Virtua Striker 2 (バーチャストライカー 2, Bācha Sutoraikā Tsū) is a sports video game developed and published by Sega for arcades in 1997. It is the sequel to the 1994 video game Virtua Striker, and the second game in the Virtua Striker series. A series of updates was released from 1998 to 1999, starting with Virtua Striker 2 ver. 1998 and ending with Virtua Striker 2 ver. 2000.1 (バーチャストライカー2 ver.2000.1, Bācha Sutoraikā Tsū ver.2000.1), that latest update being released for the Dreamcast in Japan in 1999, and then internationally in 2000, with the North American version re-titled to Virtua Striker 2. A sequel, Virtua Striker 3, was released in 2001.

Virtua Striker 2
A player shooting a ball past a goalkeeper
Cover art used in Japan and Europe
Developer(s)Sega AM2
Genki (Dreamcast)
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Satoshi Mifune
Producer(s)Yu Suzuki
Satoshi Mifune
Designer(s)Kaori Yamamoto
Composer(s)Hideaki Miyamoto
Fumio Ito
SeriesVirtua Striker
Platform(s)Arcade, Dreamcast
Release
June 1997
  • Arcade
    June 1997[1]
    Dreamcast
    • JP: December 2, 1999
    • EU: February 29, 2000
    • NA: March 14, 2000[2]
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemSega Model 3

The arcade game was a major success in Japan, where it was the second highest-grossing arcade game of 1998 and the overall highest-grossing arcade game of 1999. The Dreamcast version, however, received mixed reviews from critics.

Amusement Arcades UK list

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Virtua Striker 2

Virtua Striker 2 ver. 1998

  • Tenby (2001–2006) (In Arcade Games Room Amusement In Heatherton Activity Park and New Minerton Leisure Park)

Virtua Striker 2 Version '99

Reception

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Arcade

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The arcade game was a major hit in Japan, where it became the second highest-grossing arcade game of 1998, below Tekken 3.[21] Virtua Striker 2 was later the overall highest-grossing arcade game of 1999 in Japan.[22]

Dreamcast

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The Dreamcast version received mixed reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[3] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 33 out of 40.[9] In the United Kingdom, Computer and Video Games said the arcade gameplay "will initially dismay" International Superstar Soccer (ISS) fans, but that it is not a "simulation, it's a full-on arcade game." They called it "the finest arcade football game ever" and said, though some might criticise the lack of depth, "the massive andrenaline rush you get" from playing "more than compensates." They compared it to Crazy Taxi, in that both provide "instant" fun gaming.[6] In North America, Rob Smolka of NextGen said that the game "may look good, but the poor controls drag this one down to rental status."[19] Jake The Snake of GamePro said, "With its dazzling graphics and a speedy but authentic action, Virtua Striker 2 is at least a weekend rental for any soccer fan with a Dreamcast or for anyone who enjoys a fun, great-looking game."[23][c]

Notes

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  1. ^ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the Dreamcast version, one critic gave it 3.5/10, two others gave it each a score of 4/10, and another gave it 4.5/10.
  2. ^ In GameFan's viewpoint of the Dreamcast version, one critic gave it 88, and the other 90.
  3. ^ GamePro gave the Dreamcast version 4.5/5 for graphics, 3.5/5 for sound, and two 4/5 scores for control and fun factor.

References

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  1. ^ "Virtua Striker 2". Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "Virtua Striker 2". Sega. Archived from the original on June 21, 2002.
  3. ^ a b "Virtua Striker 2 for Dreamcast". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  4. ^ Simpson, Chris. "Virtua Striker 2 (DC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  5. ^ Young, Jeffrey Adam (March 29, 2000). "Virtua Striker 2 (DC) [Incomplete]". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Virtua Striker 2" (PDF). Computer and Video Games. No. 219. EMAP. February 2000. pp. 90–91. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  7. ^ Davison, John; Leahy, Dan; Hager, Dean; Zuniga, Todd (April 2000). "Virtua Striker 2 (DC)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 129. Ziff Davis. p. 161. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  8. ^ Grant, Jules (April 7, 2000). "Virtua Striker 2 (DC)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on February 11, 2002. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "バーチャストライカー2 ver.2000.1 [ドリームキャスト]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  10. ^ "Virtua Striker 2 (Arcade)". Game Informer. No. 52. FuncoLand. August 1997. p. 52. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  11. ^ "Virtua Striker 2 (DC)". Game Informer. No. 83. FuncoLand. March 2000.
  12. ^ Mosquera, Fernando (March 28, 2000). "REVIEW for Virtua Striker 2: Version 2000.1". GameFan. Shinno Media. Archived from the original on May 10, 2000. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  13. ^ Higgins, Geoff "El Nino"; Chau, Anthony "Dangohead" (March 2000). "Virtua Striker 2". GameFan. Vol. 8, no. 3. Shinno Media. p. 86. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  14. ^ G-Wok (April 2000). "Virtua Striker 2 Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on April 19, 2004. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  15. ^ Mielke, James (December 15, 1999). "Virtua Striker 2 Review [Japan Import] [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"]". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on April 8, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  16. ^ Tren (March 15, 2000). "Virtua Striker 2". PlanetDreamcast. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 25, 2009. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  17. ^ Williamson, Colin (December 14, 1999). "Virtua Striker 2 v2000.1 (Import)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  18. ^ Dunham, Jeremy (March 20, 2000). "Virtua Striker 2 Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Smolka, Rob (April 2000). "Virtua Striker 2000 [sic] (DC)". NextGen. No. 64. Imagine Media. p. 82. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  20. ^ Berman, A.S. (April 15, 2000). "Virtua Striker 2 (DC)". USA Today. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on March 16, 2006. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  21. ^ Akagi, Masumi, ed. (February 1, 1999). ""Tekken 3", "House of the Dead" Top Annual Chart" (PDF). Game Machine. No. 580. Amusement Press, Inc. p. 22. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  22. ^ Akagi, Masumi, ed. (February 1, 2000). "Sega's CG Videos Top Game Charts" (PDF). Game Machine. No. 603. Amusement Press, Inc. p. 18. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  23. ^ Jake The Snake (April 2000). "Virtual Striker 2" (PDF). GamePro. No. 139. IDG. p. 126. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
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