Virtual On

SAMAS · Post by **SAMAS** » 2002-12-10 02:24pm

The talk on the Gundam Thread got me thinking about this:

How many of you have played games in this series(Temjin and myself needn't bother with answering that)?

Virtual On: Cybertroopers(Arcade, Saturn, and PC) Also known as Operation MoonGate

Cybetroopers Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram(Arcde(Limited) and Dreamcast)

Virtual On: FORCE(Arcade(VERY Limited))

Virtual On: Marz(Coming soon to PS2)

For those that don't know, Virtual On is a One-on-One(Two-on-Two in FORCE) Mecha shooting/fighting game. Typically controlled with two joysticks, your mechs fight using a mix of hand-to-hand combat and generous amounts of firepower.

The major Mecha in the game are:

Temjin -- A mech styled loosely off the Gundam. Can be considered the "Hero" Mecha of the game. Armed with a Beam Rifle that can project a sword, and hand-tossed Bombs. Temjin is a good all-around mecha.

Raiden -- One of the closest things to a "Rival" in Virtual On. More often than not, Raiden is the last Virtuaroid you fight before the final boss. Styled similarly Gundam's Dom Mobile Suit, in that is skates along the grond and typically packs a bazooka, Raiden is also known for packing a pair of heavy beam cannons in it's shoulders.

Fei Yen -- A female-styled Virtuaroid that bears a remarkable resemblance to Sailor Moon. It doesn't help that her best attack is shaped like a heart. Fei-Yen is cute, but fast, and gets stronger if she gets hurt too badly.

It's a little known fact that the original Fei-Yen Virtuaroid is actually alive. having merged completely with her target. She wanders the world searching for the man who created her, which is helped by the fact that she can switch between Human and Virtuaroid at will. Her Heart Beam is an oddity, in that unlike those of the various Fei-Yen Virtuaroids styled off of her, it doesn't destroy it's target physically, but takes away the pilot's will to fight, giving her time to escape.

Apharmd -- If this Virtuaroid was patterened off of anybody, it would have to be Guile from Street Fighter. This soldier-styled Virtuaroid is best known for the Beam Tongfers of it's original and "Battler" configurations, which can launch Sonic Boom-like waves at the opponent, but are much deadlier in close combat. Apharmds were infamous in the opening stages of the RNA rebellion, anbushing and destroying DNA virtuaroids in Australia.

The Apharmd Series is also known for having several variations. The most (in)famous are:

Apharmd"The Battler"
One of the first upgrades of the Apharmd Virtuaroid. Armed with the trademark Tongfers and a pair of Machineguns.

Apharmd"The Striker"
Designed for heavier combat, Strikers are armed with a box launcher on one arm, and a bazooka on the shoulder. There is another variation call "The Destructor", that has two of each. The Striker also has a large knife for close-range combat.

Apharmd"The Commander"
This was used mostly as a command VR by RNA in the Australian theatre. Armed the a massive shotgun and a sword, this VR was deadly in combat.

Viper-Series -- A fast recon virtuaroid, the Viper series(and it's decendants Cypher and Myzr) gained an increase in it's ablities with the Viper 540H, which had the ability to transform into a jet. THe Viper Launcher is best known for it's Multi-launcher, a short beam gun that could also generate a blade, and it's homing laser, a devestating weapon in the hands of such a fast VR.

Vox -- This Virtuaroid first appeared in it's base form in Virtual On: FORCE, but two of it's variants appeared previously in Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram. Vox is a heavy Vituaroid that mostly consists of a hunchback-like body with a small pair of arms, typically holding a machinegun.

Vox's true abiity, however, is the fact that various legs, shoulders, and outer arms can be attached to it, allowing it to perform a variety of duties. The two most infamous are Grys-Vok, a configuration that carries just about every form of missile up to and including nuclear weapons, and Stein-Vok, which is armed with an array of Beam Cannons. Both made the Vox's debut in Oratorio Tangram.

