Virtual On:Operation Moongate ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VR Apharmd Guide/Faq ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Copyright ¸ VR Apharmd Guide/Faq David Tan Y.K. 2003 By David Tan Y.K. (Siphon_Mage@hotmail.com) Version 1.1 Note: I am apparently trying my best to really master the game perfectly and if you have any advice and such, don't hesitate to drop a line to my email address (^above), and we can discuss, thank you. This guide will be updated from time to time. This Guide/FAQ is done by me alone with the help of some other friends of mine. It should suffice that only this guide/faq may be found ONLY at sites which are authorised and have been given permission to host it. Using this faq on any sites without MY acknowledgement will be found guilty of violating copyright law, and legal pursuits will be on your tail. Reproduction/ alteration and the distributing of my guide/faq without my consent will cause serious legal actions be taken against you. The use of this guide for your own personal use is allowed while the reproduction of this guide/FAQ to obtain monetary means and credit are prohibited. Thank you for listening to all these crap...but it's necessary This Guide/FAQ can only be found at: Http://www.gamefaqs.com Http://DLH.net Http://www.gamespot.com Http://www.cheats.de (Inform me if you use my Guide/FAQ at your site) (Note: for those who want to use this guide/FAQ on their sites, please inform me first before you do that. I expect you to be at a decent intellectual level as in, if you use my Guide/FAQ, you SHALL post it at your own forum and inform me, I do not want to go through the hassle just to get my guide/FAQ published at your site. This is your benefit, and you have to take the initiative in both informing me and updating it at your own site, thank you. If you can't understand that, you are the most pathetic parody of humanity.....thank you-__- REMEMBER, JUST USE IT AT YOUR SITE IF YOU WANT, BUT GIVE DUE CREDIT, AND SEND ME AN EMAIL REGARDING THAT, DON'T ASK ME GO TO YOUR SITE TO CARRY OUT THE ARRANGEMENTS. I have to Highlight on that because some game companies DO NOT know how to read.....) For those who want to published my FAQ/Guide on their site: 1). inform me via email about your site addy. 2). Publish it at your own site. ========================================================================= Updates: 29/2/04 (Version 1.0) Guide/FAQ is around 90% finished. The remaining 10% depends on the research of both avid players such as you and I to contribute. The Guide/FAQ will be updated from time to time. 12/3/04 (Version 1.1) Ok, had to handle some game companies who wanted so much to ask of me to go to their site to sign up and published my Guide/FAQ there, that's why i updated the guide/FAQ version, such as the adding of sites which host my Guide/FAQ and extra reminders to people, not to plagiarize other people's work and lastly, to teach those game companies that if they want my guide, they just have to inform me and place my "damn" guide/faq at their site. I hate all those stupid hassles such as I have to upload my guide there. Since they want my guide/FAQ, why don't they do it instead of me...... ========================================================================= ~~~~Table Of Contents~~~~~ 1). Introduction 2). Weapons 3). Against the Computer 4). Against Human Players 5). Tips 6). Credits ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hmmm.....enough of those disclaimers and sorts above, anyways, back on track on the Guide/F.A.Q. If any of your beliefs or opinions differ from mine and you want to clarify, just drop me a mail and I expect your words to be at a more matured level and not about whining and crap. Thank You. As Virtual On is an old game, there can be lots of different ways and opinions to look at it, thus causing misunderstanding between players. I am by no far a professional player and am trying my best to help players, not to flaunt nor exalt my own skill. 