Virtua Cop 2

aka: Virtua Squad 2
Moby ID: 961
Arcade Specs
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Description official description

Virtua Cop 2 is a light gun rail shooter like its predecessor Virtua Cop. The player assumes the role of a police officer and is sent after criminals, from subways and a bank to aboard helicopters.

It follows the same gameplay pattern of its predecessor and is played from a first person perspective. The game moves the player automatically, although the player can find hiding places to shoot from a safe angle. The main task is to aim and fire the cop’s weapon so as to take out the bad guys for points. Avoid the innocents, as shooting them costs the player points. The enemies have tougher firepower than in the original and the game can be played solo or with a friend.

Spellings

  • バーチャコップ2 - Japanese spelling

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (Arcade version)

23 People (20 developers, 3 thanks)

Director
Main Programmer
Main Designer
Programmers
Designers
Music Composer
Supporting Programmers
Supporting Designers
Cabinet Design
Electrical Design
Mechanical Design
Special Thanks
Producer

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 79% (based on 25 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.8 out of 5 (based on 77 ratings with 5 reviews)

Walk Softly And Carry A Big Gun

The Good
The Virtua Cop series, did not invent the arcade or “on-the-rails” shooter. It did however redefine the genre. And most of the newer entries in to this genre from, The House Of The Dead, to Area 51, and everything in between can be traced back to Virtua Cop. (It’s like the Doom of arcade shooters.-MM-)

The second of the three games in the series. Picking up one year after Michael “Rage” Hardy, and James “Smarty” Cools broke up the “Evl” crime syndicate. The VCPD are joined by Janet Marshall whom is set on avenging her fallen mentor. Furthermore it seems that the Virtua City Bank, may have been involved in the syndicate’s scheme. Looks like it’s time to clean up Virtua City…once more.

“Have you ever fired two guns while jumping through the air?”-Hot Fuzz-

That said plot is the least important element of this sort of game, it’s all about the action and Virtua Cop 2 packs the heat. It’s like an action movie only better. From high speed pursuits, to breaking up heists. The thrills don’t stop until you win the game or die trying, it’s just pure arcade action.

The game even plays well with a controller, but of course playing with a light gun is far more fun.(Screw those games with plastic guitars, I want to play with a plastic gun…wait, what?-MM-) And you can even use two at once for some double barreled action. Or invite a friend to join in the madness.

The graphics are very good considering that in the 32-bit days arcade ports often suffered from a console inferiority complex. The sound and music also made the trip in one piece.

Virtua Cop 2 brings the same simple and fun gameplay of it’s predecessor, and yet still manages to bring new ideas to the table. The best addition would have to be the branching paths.

In each stage, the game presents the player with the choice of where to head next, the multi route approach is a nice touch and adds more variety to the game.

Other cool new features include unlockable cheats, bigger areas, and badder bosses to conquer.

The Bad
My biggest complaint with Virtua Cop 2 has to be it difficulty. It is very easy to finish. Unless you have really bad coordination, and being a gamer that is unlikely.

Even on the higher settings, I did not find it too hard. At least it’s not as unbalanced as the settings in the first game. The second level in the first game in particular.



The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, Virtua Cop 2 is simply the best of the best. Even now some 10 years after it’s initial release, very few games have come close to and even fewer have surpassed the perfection of Virtua Cop 2. But that’s just one humble review’s opinion.

SEGA Saturn · by MasterMegid (723) · 2008

A decent arcade-shooter

The Good
Personally, I liked the movement, the way that the camera moved every time you shot a bad guy. And the sound effects were ok. And the fact that it was Sega.

The Bad
It was too boring and too easy.

The Bottom Line
A decent game, but only buy it if you see it for $10 or less.

Windows · by James1 (240) · 2001

A great shooter for the PC.

The Good
I like Virtua Cop 2. Really do. It has a simple concept (not exactly the same as in, for example, Mad Dog McCree but similar none-the-less), reasonable graphics and sound (which aren't the point in a game of this type), good controls and excellent gameplay.

This game is a happy shoot-fest and runs happily on a Pentium with a reasonable 3D accelerator and looks nice. Unusually clever enemy design (they don't just hop into your crosshair, you actually have to aim for them) along with just plain fun gameplay make this a really fun game.

The Bad
Horrible software engine, and the game is just too damn easy.

The Bottom Line
A good shooter in all respects, too bad it's just so easy.

Windows · by Tomer Gabel (4539) · 2000

[ View all 5 player reviews ]

Trivia

1001 Video Games

The Arcade version of Virtua Cop 2 appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.

German index

On April 30, 1998, Virtual Cop 2 was put on the infamous German index by the BPjS. For more information about what this means and to see a list of games sharing the same fate, take a look here: BPjS/BPjM indexed games.

PC Gamer Magazine Review

Virtua Squad 2 received a 80% rating from PC Gamer magazine (May 1998; reviewed by Colin Williamson).

Awards

  • Electronic Gaming Monthly
  • March 1997 (Issue 92) - Shooter Game of the Year runner-up + Saturn Game of the Year runner-up (Readers' Choice) + Action Game of the Year runner-up (Readers' Choice) + Shooter Game of the Year runner-up (Readers' Choice)
  • November 1997 (Issue 100) - ranked #98 (Best 100 Games of All Time) (Saturn version)

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Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 961
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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Derrick 'Knight' Steele.

Arcade added by Trypticon. SEGA Saturn added by Kartanym. Dreamcast added by Sycada.

Additional contributors: PCGamer77, Alaka, ケヴィン, FatherJack.

Game added March 5, 2000. Last modified March 12, 2024.