Bal-Series -- The original, Bal-Bas-Bow, was designed off the first Virtuaroid discovered by Humanity. Bals tend to be rather odd VRs, characterized by their ring-shaped lasers, ability to launch remote mines, and their ability to launch their guns at the opponent to hit them from anywhere.

Angelan -- A second Female-style Virtaroid. This one with more of a witch/angel-like appearance. This Virtuaroid seems to have the ability to fire ice-like energy at it's opponents, ranging from simple energy bolts, to pillars and even animated ice Dragons.

Specineff -- What the Gundam Deathscythe wants to be when it grows up. This Virtuaroid seems to be evil in both form and deed, with some forms capable of feeding off the hatred and death found on the battlefield. Normally armed with a Scythe, but some forms also wielding an axe or large saw, Specineff cna be a terrifying opponent.

Post by **Kuja** » 2002-12-10 02:29pm

Cypertroopers Virtual On is one of my and my friends favorite games at the local arcade in McKinley Mall near my house.

I play Raiden and a buddy of mine usually plays Apharmd. A GF of mine wants to own Viper.

Playing against people, I'm pretty deadly. Against the comupter, I always get the shit beaten out of me by VR Dorkas.

Post by **Dalton** » 2002-12-10 02:47pm

Wrong forum. Moved to OSF.

VF5SS · Post by **VF5SS** » 2002-12-10 02:57pm

Hey! You forgot Beldgdor and Dorkas!

SAMAS · Post by **SAMAS** » 2002-12-10 03:03pm

You should try to find a Dreamcast and Oratorio Tangram.

VOOT has a lot of additions to the gamepley.

For instance, you can now dash(and still shoot) after jumping, so you're no longer a floating target.

Dashing as a whole has been upgraded with "watari" dashes, meaning you can change direction in mid-dash.

Another cool additon, so far used in VOOT only, is V.Armor. It not only reduces damage, but as long as you have a good portion of it, most enemy shots from a distance will literally ricochet off your mecha. But certain attacks can strip the V.Armor right off of you, leaving you vulnerable to shooting.

But my favorite is the fact that holding the Turbo buttons while firing(standing, jumping, and Crouching only) alters your shot. Left Turbo usually launches a fast attack that either homes in well, freezes the Opponent for a few seconds, or strips V.Armor, while Right Turbo is usually a slower, but MUCH more powerful version of the attack. For example, pressing the Left Turbo button with the Right Weapon(known as LTRW) on Temjin makes his beam rifle fire off a whole lot of tiny, short-ranged shots that strip the V.Armor off your opponent, while the Right Turbo button(or RTRW) is a massive Buster Rifle-like shot that hurts like hell. The Right Turbo button can also change your close combat attacks.

The virtuaroids also have different abilities.

Case in point, once per battle, Dordary(the sucessor to Dorkas), can grow to Godzilla proportions, and pressing RTRW in close combat makes him stomp on the opponent! Other abilities include Hyper Modes, sprouting angel wings, and other abilities. One of the baddest is Specineff's ability, called 13 Second Warning(That's also the title of his theme song). When he activates it, Specineff becomes completely invincible.

But there's a catch. It's not called "13 Second Warning" for nothing. If Specineff fails to kill his opponent in 13 seconds, he dies.

Of course, the best part about VOOT is that you can record battles, save them on your VMU, and replay them whenever you want. Nothing's better than an intense fight, or a totally sweet finish(especially against a friend), that you can watch again and again.

One of my favorites was one with Bal-Baros, where he jumps right over one of Angelan's Ice Dragons and busts through an Ice Pillar in the same leap to get that final shot in.

Aother time I was using Cypher, and me and Bal-Baros both stopped and shot at each other, he with a series of Ring Lasers, and me with Cypher's RTRW beam shot. The beam went right through the center of each ring to finish him off.

Post by **weemadando** » 2002-12-10 05:08pm

Virtual On was such a cool game.

I totally owned as Belgador.

white_rabbit · Post by **white_rabbit** » 2002-12-10 05:46pm

Virtual On: Cybertroopers(Arcade, Saturn, and PC) Also known as Operation MoonGate

Got this, and played it to death :d

Fucking brilliant game, closest Ive ever found to being able to pilot a Gundam, especially when using two joysticks at the arcade.

