Post by DLB on Jan 16, 2005 11:41:48 GMT -5
Having been a longtime Sega/AM2/VF fan, I reluctantly picked up a PS2 just to play the new VF4 Evo. What a disappointment! This is not VF, but Tekken. Pig masks and bunny ears? An unchallenging normal arcade mode with poor computer A.I. and a boring, tedious RPG mode? Team battle and ranking mode removed? I found VF4 Evo to last about 4 hours before it wore itself out, then the PS2 was dumped, along with 12 poor pieces of software, for next to nothing. I never missed either the PS2 or VF4. I am thankful I still have the Saturn and Dreamcast with VF, VF2, and VF3TB.
Although VF4 may be more accessible, ala Tekken, it has lost it's charm and addictiveness. It has gone the way of most titles released for Sony's systems; an irrelevant main game with the only single player replay value being to gain a bunch of lame extras. To me, this equates to zero replay value. The best part of VF4 Evo was the inclusion of the (almost) original VF1 as a bonus. I am specifically judging VF4 Evo as a single player game played against the computer opponents.
I have a very high respect for the talents of Yu Suzuki and AM2, and I realize the apparent feeling that Sega need address a larger market cross-section, but this strategy seems to have failed. Sony fanboys typically discard Sega, and Sega fanboys won't tolerate mainstream, crowd mentality games. Sega overall never gained the new, expanded market it targeted, and they lost their established base at the same time. I know VF4 did well relative to Tekken and DOA, but I believe it still sold well under a million copies worldwide. Other Sega releases appear to have fared much worse, judging by Sega's current position and it's failure to meet it's stated goals so confidently put forth when they reorganized. Remember the statements about overtaking EA as the number one third party software company?
I have refused to support the "new" Sega since it abandoned it's fanbase, and this one exception (VF4) only reinforces that my original thoughts were correct. Sega has become far less distinguishable from the competition than they were in the past. Retro is the answer to my dis-satisfaction with the direction Sega, and the gaming industry in general, is heading; lots of fluff with no substance.
Well, gotta get back to my Saturn and Space Harrier!
Although VF4 may be more accessible, ala Tekken, it has lost it's charm and addictiveness. It has gone the way of most titles released for Sony's systems; an irrelevant main game with the only single player replay value being to gain a bunch of lame extras. To me, this equates to zero replay value. The best part of VF4 Evo was the inclusion of the (almost) original VF1 as a bonus. I am specifically judging VF4 Evo as a single player game played against the computer opponents.
I have a very high respect for the talents of Yu Suzuki and AM2, and I realize the apparent feeling that Sega need address a larger market cross-section, but this strategy seems to have failed. Sony fanboys typically discard Sega, and Sega fanboys won't tolerate mainstream, crowd mentality games. Sega overall never gained the new, expanded market it targeted, and they lost their established base at the same time. I know VF4 did well relative to Tekken and DOA, but I believe it still sold well under a million copies worldwide. Other Sega releases appear to have fared much worse, judging by Sega's current position and it's failure to meet it's stated goals so confidently put forth when they reorganized. Remember the statements about overtaking EA as the number one third party software company?
I have refused to support the "new" Sega since it abandoned it's fanbase, and this one exception (VF4) only reinforces that my original thoughts were correct. Sega has become far less distinguishable from the competition than they were in the past. Retro is the answer to my dis-satisfaction with the direction Sega, and the gaming industry in general, is heading; lots of fluff with no substance.
Well, gotta get back to my Saturn and Space Harrier!
