History VideoGame / VirtualOn

See also G.rev's ''VideoGame/SenkoNoRonde'', a 2D bullet-hell shooter-meets-mecha fighter that shares similar gameplay elements to ''Virtual-ON''.

* DropTheHammer: Dorkas, as well as his {{expy}} Vox Joe have mace-arms.

It was given a UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn release in 1996, which stripped down the visuals from the arcade version, but added a versus mode; and a Windows PC release followed later in 1997, which by default settings stripped down the frame-rate, but the settings can adjusted match the arcade version or better. The game later received an UpdatedRerelease for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 as part of the ''Sega Ages 2500'' line of re-releases (which unfortunately, [[NoExportForYou stayed in Japan]]) on 30 October 2007. The [=PlayStation=] 2 version is considered the best release yet, as it contains several new features not present in the previous ports, as well as better graphics, crisper sound quality, new extra modes (including one where you can play as the final boss), and a new {{Superboss}} in the form of the original [[FemBot Fei]]-[[RobotGirl Yen]], which is permanently in [[SuperMode Hyper Mode]] without the health loss and can only be accessed if you beat the first eight Virtuaroids (nine if you fought Jaguarandi) in under nine minutes.\\\
It can still be found in many arcades today, so they might still need our help. What are you waiting for? Get cracking! Your future grandchildren are depending on you! But if finding an arcade machine is too hard, or the Saturn and [=PlayStation=] 2 versions are too expensive, Sega has re-released the game as part of the SEGA Model 2 Collection for UsefulNotes/XBox360 and UsefulNotes/PlayStation3...[[NoExportForYou in Japan]]. [[FromBadToWorse With no plans for a worldwide release]]. The game is also available as a GameWithinAGame in ''[[VideoGame/Yakuza2 Yakuza Kiwami 2]]'' for the UsefulNotes/Playstation4, an EnhancedRemake of ''Yakuza 2'' on the [=PS2=], which was released in Japan in December 2017 followed by a western release in August 2018.

* ''Cyber Troopers Virtual-ON: Oratorio Tangram'' (1999): The sequel to ''Operation Moongate'', which reveals that the whole mess on the Moon was just a distraction from a splinter group within a powerful [[MegaCorp mega-corporation]] to allow them to break away from their parent company. Now the two are fighting over several mecha plants in the hope of finding the missing Tangram, a super-computer that is said to have the power to [[RealityWarper alter reality]]. Strangely enough, ''Oratorio Tangram'' is very rare in many places; for example, some reports that only two arcade machines were ever shipped to the United States. It had a much wider release for the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast, and even without the twin sticks (even though they existed, [[RevenueEnhancingDevices but would burn a huge hole in your wallet]]) it is still a very fun game. ''[[{{Portmanteau}} Oratan]]'' is widely considered to be the best of the series and by far the most popular. It also added more depth into the previous game's mechanics, better gameplay balance, and a slew of new Virtuaroids to chose from.\\\

* ''Cyber Troopers Virtual-ON: FORCE'' (2001): The series' third installment debuting on the Sega Hikaru hardware, [[CodeName code-named]] [=VO4=]. The action was slower than in ''Oratorio Tangram'' (although this was justified in the story that a reaction on the planet Mars made the non-native-built mecha move slower), but featured 2-on-2, allowing up to four-players simultaneously. The game is considered a [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks step back]] from ''Oratan'' and was not well-received. Not to mention there's also a much smaller variety of Virtuaroids to choose from[[note]]If you count the basic Virtuaroids series only. Some like GRYS-VOK, Dordray and STEIN-VOK were merged into VOX series.[[/note]]. To compensate for this, they gave the Virtuaroids ''several'' different variants, but only to make the game even more confusing and annoying. On December 21st, 2010, the game received an UsefulNotes/XBox360 release like ''Oratorio Tangram'' did. However, it was released only in Japan as a retail game but the game is [[UsefulNotes/RegionCoding region-free]]. It includes a brand-new mission mode that's more-or-less ''Virtual-ON: MARZ''[='=]s campaign stripped of a storyline.\\\

