============================================================= In-Depth and Complete Guide to Virtual On: Cybertroopers - Operation Moongate FAQ Date: Fri Feb 25 15:15:47 PST 2000 Written by: Scott Robinson ============================================================= Note ----- This should be displayed in monospace format. The dots and numbers should line up. .......... 1234567890 //---------------// // Legal Stuff // //---------------// Virtual On: Cybertroopers and its characters are the property of Sega of Japan. This guide was written by the above authors. We, the authors, are not affiliated with Sega, and this guide is not official in any way. We wrote this guide because we felt there wasn't enough complete Virtual On information on the Internet. This guide is distributed under the Open Content license. (http://www.opencontent.org/) //-------------------// // Version History // //-------------------// v1.0 -- Fri, 25 Feb 2000 15:24:46 -0800 First release ============================================================= Part I: Introduction to Virtual On: Cybertroopers 1.1 Storyline .2 The Cabinet .3 The Interface .4 The Game Part II: The Absolute Basics (and some you might have missed) 2.1 Toddler Years (or how to walk without flailing) .2 "I'm a big boy now" (or how to _really_ move) .3 BAM BAM BAM BAM (or how to blow stuff up!) .4 Annoying Brat (or Rush Vectoring 101) Part III: Intermediate Gameplay (aka The Ceiling) 3.1 Cancelling 102 .2 Close Combat 101 Part IV: Advanced Techniques 4.1 Close Combat 102 .2 Okizeme Part V: In-Depth Virtualoid Guides 5.1 MBV-04-G Temjin .2 HBV-10-B Dorkas .3 SRV-14-A Fei-Yen .4 SAV-07-D Belgdor .5 TRV-06K-H Viper II .6 XBV-13-T11 Bal-Bas-Bow .7 MBV-09-C Apharmd .8 HBV-05-E Raiden Part VI: Secrets and other miscellania that prove addiction Part VII: Fin 7.1 Closing .3 Further reading .4 Credits ============================================================= Part I: Introduction to Virtual On: Cybertroopers ============================================================= //------------------// // 1.1. Storyline // //------------------// (this storyline is a rough translation and has been cleaned up. Same content, better grammar and tense.) Earth has entered the Virtual Century (V.C.). The world is now controlled by a few large syndicates that operate the media industry. A new dark age has dawned. Humanity has switched its focus from saving the planet to space colonization. Compared to the Earth, the space colonies are expanding and developing at a much greater rate and the syndicates on the Earth are wary of the colonies newfound power. In V.C.0084, one of the syndicates on Earth, Dynatech and Nova (DN), found, on the moon, the ruins of a civilization housing technology far more advanced than on the Earth or any of the space colonies. DN has hidden this technology and is using it to produce weapons that are much more advanced than its competitors'. These human-like robots are code-named Virtuaroids (VRs). It turns out, VRs are difficult to control, and only people who are "Virtual On Positive" (VO+) are capable of controlling a VR well. In a discreet attempt to search for these people, DN created a video game called "Virtual On: Cybertroopers" and placed it in the local video arcades to test for VO+ players. Unknown to the players, there is a remote control system in each console that can link-up the simulators to actual VRs situated on the Moon, where DN's VR factory is located. However, the central computer in the VR factory has suddenly become self-aware, and has taken control of the DN enterprise on the Moon. The ultimate weapon, the Sun Cannon, has been activated by the central computer. Sensing disaster, DN has little choice but to destroy the renegade factory with their VRs. Operation Moongate has been put into action, the satellite link-ups are activated, and VO+ players are (unknowingly) now used in a real-life wargame. Can you battle your way through the renegade Virtuaroids and destroy the Sun Cannon before it destroys the Earth? //--------------------// // 1.2. The Cabinet // //--------------------// The Virtual On game cabinet is not so much a cabinet as it is a decked out video game center. Similar to Sega's other Model 2, sit-down consoles (e.g. Daytona II), the Virtual On cabinet has comfortable and fully adjustable molded plastic seats. The speakers are located to the left and right of a HUGE television from which you can see your VR beat the living doo-doo out of your