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How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 77 | 20 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 68 | 33 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 59 | 307 |
| PlayStation store ratings | – | 61 | 750 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (32)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
“Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown may not be the big massive new game everyone hoped for, but Virtua Fighter is very much back and this fresh coat of paint does enough to complement the superb animations and core gameplay to make it a great package.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Your enjoyment of Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown is going to depend on a few factors. If you're more of a competitive online fighter, then you'll appreciate the focus on that scene. With the game's inclusion on PS Plus and PS Now, there's an even better chance for the online community to last for some time, since so many people will have access to the game. Those who enjoy local versus play won't find any mechanical differences, but at least they don't have to worry about wearing out their PS3 system or controllers every time they want to sneak in a few rounds. Single-player fighting game enthusiasts will feel the sting the most, since Ultimate Showdown takes away a few modes. Overall, the game is just as solid as it was back in the PS3/Xbox 360 era, and the hope is that this title will go multiplatform and spark enough interest that the publisher will start looking at doing a proper sixth game in the series.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown is a revamped and remastered version of a brilliant game released over a decade ago. Despite the simple 3-button setup, the battle system is surprisingly deep. This game is easy to access but hard to master. Every fighter has his unique fighting style and everyone can find is perfect fitting. SEGA obviously wants to push the online experience since offline modes are very limited. Expect regular free updates for netcode and new contents in the next months. ”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Considering the overall quality of Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown's combat it's easy to recommend giving it a shot if you're curious. If you can handle some iffy random connections and a dearth of single-player content, you will find an immensely satisfying fighting game experience that only gets better the more time you invest in it. However, I can't help but feel like a little more time to cook would have benefitted this release. Sega wants this game to be an ongoing thing, so updates are likely to add features, customization items, game adjustments, and gameplay modes. For right now, though, Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown remains a good--if flawed--return to the spotlight for one of gaming's greatest fighters.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown's one goal was to update this old-school and finely aged fighter for a modern platform. In that, it excels. This is a classic fighting game that holds up to this day. Despite that, though, it's a shame that so many single player offerings had to be cut in order to achieve this vision. Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown is a perfect competitive fighter for the modern world, but for someone looking to mess around with it offline, your options are disappointingly limited compared to previous versions of the game. ”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown is a welcome addition to the PS4 and PS5, especially since there hasn’t been a VF game in years. Mostly, this remastered release serves to whet our appetites for the prospect of an actual full-on sequel in Virtua Fighter 6, but it’s well worth playing for its pure, responsive fighting.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The package itself may be no frills but Virtua Fighter 5 is still one of the best fighting games ever made and deserves to be appreciated by a wider audience.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“As a game, Ultimate Showdown does little to convince you to choose it over the newest Tekken, Dead or Alive, or Mortal Kombat game. But given how well its core gameplay holds up with its various enhancements, it’s certainly worth a look for fighting game fans looking for something a little different.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Virtua Fighter is a nostalgic trip to the arcades in the 21st century. If you want to quickly kick a friend's ass during a friendly meeting, this is definitely a good choice. If you expect discovering deep mechanics or an extraordinary experience from the game, too bad, because you won’t find them.”
- 70
“Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown isn’t quite as ultimate as the title suggests. It is, however, a solid fighting game that should keep players entertained for tens of hours, providing the online community remains buoyant and matches play out without any hitches. It’s just a shame that more offline, single-player offerings haven’t been provided to round out the package.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Fans of the previous title will find more of what they loved in this installment. The franchise's return on the PlayStation 4 with a visual update and a burgeoning suite of online updates and options creates an enticing package for both newcomers and returning fans alike. Launching on PS Plus further ensures a low barrier of entry for newcomers to the series. With Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown, Sega bypassed reinventing the wheel and opted to instead replace the spokes with a much-needed tune-up and paint job for a faithful recreation of a fighting game classic.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Ultimate Showdown is a great release, if one of mixed intent. Seemingly for each of its advancements, there is a odd retraction. The new visuals are great, but the customization is weak. The lobby and online options are absolutely superb, but there’s very little here for offline engagement. The product leans heavily on PvP gameplay, but re-uses decade-old netcode. Thankfully, despite these mismatched visions, the quality of Virtua Fighter 5 as a fighting game shines through brilliantly, while the budget price/PlayStation Plus angle makes the title’s negatives far easier to parry.”
read full review ↗
Worth Playing
Eurogamer
GameSpot
TheSixthAxis
GameSkinny
Metro GameCentral
GamingBolt
GameSpew
Screen Rant
Destructoid…and 20 more tracked reviews.