibur, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.VO. is a 3D fighting game where you can not only move left and right but can also sidestep up and down. The unique thing about VF5 R.E.V.O., though, is that it’s primarily played using a joystick and three buttons: Punch (P), Kick (K), and Guard (G). Using various directions on the joystick or directional pad combined with the punches or kicks will give you different attacks. Also, If you press punch and guard simultaneously, you will get a throw. These are pretty much the basic controls of the game, so I suggest going into training mode to get a feel for them yourself.
Speaking of training mode, you might notice that you can view your character’s move list in the menu. That’s right! All of the characters in VF5 R.E.V.O. have many attacks and combinations in their arsenal that players can utilize. However, it might seem overwhelming to look at your character’s long move list. Where do you even begin to get started? What moves should I use? Am I supposed to learn all of this?
The critical thing to understand is that your character’s moves are simply tools in a toolbox. Each one is supposed to be used in different situations, so it’s important to learn all of the important moves. But before we get into that, you must have a foundation that allows you to use these tools. In other words, you need to have a simple strategy.
Building Your Offense Off of One Button
In Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O., matches are mostly played at close range. This is because a lot of characters’ effective attacks have short-range, so keeping yourself at a close distance will put you in a stronger position. Having said all of that, you need to pick out some of your character’s fastest attacks to utilize in this range. For most characters, this will be their 5P, 2P, and 6P. 5P’s generally have frame advantage on block and hit, allowing you to frame trap into another 5P. The same thing applies to 2Ps and 6Ps, except they only have frame advantage on hit.
These frame traps are powerful because they allow you to see how the opponent constantly tries to deal with it. For example, let’s say I keep doing 5P into 5P over and over again. After I throw out the first 5P, my opponent generally has the following options:
- Stand Block
- Crouch Block
- Attack
- Sidestep
My goal is to keep doing 5P into 5P every time and see how the opponent constantly deals with the situation:
- If they start stand blocking after the first 5P, I can start using throws.
- If they keep attacking after the first 5P, I can start going for my character’s counter-hit tool to beat the attack (For most characters, it will be 6P)
- If they start crouch blocking after the first 5P, I can start going for my character’s mid launcher (an attack that launches the opponent above the ground)
- If they start side-stepping after the first 5P, I can start going for my character’s full circular attack or a throw
It’s also worth noting that forward and back throws generally do more damage than regular throws.
Summary
Essentially, I spam 5P into 5P until I see that the opponent is starting to beat it often, recognize what they are doing to beat it, and then come up with the correct answer. This is how Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is played. It’s a back-and-forth conversation between you and your opponent, where you must always be trying to analyze and adapt to how they repeatedly respond to your choices. To learn more about this concept, check out my beginner’s guide to fighting games, where I discuss the concept of a layer 1 gameplan.
I want to warn you, however, that VF5 R.E.V.O. is a turn-based game. Understanding when it’s your turn to attack is critical so that you don’t attack at the wrong time. Knowing when a character’s pressure ends will entitle you to start going for your turn. Memorizing the character’s pressure strings, meaning when to block high and low, will keep you safe in matches.
Have a Growth Mindset
With all of the above advice in mind, it’s essential to understand that improving your skills takes time. It’s normal to struggle at first, so don’t feel discouraged. Adopt a growth mindset by focusing on things one at a time and then sharpening those things as you play. Remember, you don’t need to be good now; you can be good later.
For players who would like extra resources to learn the game, the list below are links that take you to different parts of the Virtua Fighter community:
- Virtua Fighter Community Discord – Play matches, ask questions, and socialize with numerous other players.
- Virtua Fighter dot com – Virtua Fighter community website that provides news, multiple guides, and forums for new and old players.
Additionally, if you like watching YouTube guides for fighting games, be sure to check out the following Virtua Fighter content creators below:
