Virtual On - Cyber Troopers

VIRTUAL ON - CYBER TROOPERS
Sega Saturn
Rating: Kids to Adults
Animated Violence
-- By Maria Muñoz

It's a battle for the control of the moon and you're one of the fighters! VIRTUAL ON, the popular arcade head-to-head battle mech game is a quick, blast-away bout of carnage where there is only one victor. It had better be you!

Players have the option of using one of two different controllers, the regular Sega Saturn controller, or the special Twin Stick controller (sold separately and available on November 28), which is like the arcade game controls. With the Twin Stick controllers you get more of the piloting-the-mech feeling instead of just handling a controller. I personally used Saturn's analog controller and it worked just fine.

There are eight Virtuaroids to choose from, each with unique strengths and weaknesses! The MBV-04-6 Temjin, with a good balance of weapons and speed make this a good mech for beginners. The HBV-10-B Dorkas is heavily armored with long-range weapons, but slower than the other virtuaroids, it is best used in broken-field arenas. The SRV-1-A Fei-Yen, fastest of the virtuaroids, is sleek and streamlined but lacks armor and heavy weapons; it is best used as a hunt- and-peck mech instead of close encounters. The SAV-07-D Belgdor, based upon the popular Raiden battle-droid, has homing missiles, speed, and jumping range.

The TRV-06K-H Viper II was developed for fast tactical deployment and is the extension of the Temjin model. It's quick, agile, but lacks in armor and close-range weapons. The XBV-13-T11 Bal-Bas-Bow, armed with improved jumping power and smart guidance weapon systems, is one of the newest virtuaroids. The MBV-09-C Apharmd was designed for guerilla shock-troops with a pair of beam tonfas, and it excels at hand-to-hand combat. The Apharmd has turbo speed and sturdy armor, making it one of the best virtuaroids to pilot. The HBV-05-E Raiden is feared for its dual laser cannons and strontium alloy armor. What it lacks in speed and jumping ability, it more than makes up for in weapons.

The Fei-Yen is a favorite mech amongst anime fans as it is modeled after Usagi Tsukino, aka Sailor Moon. I use it a lot mostly because it is fast and has that Heart Beam weapon.

Through simulation and real war situations, the player pilots his virtuaroid against other virtuaroids to win control of the moon. There are five Simulations, Flooded City, Airport, Water Front, Green Hills, and Ruins. There is a middle period called Mindshift and then the player continues on to the four Real War levels, Space Dock, Moon Base, Death Trap, and Nirvana.

In the Flooded City, there are very few obstacles to hide behind, so dashing and flying attacks are more formidable in this arena. At the Airport, buildings are places strategically around the arena, so attacking from above or dashing quickly behind buildings will be the best bet! The Simulations give the player a feel for the controls of the game and an opportunity to get the hang of a particular virtuaroid.

Space Dock is the first of the Real War scenarios and there are fortifications set around this fighting area on a remote station orbiting around the moon. Live guns and bombs are used so the player must use caution. The Real War scenarios pit player against the enemies that he must defeat. The difficulty has also been increased as this is no longer a simulation.

There is a special 2 Player mode where two players can duke it out. The one drawback with this is that each player takes part of the television screen for play instead of the whole screen. This split-screen takes away from the visual gameplay that the arcade game is famous for showing off.

I recommend this game for the speedy game play and excellent background music for each stage. It is also a lot more fun if you try out the arcade version as well to appreciate the finer points of mech piloting.

Rating: ***