Viper was always my favorite, loved the way he somersaulted while dashing.

God I wish those other games were availible..

Neko_Oni · Post by **Neko_Oni** » 2002-12-10 06:22pm

Awesome game. I always used the Fei-Yen and the Viper II. Fast mecha are the best. Hyper Fei-Yen can lay some serious hurt on your opponent, and the Viper II's beam blast is a real pain in cover-heavy levels.

Temjin · Post by **Temjin** » 2002-12-10 10:26pm

Damn, just found this thread now.

I've really only played cybertroopers for the PC, but I've played it to death. And if you look closely, my avatar is a pic from the first game.

Zaku-chan · Post by **Zaku-chan** » 2002-12-10 10:33pm

Yee-ha! Go Raiden!

Thank you.

SWPIGWANG · Post by **SWPIGWANG** » 2002-12-11 07:31am

I MASTER OF VOOM (start at aracade, than Saturn at friend's house, and now I OWN on my PC.... SS level temjin 80% of the time, best time around 4:30 temjin)

but I've played only one game of VOOT at friend's house

(and they perfer Zeon vs Fed so no VOOT for me)

Voom:
Anyone that knows the power trust vectoring Temjin can own those Viper lamers. (fei is another story...just remember bomb bomb and bomb) and raidan just sucks (unless you are master trapper...which is rare)

SWPIGWANG · Post by **SWPIGWANG** » 2002-12-11 07:34am

oh, and anyone that uses Belgador against humans if just asking to be knocked down and abused.

SAMAS · Post by **SAMAS** » 2002-12-11 09:18am

Temjin wrote:Damn, just found this thread now.

Took you long enough.

I've really only played cybertroopers for the PC, but I've played it to death. And if you look closely, my avatar is a pic from the first game.

Damn it, am I the only person here who plays VOOT?

Here, Update yourself.

SAMAS · Post by **SAMAS** » 2002-12-11 09:29am

SWPIGWANG wrote:oh, and anyone that uses Belgador against humans if just asking to be knocked down and abused.

That's what's cool about Grys-Vok. More often than not, you're too busy dodging missiles to abuse him.

And for those with the PC version, you may want to check this out:

http://www.voucher4free.co.uk/V_ON.ZIP

http://www.vomania.net/media/V_ON.ZIP

It's an upgrade patch that may fix any bugs you might have.

BTW, did you know that someone(By the name of Scott Robinson) is actually working on an online PC version of Oratorio Tangram? Maybe soon I can school you all Deathscythe style.

http://www.gamestyle.net/features.php?article=56

Frank_Scenario · Post by **Frank_Scenario** » 2002-12-11 09:48am

SAMAS wrote:Damn it, am I the only person here who plays VOOT?

I used to play VOOT, though I haven't picked up the DC control recently. I was always a big Raiden fan, with Cipher (or Viper in the original) being my second choice. I have fond memories from high school of a debate tournament at the University of Florida; I lost after the first elimination round, giving me a day to just relax. I went to the bowling alley/arcade on the campus and found that they had a Virtua On machine. There were around 20 people switching off (winner stays). I got on, and then won something like 50 games before a hand cramp finished me off. I almost won with the hand cramp, too.

Damaramu · Post by **Damaramu** » 2002-12-11 10:21am

I own Virtual On for the Saturn and VOOT for the DC.

I used to play the crap out of those games.

Hated the girly mecha designs.

SWPIGWANG · Post by **SWPIGWANG** » 2002-12-11 01:20pm

How do you play viper II/cyper anyway? Do you just play long range dancing iron man till time over trick or something? How do you deal with the lack of on the ground firepower and armor?

And what kind of insane people play Apharmd in VOOM?

SAMAS · Post by **SAMAS** » 2002-12-11 01:44pm

SWPIGWANG wrote:How do you play viper II/cyper anyway? Do you just play long range dancing iron man till time over trick or something? How do you deal with the lack of on the ground firepower and armor?

