_ ___ __ ______
| | / (_)____/ /___ ______ _ / \
| | / / / ___/ __/ / / / __ `/ /____ \
| |/ / / / / /_/ /_/ / /_/ / / /
|___/_/_/ \__/\__,_/\__,_/ ____/ /
/ ___// /______(_) /_____ ____ / /
\__ \/ __/ ___/ / //_/ _ \/ ___/ ____/_
___/ / /_/ / / / ,< / __/ / / /
/____/\__/_/ /_/_/|_|\___/_/ /_________/
___ ___ ___ ___
_ _____ ____ |_ / _ \/ _ \/ _ \
| |/ / -_) __/ / __/ // / // / // /
|___/\__/_/ (_)____|___/\___/\___/
FAQ Version 1.0
28-01-10
by Jamie Wilks aka Spectre
[email protected]
Standard ASCII, 79 characters per line
##############################################################################
Index [0-0]###################################################################
Section Code
======= ====
Introduction [1-0]
Credits [2-0]
Revision History [3-0]
What is VS2 v2000 [4-0]
Controls [5-0]
-Attacking Controls [5-1]
-Defensive Controls [5-2]
-Formation Controls [5-3]
Gameplay Tips [6-0]
-Attacking [6-1]
-Shooting [6-2]
-Crosses [6-3]
-Scoring Free Kicks [6-4]
-Scoring Penalties [6-5]
-Defending [6-6]
-Saving Free Kicks [6-7]
-Saving Penalties [6-8]
-Changing Formation [6-9]
Secrets [7-0]
The Test Menu [8-0]
-Game Assignments [8-1]
##############################################################################
Introduction [1-0]############################################################
This is an FAQ for the Sega Naomi game "Virtua Striker 2 ver.2000". It is
very much a work in progress and, barring the stuff mentioned in the Credits
section, I've worked all this out by myself by tinkering with the game (I
own the ROM board). Please feel free to contribute by contacting me at the
email address at top of the FAQ and I will of course credit you for anything
submitted.
This FAQ is intended for distribution through any means you feel like. Put
it up on your website, e-mail it to your mates, whatever. If you want to
email me and tell me what you're doing with it then great, but I don't ask
people to get permission first. However, it must distributed in its original
form. Don't rip my hard work off by redistributing this FAQ with your name
on it or anything lame like that and don't make money out of it. That
includes publication in a magazine or pay-to-access website. If anybody
should wish to publish this FAQ in a format not explicitly permitted here,
please e-mail me at the address above.
All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their
respective trademark and copyright holders.
A quick hello to everyone at www.arcadeotaku.com and www.neo-geo.com!
##############################################################################
Credits [2-0]#################################################################
RGP - Help with the Secrets section.
ASCII art created with the help of FIGWin BETA version #2 by Paul Burton
##############################################################################
Revision History [3-0]########################################################
v1.0 - After a 3 year gap, I own the game again and have also managed to
find a pdf of the operators manual! This means I can finally fill in
the remaining gaps and this is likely to be the final version.
v0.4 - Another minor update, corrected some spelling errors. implemented a
new index system and made sub-headings a little clearer.
v0.3 - A small tweak, corrected a few mistakes.
v0.2 - New ASCII art title, updates to most sections and the addition of a
fairly massive Gameplay Tips section and The Test Menu section.
v0.1 - First version of the FAQ, just the basics and some secrets.
##############################################################################
What is VS2 v2000 [4-0]#######################################################
Virtua Striker 2 ver.2000 is an arcade game which runs on Sega's Naomi
hardware platform. Choose from one of 32 international football teams (or
soccer teams for all you for American readers) and take on the CPU opponent
as you work your way through the tournament to prove your nation is the
worlds greatest. Or take on a friend, enemy or passing stranger for bragging
rights!
##############################################################################
Controls [5-0]################################################################
VS2 v2000 has a simple control system which is easy to learn, but takes some
time to master and has a few unobvious subtleties.
[5-1] Attacking Controls
========================
Attacking controls are used when your player (indicated by the arrow above
his head) has possession of the ball.
Joystick
--------
Dribble the ball in any of the eight joystick directions. Also used to
direct a pass or shot.
Short Pass/Slide Tackle
-----------------------
Tap this button to pass the ball, along the floor, to another player on your
team. If there is a suitable team mate in the direction you pass the ball,
the ball will snap to his feet (presuming the pass isn't intercepted).
Long Pass
---------
Tap this button to attempt a high pass. Unlike the Short Pass, this pass
will not snap to a team mate.
