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PS2
Sega Ages 2500: Virtual On
- New Import, In Stock |
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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.
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
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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.""
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This document is ©NCSX 2007. All rights
reserved. No reproduction in whole or in part of
this document may be made without express written
consent of National Console Support, Inc. |
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