Cyber Troopers Virtual-On (電脳戦機バーチャロン) is a series of video games developed by Sega AM3/Hitmaker, and originally created by Juro Watari. The games feature fast, action-oriented gameplay requiring quick reflexes, featuring mecha called Virtuaroids or "VRs", that are large robots the player controls in battles against enemy VRs. The first game was Virtual On: Cyber Troopers (1995), which was released globally, while its following four installments in the series were mainly Japan exclusives where the series has retained high popularity. Controls revolve around twin-stick control, in which two joysticks, complemented by an array of controls, are used by players. Additionally, in the plot of the first game, the Virtual-On's arcade machine is actually a remote operation device sent from the future in search of "Virtual-On Positive" (VO+) pilots. The mecha designs for all installments of the series were created by robot designer Hajime Katoki. Related merchandise released for sale include plastic models, original soundtracks, trading figurines, light novels and audio drama CDs.

Games

The games in the series are as follows: Additionally, Virtual-On Masterpiece 1995–2001 is a compilation of the original trio of games, released for PlayStation 4 in Japan in November 2019.

Plastic models

The first plastic model series based on Virtuaroid was released shortly before the Japanese release of Oratorio Tangram, and were made by Wave Corporation. These Virtuaroid models are borrowed from Operation Moongate as well as Oratorio Tangram, One Man Rescue and Fragmentary Passage. These models were also made by Kotobukiya, which is well known for making plastic models of Medabots anime and manga series. Hasegawa Corporation also manufactures the plastic model kits of Virtuaroids from Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Force and Marz video games. Some Virtuaroids, which were originally available only in a few versions, were expanded to including spinoffs, such as Virtuaroid Guarayakha with special equipment, and more alternate-colored versions of some Virtuaroids. As of 2014, plastic models of Virtual On franchise are still in production.

Appearances in other media

The Virtuaroids Temjin 747J, Ahparmd the HA-T and Fei-Yen the Knight from the Virtual-On series appeared in the Japanese, turn-based strategy game Super Robot Wars Alpha 3. This was the first occasion of characters from a video game series, owned neither by Banpresto nor their parent company Namco Bandai, appearing in a Super Robot Wars game. Of note about the game is that if the other pilots in the game remove their suits, approach the Virtuaroids and try to speak to their pilots, the Virtuaroids would say that they were being remote-piloted by pilots in another plane or dimension. In the PSP rhythm-action game Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Extend, the third game in the Project DIVA series, one of the available outfits for Miku to wear was based on Fei-Yen. The special outfit was later made into plastic model figure. A reference to Virtual On can be found in 21st episode of Hyōka anime, where Hōtarō and Satoshi play the Operation Moongate with the Virtuaroids Raiden and Viper II respectively. Temjin and Fei-Yen appeared in Senko No Ronde 2 as selectable characters via downloadable content. An emulated version of the original Virtual On arcade game can be played at the in-game arcade in Yakuza Kiwami 2. The visual novels Kimi ga Nozomu Eien and Muv-Luv features a nearly identical version instead called Cyber Legion Valgern On.