The original Virtual On coin-op was released in 1995 and dazzled gamers with its fast mech action and crystal clean visuals. Sega built the game on the Sega Model 2B hardware which ran on an Intel 32-bit processor running at 25MHz along with a SHARC FPU co-processor. Fast forward over a decade later and Sega ports the original Virtual On game over to the Playstation 2 intact and with goodies galore on the CD.Virtual On features eight mechs known as Virtuaroids as designed by Hajime Katoki. There's the dashing blue-white armored MBV-04-G Temjin which is armed with a lance, the powerful HBV-05-E Raiden, the bulky and brawny HBV-10-B Dorkas, and of course, the lone "girlish" mech in the whole group - the SRV-14-A Fei Yen which is a fast and flighty machine.
In the arcades, Virtual On was fitted with twin stick controllers which were operated with both hands on each stick. When Virtual On was ported over to the Saturn and Dreamcast, Sega created special Twin Stick controllers for the home console market. The control scheme is recreated faithfully on the PS2 by way of the Dual Shock 2 thumbsticks which work well where the mechs respond dutifully to a gamer's tugs. «more»
