Clever or not, Sega's early 3D games with the Virtua brand, riding the virtual reality trend of the early 90's, offered some unique games. Clearly, nothing to do with VR, but boasting some incredible 3D games that broke technical boundaries of their time. Today, I'm here to talk about the Sega Saturn ports of two of the most famous light gun games ever created.
Infamous for it's badly ported launch line-ups of Sega arcade hits like Daytona USA and Virtua Fighter in '94/'95, the Saturn would save face and go on to receive faithful conversions the following year. While Sega Rally Championship and Virtua Fighter 2 are famously excellent ports of their time. Despite the huge difference between the low-end home consoles and the expensive custom arcade system boards, they built the games to take advantage of what the Saturn offered and re-code them to better optimise the hardware.
There are a couple of other arcade conversions that really deserve some attention too, the reason why we're here today. Namely Virtua Cop and Virtua Cop 2.
Built by Sega in 1993, though planned as early on as 1990, in a collaboration with an aerospace company(!), which later became a part of Lockheed Martin. Head engineer, and famous Sega employee, Yu Suzuki created the follow up to Sega's first 3D powered hardware, that was the Model 1. The original Model 1 arcade circuit board was only capable of making texture-less polygon environments at it's launch in 1992, however, the following year Sega aimed for fully textured polygons and released the superior Model 2 arcade system board. So advanced was Model 2, it took five years for PC graphics cards to finally catch up with it, in 1998. Five years.
Oh, and by 1996, Sega had further moved on their technology and released the Model 3 hardware, pushing technology boundaries even further! Making it as far into the early 2000's before anything released for the home market that even came close.
Back story
Sega's Model 2 arcade circuit board. Probably the most important arcade board ever produced. If you've never played on one of these fine pieces of hardware, well then you simply didn't live the 90s like you should have!Built by Sega in 1993, though planned as early on as 1990, in a collaboration with an aerospace company(!), which later became a part of Lockheed Martin. Head engineer, and famous Sega employee, Yu Suzuki created the follow up to Sega's first 3D powered hardware, that was the Model 1. The original Model 1 arcade circuit board was only capable of making texture-less polygon environments at it's launch in 1992, however, the following year Sega aimed for fully textured polygons and released the superior Model 2 arcade system board. So advanced was Model 2, it took five years for PC graphics cards to finally catch up with it, in 1998. Five years.
Oh, and by 1996, Sega had further moved on their technology and released the Model 3 hardware, pushing technology boundaries even further! Making it as far into the early 2000's before anything released for the home market that even came close.
So yes, while you were still playing the low-res Tekken 2 on a PS1 in '96, you could've played Virtua Fighter 3 with PS2 level graphics on the Model 3 hardware in the arcades the same year. Think about that for moment. For those that actually did this, then yes, your mind was blown.
Going back to Model 2 though, Sega struck arcade gold with this piece of hardware and released many games from '93 right up to '98 on the platform, even though the superior Model 3 hardware emerged in '96. This made Model 2 the most produced and successful arcade hardware ever created. It amounted to a revenue of 3 billion dollars for Sega, selling over 130.000 units.
You truly missed out if you, somehow, managed to avoid playing on Model 2 hardware, because it powered the following successful line-up of famous arcade hits in it's time, to name a few: Daytona USA, Sega Rally, Virtua Fighter 2, Desert Tank, Last Bronx, Dead or Alive, Virtua Striker, Manx TT, Fighting Vipers, Virtual-On, House Of The Dead and the games we're here to speak about:
Virtua Cop and Virtua Cop 2
Now there's a quality platform line-up you don't see very often!
I purchased a boxed Virtua Gun, commonly referred to as a "Stunner", basically the Saturn's official light gun. Also, in the same package, was the first Virtua Cop game, which belongs to the boxed gun, Virtua Cop 2 and the fairly bland arcade port of The House Of The Dead. The latter, of which I may come back to at a later point, I'm just leaving mentioned here.