1). Introduction Apharmd is a main battle virtuaroid which has been developed for hand-to-hand combat(AKA. Close Combat). It is based on the model of Temjin, but enhanced with close-combat strategies. Apharmd has stronger armor compared to what temjin have, but with a trade off his shotgun, which is not "infinite" like temjin's beam rifle. The incorporated beam tongfer has the outstanding destructive power as the arms for hand-to-hand battle. It also has a dramatic accelerating ability for forward direction due to a good mobility. VR Body Data: Height: 15.5m Body weight: 8.82t Full-armed weight: 23.5t Generator output capacity: 5800kw Overview: APHARMD is the Main Battle Virtuaroid (MBV) which has been developed so that the hand-to-hand fighting ability is enhanced, based on the know-how regarding the development of TEMJIN. APHARMD is designed mainly for the hand-to-hand battle.The incorporated beam tongfer has the outstanding destructive power as the arms for hand-to-hand battle. The shotgun firepower has been reduced but his beam tongfer make up for that loss. The bomb is somewhat less versatile than Temjin's Bomb. 2). Weapons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Left Weapon: Bomb Standing Bomb: Bomb explodes and do damage to enemy/bomb explosion can be use as a barrier Walking Bomb: About the same as standing bomb Crouching Bomb: Rolls bomb further than usual and after it roll a while it explodes and have seem effect as standing bomb. Forward/Back Dash Bomb: About the Same with Standing Bomb Jumping Bomb: About the Same with Standing Bomb Side-Dash Bomb: Bomb explodes on impact, small explosion, lousier than typical bomb throws/no barrier. Bomb in close-combat: Apharmd uses the shotgun and smash the enemy The Bomb can be used as a barrier against enemy fire, but it won't work when enemy is already IN the bomb blast and continues to fire at well, that way, the bomb won't neutralise the attack. But if the opponent is NOT in the bomb explosion radius and happens you are hiding behind the bomb blast, attacks from the opponent will be neutralised. Try not to backdash bomb as you are ever more likely to be hit, just stand and throw your bomb and try to do your moves,or crouching bomb is fairly useful. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Center Weapon: Beam Tongfer(A.K.A Tongfer) Standing Tongfer: Laser Blade(which is what I call it) flys out when Apharmd does that "spinning cut with tongfer action horizontally." Apharmd slides and tries to slash/do that Laser Blade forward and into the enemy when the enemy is DIRECTLY facing Apharmd, otherwise, Apharmd just stands still and do the Laser Blade. Walking Tongfer: About the same with Standing Tongfer Crouching Tongfer: Apharmd this time does the "low spinning cut tongfer action" (but the tongfer blades are this time on either sides of his body,and are spinning kinda low/ vertically.) but whatsoever a horizontal Laser Blade flies out. All these are just different animations for the same attack. -__- Forward Dash/Backdash/Sidedash Tongfer: This time apharmd does the same tongfer blade, same damage but in a different style (that's all Sega know how to do. XD) Apharmd seem to spin his blade acting like a shield (or windscreen) and a vertical laser blade goes out. Jumping Tongfer: This time for once, 2 vertical blades come out, around the same damage as well. Tongfer in Close-Combat: Do what standing tongfer does, major damage to opponent, can be compared with Raiden's Laser and temjin's close combat sword slash (but i think it does more damage than temjin's slash, and it CAN slide forward, unlike temjin.) The Tongfer is a good weapon if you can use it and time it well that opponents are very likely to get hit by it. As a far combat weapon, it is useless, but due to continuous testing, I've found a LITTLE good use about them. When use correctly, the Laser tongfer blades for far combat can be used to neutralise enemy attacks. but if your opponent happens to use "mass attacks" such as a great multitude of right-trigger weapons, I advise you not to use the tongfer blades to counter it, but just run. BUT BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING STUPID, I advise you to time/practise your attacks and make sure THE TONGFER BLADE CUTS INTO THEIR ATTACKS FIRST, NOT GETTING HIT BY THE ENEMY THAN COUNTER WITH TONGFER BLADES. So you get what I mean, the tongfer blades must be flung out to neutralise their attack first, either way, let's proceed to the next weapon! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Right Weapon: Shotgun Standing Shotgun: One shotgun bullet,lousy damage Walking Shotgun: Same one bullet shot like standing Shotgun Crouching Shotgun: 3 Shotgun bullets fly out. 2 are aimed higher while the third one is shot at a lower angle. If shotgun gauge is near to empty, fewer shots are shoot out. From far, this attack will explode before it hit enemy, thus don't use it at far range. Forward-Dash Shotgun: 4 Shotgun bullets, average damage Backdash Shotgun: 2 Shotgun bullets Side-Dash Shotgun: 9 shotgun bullets when fully charged up,if shotgun gauge is not fully charged, lesser bullets are shot out. Jumping Shotgun: Three shotgun bullets Shotgun in close combat: Same with using bomb in close combat, Apharmd uses his shotgun to smash the enemy. The Shotgun is a lousy weapon compared to temjin's beam rifle which does more damage and has infinite shots. But if you use it well with the bomb, it can be a formidable weapon. Since a multitude of shots will apparently cause more damage, it is wise to use them to your advantage, which is the sidedash and the forward dash shotgun shots (for forward dash, it is good as you zoom in and focus on the enemy.