View source for Virtual On

{{Infobox VG series
| width                  =
| title                  = Cyber Troopers Virtual-On
| collapsible            =
| state                  =
| image                  =Cyber Troops Virtual-On.png 
| caption                =Wordmark as seen on the 2019 PlayStation 4 compilation game ''Virtual-On Masterpiece 1995–2001'' 
| platforms              = [[Arcade game|Arcade]], [[Sega Saturn]], [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Dreamcast]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox 360]], [[PlayStation Network]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation Vita]]
| developer              = {{plainlist|
*[[Sega]] [[Sega AM3|AM3/Hitmaker]]
*[[Sega AM2]]}}
| publisher              = [[Sega]]
| first release version  = ''[[Virtual On: Cyber Troopers]]''
| first release date     = December 1995
| latest release version = ''[[List of A Certain Magical Index video games#A Certain Magical Virtual-On|A Certain Magical Virtual-On]]''
| latest release date    = February 15, 2018
| genre                  = {{plainlist|
*[[Action game]]
*[[Action-adventure game|Action-adventure]] ([[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Marz|Marz]])}}
| spinoffs               =}}

{{nihongo|'''''Cyber Troopers Virtual-On'''''|電脳戦機バーチャロン|''Dennō Senki Bāchyaron''|roughly 'Computer Fighting Machine Virtual-On'}} is a series of [[video games]] developed by [[Sega AM3|Sega AM3/Hitmaker]], and originally created by Juro Watari.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.siliconera.com/virtual-on-series-creator-juro-watari-resigned-from-sega/ |title = Virtual-On series creator Juro Watari Resigned from Sega - Siliconera|date = 28 February 2021}}</ref> The games feature fast, action-oriented gameplay requiring quick reflexes, featuring [[mecha]] called Virtuaroids or "VRs", that are large robots the player controls in battles against enemy VRs. The first game was ''[[Virtual On: Cyber Troopers]]'' (1995), which was released globally, while its following four installments in the series were mainly Japan exclusives where the series has retained high popularity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Extension |first=Time |date=2024-06-14 |title=Japan's "Virtual On" Community Finally Has A Brand New Home |url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/06/japans-virtual-on-community-finally-has-a-brand-new-home |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Time Extension |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Virtual On – Hardcore Gaming 101 |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/series/virtual-on/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Controls revolve around twin-stick control, in which two joysticks, complemented by an array of controls, are used by players. Additionally, in the plot of the first game, the Virtual-On's arcade machine is actually a remote operation device sent from the future in search of "Virtual-On Positive" (VO+) pilots. The [[mecha]] designs for all installments of the series were created by robot designer [[Hajime Katoki]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesacademy.it/hajime-katoki-mecha-designer-e-non-solo/ |title = Hajime Katoki: mecha designer e non solo - Games Academy|date = 22 June 2018}}</ref> Related merchandise released for sale include plastic models, [[Video game music|original soundtracks]], [[Gashapon|trading figurines]], [[light novel]]s and [[Radio drama in Japan|audio drama CDs]].

