VR Troopers
From Sega Retro
- For the unreleased Sega 32X version, see VR Troopers (32X).
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VR Troopers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: Sega | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developer: Syrox Developments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Supporting companies: Waterman Designs, Sega of America (production) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributor: Ecofilmes (PT), Tec Toy (BR) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Licensor: Saban Entertainment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sound driver: Martin Walker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Peripherals supported: Six Button Control Pad | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre: Action[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of players: 1-2 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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VR Troopers is a versus fighting game based on the VR Troopers television show by Saban (a "sister" show to the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers). It was released for the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Game Gear in 1995.
Contents
Story
The VR Troopers are three teenagers in their late teens: JB Reese, Kaitlin Star, and Ryan Steel. They regularly attend and are teachers at Tao's Dojo, a karate studio. Professor Hart, who is a friend of Ryan's father Tyler, has developed an advanced virtual reality technology. A creature known as Grimlord rules the VR world with his army of mutants who want to conquer reality.
An arcade cabinet has mysteriously been delivered to the dojo. While investigating it, it zaps the protagonists into the virtual reality world, and the VR Troopers must fight their way out.
Gameplay
Mega Drive version
The game is a fighting game based on the television series of the same name. Matches are fought to the best of three rounds. A round is won by draining the opponent's health bar or having more health than the opponent when the timer reaches zero.
In the Story Game mode, the player can choose to play as any of the three VR Troopers and faces a series of opponents in order, including evil clones of the VR Troopers, with story scenes in between battles. After each fight, the player must play a "Battle Grid" stage and survive against multiple Skug opponents for a duration (initially 10 seconds, but increasing another 10 seconds each time). If defeated, the player must fight the previous opponent again. The player can change characters before each opponent and can continue only three times if defeated (not counting by Skugs). There are five difficulty levels for computer-controlled opponents (Kids, Easy, Moderate, Hard, and Manic). There is also a Vs. Battle mode, where two players can pick any character and any stage and fight each other, and a single-player CPU Duel mode, where one player can choose any character and stage to play and any character to fight.
Characters move with or and run with or . They jump with and crouch with . They punch with and kick with . Punches and kicks can be performed while standing, crouching, or jumping. Each character also has three special abilities that can be performed by pairing the attack buttons with particular directions. Attacks can be blocked by holding the D-Pad away from the opponent, which reduces (but does not entirely negate) the damage taken from attacks. Blocking can be done while standing or crouching as well as in midair. Some moves cannot be blocked.
In addition to these attacks, every character can perform a roundhouse kick with + (or + when facing left), a sweep kick with + (or + when facing left), and an uppercut with when rising from a crouch. After jumping, characters can perform a "rocket air attack" with + (or + when facing left), which is a flying kick forward. All of these moves knock opponents over on impact. Characters can throw their opponents by holding the D-Pad toward a nearby opponent and pressing . Throws cannot be blocked, but characters can only be thrown while standing and not while crouching.
Characters
Note: Move lists assume that the character is facing right. When facing left, and should be reversed.
P | Punch |
K | Kick |
THROW | Throw |
On the Kids and Easy difficulty levels, each character's special abilities are mapped to the , , and buttons and have had their recovery times removed.
Heroes
The VR Troopers are playable in every mode, including the Story Game.
Villains
These characters appear as opponents in the Story Game and as playable characters in the Vs. Battle and CPU Duel modes.
Tankotron | ||||||||||||
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Tankotron is an armored tank robot.
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Decimator | ||||||||||||
Decimator is an expert swordsman and one of Grimlord's key lieutenants.
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Kongbot | ||||||||||||
Kongbot is large gorilla robot.
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Darkheart | ||||||||||||
Darkheart is a mutant who is actually Ryan's father, Tyler, after being captured by Grimlord.
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The Magician | ||||||||||||
The Magician is a robotic magician and ninja.
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Unplayable
These characters appear only as opponents in the Story Game.
Skugs | |
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Skugs are Grimlord's foot soldiers. After each opponent in the Story Game, the player must survive against endless waves of two Skugs at a time until time runs out. If defeated, the player does not have to use a continue but must fight the previous opponent again. The player cannot use special moves in these fights.
