Toaru Majutsu no Virtual-On (game)



Toaru Majutsu no Virtual-On (とある魔術の 電脳戦機 (バーチャロン) ) is a video game adaptation and sequel to the crossover light novel by Kamachi Kazuma, which featured a crossover between the Toaru series and the arcade game series, commemorating the latter's 20th anniversary. It was announced at the 2017 Dengeki Bunko Spring Festival, to be released for the PlayStation 4 and Playstation Vita on February 15, 2018.

It marks the first new Virtual-On video game in over 15 years.

Development
According to Watari Juro, producer of the Virtual-On games, the reason for the collaboration project was that since the Virtual-On series has been dormant for more than a decade, they needed entice previous players of the Virtual-On game as well new players. For the older players they wanted something that could surprise them, and this is where the "Toaru" series comes into the picture. For newer players, it is a way to stand out of the crowd as there are now many new robot fighting games and for those who don't know of the game's history would only look at the game as something of "more of the same".

Despite the initially cold response from both "Toaru" and Virtual-On series fans, Watari Juro was confident that they were heading to a good direction after the release of the crossover novel. According to Watari Juro, they chose to have the mecha that were used in the second game Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram (which is later reflected on the crossover game's own logo) for the collaboration as it just had the right amount of mecha in the game. Who would pilot which mecha wasn't decided until Watari Juro could consult talk with Kamachi but he always had a vague thought that Kamijou Touma would pilot Temjin. When designing the mecha, since Index was the main heroine, Katoki Hajime suggested in giving her a mecha with her silhouette, ending up with the unique Bal-Bados (BAL-RlooN) mecha Index pilots. While developing Watari Juro felt it necessary to have the game be released on a home console first instead of the arcades.

Like the novel, the story is written by Kamachi Kazuma, and is a sequel to the crossover novel. As there were many playable characters that were killed-off in the crossover novel, the story in the game is essentially a reset of the events in the novel. Katoki Hajime is retained as the illustrator and mecha designer for the games.

JC Staff, the animation studio that worked on all animated Toaru Majutsu no Index and Toaru Kagaku no Railgun content was later tasked on animating the promotional video for the game, which was first later released on September 19, 2017 in the 2017 PlayStation Press Conference in Japan.

Soundtrack
The theme song "Get Ready!", composed by Iuchi Maiko will be sung by Iguchi Yuka and Satou Rina as their respective characters, Index and Mikoto. The game's soundtrack will be composed by Koshiro Yuzo of 7th Dragon fame.

Release
The game will be released on February 15, 2018.

Limited editions
The game has a couple of limited editions that bundles other products. Notably, the PlayStation Vita Initial limited edition will have the Toaru Majutsu no Archive (とある魔術の 電脳紀要 (アーカイブ) ), which has a 100 page booklet, a new short story written by Kamachi Kazuma, Toaru Majutsu no Virtual-On no Subete (とある魔術の電脳戦機ノ全テ), a radio drama comprising of the staff of the Toaru Radio no Index and Toaru Radio no Railgun shows, the theme song "Get Ready!" sung by Index and Mikoto as well as the soundtrack Toaru Majutsu no Den'on Mokuroku (とある魔術の電音目録) which contains the full version of the song.

Gameplay
In addition to the three weapons equipped to the Virtuaroid, a fourth weapon is available depending on the ability of the character piloting the Virtuaroid.

As opposed to previous Virtual-On games, where the victor was decided by the amount of HP remaining if a KO wasn't achieved within the time limit, a new point system has been added, with the score determining who wins if time runs out. Additionally, certain actions within the game, such as a point-dominant player running without hitting for a certain time, can result in penalties being imposed.

The game will also have online matches and coop gameplay.

Playable

 * Kamijou Touma (MBV-707-G/VSL Temjin 707)
 * Index Librorum Prohibitorum (IDX-10/3000 "BAL-RlooN")
 * Accelerator (RVR-87/VSL Specineff “Rusty Blood")
 * Misaka Mikoto (HBV-502-H8 Raiden "Judge Igniters")
 * Shirai Kuroko (RVR-14/VSL Fei-Yen kn "Judge Igniters")
 * Shokuhou Misaki (SGV-417-l/VSL Angelan "Hive Eaters")
 * Uiharu Kazari (SAV-326-D/9/VSL Grys-Vok "Judge Igniters")
 * Saten Ruiko (RVR-33/VSL Aphmard S "Judge Igniters")
 * 4 unknown characters

Non-Playable

 * Tsukuyomi Komoe
 * Furashina Ririn

Stages

 * Academy City (rooftop)