Virtua Cop 1 & 2

A gun in your hand, targets popping up from every direction and a split second to decide who to take down first — Virtua Cop 1 & 2 brought one of the finest light-gun shooter series of its era to the SEGA Saturn. SEGA bet on 3D environments and polygonal enemies, pushing the arcade shooting genre a step beyond flat backdrops.

The concept was simple and instantly addictive: you aim a light gun at the screen, react to enemies popping into view and make sure you don't hit civilians. The game added inventive touches like warning reticles that flashed on approaching enemies and gave you a fraction of a second to react. The sequel then expanded everything with more situations, greater variety and a bigger spectacle.

On the Saturn these were the flagship light-gun titles, ideal when paired with the Virtua Gun peripheral. With them SEGA gave the console another strong argument in the battle for players' attention — home versions of an arcade classic you could enjoy in twos and settle who had the quicker reflexes. Two gunslingers playing together in front of one TV was among the console's most entertaining moments.

The series came from SEGA, which dominated the arcade scene in the nineties with 3D titles led by Virtua Fighter and Virtua Racing. Virtua Cop fit into this „Virtua“ family of pioneering polygonal games and helped show how 3D could breathe life even into a simple target-shooting genre.

Today Virtua Cop recalls the golden era of arcade cabinets and light-gun games, which modern flat TVs and the absence of the peripherals gradually sent into retirement. For retro fans and collectors it is a nostalgic classic players love to return to.

Why play: Top-tier light-gun action in an early-3D form and great fun for two — one of the defining arcade series of the Saturn era.