In matches against other VR Troopers, a Skug transforms into a clone of the Trooper before the match begins. | |
Kamelion | |
Kamelion is the final boss of the game. It is a robot that can transform into the other characters in the game and use their special abilities. |
Stages
Stage are played in order in the Story Game mode (with the Battle Grid fights having their own backdrop). Some stages have a color variation. Players can choose the stage in the other modes (but not the Battle Grid stage or the color variations).
Game Gear version
The game is a fighting game, similar to the Mega Drive version but only supporting a single player. The player can choose from two game modes, Story Game and Battle Game. In Story Game, the player can choose from the three VR Troopers and fights against Grimlord's minions, with brief story scenes in between fights. After some fights, the player plays a "Battle Grid" stage, which is a bonus stage where the player character fights against an endless Skugs until time runs out. In Battle Game, the player can select from eight characters and fights against every other character in the game. In both modes, players can change the playable character after each fight. Matches are fought to the best of three rounds (changeable to five rounds) and have a 60-second timer (changeable to 15, 30, or unlimited). The game ends if the player loses a match in either mode (with no continues). There are five difficulty levels (Very Easy, Easy, Normal, Hard, and Very Hard).
Characters move with or , jump with , and crouch with . They punch with and kick with , which can be done while standing, crouching, or jumping. Every character also has two or three special moves performed with special button combinations. Attacks can be blocked by holding the D-Pad away from the opponent when standing or crouching, though blocked attacks still do some damage.
In addition to these attacks, every character can perform a roundhouse kick by pressing + (or + when facing left), a sweep kick with +, and an uppercut with + or + when rising from a crouch. After jumping, characters can perform a "rocket air attack" with + (or + when facing left), which is a flying kick forward. All of these moves knock opponents over on impact. Characters throw by pressing + or + when next to an opponent, which cannot be blocked.
Characters
Note: Move lists assume that the character is facing right. When facing left, and should be reversed.
P | Punch |
K | Kick |
Heroes
The VR Troopers are playable in both Story Game and Battle Game.
Ryan Steel | ||||||||||||
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Ryan is the most focused martial artist of the group.
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JB Reese | ||||||||||||
JB is the "computer wizard" of the group.
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Kaitlin Star | ||||||||||||
Kaitlin Star is a photographer and budding reporter for the local newspaper.
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Villains
These characters appear as opponents in the Story Game and as playable characters in the Battle Game.
Tankotron | ||||||||||||
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Tankotron is an armored tank robot.
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Decimator | ||||||||||||
Decimator is an expert swordsman and one of Grimlord's key lieutenants.
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Kongbot | ||||||||||||
Kongbot is large gorilla robot.
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Darkheart | ||||||||||||
Darkheart is a mutant who is actually Ryan's father, Tyler, after being captured by Grimlord.
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The Magician | ||||||||||||
The Magician is a robotic magician and ninja.
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Unplayable
These characters are not playable in either mode.
Skugs | |
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Skugs are Grimlord's foot soldiers. After some matches in the Story Game, the player must survive against endless Skugs until time runs out. They are fought one at a time, with a new one replacing one immediately when it is defeated. These matches are fought for points, and there is no penalty if the player is defeated in one. | |
Kamelion | |
Kamelion appears multiple times as an opponent, including as the final boss, in both modes. It is a robot that can transform into the other characters in the game and use their special abilities. |
Stages
In the Story Game, the player fights Tankotron in the Swamp, Skugs in the Battle Grid stage, Kongbot in the Swamp, Kamelion in Grimlord's Lair, Skugs in the Battle Grid stage, Decimator in the Forest, Darkheart in Ziktor Skyline, Skugs in the Battle Grid stage, Kamelion again in Grimlord's Lair, the Magician in the Swamp, Skugs in the Battle Grid stage, and Kamelion one last time in Grimlord's Lair.
In the Battle Game, the player fights Decimator in the Scrapyard, Tankotron in Ziktor Skyline, Ryan, Kaitlin, and JB in the Battle Grid stage, Kamelion in Grimlord's Lair, the Magician in the Swamp, Kongbot in the Forest, Darkheart in the Scrapyard, and the Kamelion again in Grimlord's Lair.