However, get the ball out on the wing and parallel to your opponent's box
and the function of this pass changes somewhat. Push the joystick towards
the box and push this button to cross the ball into the box for one of your
attackers to head or volley home. This kind of cross (called Centering by
the game) will snap to an attacker if there is one available in the box.
Shoot
-----
Hold down this button and a blue power meter will appear, indicating the
strength of the shot. The longer you hold the button the more powerful the
shot will be. Release the button at the required power to shoot.
[5-2] Defensive Controls
========================
Defensive controls are used when your player (indicated by the arrow above
his head) does not have possession of the ball.
Joystick
--------
Move your player (indicated by the arrow above his head).
Short Pass/Slide Tackle
-----------------------
Tap this button to make your player perform a sliding tackle.
Long Pass
---------
Nothing!
Shoot
-----
Nothing!
[5-3] Formation Controls
========================
Formation controls can be used at any time.
Start
-----
Cycle through the three formation options offered at the bottom of the
screen, Offence, Normal and Defence.
##############################################################################
Gameplay Tips [6-0]###########################################################
The gameplay tips in this section are generally aimed at the single player
game. Of course much of this info will stand you in good stead against human
opposition, but some of these tactics have to go out the window when playing
someone who will slide tackle more often or won't necessarily fall for the
same penalty kick tactics every time.
[6-1] Attacking
---------------
The question on the lips of most gamers who are new to VS2 v2000 is "How the
hell do I score?". There is no easy answer to this question, but practice
makes perfect and there are a few control system subtleties which can help.
Most importantly, possession is everything. With this in mind, be aware that
the direction of a shot or pass is not dependant on the direction your
player is facing, but on the direction you push the joystick in combination
with the relevant button. Thus it is possible to back-heel the ball, play a
sideways pass or shoot across the keeper. Experiment with this to learn what
kind of passes can be played in what situations and use to your advantage.
The Long Pass doesn't always snap to a team mate so is more likely to lose
you possession. Pay attention to the radar when choosing to play a Long Pass
or you will find the opposition regularly coming up with the ball. There are
few attacking situations in which I recommend using the Long Pass, except to
perform a cross, as it is difficult to guarantee you will retain possession.
You may occasionally be able to play a ball over the top to a man in space,
but most of the time you are better off sticking to the Short Pass button.
Don't be afraid to run with the ball. It is often difficult to find any
space, but even in situations where you have none, it can take the CPU team
quite a while to actually make a tackle. A weaving run can help to shake off
defenders and buy you enough space to then make a pass.
[6-2] Shooting
--------------
Be aware that shooting is a fairly slow process, as even once you have
released the Shoot button the player will not actually shoot until the ball
is on his right foot. This gives the opposition an annoyingly large window
of opportunity to block your shot or steal the ball. You will rarely get a
good shot away if there are defenders close by. Use intelligent passes and
dribbling runs to cut out defenders and create space for your attackers. You
can then give them the ball in enough space to wind up a good shot and test
the keeper.
The power of a shot not only dictates how far and fast the ball will travel,
but also the height of the shot. A low powered shot will be hit along the
ground, while a high powered shot will arc into the air and even over the
bar if you are to close to the goal. Learn how hard and high you can hit a
shot from within the box and bear in mind that the more powerful the shot
the longer it takes to perform and the more space you will need to avoid
being tackled before you get the shot away. As I've said before, shooting is
all about being in enough space, so don't be afraid to shoot from distance
if you suddenly find yourself in the clear.
[6-3] Crosses
-------------
Crosses are a great way to score and often far easier to score from than
other methods in open play. If you are really struggling to score with a
normal shot then stick to getting the ball wide. Use short passing and
dribbling tactics to get out on the wing, then check the radar to see if you
have players in the box. A cross can often be converted even under pressure,
unlike a normal shot, negating the need to find time and space in the box.
If you don't have players in the box, cut back and forth or even play the
ball back to another midfield player to retain possession, then try again.
Once the ball is in the air, simply push the shoot button and try and direct
the ball across the keeper into one of the corners of the net to score. Even
if your shot hits another player or is blocked by the keeper, the ensuring
melee can often give you a chance to stab the ball home with a low powered
shot or even a pass before the defence can get the ball clear.
