Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage (PS5) Review

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage brings back the action of the AM2 classic to all ecosystems that missed the boat on Ultimate’s arrival back in 2022 and R.E.V.O. has done earlier this year. It was clearly a wild revitalization of the 3D fighter that is meant to stand alone through a more technical approach compared to its competition. RGG gave R.E.V.O. a new facelift. Even during its’ time, Virtua Fighter inspired the likes of even Namco’s Tekken to be made. To see R.E.V.O. make its way to the world regardless of which platform that players play on, is a feat the series has ever seen.

Game Name: Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage
Platform(s): PlayStation 5(Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, PC , Nintendo Switch 2
Publisher: SEGA
Developer: RGG, AM2, Sega
Release Date: October 30 (Steam, PS5, Xbox) / Winter 2026 (Nintendo Switch 2)

Expect the World Stage

World Stage has opponents from different parts of the globe who will be fighters controlled by AI and CPU. Each fight sits at 2 rounds similar to Arcade Mode.  The CPU player names were sourced by a bit of a Discord contest. There’s a chance that you might be taking on a moniker from Evo or even the current Open Championship. Seeing players and going back to the discord to see if they’re real has a bit of a feel to it with their mains in tow. I’m hoping mine made it here, but haven’t ran into that Pai yet.  The stages are named after parts of Virtua Fighter as homages to the game itself.

For instance, Mijukumono is a reference to Lau Chan’s victory pose saying “you’re nothing but an amateur.” Shark Pool and Knuckleheads are references to both Jeffrey’s King Shark story and Lion’s phrase respectively. The stages seem to have some visual references to each character, as well. Side Tournaments can be entered to test the mettle after a certain point is reached Winning does net some Custom Costume pieces as prizes and of course, experience to gain a new rank. Luckily, beating a boss in the stage can allow the next stage to be opened.

The usual business is here with decent Rollback Netcode and the R.E.V.O. display given to console players. Ranked and Casuals are still in it to win it when it comes to bringing the fight online. However, this is now a global affair with Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam), and PlayStation competitors able to swing at each other regardless of ecosystem. Most of the matches I have had were either PlayStation or Steam, which usually ran with low pings. R.E.V.O. and Ultimate Showdown’s moveset changes also return, with more balance changes.

For the first time in Virtua Fighter 5’s run, Dural is fully playable, even on the modes that count such as Ranked. She’s vile to the core for someone who only grunts and cowls during hits sustained. Dural has a bunch of tech from each fighter; You can run like wrestler El Blaze but switch up to a Torpedo from the ninja Kagemaru. Dural’s two stances are on display. Luckily, if you get stuck, take a peek at the Replays for control to see if something different can be done to counter. Also, other people’s bouts can be seen, too. Just like Final Showdown. The E Slot for Customizations is back, which is a welcomed fold item.

More tips and tricks have been introduced. Not sure if this is new, but a whole section dedicated to Anti Taka Arashi moves per character. Everyone has this one page, which is pretty thoughtful.  Aesthetics do feel as though there is a small touch up from the Ultimate Showdown state. At least the training mode has improved with R.E.V.O.’s upgrades. World Stage also helps with more in-depth archetypes of the roster to figure out how they fit into the meta.

The Ultimate VF 5 Experience, but..

There are a few bumps along the road during Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage’s flight to fight journey, and not just from its long title. World Stage doesn’t quite feel like a premium single player experience. Much like Virtua Fighter’s lore, which often lived in supplemental media or old manuals, there’s no real story or driving reason to climb the ranks here. There’s no rivalry, no personal stakes, and no smack talk to push the player forward.

Tekken 8’s secondary story mode showed how this could be done better, letting players ride along with characters, form bonds, and claw their way to the top. The motivation to beat named opponents in World Stage is cool, but fleeting. Once you defeat someone, you might not see them again for a long time. I ran into King Jae as an opponent, which was a fun surprise, but it came and went quickly. Placement fights could have helped determine a player’s starting point instead of forcing everyone through the same slugfest to the top.

Dural, the series’ enigmatic boss, is playable here, but only if you buy her separately. It’s an odd choice for a game at this stage, especially when Final Showdown already allowed her to be used in casual and other modes. Still, landing a Dragon Ball Super Golden Freiza moment online as Dural is undeniably satisfying. Of course, that feeling fades quickly if the player using her has no idea how she works and ends up looking “free” after a rough match.

Then there’s the tournament setup, my biggest gripe since Ultimate Showdown. Sega currently only holds tournaments three times per weekend, and that’s it. Having more frequent or themed runs could encourage players to return regularly instead of forcing them to choose between waking up for an 8 AM Saturday Morning Cartoons beatdown or jumping in at 2 AM after a night out. Even a middle ground like 5 PM EST would help. As it stands, weekday tournaments don’t exist, which feels like a missed opportunity to bring in new challengers. To make matters worse, even World Stage tournaments are still capped at 16 players.

Dead Or Alive, which previously brought in Virtua Fighter characters as guests in Dead or Alive 5, does not feature a collaboration with Virtua Fighter this time around. It feels like a missed opportunity since the two series share such deep roots. Instead, the Tekken 7 costumes remain.

It’s a shame, especially considering how Dead Or Alive made a huge comeback on the Sega Dreamcast with its impressive sequel, Dead or Alive 2, and shared the fighting game spotlight with Virtua Fighter 2 on the Sega Saturn. A small homage to that era would have been a perfect way to celebrate both franchises. I’d even have loved to see Fighting Vipers or Shenmue cosmetics make an appearance. It’s a minor nitpick, but even adding Siba as a cosmetic would have been a fun nod for longtime fans.

Casual matches remain locked to rooms, which still feels like an odd design choice carried over from Final Showdown more than a decade ago. A visual lobby would have been a great touch from the AM2 and RGG teams. Sega could have recreated a cabinet-filled lobby to honor the series’ arcade roots. VF.TV, anyone? This is Sega we’re talking about—once the undisputed king of the arcade scene. Why that same energy isn’t reflected in Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage is anyone’s guess, and it’s disappointing that it wasn’t given more attention.

Final Tuned?

The more things change, the more they stay the same for Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage. While the excitement is there to bring the rest of the world up to speed with R.E.V.O., its attempt to scratch the single-player itch feels more like a side bonus than a true evolution. In some ways, Virtua Quest and Virtua Fighter 5’s original attempts at expanding the formula were simply too far ahead of their time.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage plays it safe but feels more deliberate in its execution. It’s a solid experience for players who live for the thrill of competition and want to test their skills against everyone and everything online. For its asking price, it’s a strong entry point for newcomers and returning fighters alike. Just don’t expect much beyond the competitive spirit and a drive to climb the ranks. Anything more might be a ring out for your expectations.

Review Disclosure Statement: A copy of Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage was provided to us by Sega for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media or technology, please review our Review Guidelines and Scoring Policy.

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