Everything was in fantastic condition, especially the boxed games looked extremely well taken care of, with the CDs looking almost new. The Virtua Gun is a large light gun, it feels meaty in your palms, but is fairly light in weight. It has a simple start button on the left side to navigate menu options with. Precision seems fine and I had no issues blasting down enemies with it. I bought a second blue gun at a later stage too. These light guns require a CRT TV, as they won't work on modern flatscreen HDTV's.
The classic light gun game that started it all in 3D, with it's iconic first shipyard level. Featuring a security booth, a large fence and lots of baddies in black suits wearing sunglasses. Huge aiming rectiles surround and rotate the enemies, as they slowly go from green to red and the camera zooms up close, giving the player a warning that they're about to fire at you.
For the sheer entertainment of light-gun title though, VC holds up well and still feels fun to play.
Even though the sequel is very close to the first title, in structure, it's less square looking graphically and lends itself to the more accustomed look of later Model 2 releases. There's more environment detail thrown in and an ambitious cinematic style going on too, with small intro sequences for each difficulty level and character. VC2 just has a less early 3D, and blocky animated, appearance all round.
The actual shooting seems a tad more precise and beefier, when compared to VC1, at least when it comes to how the enemies react to bullets. Giving a more weighty feel to the gun. It's small but welcome upgrades.
For a better value for money, VC2 features lengthier levels and route choices during each of it's three difficulty stages. There's even an extra Saturn exclusive route in the last Hard stage, not seen in the arcades. These routes make replaying each of the levels more interesting, adding much needed replay value.
Going back to Model 2 though, Sega struck arcade gold with this piece of hardware and released many games from '93 right up to '98 on the platform, even though the superior Model 3 hardware emerged in '96. This made Model 2 the most produced and successful arcade hardware ever created. It amounted to a revenue of 3 billion dollars for Sega, selling over 130.000 units.
You truly missed out if you, somehow, managed to avoid playing on Model 2 hardware, because it powered the following successful line-up of famous arcade hits in it's time, to name a few: Daytona USA, Sega Rally, Virtua Fighter 2, Desert Tank, Last Bronx, Dead or Alive, Virtua Striker, Manx TT, Fighting Vipers, Virtual-On, House Of The Dead and the games we're here to speak about:
Virtua Cop and Virtua Cop 2
Now there's a quality platform line-up you don't see very often!
My purchase
Normally, I purchase older retrogames through Ebay, but recently for the first time, I used this retrogaming guy from Japan on Instagram.I purchased a boxed Virtua Gun, commonly referred to as a "Stunner", basically the Saturn's official light gun. Also, in the same package, was the first Virtua Cop game, which belongs to the boxed gun, Virtua Cop 2 and the fairly bland arcade port of The House Of The Dead. The latter, of which I may come back to at a later point, I'm just leaving mentioned here.
Review
Played on: Saturn
Released: 1995
Released: 1995
Originally released: 1994 (Arcade)
This zoom effect on enemies kind of defines the VC series and gives it a unique and recognisable design. It was a visual look later copied for the home market in Die Hard Trilogy. Namco's Virtua Cop copycat, Time Crisis, which relies instead on a cover mechanic, owns a lot it's ideas from VC too.
For the audiences of today, VC1 features a very blocky polygon look, clearly showing it's an early Model 2 release. In fact, it almost looks more like a Model 1 game with textures. However, the actual picture quality is extremely sharp on my CRT with, thanks to the RGB cable from my Saturn.
For the audiences of today, VC1 features a very blocky polygon look, clearly showing it's an early Model 2 release. In fact, it almost looks more like a Model 1 game with textures. However, the actual picture quality is extremely sharp on my CRT with, thanks to the RGB cable from my Saturn.