[6-4] Scoring Free Kicks
------------------------
Scoring from free kicks is all about the right amount of power. You need to
hit the shot hard enough to get it over the wall and preferably into one of
the top corners of the net, but not so hard that it ends up in the stand or
clatters the bar. Use your own judgement depending on how far out you are,
but less than two thirds power will rarely clear the wall. Also try using
the joystick to shoot in a direction other than the one you are facing. This
can often fox the keeper and I've scored quite a few goals by facing one
post but directing my shot into the opposite corner.
[6-5] Scoring Penalties
-----------------------
Penalties are thankfully very easy to score and if you're new to VS2 v2000
(and the machine is set up for penalty shootouts) you might feel they are
the only way you're going to win a match!
To score a penalty you need to decide where you want to put the ball
horizontally (to the left, straight down the middle or to the right) and
where you want to put it vertically (along the ground, medium height, or in
the top of the net). This makes for nine possible combinations and the
keeper must correctly guess which of the nine you're going to put the ball
in order to save it.
Much like a free kick, where you put the ball horizontally is dictated
either by your facing or the direction you push the joystick as you shoot.
Avoid putting the ball down the middle as if the keeper doesn't move he'll
save the kick easily, regardless of it's height. Also much like a free kick,
a good way to fool the CPU keeper is to face one direction, but use the
joystick to kick the ball in another.
The power of the kick dictates its height. A low powered kick will go along
the ground while a high powered kick will be hit into the roof of the net.
Make sure you don't hit the ball too hard or you will sky it! A medium
powered shot will obviously go somewhere in between but, similar to real
football, is easier to save than any other height as either a medium or high
dive in the correct direction will keep the ball out.
With all this in mind, aim for the four corners of the net and mix up how
you choose the direction (facing or joystick) to make things as hard for the
keeper as possible.
[6-6] Defending
---------------
Possibly the most lack-lustre part of the game due to a ridiculous level of
CPU autonomy, defending simply comes down to stealing the ball by just
chasing down the attacker or by correctly timing a slide tackle. The CPU
automatically puts you in control of the player nearest the ball, but
doesn't give you full control until you are practically on top of the ball.
Also, as soon as there is a player nearer the ball than the one you are
controlling, the CPU will switch control to that player without warning.
This makes it impossible to cut out a pass, get between the attacker and the
goal or do anything else that might reliably help prevent the opposition
from scoring and makes it reasonably tough just to perform a decent sliding
tackle because everything switches around so fast.
Remember that a sliding tackle from behind will very likely to give away a
free kick and you need to be fairly close (but not too close or you'll slide
right past) to the man in possession before sliding to have a good chance of
winning the ball.
Of course the lack of a decent defensive game makes it even truer that the
best form of defence is attack, so make sure you keep hold of the ball as
much as possible, as outlined in the Attacking section above!
[6-7] Saving Free Kicks
-----------------------
Theres not much to say here really, simply push the joystick in the
direction you want to dive and hit the Shoot button. Thankfully you've got a
second or so before the ball gets over the wall so can see where the ball is
headed before you need to dive.
[6-8] Saving Penalties
----------------------
To save a penalty you must use the exact same understanding of the control
system to save the shot rather than score it (see Scoring Penalties above).
Push the joystick in the direction you wish to dive and press the Shoot
button as the ball is kicked. Alternatively do nothing at all and if the
penalty taker puts the ball anywhere down the middle you'll save it
automatically!
When saving a penalty you get a rather big helping hand thanks to the
on-screen power indicator. By knowing how high a kick of a certain power
will go (and having some quick reactions), it's possible to narrow down your
dive to a simple choice of horizontal direction. With a little practice it
should be fairly easy to save at least one or two CPU penalties in a shoot
out, making it much easier to get through to the next round!
[6-9] Changing Formation
------------------------
Depending on which nation you play as, hitting the Start button during the
game will toggle through up to three formations, labelled as Offence, Normal
and Defence. I say up to three, as some sides only have two possible
formations and subsequently two of the three playing styles share the same
formation. Its unclear whether being in Offence/Defence mode actually
changes the mentality or playing style of your team other than that which is
inherent in the actual formation, but I suspect not.
In general, the more strikers in the formation you use the easier it is
going to be to score, while the more defenders in the formation the easier
it is to retrieve the ball inside your own half. Personally I will always
use the formation with the most attackers, or if no formation offers any
more attackers than any other available, then the formation with the most
midfield players. This can mean playing in your 'Defensive' formation when
you're actually looking to score.
Once you're two or more goals up, or one goal up with not long to go, it's
worth considering switching to a formation with more defenders if there is
one available, but I tend to stick to the idea that the best form of defence
is attack most of the time. I'd rather have a bigger lead than park the team
bus infront of the goal.