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3). Against the computer Apharmd is good against-Viper II,Fei-Yen, Apharmd is bad against-Temjin,Bal-Bas-Bow,Raiden,Jaguarandi,Z-gradt Apharmd is neutral against-Dorkas, Belgdor,Apharmd (All these are my opinion, so that do not mean necessarily it is correct.) --------------------------------------------- Against Temjin When Fighting Against Temjin, you would know that your lack of far-range firepower is traded for the fact that you not only have a slightly more powerful tongfer blade and the slide forward function when your enemy is locked on target. Just fight as normally and continue to trade blows, and make sure you know when and how to dash as proper dashing and side shooting will kill the reckless temjin computer. When he's done jumping and happen to have freezes or happen to forward dash AWAY without firing which is the same as backdash without firing, you already have 4 opportunities to risk using your tongfer to do severe damage to his stupidity. --------------------------------------------- Against Viper II Viper II sure has 7-Way Missiles to trap you with a homing beam shot. Make short work of this method by THROWING A BOMB,lol. I hate it when I'm Viper II and Apharmd Comp make short way of my method with just one single bomb,lol. If your tongfer connects,3/4 of your opponents life will go down the drain. Viper II players/computers just love to fly/dash cancel and make short work of this by preparing a tongfer slide at where they land(You have to plan it!). Other than that, constant throwing of projectiles at each other. --------------------------------------------- Against Dorkas Dorkas has more armour than you, but since you are Apharmd, you have slightly more armour than temjin which is one more merit point for apharmd players. And with all due respect, dorkas have also some combo moves like Viper II, but this time,his phalanx-hammer combo. The phalanx-hammer combo involves throwing a phalanx to trap your movement than throwing a hammer to hit you as you can't avoid it. To counter this, just stand in-between all the phalanx explosions and IF YOU ARE SKILLED ENOUGH, and precise enough, jump cancel to dodge his hammer. ^_^. So you'll get no damage from either of his attacks. Try to tongfer him to make short work of him, other than that, jump cancel to dodge his fireballs. --------------------------------------------- Against Belgdor Belgdor usually tries to keep his distance from you(Since he's a virtuaroid programmed for far-range anyways.) and begin by shooting homing missiles/grenades with occasional napalms. He'll use far-range tactics, so don't go near to him unless you are sure you won't get nailed by his homing missiles/grenades. So he'll usually jump as well and use napalm/homing missile, and thus, you can't tongfer slice him (you'll get hit!) when he reach the ground. But since you are the faster virtuaroid, you have the advantage to play your cards well. --------------------------------------------- Against Bal-Bas-Bow In my opinion, Temjin is very good against Bal-Bas-Bow, bane of the N00BS. And since Apharmd is derived(partly) from Temjin, he can work well against Bal-Bas-Bow. Except from the measly fact that Apharmd Shotgun/Bomb is much more weaker than Temjin. Just try to shoot down Bal-Bas-Bow since he has aerial mobility (with the addition of aerial F-Mines), I don't think your tongfer is hitting anything unless you take the risk. --------------------------------------------- Against Apharmd This battle should be a test of your skill. Whether you are better at dash vectoring and timing and so forth. Just use bomb to negate his bullets and try your best to hit him with shotgun. Try to go in for the kill with tongfer if possible. --------------------------------------------- Against Fei-Yen This battle should be quick if you are fast enough to disable all of Fei-Yen's attack. Fei-Yen could be a real force to be reckon with when she's in hyper mode. Just use your bomb blast to nullify all her attacks than force her with shotgun/tongfer until she dies. --------------------------------------------- Against Raiden Just before you fight Z-gradt, you'll have to face raiden. And Boy, is he pathetic-__-. Unless your stupid enough to get hit by his