Sega recently announced that they're pulling a Capcom and re-releasing Virtua Fighter 5, only this time around they're adding two new characters, brand new customization items, completely over-hauling the animation system and tightening up the combat mechanics. If you’re going to re-release a game that definitely sounds like the way you should do it.

Haruki Satomi, Vice President of Digital Business at SEGA of America and SEGA Europe commented in the press release about the new version of the beloved fighting game, saying…

“Virtua Fighter 5 has always been an authentic arcade fighter, even when played from the comfort of a home console. And, like any proper arcade dynasty, we’ve continued to support, expand and tweak the game in the years since its release,”… “With Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown, we get to bring the ultimate expression of competitive one-on-one gaming to console players in one perfect package.”

I always liked the way the fighters in Virtua Fighter had such a distinctive, honorable representation of their style as opposed to the way some of the styles are featured in games like Tekken or UFC: Undisputed. That's not to say that the aforementioned games aren't fun, it's just that martial arts and distinction don't really go hand-in-hand with the other games. Martial arts enthusiasts and fighting game fans know exactly what I’m talking about, especially when it comes to the fluidity of the movements, transitional stances and counter-attacks present in Virtua Fighter 5.

A list of the game’s new and improved features can be found below. Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown is set for release in the summer of 2012 for digital download on the Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network. Need more info? Feel free to visit the Official Website.

Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown Features

• The Perfect Fighting Experience: Virtua Fighter 5’s signature style of hand-to-hand combat, with revised mechanics, balance, timing and more, along with simplified controls for new players while retaining the depth that veterans demand

• Dynamic and Interactive Arenas: Fighting areas in new shapes and sizes, including arenas with fences and walls that are different for every round – take unexpected advantage of fighters’ new wall-based moves, or break through the fences with special attacks

• A Mode for Every Fight: Dominate the leaderboards with Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown’s extremely responsive one-on-one online battle system, widely praised for having little latency, or take on an army of opponents yourself in a new single-player mode

• Customized Combatants: Enter the ring with one of 19 playable characters, including fan favorite Taka-Arashi from Virtua Fighter 3 and an all-new character, Jean Kujo, and customize them with unique costume and character items