opponent's VR. Make friends with this chair, it will soon be the place you spend all your time. //----------------------// // 1.3. The Interface // //----------------------// More important than anything else on the entire "cabinet" are the controls. These are your interface to the world of Virtual On. The game often tricks people with its simplisitic control interface. Let's diagram, shall we: /-----------------------------------------------------\ | | | _+\ _+\ | | | |+ | |+ | | | | Start | | | | | | O | | | | ----- ----- | | Left Stick Right Stick | | | \-----------------------------------------------------/ Within this document we'll (ab)use a standard set of joystick movement codes to instruct you on how to not flail yourself silly in the game. F|B , CW + [T] ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ | | | | \---- Press your right dash button [dash selection] | | | \---- Press both weapon triggers [weapon selection] | | \---- Delay for action [delay type] | \---- Pull your RIGHT joystick BACKWARD [joystick movement] \---- Push your LEFT joystick FORWARD [joystick movement] [1.3.1 delay type] Delays are needed in between certain joystick inputs: [command 1] , [command 2] - Don't input "action 2" until "command 1" occurs. You can delay "command 2" until "command 1" finishs executing. [command 1] + [command 2] - Perform "command 1" and "command 2" simultaneously. [command 1] ~ [command 2] - Perform "command 2" immediately after performing "command 1". [1.3.2 joystick movement] In this FAQ, joystick movement codes are a set of at least two letters. The codes tell you where to place your two joysticks. F - PUSH joystick FORWARD B - PULL joystick BACKWARD L - MOVE joystick LEFT R - MOVE joystick RIGHT . - PLACE the joystick in a NEUTRAL position (centered) Examples: F|B - PUSH your LEFT joystick FORWARD and PULL your RIGHT joystick BACKWARD. R|L - Bringing your two joysticks in towards one another. FR|FR - PUSH both your joysticks FORWARD and RIGHT (diagonally). [1.3.3 weapon selection] In Virtual On, each VR has three primary weapon systems. Activation of each weapon system is keyed to pressing the front red triggers on the joysticks... LW - Left Weapon activation. Press the LEFT trigger. RW - Right Weapon activation. Press the RIGHT trigger. CW - Center Weapon activation. Press BOTH triggers simultaneously. Each weapon also has variations available that are important in certain situations: (replace [w] with a weapon code) C[w] = R|L+[w] - Crouching Weapon activation J[w] = L|R,[w] - Jumping Weapon activation [1.3.4 dash activation] Two redundant dash triggers are on top of the joysticks. (replace [m] with a joystick movement) [m]+T - TAP a SINGLE DASH trigger Examples: R|R+T - MOVE both joysticks RIGHT then TAP the DASH trigger. Results in your VR RUSHing RIGHT. FR|FR+T - MOVE both joysticks FORWARD and RIGHT then TAP the DASH trigger. Results in your VR RUSHing FORWARD DIAGONALLY RIGHT. //-----------------// // 1.4. The Game // //-----------------// Virtual On, the game, can be cleanly divided into five sections: [1.4.1 Ground Mode] You sit down, you put your credits in, and you're transported to a mystical world of Virtual On... though more specifically you're fighting the NULL AI of Temjin on the level known as the Flooded City. In Ground Mode you fight five computer (local console) controlled AIs in five radically different environments to learn how to play Virtual On. Its the training mode. So have fun! The VRs and their levels follow: 1. Temjin at the Flooded City (8th Planet: Flesh Refoe) Basically cannon fodder. However, he's a prime example of the Virtual On learning chip. If your local Virtual On scene has been playing a lot of Temjin well, then he won't be defeated so easily. Don't worry though, power-cycle the machine and you're ok. 2. Viper II at the Airport (Rentarea #??) Teaches you anti-air and how to cope with an arena with lots of buildings. 3. Dorkas at the Waterfront (Terminal City #359) Generally considered the first "real" AI in the game. Most beginners begin having their bad luck here. Teaches you anti-turtling skills and how to handle explosive weapons. (Phalanx) 4. Belgdor at the Green Hills (8th Planet: Flesh Refoe) The first actively escaping VR on the first open arena! However, there is a small bug in the AI that allows for quick wins. See further down or see if you can figure it out yourself. 