I'm quite impressed how well they converted the game from the far more advanced arcade hardware and made it look so alike. This is how a great conversion is done and what should have been done with Daytona USA and the first Virtua Fighter on the Saturn's launch.
VC is structured into three levels, with separate scenes within each one: beginner, medium and hard. On top of that, you can actually choose difficulty settings, lives and continues in the options menu. VC can be played by yourself or two player cooperatively, or dual wielding by yourself!
VC is structured into three levels, with separate scenes within each one: beginner, medium and hard. On top of that, you can actually choose difficulty settings, lives and continues in the options menu. VC can be played by yourself or two player cooperatively, or dual wielding by yourself!
Each level has a pre-programmed route through it and ends with a boss battle. Beginner takes place at a shipyard with containers and warehouses. Medium is set in a open dig site, with an underground facility. While Hard takes place at the gang headquarters, sporting an office building.
Like most light gun games, VC is a painfully short experience. Each level taking 15 minutes, tops, to complete. It's a very set time frame too, as the camera moves along constantly. The value for money and lifespan of a game like this is extremely cheap, but it's one of those arcade style layouts that begs for replays over and over. Making you try even harder to hit each enemy perfectly.
Like most light gun games, VC is a painfully short experience. Each level taking 15 minutes, tops, to complete. It's a very set time frame too, as the camera moves along constantly. The value for money and lifespan of a game like this is extremely cheap, but it's one of those arcade style layouts that begs for replays over and over. Making you try even harder to hit each enemy perfectly.
You need to see this genre from the time period it released and the awkwardly short lifespan these early arcade ports had. It's not about the gameplay time of a single playthrough, it's about increasing your skills and repeating it to improve your highscores.
For the sheer entertainment of light-gun title though, VC holds up well and still feels fun to play.
Review
Played on: Saturn
Released: 1996
Released: 1996
Originally released: 1995 (Arcade)
The actual shooting seems a tad more precise and beefier, when compared to VC1, at least when it comes to how the enemies react to bullets. Giving a more weighty feel to the gun. It's small but welcome upgrades.
For a better value for money, VC2 features lengthier levels and route choices during each of it's three difficulty stages. There's even an extra Saturn exclusive route in the last Hard stage, not seen in the arcades. These routes make replaying each of the levels more interesting, adding much needed replay value.
I like how the game more prominently features it's main characters too, personalising it with it's three gun swinging cops: James, Michael and Janet. I love the CGI intro and character art, it looks typically mid-90's arcade and gives me a nostalgic feeling.
Once again we are treated to an excellent arcade port with a sharp, clean picture and vivid colours. It's impressive how they've represented the more heavy polygon visuals of the original arcade game here.
Once again we are treated to an excellent arcade port with a sharp, clean picture and vivid colours. It's impressive how they've represented the more heavy polygon visuals of the original arcade game here.
It's clearly been treated to an excellent downport, as the cutbacks on polygons have not made the visuals suffer in any way. Both Virtua Cop games on the Saturn are perhaps the cleanest looking 3D games on the system, and the way they've really nailed the look of quality Model 2 game with VC2 is very impressive.
Summary
I've probably only played one of these games back in the 90's arcades, like once or twice, as my parents generally weren't too happy about me playing shooting games in general. Plus, I always went for the racing ones, anyhow! I did watch their demo reels a lot though, and other players playing them.Even though modern games have since surpassed everything technically in these titles, I really enjoyed playing through them. I clearly realise why they became such huge arcade hits. The home ports are excellent and a great reminder that the Saturn could pull off arcade quality, if it received the development time it needed to be done properly.
I had a blast playing these games, especially with a proper light gun and a old CRT that is required for them to work. Recommended for anyone owning a Saturn and wanting to take part in those glory days of Sega's arcade 3D dominance.
I had a blast playing these games, especially with a proper light gun and a old CRT that is required for them to work. Recommended for anyone owning a Saturn and wanting to take part in those glory days of Sega's arcade 3D dominance.