* ''Cyber Troopers Virtual-ON: MARZ'' (2003): Released for the [=PlayStation=] 2, being an OddballInTheSeries, it's essentially a single-player focused ActionAdventure version of ''FORCE''. While including a HackAndSlash-style story mode which fleshes out the nature of the ''Virtual-ON'' universe, ''MARZ'' unfortunately stripped down the gameplay even further in several aspects (especially thanks to limitations of the [=PlayStation=] 2 hardware), causing fans of the earlier three entries in the series to [[FanonDiscontinuity completely disown this game]]. The series made a notable appearance in ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Super Robot Wars Alpha 3]]'', with JackOfAllStats Temjin (strangely piloted by the MissionControl character from ''MARZ''), RobotGirl Fei-Yen the Knight (piloted by the second MissionControl character from ''MARZ'' and the Fei-Yen series' supposed creator) and AceCustom Virtuaroid Apharmd the Hatter (piloted by the HotBlooded Sergeant Hatter) as playable characters. They also appear in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsK'' for the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, which actually incorporates ''MARZ''[='=]s story. ''Virtual-ON: MARZ'' has been re-released exclusively in Japan on UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork on March 2013.

A CompilationRerelease titled ''Cyber Troopers Virtual-ON Masterpiece: 1995-2001'' was released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 in Japan on November 27, 2019. The collection features the first three games in the series, ''Operation Moongate'', ''Oratorio Tangram'', and ''FORCE'', and features an all-new online mode for all three titles and support for Tanita's [=PS4=] twin-stick controller. Currently, there are no plans for an overseas release.

It was given a UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn release in 1996, which stripped down the visuals from the arcade version, but added a versus mode; and a Windows PC release followed later in 1997, which by default settings stripped down the frame-rate, but the settings can adjusted match the arcade version or better. The game later received an UpdatedRerelease for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 as part of the ''Sega Ages 2500'' line of re-releases (which unfortunately, [[NoExportForYou stayed in Japan]]) on 30 October 2007. The [=PlayStation=] 2 version is considered the best release yet, as it contains several new features not present in the previous ports, as well as better graphics, crisper sound quality, new extra modes (including one where you can play as the final boss), and a new BonusBoss in the form of the original [[FemBot Fei]]-[[RobotGirl Yen]], which is permanently in [[SuperMode Hyper Mode]] without the health loss and can only be accessed if you beat the first eight Virtuaroids (nine if you fought Jaguarandi) in under nine minutes.\\\

* BonusBoss: The original Fei-Yen from the [=PlayStation=] 2 version of ''Operation Moongate'', if you can get to the final stage in under nine minutes.

It can still be found in many arcades today, so they might still need our help. What are you waiting for? Get cracking! Your future grandchildren are depending on you! But if finding an arcade machine is too hard, or the Saturn and [=PlayStation=] 2 versions are too expensive, Sega has re-released the game as part of the SEGA Model 2 Collection for UsefulNotes/XBox360 and UsefulNotes/PlayStation3...[[NoExportForYou in Japan]]. [[FromBadToWorse With no plans for a worldwide release]]. The game is also available as a GameWithinAGame in ''[[VideoGame/Yakuza2 Yakuza Kiwami 2]]'' for the UsefulNotes/Playstation4, an EnhancedRemake of ''Yakuza 2'' on the [=PS2=], which was released in Japan in December 2017 with a western release slated for August 2018.

'''''Cyber Troopers Virtual-ON: Operation Moongate''''' (1995), also known as ''VOOM'' or ''OMG'' for short, was first released in the arcades on Sega's [=Model2=] hardware. The arcade machine is a large double sit-down cabinet with a distinctive twin-stick control set. The story has it that [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture in the future]] a series of malfunctions has caused a computer on the Moon armed with a [[EarthShatteringKaboom planet-destroying]] [[WaveMotionGun cannon]] to go rogue. In an attempt to raise the forces to fight this menace, the government sends a number of remote operational terminals into the past, in the hopes that someone (such as [[NoFourthWall you, the reader]]) would have the skills to pilot a [[AMechByAnyOtherName Virtuaroid]] into the moon-base and stop the rogue computer.

