Virtual-On: Oratorio Tangram Ver.5.66

 Xbox 360
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Apr 29, 2009
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Gaming Age
    91
    If you have fond memories of the Dreamcast game, then rest assured you'll be getting the same quality out of this port.
  2. Worth Playing
    90
    It's a great online experience, and it's a lot of fun to play a hidden gem from the past.
  3. TeamXbox
    83
    The various battlegrounds of Virtual On are just as well modeled as the Virtuaroids and are pretty expansive for a mid-’90s video game.
  5. Eurogamer
    80
    A really great game, but emphatically not one for everybody. Thank goodness for trial versions.
  6. WonderwallWeb
    80
    The closest version to the arcade yet but do try the demo first to make sure you can get into it.
  7. IGN
    75
    It takes a certain kind of person to find this fast-paced arena combat exciting and that price tag isn't exactly recession friendly. The few presentation quirks and lack of local multiplayer support won't be enough to turn fans away, especially given the crisp visuals and smooth online matches.
  8. GameSpot
    75
    This giant robot action game makes up for its lack of accessibility with fun, nuanced combat.
  9. GameFocus
    75
    If you are a fan of the series you’ve already dropped the MS points and are battling it out against other others. The tough to master controls and the higher than expected cost will detract potential players and that should not be the case. Once you get a hang of the dual-analog controls or tweak them to your liking, you will have a hard time putting this game down. If you never got around to playing this in the arcades or never owned a Dreamcast, this is now your chance.

Awards & Rankings

95
#95 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2009

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 9 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 1 out of 9
  1. wspark
    Dec 14, 2019
    10
    Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram (VOOT) is a an absolute masterclass one-on-one fighter. It accomplishes the rare feat of combining blazing fastVirtual On: Oratorio Tangram (VOOT) is a an absolute masterclass one-on-one fighter. It accomplishes the rare feat of combining blazing fast action and deep strategy at the same time. Add awesome mech designs, great looks at sounds, and it combines for an absolutely awesome one-on-one mech fighting game.

    Graphics and mech designs are fantastic, and for its time oozed with style. And unlike a lot of 3D games from this era, the rather sharp-and-flat shades of polygon used here have actually aged very well to this day. The music is a mix of electronics or techno-bop generally fits the game well.

    The gameplay moves along at breakneck pace and never drops a pace, and you will be rapidly dashing, jumping, shooting, slashing, all while thinking about your next best move. Some tactics to consider include jump-cancelling, dash vectoring, melee vs long-range attacks, big-hits vs small chip-away hits, etc. This is a games where if you try to button mash against even a semi-skilled player, you will absolutely lose 100 out of 100 times. But once you get a handle on the depth of the game, it allows for some incredible, heart-beat raising, one-on-one fights.

    However, this game is NOT for everyone. It is definitely for the hardcore crowd, as it requires some commitment from the player to get the most out of its gameplay. On top of this, to get the best out of the experience, it requires a set of very expensive twin stick controllers.

    In all, I can easily understand a casual player who's not committed to this niche giving this game a score of around a 5 or 6. However, I think players that would enjoy fast action while not being afraid of getting into deep mechanics should really get on with this game. Though I rarely ever give out perfect ratings, this is one game deserving of its 10/10 score.    … Full Review »
  2. MegWhiteley
    Mar 22, 2012
    10
    Incredible sorprise. This game of SEGA is really amazing, addictive, funny, interesting, is a geat fighting game. Virtual On: Oratorio TangramIncredible sorprise. This game of SEGA is really amazing, addictive, funny, interesting, is a geat fighting game. Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram Ver.5.66 is amazing. Good job.… Full Review »
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