Computer opponents put up a good fight -- maybe too good. The artificial intelligence will pummel most people, especially inexperienced n00bs. To sharpen one's skills, players need to become acquainted with Dojo mode. Here, gamers select a fighter, set up a particular scenario and go to work. This lets them get the hang of the moves and counters, or try out some of the game's deeper bone-breaking combos.

Sega AM2 deserves credit for its work with the visuals. All of the fighters look phenomenal, right down to the wrinkles in Shun Di's face and the seams on Sarah Bryant's body suit. Even with the smallest of motions (like rolling off the ground), the characters move with fluid brilliance. The backgrounds also stand out. The street level, for instance, features passing traffic, buildings with separately lit windows and rain -- all at 60 frames per second. Other levels, like a snow-capped mountain and a heavily crowded wrestling arena look amazing as well. Even the menu system overflows with extraordinary detail, as players select from floating icons to reach their desired mode.

The music sounds great, and the fighting effects come through almost perfectly. However, the voice acting needed work. Sometimes it works well, like with Sarah's classic "Better run home to momma now!" taunt. Other lines, however, sound corny. El Blaze sounds like a superhero impersonator instead of a genuine Lucha Libre wrestler, with dialogue like "My body is the ultimate...WEAPON!" Also, AM2 threw in a pointless commentary option, featuring an announcer who just says things like, "That had to hurt!".

Virtua Fighter 5 features two new modes VF TV and Quest Mode beyond the standard Arcade and Versus offerings, VF TV not only lets people record matches for later viewing, but also comes with some pre-loaded for study. Quest Mode presents players with a rewarding journey, as they visit arcades to challenge opponents. Through this mode, they rank up their characters, starting a 10th Kyu and eventually getting to 10th Dan, the highest level available. Quest Mode starts out easy at first, but gets harder as more of the Dan-ranked opponents surface. Players can earn other bonuses as well. These include additional accessories for their fighter, currency to be spent on items and powerful orbs.