The Virtual-On series had a very simple premise. Take a bunch of Japanese-style mechs, toss them into an arena and let them have at it. Simple enough, right? However, there are a lot of subtleties that give the game an extra layer that isn’t visible from the start. Based on the arcade version 5.66, Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram for the XBLA is the most complete version of the game, with all mech or ‘Virtuaroids’ as well as numerous tweaks and minor upgrades.
Not that any of this matters much if you're not already familiar with it, particularly when you’re in the heat of battle. Virtual-On plays a lot like 3rd person shooter, but is a fighting game at heart. You have your choice of twelve Virtuaroids from the get go, and there is quite a good variety amongst them. They range from very agile but fragile to slow but powerful, with plenty in between. From here, getting into the game is fairly simple, but getting the most of it is another matter.
Talk to the hand.
Each Virtuaroid has the same set of maneuvers and modes of attack. You can move, dash, jump and duck, while each also has a left, right and central weapon. Picking up the game is simple, but this is one that will take a long time to master. For one, the variety in each of the Virtuariods necessitates a deep knowledge of what is good against what, and there is a surprisingly long list of tactics and potential maneuvers to help you excel at the game. Furthermore the pace of the game is ridiculously fast, and you will get schooled against a skilled opponent if you’re moves aren't up to scratch.
If anything, new players are really thrown in the deep end, as there isn’t much assistance with the game’s subtleties. Sure, some of these can be learned by playing for a number of hours, but at the same time, it’s within reason to expect some decent help, particularly with the price point. Furthermore, the game may feel a little clunky to some when compared with how a lot of games control today. As off-putting as this may initially be, this is how the game was intended and you’ll realise that once you’ve played enough.
Hit what?
While there is some depth within the gameplay, the same cannot be said about the game modes. As a single player game, you have two standard fighting modes: arcade and score attacks. The game boasts a customisation mode, but that will mainly have you changing Virtuaroid colours. Unfortunately, both these modes wear thin very quickly, what with AI that harks back to an unforgiving era of difficulty. Frankly, purchasing Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram as a single player game is a waste of money (or MS points). For the same amount, you’re better off purchasing a dedicated single player experience such as Braid or Lumines.
In a move that almost concedes the single player and pricing shortcomings, the game has one of the easiest achievement lists on the market. Whether this was done on purpose or not, we’ll never know but we have our suspicions. However, if you’re going utilise the multiplayer, the game is a much more appealing prospect. The online code seemed quite solid whenever we actually got into a game, though there were times when actually finding a game was difficult. Still, at least the game was more enjoyable and more addictive when we were taking on human opponents on a level playing field.
Is it dead?
Like most XBLA ports, Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram has been nicely spruced up to fit into a HD display. Smooth, colourful, vibrant and with a lot of action on screen, the game looks good while maintaining a nostalgic feel and keeping its own sense of style. You’ll spend a lot of time listening to the typical female announcer, with the same basic lines but there are a few cool tunes playing in the background of your epic battles. A couple feel really out of place, but otherwise, Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram is aesthetically pleasing, despite its age.
Despite the numerous layers of subtleties within the simple yet hard to master gameplay, Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram is not a game to purchase if you’re only going to be in it for the single player. The skills that you’ll eventually acquire are wasted on the AI opponents and much better off in online multiplayer. And once you do, you’ll have some epic, fast-paced and furious battles, as long as you can actually get a game. So while we can see what made Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram a cult classic, it would have been sweeter to experience at a more reflective price point.
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