lasers, using any method should work fine against him. But don't try to tongfer him when he's going onto the "laser stance" preparing to kill you,lol. Bombarding with shotgun shells alone should do it since you can (literally) dodge all/most of his shots. --------------------------------------------- Against Z-gradt Z-gradz can be easy or difficult according to your skill level. Just use bombs to nullify all his attacks and dodge. Sounds easy? When he change into his legendary gold mode (there's where you need to hit him and conserve your shots beforehand.) Just before he change, you should have do a dash-forward shotgun attack against him, so when his cannon just got out, he got hit and your just next to him, which means that his cannon is too big to hit such a near target like you(muahahahahah.) Just stand there and unload your "standing shotgun"and he will die, throw a bomb for nice fireworks display,lol. Anyways repeat process twice and he's dead. Just remember to dash away and dodge after his gold cannon is done. --------------------------------------------- Against Jaguarandi Since I am not proficient enough with Apharmd, it is very hard for me to defeat him in the first round. (When you die, his armor gradually weakens, for those who don't know.) I'm just writing this FAQ because my best virtuaroid is Temjin/Viper-II, but since there are FAQS on that, I'll be better of writing information and tactics about Apharmd. Try not to dash too much and do not stand directly infront of him(I'll see how you dash away when most likely the bazooka and 8-way laser is aimed at you.) Try not to dash and use jump cancels to dodge his attack. When he tries to surround you try to throw a bomb to make the distance between you two further, than dash away (make sure he ain't firing, those bazooka's are VERY HOMING......which pissed me off, and one hit can bring Viper-II to 1/3 life.) Anyway, just wish you luck in defeating him. If you can't beat him, than try NOT to enter the Penalty Stage. --------------------------------------------- 4). Against Human Players This is so self-explainatory, but I don't know why did I include this section. Anyways if you can defeat Z-gradt with Apharmd all the way, I can rate you as a fairly decent player and that means you should hold your ground against fairly decent players.(Don't you dare lose to newbies...) Other than that, you have to worry only if your opponent are professional players, which I also worry about (I'm no professional player.) But either way, try to read what virtuaroids are good/neutral/bad when fighting Apharmd IN MY OPINION (This is my opinion and what I feel, if you are a professional player reading this, don't get offended because I know you can literally thrash everyone. Nuff Said. Anyway try to engage more in tongfer weapons as it does the most damage among your weapons arsenal. Just use bombs to serve as a defense and hide inside it shooting shotguns if all else fails. Remember you have the advantage of an explosive attack which some others don't have (except for temjin, belgdor, dorkas). Remember temjin players like to force people to their graveyard and you should too, as Apharmd is a proto-type of temjin. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5). Tips -Try to use your tongfer if your opponent is foolish enough to do a jump attack.(Jump cancel to dodge and focus on enemy, than hit tongfer button just when they reach the ground) -Do NOT be stupid. Know when to bombard them with far combat attacks (when the opponent is good!) and when to kill the prey. -Try not to use your "tongfer blades" to nullify enemy's attack. Tongfer Blades neutralize weak attacks, but not strong/mass attacks. IF YOU ARE REAL GOOD with precise timing, you can even use tongfer blades to destroy Belgdor's Homing Missile. But correct timing please, or you'll get hurt. Blades must be launched before missiles come near you,if all else fails, hope your tongfers raze them. -Try not to do a side-dash bomb, it is useless unless you have something in mind. -Force the enemy by throwing a bomb as a barrier, and forward dashing towards him with shotgun to do a more precise and major damage to them. (That's all for now in the tips section. It'll be updated.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6). Credits -To myself for making this guide -To all who read this guide and learn from the information stored in here. -To Lance_Taliesin/Grim_Frostfire (AKA. Grysvok on Gamefaqs) for being my best friend. -To Eizaz Azhar, the very good guy who helped me weeks after weeks to sort out my FAQ/Guide -My mum for letting me play VO -CJAYC for some guy who host a game site called Gamefaqs