NCS impressions of Virtual On - Cyber Troopers for PlayStation2
AirRaid
«©NCS» The original Virtual On coin-op was released in 1995 and
dazzled gamers with its fast mech action and crystal clean visuals.
Sega built the game on the Sega Model 2B hardware which ran on an
Intel 32-bit processor running at 25MHz along with a SHARC FPU co-
processor. Fast forward over a decade later and Sega ports the
original Virtual On game over to the Playstation 2 intact and with
goodies galore on the CD.
Virtual On features eight mechs known as Virtuaroids as designed by
Hajime Katoki. There's the dashing blue-white armored MBV-04-G Temjin
which is armed with a lance, the powerful HBV-05-E Raiden, the bulky
and brawny HBV-10-B Dorkas, and of course, the lone "girlish" mech in
the whole group - the SRV-14-A Fei Yen which is a fast and flighty
machine.
In the arcades, Virtual On was fitted with twin stick controllers
which were operated with both hands on each stick. When Virtual On was
ported over to the Saturn and Dreamcast, Sega created special Twin
Stick controllers for the home console market. The control scheme is
recreated faithfully on the PS2 by way of the Dual Shock 2 thumbsticks
which work well where the mechs respond dutifully to a gamer's tugs
and pushes. w Import, In Stock
Jan Code: 4974365831950
NCS Game Notes
» Press START and the following game selections pop up:
ARCADE MODE / Standard coin-op mode without any bells or whistles
added to the original code.
VS MODE (SPIRIT) / Two player Virtual On action.
VS MODE (LINK) / Go online and play Virtual On (generally lag-free)
against opponents. May toggle Client or Host setting and set Machine
Type to Player or Live Monitor.
RANKING MODE / Your accuracy (hit rate), Evasion, Player Life, Enemy
Life, Rest Time, Bonus, Difficulty, and Total Score are tallied for
each match that you play.
ASSAULT MODE / Continuous Virtual On fighting.
CHIBI-CHARA MODE / Play cutesy versions of the Virtuaroids which have
been super-deformed and squashed.
REPLAY / Watch 10 matches between expert players who drive their
Virtuaoids with precise controls and superb maneuvering.
VR COLLECTION / View 3D models of Virtuaroids that pump up and down in
place. Use the d-pad to move the robot around and the trigger buttons
to focus in and out. Temjin's the default robot but the other
Virtuaroids may be viewed and pressing the "TRIANGLE" button and
selecting them from the list. You can also change the color of each
Virtuaroid part-by-part or make it perform an action over and over
again. One other option is the SLOW effect which is available in four
gradations of molasses. To see every single animation frame that's
used to make VIPER perform a sword slash, choose the "MOTION: R-
INFIGHT" setting and then set it to "SLOW: X16" and enjoy the tedium
of watching the attack in super slow motion.
OPTIONS / Adjust the Game Settings, set the controller configuration,
adjust the display, and view the Archives.
» The Virtual On Extra Setting under OPTIONS features the following
selections that may be toggled:
EXTRA COLOR / Default is Disable but may be Enabled
EXTRA VIEW / Default is Disable but may be Enabled to allow a view
from the cockpit when fighting by pressing the "START" button during a
bout.
DASH CANCEL / Set to Normal or Easy
USE ALPHA / Toggle On/Off
BGM CHANGE / Toggle from Arcade to Consumer BGM
» The Controller Configuration allows players to assign the following
settings for either 1P or 2P:
ASSIGN MODE: Arcade Twin A, Arcade Twin B, PS2 Custom, Sega Saturn Pad
A, Sega Saturn Pad B, and EDIT
ASSIGN VIEW: Check out the controller settings for each mode as listed
above. For example, the button configuration for the PS2 Custom is as
follows:
O-BUTTON / Dash
X-BUTTON / Guard & Crouch
T-BUTTON / Jump
L1-TRIGG / Turn Left
R1-TRIGG / Turn Right
L2-TRIGG / Left Weapon
R2-TRIGG / Right Weapon
» Note that the Arcade Twin A and B controller setting uses the analog
thumbsticks as the "twin" sticks.
» The Archives section under OPTIONS features the following areas to
visit:
SOUND TEST / Listen to every single piece of BGM, sound effect, and
voice used in the game. There's also settings to adjust the Master,
BGM, SE, and VOICE volumes.
