A playthrough of the boss Dural in the Sixfortyfive's boss hack of the arcade version of Sega's Virtua Fighter 2.

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Download link for the boss hack and emulator.
[ Ссылка ]


This download also includes a Fighting Vipers boss hack, and Last Bronx with Red Eye unlocked (press right, right, left, left, up, down, up, down, up, down and then Start, then select any character to pick him). I'll be covering both those games in the future too.

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So here's a big one, VF2. Virtua Fighter 2 was released in 1994 on Sega Model 2 arcade hardware, which spawned numerous classic arcade games such as Sega Rally, Fighting Vipers, Sonic the Fighters, Last Bronx, Daytona USA, Manx TT, Motor Raid, and numerous other classic.

VF2 graphically-speaking is phenomenal, not only in terms of being an upgrade but even by today's standards it still doesn't look half-bad. Consider that Fight Fever was also from this year, and you'll realise just what a feat of engineering VF2 was. Detailed, 3D backgrounds help to give the game a much more realistic feeling (if a little fantastical at times), although the moonjumping is still there. Highlights in terms of backgrounds include Shun's, with its dynamic shadows, bridges and moving stage (which Sega would take develop even more in Sonic the Fighters), Jeffrey's with its 3D background models and easter eggs like coconuts falling from palm trees when a powerful throw is used, and Wolf's with its 3D mountains and cage arena.

In terms of music, the game got a major leap. Stand out themes include Shun's (I guess as a new character, they really wanted him to have some staying power), Jeffrey's and Akira's. The game also features a hidden stage, Chicago, only seen when Sarah and Jacky fight one another, which features one of the best themes in the game. It's a pretty big secret for such a straightforward game, and is highly appreciated.

Combat is a lot smoother this time around, running at 60fps! Pretty incredible again, considering what VF1 was like. Indeed, it's probably becoming quite apparent as to why this is still such a beloved entry in the series. I still find command inputs a little sluggish here and there, with some being extremely difficult to input. This would be addressed with even more fluid and less stiff VF3, which is my favourite entry in the series.

I don't show many of Dural's "new" moves here, however considering they're all derivative anyway that doesn't matter much. VF2 is known as being one of the single most difficult arcade fighting games in history. Before I made this playthrough, I had recorded a bunch of times, attempting to get as far as I could, until I worked out you could trick the AI by them having to run to you at the edge of the arena, and then throwing them, which I worked out during a playthrough with Lau (a similar epiphany happened to me in Last Bronx actually, but I'll talk about that when the time comes). As a result, I don't show many of Dural's moves, but I do show a surefire way to get through one of the most difficult and complex arcade fighting games in existence. I know its cheap, but sometimes you just have to be cheap, and the purpose of this series is to show how easy it is for hidden or unplayable characters to get through a game. I can't deny it was cathartic to complete this game for the first time, particularly as I had never gotten back Kage before that. I do get to Dural's incredible bonus stage, which is in some Atlantean city and has the player fighting in slow motion under water while one of the most beautifully ominous themes ever plays through the fight. It caps off a pretty amazing experience, and if I have to be cheap to get to it, then so be it.

The question remains, is it worth really playing as Dural? Not really, no. She's an interesting mismatch of characters, but nothing too spectacular, particularly because you have to be cheap to get through the game with her. This is very much a playthrough done for bragging rights and thoroughness rather than anything else. We'll see some much more interesting bosses from Sega, yet.

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