PlayStation 2

Virtual-On Marz

Diehard Virtual On fans will inevitably find some things worth praising in Marz, but the fact remains that Marz simply feels antiquated. While Virtual On has stuck close to its formula, other games have since distilled the giant robot experience into different formats that give people more of what they like about massive humanoid-shaped robots. Capcom's Steel Battalion games take the tank-control concept to a baroque new extreme, and Konami's Zone of the Enders series delivers weightless, anime-style action in mind-rending quantities. Most people outside of Virtual On's established fan base will have a hard time finding a very satisfying experience in this game.

For Virtual On veterans, Virtual On: Marz is probably an essential title to your collection. For fans new to the series, they will probably be left wondering what the fuss is all about. The lack of additional modes of gameplay is particularly a big problem with the game. The story mode doesn’t impress and multiplayer is strictly limited to 2 players. If you’re looking for an arcade type mech game, then give it a try. But for gamers looking for deep mech simulation game need not apply.

Virtual-On Marz simply just isn't a competitor to other fighting games or other mech games. The combat is too esoteric for the controller, the environments are too outdated, and the single-player modes are too bland. The series needs a serious makeover if it's going to continue.

There’s a reason this series has fallen from grace in recent years. The animations are cool, but if warriors of the future had this control scheme for a giant robot, they’d be better off with squirt guns. The single-player missions are so boring that I looked forward to the bland voice-acting and terrible story in between scenarios. Avoid this game like you would a laser beam to the head.

I really have nothing left to say but golly, the potential of this game is so strong, has always been strong. Until it can become a deeper two-player or four-player online game with a dedicated twin stick peripheral (a cost most publishers naturally abhore), there is no good logical reason to buy this huge disappointment. We know both Hitmaker and Sega can do better.