== Games ==
The games in the series are as follows:
;'''''[[Virtual On: Cyber Troopers]]'''''
:Released between 1995 and 1996 for [[arcade game|arcades]], [[Sega Saturn]], and PC. The Saturn version of the game is one of the few games that support the ''SEGA Net'' on the console. It also features the Sega Twin Stick Peripheral. The game features M.S.B.S. v3.3 (Arcade), v3.3s (Sega Saturn) and v.3.3w (Windows PC), among others.
;'''''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram]]''''' 
:Released between 1998 and 2000 for arcades and [[Sega Dreamcast]], with special peripheral device, the Twin Sticks, and in 2009 for [[Microsoft Xbox 360]]'s [[Xbox Live Arcade]] service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hg101.kontek.net/virtualon/virtualon2.htm|title=Hardcore Gaming 101: Virtual On|website=hg101.kontek.net|access-date=2018-01-27}}</ref> Very few VOOT arcade units made it outside [[Japan]]. The [[United States|US]] release of VOOT on Dreamcast had many features locked for unknown reasons, such as Cable Versus and Custom Virtuaroid, and the game was not released in Europe. Later versions for the arcade incorporated a VMU slot for imported colours created on the Japanese version of VOOT on Sega Dreamcast. The game features M.S.B.S. v5.2 (Early Arcade), v5.4 (Arcade), v.5.45 (Sega Dreamcast), v5.6 (Rare Bonus disc addon) and 5.66 (Late Arcade and Xbox 360 XBLA).
;'''''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Force]]''''' 
:Released exclusively in Japanese arcades in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=320567|title=CyberTroopers Virtual-On - Releases and Cabinet differences - KLOV/VAPS Coin-op Videogame, Pinball, Slot Machine, and EM Machine Forums - Hosted by Museum of the Game & IAM|website=forums.arcade-museum.com|date=16 August 2014 |language=en|access-date=2018-01-27}}</ref> It was the first game in the series to be released after AM3 was renamed to Hitmaker, and features a new system of gameplay where players are teamed up in pairs to oppose another pair, with a leader/subordinate ruleset. The machines use a card system found in other arcade machines to keep player data. The game features M.S.B.S. v7.5, v7.6 and v7.7. The game is later released on the [[Xbox 360]] on December 22, 2010.
;'''''[[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Marz]]''''' 
:First released in Japan and the United States in 2003 for the [[PlayStation 2]], and was rereleased on [[PlayStation 3]] in Japan in 2013. It uses the '''VO: Force''' rules for gameplay and graphics, and is the first ''Virtual On'' game to have a single player story mode, which follows on with the Virtual-On universe. As the PlayStation 2 has no official Twin Sticks, the game's controls rely on the [[DualShock]] controllers (this was corrected in PS3 rerelease with twin-stick peripheral configuration). As inclusion of story mode, this game is regarded more as an [[action-adventure game]] than simply an [[action game]]. The game features M.S.B.S. v8.5.
;'''''[[List of A Certain Magical Index video games#A Certain Magical Virtual-On|A Certain Magical Virtual-On]]'''''
:First released in Japan for the [[PlayStation 4]] and [[PlayStation Vita]] in 2018. The game is a collaboration between Sega and [[Dengeki Bunko]], featuring characters from [[Kazuma Kamachi]]'s [[light novel]] series ''[[A Certain Magical Index]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2017/09/12/more-a-certain-magical-virtual-on-characters-revealed/|title=More A Certain Magical Virtual-On Characters Revealed|date=2017-09-12|work=PlayStation LifeStyle|access-date=2018-01-27|language=en-US}}</ref> The game features M.S.B.S. v55.55.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-03-12/sega-dengeki-bunko-develop-a-certain-magical-virtual-on-collaboration-game-for-ps4-ps-vita/.113324|title = Sega, Dengeki Bunko Develop a Certain Magical Virtual-On Collaboration Game for PS4, PS Vita| date=28 August 2023 }}</ref> It was released on February 15, 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://gematsu.com/2017/12/certain-magical-virtual-accelerator-specineff-character-virtuaroid-introduction-trailer|title=A Certain Magical Virtual-On Accelerator and Specineff character and Virtuaroid introduction trailer - Gematsu|date=2017-12-28|work=Gematsu|access-date=2018-01-27|language=en-US}}</ref>
Additionally, '''''Virtual-On Masterpiece 1995–2001''''' is a compilation of the original trio of games, released for [[PlayStation 4]] in Japan in November 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-27 |title=Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Masterpiece 1995~2001 now available in Japan |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2019/11/cyber-troopers-virtual-on-masterpiece-19952001-now-available-in-japan |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Plastic models ==
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2024}}
The first plastic model series based on Virtuaroid was released shortly before the Japanese release of ''Oratorio Tangram'', and were made by [[:ja:ウェーブ (模型メーカー)|Wave Corporation]]. These Virtuaroid models are borrowed from ''Operation Moongate'' as well as ''Oratorio Tangram'', ''One Man Rescue'' and ''Fragmentary Passage''. These models were also made by [[:ja:壽屋 (玩具店)|Kotobukiya]], which is well known for making plastic models of ''[[Medabots]]'' anime and manga series.

[[Hasegawa Corporation]] also manufactures the plastic model kits of Virtuaroids from [[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Force]] and [[Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Marz|Marz]] video games. Some Virtuaroids, which were originally available only in a few versions, were expanded to including spinoffs, such as Virtuaroid Guarayakha with special equipment, and more alternate-colored versions of some Virtuaroids.

As of 2014, plastic models of ''Virtual On'' franchise are still in production.

== Appearances in other media ==
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2024}}
The Virtuaroids Temjin 747J, Ahparmd the HA-T and Fei-Yen the Knight from the ''Virtual-On'' series appeared in the Japanese, turn-based strategy game ''[[Super Robot Wars Alpha 3]]''. This was the first occasion of characters from a video game series, owned neither by [[Banpresto]] nor their parent company [[Namco Bandai]], appearing in a Super Robot Wars game. Of note about the game is that if the other pilots in the game remove their suits, approach the Virtuaroids and try to speak to their pilots, the Virtuaroids would say that they were being remote-piloted by pilots in another plane or dimension.

In the [[PlayStation Portable|PSP]] rhythm-action game ''[[Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Extend]]'', the third game in the ''[[Project DIVA]]'' series, one of the available outfits for Miku to wear was based on Fei-Yen. The special outfit was later made into plastic model figure.

A reference to ''Virtual On'' can be found in 21st episode of [[Hyōka#Episode list|''Hyōka'']] anime, where Hōtarō and Satoshi play the [[Virtual On: Cyber Troopers|''Operation Moongate'']] with the Virtuaroids Raiden and Viper II respectively.

Temjin and Fei-Yen appeared in ''Senko No Ronde 2'' as selectable characters via downloadable content.

An emulated version of the original ''Virtual On'' arcade game can be played at the in-game arcade in ''[[Yakuza Kiwami 2]]''.

The visual novels ''[[Kimi ga Nozomu Eien]]'' and ''[[Muv-Luv]]'' features a nearly identical version instead called ''Cyber Legion Valgern On''.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
;Official
* {{Official website|http://virtual-on.sega.jp/|Virtual-ON series official website}} {{in lang|ja}}

;General resources
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100216153139/http://www.occn.zaq.ne.jp/vc/index3.htm Virtual-Century] A fan-created database of [[Virtuaroid]]s and general storyline information, taken from Sega's official guidebooks. {{in lang|ja}}

{{Virtual On series}}
{{Franchises owned by Sega Sammy Holdings}}

[[Category:Virtual On| ]]
[[Category:Video game franchises]]
[[Category:Sega video game franchises]]
[[Category:Video games about mecha]]
[[Category:Post-apocalyptic video games]]
[[Category:Video games about robots]]
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[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video game franchises introduced in 1995]]