Virtua Cop 3
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2013) |
| Virtua Cop 3 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Sega AM2 |
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Platform(s) | Arcade |
| Release | March 2003 |
| Genre(s) | Light gun shooter, First-person rail shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Arcade system | Sega Chihiro |
Virtua Cop 3 is the third game from Sega's Virtua Cop light gun shooter franchise released exclusively for video arcades in 2003. The game is available in standard and deluxe cabinet formats and runs on Sega Chihiro arcade hardware. A port for the Xbox was planned, but cancelled.
Gameplay
The game retains the same gameplay as its predecessor with players shooting onscreen enemies using a gun controller. Virtua Cop 3 introduces a new slow-motion "bullet time" mechanism called "ES mode" which allows players to slow down time by stepping on a special pedal. While in ES mode, time slows down as the player's ES meter is depleted. The meter can be replenished by shooting more enemies.[1]
Virtua Cop 3 also allows players to toggle between different weapons by pressing a button on the gun instead of having to use just one weapon, as in previous entries in the series.[2] The alternative weapons include the Smith & Wesson Model 629, Benelli M4 Super 90, H&K MP7, and the H&K G36C. Like the previous installments, players progress through the game choosing between three missions which vary in difficulty. The newly designed gun used in the game is named the Guardian II, and was designed by Tokyo Marui, famous for their model guns.
Story
Virtua Cop 3 allows the chapters to be played in any desired order. The game follows the three characters as they investigate three crimes performed by Virtua City's new crime syndicate, the ECM.
Simple chapter
When the ECM took over a large pharmacy building, Rage and Smarty were ordered by the VCPD to apprehend the invaders and secure the building. Throughout the pharmacy campaign, Rage and Smarty encounter a mysterious man known as "Gale," a ninja with unknown intentions. Proceeding deeper inside the pharmacy research lab, Rage and Smarty encounter a man named "Glitter," who is liable for the invasion. While the Virtua City police secured the pharmacy building, Janet receives disturbing information regarding about the pharmacy's genetic cloning system being missing.
Normal chapter
Brand, a bank robber hired by the ECM, robs a large bank in downtown Virtua City. The VCPD Riot Squad is no match for the ECM's munitions, prompting Rage and Smarty to help the disadvantaged riot squad. Once Rage and Smarty spot Brand in the building, a chase ensues, but after Rage and Smarty endure the interference as they make their way out of the building, Gale interrupts them once again. Rage and Smarty survive Gale and pursue the bank robbers, ultimately being pushed towards the subway where Brand is hiding. The ultimate battle between the Virtua Cops and Brand ensues. Throughout the bank campaign, Janet receives disturbing information that the reason for the ECM's bank robbery was to retrieve a secured package of dinosaur genes.
Hard chapter
A military base has been seized by the ECM. Rage, Smarty, and Janet make a sneak attack through the sewers before ultimately catching up with the military base. Enduring the heavily guarded area, the three make it inside the hangars where a crab-like vehicle provokes the three to a life-or-death duel. The pilot, turning out to be Joe Fang (the final boss of the first two Virtua Cop games), shows himself. In spite of the shock Rage had when he saw Fang, the vehicle is destroyed and the military base is secured.
Ultimate chapter
Depending on the player's performance, the player may be asked to participate in this chapter where the behind-the-scenes plot is revealed. First the mysterious ninja Gale challenges the three in a duel inside the hangar, then it continues with the three fighting Joe Fang clones throughout an elevator platform leading to the real body of Joe Fang, in which much of the game's plot becomes revealed. Joe Fang then started to mutate into his monstrous, demon-like form known as "Dino Fang" by using the dinosaur genes combined with his human DNA and the Virtua Cops faced him in the final battle once again. Ultimately, they defeated Dino Fang and ECM's main facility self-destructs as the Virtua Cops narrowly escapes from the explosion. Thus, the case is closed and ECM's plot is recorded on VCPD's file.
Xbox
A version of Virtua Cop 3 was planned for the original Xbox upon which the Chihiro arcade hardware was based. However, the game's release was cancelled reportedly due to the costs of having to release a light gun for the system especially for the game.[3] Users have been able to get the game to run on existing Xbox hardware with some modifications. Through means of soft-modding and installing an additional 64MB of RAM (increasing the total in the machine to 128MB), the game will launch and run.
References
- ^ Varanini, Giancarlo (January 17, 2003). "First look: Virtua Cop 3". GameSpot. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
- ^ Gantayat, Anoop (February 21, 2003). "Hands On: Virtua Cop 3". IGN. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
- ^ Thorsen, Tor (October 10, 2003). "Sega snubs Xbox?". GameSpot. Retrieved 26 July 2013.