5. Bal-Bas-Bow at the Ruins (") Once a player can reliably defeat the first four VRs, it's Bal-Bas-Bow that usually screws up their times. It's playing style is unlike any encountered thus far and throws off most intermediate players. It's sad, but most players, instead of learning how to cope with "true" aerial warefare, just find a strategy that works against the AI and continue on to... [1.4.2 Jaguarandi] The Mid-Boss of Virtual On. Activated by most beginning players, he comes online if a player spends more than an average of 30 seconds per previous VR. Big, deadly, and out of control. Jaguarandi is the Virtual remains of the first VR pilot, a young boy. Jaguarandi is his mental perception of himself made real through a software glitch. The designers of Virtual On don't know how Jaguarandi itself came to exist, but they don't plan on removing "him." [1.4.3 Space Mode] After defeating all the training VRs and maybe Jaguarandi, Mind Shift Battle System kicks in and you're transported to a REAL VR in a REAL war zone. A whole new set of "real" AI VRs are ready for you to bash in. 1. Apharmd at the Space Dock (8th Planet: Flesh Refoe) A formidable VR with a formidable AI. It'll give most players their first "real" experience in close combat. 2. Fei-Yen at the Moon Base (the Moon?) A _cheap_ _cheap_ CHEAP AI. If you're going for time, it's the most likely to ruin it. 3. Raiden at Death Trap aka Invertebrate Shaft (Restricted Area MG/a0) In reality, Raiden is a bit of a let down. You fight through all these cool AIs and then you get Raiden. Unless you've smoked yourself retarded, you'll cream him easy. [1.4.4 Z-Gradt] FINAL BOSS. Secret Secret. ;) ============================================================= Part II: The Absolute Basics (and some you might have missed) ============================================================= //-------------------------------------------------------// // 2.1 Toddler Years (or how to walk without flailing) // //-------------------------------------------------------// For someone first approaching Virtual On, the most difficult challenge of the game is controlling their VR without making it look like it's having an epileptic seizure. This section should help you out in _looking_ like you know where you're going. [2.1.1 Walking and Rotating] If you've never driven a tank, here is your chance. The VR controls exactly like one: F|F - WALK FORWARD B|B - WALK BACKWARD R|R - WALK RIGHT L|L - WALK LEFT Rotation is key in Virtual On. As a full 3D game, one of the key facet of the game is to keep your opponent on your screen and within your firing radius. F|B - ROTATE your VR RIGHT B|F - ROTATE your VR LEFT These are useless, but included anyway for your pleasure. .|R - SHUFFLE RIGHT L|. - SHUFFLE LEFT Keep in mind it is possible to chord the rotate and walking movements so that you walk and rotate. The advantage of this is keeping an opponent on screen but still avoiding their fire. [2.1.2 Dashing] "Make it fast!" So be it. Dashing is another key facet of Virtual On. It allows you to get from Point A to Point B _FAST_. Really fast. (replace [m] with a joystick movement) [m]+T - DASH in the DIRECTION you move the joysticks in. However, if for some reason you've decided you've dashed in the wrong direction: (replace [m-] with a joystick movement OPPOSITE of [m]) [m]+T , [m-]+T - DASH CANCEL ^ ^ | \---- This is the CANCEL movement. \---- This starts your DASH. Examples: R|R+T , L|L+T - Start and CANCEL a RIGHT DASH. FR|FR+T , BL|BL+T - Start and CANCEL a FORWARD DIAGONAL RIGHT DASH. [2.1.3 Jumping] So far, all of Virtual On could be played on a 2D plane. We (and Sega) wouldn't do that to you! (Namco would...) Thus, it is possible rocket into the air and stare down at the wonderful arena (and enemy VR) below you. L|R - JUMP However, if for some reason you've decided being in the air isn't for you, you can always cancel the jump: (though only BEFORE you reach the apex, the top, of your jump) L|R , R|L - JUMP then CANCEL ^ ^ ^ | | \---- This is your JUMP CANCEL. | \---- This delay only applies until the APEX of your JUMP. \---- This is your JUMP action. If getting the Y-axis advantage on your opponent wasn't cool enough, JUMPing causes your VR to automatically orient itself towards your opponent's VR. Thus the fast application of a JUMP CANCEL flips yourself towards your opponent without having to wait to rotate. //-----------------------------------------------------// // 2.2 "I'm a big boy now" (or how to _really_ move) // //-----------------------------------------------------// [2.2.1 ]