Production credits
Mega Drive version
- Program Code: Rob Brooks, Dominic Wood
- Program Graphics: Mark Knowles, Eric Bailey, Jock Green, Mickey Adams, Jim Studt
- Graphics Support: Paolo Ulivi
- Audio Compositions and Programming: Martin Walker
- Original Design: Michael Latham, Syrox
- Executive Producer: Michael Latham
- Producers: Erik Wahlberg, Eric Quakenbush
- Associate Producer: Bill Person
- Marketing: John Garner, Bill Onderdonk
- Licensing: Michaelene Cristini Risley
- Lead Tester: Lance Nelson
- Assistant Lead Testers: Steve Thompson, Scott Snyder, Stephen Perez
- Testers: Mark Lerma, Don Carmichael, Donovan Soto, Fernando Valderrama, Duane Beadles, David Mefford, Sean Davin, Rich Krinock, Chris Johnson
- With special thanks to: Joyce Takakura, Waterman Designs
- Executive Producer: J. David Koch
- Producer: Daniel E. Suarez
- With special thanks to: Haim Saban and Peter Dang.
Game Gear version
- Original Design: Michael Latham, Syrox Developments
- Programming Team: Dominic Wood, Rob Brooks
- Art Team: Mark Knowles, Eric Bailey, Jon Green, Mickey Adams, Jim Studt
- Assistant: Paulo Ulivi
- Music and Sound: Martin Walker
- Executive Producer: Michael Latham
- Producers: Erik Wahlberg, Eric Quakenbush
- Associate Producer: Bill Person
- Marketing: Lisa Best Wilson
- Licensing: Michealene C Risley
- Lead Tester: John Jansen
- Assistant Leads: Heather Meigs, Jeff Sanders, Brendan Cahill, Joe Cecchin
- Testers: Tony Lynch, Justin Acevedo, Amine Khoury, Steve Perez, Amy Albertson, Paulita Villatuya, Annette Dancel, Sean Davin, Lloyd Kinoshita, Arnold Feener, Victor Quimson, Jeff Hedges, Bine Arceo, Wesley Ng
- Special Thanks: Joyce Takakura, Waterman Designs
- Excutive Producer: J.David Koch
- Producer: Daniel E. Suarez
- Special Thanks: Haim Saban, Peter Dang
Magazine articles
- Main article: VR Troopers/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
also published in:
- Hobby Consolas (ES) #52: "Enero 1996" (199x-xx-xx)[5]
Artwork
Physical scans
Mega Drive version
Sega Retro Average | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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62 | |
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Based on 17 reviews |
Game Gear version
Sega Retro Average | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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63 | |
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Based on 7 reviews |
Technical information
- Main article: VR Troopers/Technical information.
External links
- Sega of America webpage: Mega Drive, Game Gear
References
- ↑ File:VRTroopers GG EU Box Back.jpg
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Mean Machines Sega, "February 1996" (UK; 1995-12-xx), page 83
- ↑ File:VR Troopers MD credits.pdf
- ↑ File:VR Troopers GG credits.pdf
- ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1996" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 83
- ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 331
- ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 233
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 42
- ↑ Fusion, "Volume 1, Number 6: January 1996" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 102
- ↑ GamePro, "February 1996" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 72
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Gamers, "Dezember 1995" (DE; 1995-11-08), page 54
- ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Diciembre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 114
- ↑ MAN!AC, "12/95" (DE; 1995-11-08), page 91
- ↑ Mega Force, "Décembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 61
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Mega Fun, "12/95" (DE; 1995-11-21), page 70
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Sega Magazin, "Dezember 1995" (DE; 1995-11-15), page 77
- ↑ Sega Pro, "March 1996" (UK; 1996-01-25), page 62
- ↑ Svet Igara, "Jun 1996" (YU; 1996-xx-xx), page 60
- ↑ Tricks, "Vypusk 8" (RU; 1996-xx-xx), page 31
- ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 220
- ↑ Video Games, "12/95" (DE; 1995-11-21), page 74
- ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Febrero 1996" (ES; 1996-xx-xx), page 101
- ↑ Mega Force, "Mars 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 83
- ↑ Player One, "Mars 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 105
- ↑ Sega News, "Listopad 1996" (CZ; 1996-1x-xx), page 34
VR Troopers | |
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Main page | Comparisons | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs |
Metal Hero games for Sega systems | |
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VR Troopers (1995) | |
VR Troopers (unreleased) | |
VR Troopers (1995) | |
B-Fighter Kabuto (1996) | B-Robo Kabutack (1997) |
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