Virtua Fighter is one of the longest-running fighting game series of all time. At the same time, some would argue that it’s not as huge as other fighting games like Tekken, Street Fighter, and more, but it is still around. The very first game came out in 1993 and was one of the earliest fighting games to utilize 3D models. The new and upcoming game Virtua Fighter Crossroads has people buzzing, but does the game take place in the Philippines?
Does the game take place in the Philippines?
The answer is NO, but we can say that a lot of it is inspired by the Philippines and even some Southeast Asian Countries. According to the game’s developers, the location is the fictional city of Vilasapara. Even the year is straight-up fiction as the game takes place in 20XX. Four characters will intersect in their crossroads leading up to fate. There’s also a character called the Bakunawa Killer. The word Bakunawa is a mythological creature from Philippine mythology, which is a giant serpent.
There are some Philippine inspirations
None of the characters introduced (for now) is Filipino. However, if we look at the official media and trailers, as well as the overview video of the game, we can pick out some key visuals that will really make you think this game is inspired by Philippine culture and locations.
Inspired by Binondo
From the opening shot you can see below, the visuals reek of Southeast Asian infrastructure. Most people were immediately hit with the thought that this was from Binondo, which is considered to be the oldest Chinatown in the world.
The streets are alive
We see the character walking around in the streets, and they showcase what Philippine streets look like. You have people selling fruits, people just loitering on the side, and a lot of those monobloc chairs. It feels alive and welcoming to people who would think that this place is dangerous. It even has something that resembles a TINDAHAN (store) to buy some supplies.
Two popular vehicles from the Philippines
The image below shows two of the most popular vehicles from the Philippines. The tricycle is a common vehicle used to traverse smaller roads and tight areas. While other Southeast Asian countries have their version of a tricycle, the jeepney (right) is pretty much abundant and well known to be from the Philippines. No other Southeast Asian countries have a jeepney, or a version of it.
A political reference?
This game was in development long before recent political events happened in the country. There is a character named President Bato, who is the president of Villasapara. Filipinos know of Senator Bato Dela Rosa, who is in a bit of controversy right now. Regardless, his goal is to bring the Vila Fight Fest to the world stage and help ease the country’s economic downfall.
Final Thoughts
Whether the game takes place in the Philippines or not, a lot of Filipino fans will be looking forward to this game. After all, aside from the games, one of the media that younger Filipinos back at the time consumed was the Virtua Fighter anime. It aired on Philippine television, giving everyone a good old time.