##############################################################################
Secrets [7-0]#################################################################
Change BGM
----------
Insert a credit, then hold down the Short Pass/Slide Tackle and press Start.
The in-game BGM will now be the BGM from the original Virtua Striker!
Ranking Mode
------------
Insert a credit, then hold down on the joystick and press Start.
Play as F.C Sega
----------------
On the team select screen, spell out FCSEGA using teams and the Start
button. For example, highlight France and press Start, then highlight
Croatia and press Start and so on. A box for F.C Sega will appear at the top
of the screen.
Play as MVP Yuki Chan
---------------------
On the team select screen, spell out YUKI using teams and the Start button.
For example, highlight Yugoslavia and press Start, then highlight Uruguay
and press Start and so on. A box for MVP Yuki Chan will appear at the top of
the screen.
Play as MVP Royal Genki
-----------------------
Use the code to reveal MVP Yuki Chan. Now highlight MVP Yuki Chan, hold down
the start button and press any button to select MVP Royal Genki.
##############################################################################
The Test Menu [8-0]###########################################################
This section is for people who actually own the ROM board or arcade
operators who want to make the game as fun as possible. Of course if your
local arcade has the game and you spot an option they should really turn on
you could always try asking nicely...
I'm going to concentrate on the Game Assignments menu here, but for
completeness the full test menu category list is as follows:
Input Test
Output Test
Sound Test
Game Assignments
Bookkeeping
Vs Team Data
Backup Data Clear
Exit
Most of these are self explanatory, but the Game Assignments menu has a lot
of interesting options that can drastically affect the gameplay experience.
[8-1] Game Assignments
======================
Difficulty
----------
[Easy/Normal/Hard/Hardest]
Self explanatory really. Easy doesn't seem much easier than Normal.
Virtual Time
------------
[Real/2 hour/4 hour]
VS2 v2000 has quite a nice virtual day and night system for games in
glorious sunshine, night games under the floodlights and everything in
between. Set this to Real and the time of day in-game will match the actual
time of day (presuming the Naomi system clock is set correctly). 2 hour will
see 24 in-game hours elapse every 2 real world hours, 4 hour will see 24
in-game hours elapse every 4 real world hours. I recommend setting this to 2
hour for maximum time of day variation.
Billboard
---------
[On/Off]
This setting toggles between real world advertisments by the side of the
pitch (for companies like addidas and coca-cola) if set to On and slightly
less interesting SEGA themed billboards if set to Off.
One Match Mode
--------------
[On/Off]
This toggles a single match exhibition mode on or off. Vaguely useful for
arcade operators when used in combination with free play if you want to
attract new gamers I guess?
1P Time Set
-----------
[1'15"/1'30"/1'45"/2'00"/2'15"/2'30"/2'45"/3'00"]
Dictates the length of single player matches. Given that its not
particularly easy to score in VS2 v2000 I recommend setting this to 3'00".
1P G Goal System
----------------
[Off/0'15"/0'30"/0'45"/1'00"/Free]
Toggles golden goal overtime off or on, dictates the length of the overtime
period or makes it indefinite. In the event of a level score after normal
time has elapsed, an extra period of play begins. The next team to score
within the stated time wins, or if the time expires the game ends in a draw
(or continues to penalties, see below). I recommend setting this to 1'00".
1P PK System
------------
[Off/Member 3/Member 4/Member 5/Real PK]
Toggles penalty shoot-outs on or off and dictates the format. In the event
of a draw after normal time (and overtime if turned on) a penalty shoot-out
will decide the winner. If the number of kicks is specified (Member 3-5) the
game will still end in a draw if the score is tied after all penalties have
been taken. However, Real PK mode will allow 5 penalties to be taken by each
side, then move onto to sudden death penalties if the score is still tied. I
of course recommend setting this to Real PK mode!
VS Time Set
-----------
[1'15"/1'30"/1'45"/2'00"/2'15"/2'30"/2'45"/3'00"]
See 1P Time Set. This setting is for 2 player games.
VS G Goal System
----------------
[Off/0'15"/0'30"/0'45"/1'00"/Free]
See 1P G Goal System. This setting is for 2 player games.
VS PK System
------------
[Off/Member 3/Member 4/Member 5/Real PK]
See 1P PK System. This setting is for 2 player games.
##############################################################################
##############################################################################
Copyright 2007 Jamie Wilks
END