It was given a UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn release in 1996, which stripped down the visuals from the arcade version, but added a versus mode; and a Windows PC release followed later in 1997, which by default settings stripped down the frame-rate, but the settings can adjusted match the arcade version or better. The game later received an UpdatedRerelease for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 as part of the ''Sega Ages 2500'' line of re-releases (which unfortunately, [[NoExportForYou stayed in Japan]]) on 30 October 2007. The [=PlayStation=] 2 version is considered the best release yet, as it contains several new features not present in the previous ports, as well as better graphics, crisper sound quality, new extra modes (including one where you can play as the final boss), and a new BonusBoss in the form of the original [[FemBot Fei]]-[[RobotGirl Yen]], which is permanently in [[SuperMode Hyper Mode]] without the health loss and can only be accessed if you beat the first eight Virtuaroids (nine if you fought Jaguarandi) in under nine minutes.

'''''Cyber Troopers Virtual-ON: Oratorio Tangram''''' (1999) is the sequel to ''Operation Moongate'', which reveals that the whole mess on the Moon was just a distraction from a splinter group within a powerful [[MegaCorp mega-corporation]] to allow them to break away from their parent company. Now the two are fighting over several mecha plants in the hope of finding the missing Tangram, a super-computer that is said to have the power to [[RealityWarper alter reality]]. Strangely enough, ''Oratorio Tangram'' is very rare in many places; for example, some reports that only two arcade machines were ever shipped to the United States. It had a much wider release for the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast, and even without the twin sticks (even though they existed, [[RevenueEnhancingDevices but would burn a huge hole in your wallet]]) it is still a very fun game. ''[[{{Portmanteau}} Oratan]]'' is widely considered to be the best of the series and by far the most popular. It also added more depth into the previous game's mechanics, better gameplay balance, and a slew of new Virtuaroids to chose from.

''Oratorio Tangram'' comes in four flavors: Ver.5.2 was the first release on the SEGA [=Model3=]; Ver.5.4, which updated the interface and fixed many bugs of the first release; Ver.5.45 for the Sega Dreamcast, which was a port of Ver.5.4 with extra arenas from ''Operation Moongate''[[labelnote:*]](the Japanese version also had a color and emblem customization feature, which could be also be used on Ver.5.66)[[/labelnote]]; and finally Ver.5.66 for the arcade, which featured three new Virtuaroid variants and all the extra stages from the Dreamcast version. Ver.5.66 was also switched the software to the NAOMI board used in many Sega games today which updated the sound and graphic quality. On April 29th, 2009, an HD port of Ver.5.66 was released to Xbox Live Arcade world-wide for 1,200 Microsoft Points, featuring a color-edit mode, online multiplayer, tutorials, and the ability to customize your control scheme, but lacks the local split-screen versus mode of the Dreamcast port.

'''''Cyber Troopers Virtual-ON: FORCE''''' (2001), [[CodeName code-named]] [=VO4=], is the series' third installment debuting on the Sega Hikaru hardware. The action was slower than in ''Oratorio Tangram'' (although this was justified in the story that a reaction on the planet Mars made the non-native-built mecha move slower), but featured 2-on-2, allowing up to four-players simultaneously. The game is considered a [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks step back]] from ''Oratan'' and was not well-received. Not to mention there's also a much smaller variety of Virtuaroids to choose from[[note]]If you count the basic Virtuaroids series only. Some like GRYS-VOK, Dordray and STEIN-VOK were merged into VOX series.[[/note]]. To compensate for this, they gave the Virtuaroids ''several'' different variants, but only to make the game even more confusing and annoying. On December 21st, 2010, the game received an UsefulNotes/XBox360 release like ''Oratorio Tangram'' did. However, it was released only in Japan as a retail game but the game is [[UsefulNotes/RegionCoding region-free]]. It includes a brand-new mission mode that's more-or-less ''Virtual-ON: MARZ''[='=]s campaign stripped of a storyline.