Cypher doesn't have that problem, due to the addition of the RT attacks. At a distance, his RTCW can paste just about any VR in the game.

With Cypher, I usually keep at a distance whenever possible, using his Energy Daggers(LW) and Beam Missiles(TLCW or Side-Air-dash CW) to keep the enemy on the defensive.

Air Dashing is Cypher's best friend, especially since only he can fire twice when he does it. He can also do an air-dash Close Combat Attack, but I've never hit with it.

At a distance, use his LTRW to shoot a line of slow chasers that have serious homing capabilities, and strip V.Armor. Once, I shot them at my opponent, and he dodged. A few seconds later, they hit him from behind.

Cypher's LW replaces the 7-Way Missile with a spread of energy daggers that do decent damage, and stick in the opponent, draining more energy for a second more after hitting. That additional draining has spelled victory or defeat for me more times than I can count.

Cypher's CW has undergone some serious evolution. It's RT verison is a flashing energy ball that explodes and hurts like hell when it hits. Problem is, It's best used around 300m away, or it misses by a mile. LT is far more fun, shooting four long homing beams from Cypher's shoulders. This is one of his best looking attacks in the game, and they home well, to boot.

And what kind of insane people play Apharmd in VOOM?

Guile fans.

*SONIC BOOM!*

But seriously, Apharmd(Normal and Battler) are primarily close combat mecha. You need to get in with your Tongfers as much as possible.

VF5SS · Post by **VF5SS** » 2002-12-11 02:41pm

Yeah I've got both VOOM and VOOT. I usually play with Cypher or Apharmed Striker. Of course I bet I'm the only one who is crazy enough to try and fight with Cypher in jet mode

SAMAS · Post by **SAMAS** » 2002-12-11 02:59pm

I've done it a few times, but I need to learn better control. I'm only now getting the hang of steering She's Lost Control.

BTW, do you know how that move got it's name?

SWPIGWANG · Post by **SWPIGWANG** » 2002-12-11 03:08pm

I think one of the viper prototype crashed and the last words where "she's lost control"

I rarely get into close combat..... If it hard when the enemy can just dash away.... The only time close combat makes sense is when you have some one stuck near of corner or something, but than again it would be better just shoot them most of the time....

And the few time I had I ate Raidan big LAZERZ

SAMAS · Post by **SAMAS** » 2002-12-11 03:20pm

SWPIGWANG wrote:I think one of the viper prototype crashed and the last words where "she's lost control"

Close. You forgot the exclamation points.

I rarely get into close combat..... If it hard when the enemy can just dash away.... The only time close combat makes sense is when you have some one stuck near of corner or something, but than again it would be better just shoot them most of the time....

And the few time I had I ate Raidan big LAZERZ

That's what I like about dash CC. It not only gets you close enough for the attack, it is the attack.

Close Combat, for many VRs, can me far more powerful than their shots. Case in point, Raiden's lasers are rivaled in pure power only by Apharmd's Tongfers. Not to mention they look cool. Nothing beats killing an opponent with Cypher's flip kick, Angelan's Icicles, or Fei-Yen's ass.

VF5SS · Post by **VF5SS** » 2002-12-11 03:25pm

SAMAS wrote:I've done it a few times, but I need to learn better control. I'm only now getting the hang of steering She's Lost Control.

BTW, do you know how that move got it's name?

Heh, well I think it would be easier if I had a Sega Saturn controller for my DC. Seriously, they should have never cut down on buttons on the DC controller. Its way too limited for my tastes.

SAMAS · Post by **SAMAS** » 2002-12-11 03:34pm

Not for Virtual On. The setup is almost perfect, except that the analog stick doesn't seem responsive enough .

VF5SS · Post by **VF5SS** » 2002-12-11 03:39pm

I think its a horrible setup. In the Saturn version of VO you could easily rotate by just using the shoulder buttons. In VOOT you have to move your thumb from the digital pad to the analog stick just to turn a little bit before your foe blasts you. It makes dash slicing nearly impossible.