GALLERY 1 / Check out original arcade flyers, Virtuaroid portraits,
splash page style artwork, the cover of the Cyber Troopers Virtual-On
Reference Schematic book, the cover of the Virtual-On Official Sound
Data CD, the cover of the Sega Saturn conversion of Virtual On, the
Sega Twinstick box, and other assorted covers and advertising artwork.
A total of 64 pieces are collected in the first gallery.
GALLERY 2 / Sega gathers together 56 pieces of dramatic Virtual-On
artwork that could serve as wallpaper or if you have the resources,
colorful posters suitable for hanging. In addition to the artwork,
there are utilitarian illustrations of each Virtuaroid (most with one
color variant) as viewed from the front and back against a white
background.
» At the outset of each game after the Machine Select screen, the mech
is shown jetting off from a carrier somewhere in the ocean where it
dips slightly as it leaves the platform but rockets upwards from
there. The first stage is invariably Flooded City followed by Air Port
and Water Front.
» The action is surprisingly true to the original but there's a slight
jitter or jiggle in the movement of the action that pops up every once
in a while. It's not consistent and only seems to happen when jetting
across the playfield and in times when the camera focuses on a
Virtuaroid and it'll jiggle slightly as it moves. It doesn't
necessarily detract from the faithful conversion but we thought it was
worth mentioning. Note that the replays at the end of each match when
two Virtuaroids are contiguous to each other show a more pronounced
jitter action that's quite disconcerting to view. It's like the
software can't keep up with the ferocious action on screen and the
clashing of the polygons.
» Other than that jittery animation niggle that pops up from time to
time, this is an excellent arcade port that's almost 1:1 from the coin-
op. It's not perfect because the animation of the battlefield as the
camera swivels to take in the rapid-fire action isn't as smooth as the
arcade version. There's also the aforementioned "jitter" effect during
the game and in the replay animations.
» We had misgivings when the game was first announced. Yes, we
understand that the Playstation 2 hardware is superior specs-wise to
the Model 2 on paper but the Model 2 was custom-tailored to handle
Virtual On per the designers' vision. In any case, things can happen
during ports that make the end result less than satisfying. We
expected very rough animation and perhaps sacrifices in the speed that
the game moves at but we're generally pleased with the end results.
The game moves quickly and the game sounds like the original with
whining thrusters and projectile attacks accompanied by their
attendant sound effects. There's no polygon fading from what we can
see this morning and the Virtuaroids run, pivot, and fly into the air
like they're supposed to.
» Pressing Select after winning a bout will save the entire replay of
the match to memory for storage to memory card later on.
» If you perform a jump-jet move upwards by spreading the twinsticks
in opposing directions and the enemy launches projectile attack aim
directly at your lofted Virtuaroid, you can set the mech down quickly
from its heights by pushing the twinsticks towards each other for a
fast drop back to the ground.
» It takes a lot of practice to perfect the movement of the mechs but
if you're diligent, you'll be able to perform like the experts shown
in the REPLAY theater where mechs orbit each other and perform
swiveling-motion sword attacks.
FROM THE ORIGINAL ARCADE FLYER
""You don't need food and you don't need water. Your hunger is for
destruction and your thirst is for victory. You don't feel remorse.
You're a massive robot, with the sole mission of pounding the living
daylights out of anything that crosses you. You don't stop. Just keep
smashing and stomping inhuman vengeance.
Virtual On features Polygon modeling 3-D CG graphics that pull you
into the incredible world of ruthless robots.
Grab both levers, and virtually become the metal beast of terror.
Rip your way though awesome gameplay that features amazingly realistic
movements and riotous action."
Scott H
> NCS Game Synopsis
> «©NCS» The original Virtual On coin-op was released in 1995 and
> dazzled gamers with its fast mech action and crystal clean visuals.
> Sega built the game on the Sega Model 2B hardware which ran on an
> Intel 32-bit processor running at 25MHz along with a SHARC FPU co-
> processor. Fast forward over a decade later and Sega ports the
> original Virtual On game over to the Playstation 2 intact and with
> goodies galore on the CD.
I'll probably be more than amused with playing VOOT on my Dreamcast
should I want to do so. That game runs at 60FPS with no stuttering or
"jitter" to speak of. On top of that, I don't have to deal with the
massive dead zones on Sony's "perfect" Dual Shock 2. Should I want some
VOOM action, I can always fire up the Saturn, which still looks great in
widescreen HDTV.
Scott
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Wondering if my reply was more inappropriate than the original cross post.