Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram for Dreamcast Prices

The first question we couldn't help asking ourselves after a few minutes of playing Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram was "Why?" More specifically, we asked why Activision would go to all the trouble of converting this game perfectly from its arcade counterpart only to stiff gamers by not letting them program the controller? Oratorio Tangram is all about perfect control--the arcade version uses a pair of sticks that allow for all types of moves--and this Dreamcast version contains only a handful of preset controller configurations. None of them work well, and it really hurts the gameplay. Control issues aside, this is one of the most visually stunning Dreamcast titles available. The graphics are simply eye-popping, and the loud sound effects are perfectly appropriate for a giant-robot game like Oratorio Tangram. If you've ever wanted a title to show off your Dreamcast to friends, this game will do the job nicely, and it doesn't hurt that the two-player mode is more fun than the single-player game since both players suffer from the same controller limitations. With just one little addition (programmable controls), this game would have been near perfect. As it stands, the game is good-looking, but doesn't have it where it counts. --T. Byrl Baker Pros: Stunning graphics Tons of mechs to play with Cons: Inability to program the controller means many moves are impossible to pull off