'''''Cyber Troopers Virtual-ON: MARZ''''' (2003) for the [=PlayStation=] 2, being an OddballInTheSeries, is essentially a single-player focused ActionAdventure version of ''FORCE''. While including a HackAndSlash-style story mode which fleshes out the nature of the ''Virtual-ON'' universe, ''MARZ'' unfortunately stripped down the gameplay even further in several aspects (especially thanks to limitations of the [=PlayStation=] 2 hardware), causing fans of the earlier three entries in the series to [[FanonDiscontinuity completely disown this game]]. The series made a notable appearance in ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Super Robot Wars Alpha 3]]'', with JackOfAllStats Temjin (strangely piloted by the MissionControl character from ''MARZ''), RobotGirl Fei-Yen the Knight (piloted by the second MissionControl character from ''MARZ'' and the Fei-Yen series' supposed creator) and AceCustom Virtuaroid Apharmd the Hatter (piloted by the HotBlooded Sergeant Hatter) as playable characters. They also appear in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsK'' for the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, which actually incorporates ''MARZ''[='=]s story. ''Virtual-ON: MARZ'' has been re-released exclusively in Japan on UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork on March 2013.

'''''[[Literature/ACertainMagicalIndex A Certain Magical]] [[{{Crossover}} Cyber Trooper (Virtual-ON)]]''''' (2018), a crossover title between the series and ''A Certain Magical Index'', was announced in March of 2017 after roughly 15 years of inactivity for [=PS4=] and Vita. [[RecursiveAdaptation It was adapted from a novel series of the same name]]. In addition to bringing back the entire Virtuaroid lineup from ''Oratorio Tangram'', ''Index'' returns to the gameplay seen in ''Operation Moongate'', marking a grand return to series form. ''Index'' additionally expands on the original gameplay by introducing a host of alternative game modes, such as online and co-op multiplayer, "Explosion Code", a soccer-like game played with Virtuaroids, and "Kill Attack", where the player fights against an endless stream of enemies until they're defeated.

* BreastExpansion: Did you pre-order your copy of ''Virtual-ON: FORCE''? Here's a [[DownloadableContent redeemable code]] that lets you enhance the chest size of your Fei-Yen and Angelan from an [[UsefulNotes/{{Pettanko}} A-cup]] to a [[BoobsOfSteel DD-cup]] as bonus!

'''''[[LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex A Certain Magical]] [[{{Crossover}} Cyber Trooper (Virtual-ON)]]''''' (2018), a crossover title between the series and ''A Certain Magical Index'', was announced in March of 2017 after roughly 15 years of inactivity for [=PS4=] and Vita. [[RecursiveAdaptation It was adapted from a novel series of the same name]]. In addition to bringing back the entire Virtuaroid lineup from ''Oratorio Tangram'', ''Index'' returns to the gameplay seen in ''Operation Moongate'', marking a grand return to series form. ''Index'' additionally expands on the original gameplay by introducing a host of alternative game modes, such as online and co-op multiplayer, "Explosion Code", a soccer-like game played with Virtuaroids, and "Kill Attack", where the player fights against an endless stream of enemies until they're defeated.

* ArmorPiercingSlap: Fei-Yen can deliver five across your [=VR=]'s face in ''Oratorio Tangram''.

* NintendoHard: ''Operation Moongate'' is absolutely sadistic with its difficulty. Starting with Stage 3 (Dorkas), the game suddenly goes through a DifficultySpike where the AI busts out more advanced and very annoying movement patterns, while hitting you with pinpoint-accurate shots. This alone makes it incredibly tempting to just scrape by with timeout wins, but if you go through with it you'll get punished by being forced into a battle with Jaguarandi, who is an SNKBoss. By far the most annoying opponent in the game is Fei-Yen, who is almost impossible to hit normally and will make you question your very sanity if you manage to get her health down to half, where she enters Hyper Mode.

** In ''Oratorio Tangram'', Raiden's special move lets him [[ShedArmorGainSpeed take off his armor]] to became ''[[UpToEleven WAY]]'' faster than both Fei-Yen Kn ''and'' Viper-II. The downside: [[CastFromHitPoints it loses more than 90% of his life gauge]] and his V-Armor goes to straight to 0%.