Taking its cues from games like Undertale and Paper Mario, Virgo Versus the Zodiac is a quirky little JRPG that can be quite opaque at times. While fairly simple on the surface, players will quickly realize that a lot is going on in the game that just isn't explained.
This is not a knock against the game, however. Virgo Versus the Zodiac simply allows for a ton of experimentation and theorizing, and it tries to give players just enough information to get themselves started. Still, knowing just a little more than what the tutorial provides goes a long way towards helping players get a grip on the story and gameplay.
10 It Takes Inspiration From Astrology
As the title of the game implies, Virgo Versus the Zodiac takes heavy inspiration from astrology and the zodiac signs. Game developer Moonana cleverly personifies each zodiac into different characters for this game, and even bases their character after common zodiac tropes. The main character Virgo, for example, is constantly trying to create an ideal world, a trait believed to be commonly held by Virgos in real life. The rest of the world, from its dungeons to even its combat system, are influenced by astrology as well.
9 Virgo (Probably) Isn't The Hero
Players take control of Virgo, who is traveling through the galaxy to go on a good ol' fashioned killing spree, and the player is there to help her murder her way to (in her opinion) a better world. The game doesn't shy away from telling players that what they're doing is (probably) wrong either, lending the game an air of moral ambiguity. She is not a typical JRPG protagonist, which can be a bit jarring for anyone jumping in and expecting to play a traditional "good" character.
8 The Story Comes In Pieces
Players shouldn't be too worried if they don't have a grip on the plot right away. Much of the story is pieced together throughout the game by interacting with in-game objects or in cutscenes. Virgo and the rest of the cast have their own histories with the world and with each other, but none of these relationships are revealed to players all at once. For the best experience, interact with everything, and Virgo will likely reveal some tidbit about herself or the world she lives in that will make things just a bit clearer.
7 There Are No Random Encounters
Most enemy encounters in-game will be clearly telegraphed to players well in advance. Either the dialogue will heavily imply that an encounter is coming up, or players will see a skull float above the heads of characters that can be fought upon approaching them.
This is an absolute boon for players who like to prep well in advance, or just want to skip a battle altogether. The game does spice things up here and there, but for the most part, players need not worry about being stopped every five seconds to fight (à la Pokemon).
6 It Borrows Some Fire Emblem Mechanics
Virgo Versus the Zodiac takes gameplay cues from a couple of sources, but one of its most notable inspirations is from the Fire Emblem series. Whereas the Fire Emblem series used the weapons triangle, Virgo Versus the Zodiac uses a similar mechanic to determine damage dealt in combat. Combatants are tied to a certain affinity: Mutable, Fixed, or Cardinal. Mutable characters hit Fixed characters harder, whereas Fixed characters are strong against Cardinal characters. Cardinal characters will deal more damage to Mutable characters. Each affinity is tied to a different color, and enemies will dress in colors that match their affinity.
5 Timing Matters
Similar to the Paper Mario games, Virgo Versus the Zodiac integrates timed button presses into combat. Missing buttons presses isn't a small thing either, and it can literally be the difference between life and death.
Luckily, the game offers different difficulty modes that can be changed mid-game, and with how quickly some of the button presses go by, there is absolutely no shame in lowering the difficulty for at least the first few encounters. Once players nail down the timing mechanic though, encounters become a lot easier.
4 The Game Encourages Experimentation
With eight different weapon slots to work with and a ton of equipment to try out, the game highly encourages trying different builds. It can definitely be overwhelming at first, but there is a lot of leeway when it comes to making mistakes, so don't be afraid to try odd builds or to throw on a piece of equipment that just sounds interesting. The game also provides plenty of Stars (the in-game currency), so purchasing a new weapon to try shouldn't hit players' wallets too hard.
3 There Is No Backtracking
Virgo Versus the Zodiac has no backtracking, which is perfect for players who hate having to go back to levels they have previously played. However, this does mean that players who miss anything, including character dialogue, secret items, and hidden encounters, will lose their opportunity to get them forever when they leave a level. Thorough exploration is highly encouraged for the best experience. Rush through a level, and players will end up missing all the awesome goodies and tidbits the developers have sprinkled throughout the level.
2 There Is Plenty Of Optional Content
Like any good JRPG these days, Virgo Versus the Zodiac throws a ton of optional sidequests at the player. Completing them may result in an in-game reward, but more importantly, completing them usually reveals a piece of dialogue that fleshes out the storyline and world the characters reside in just a little bit more.
With the game artfully hiding its worldbuilding behind character dialogue, completing sidequests are an absolute must for players looking to dive deeper into what makes the characters and the world around them tick.
1 There Are Multiple Endings
Although the game sadly lacks a new game plus, there are plenty of reasons to go back and play the game again. One of the biggest reasons is that Virgo Versus the Zodiac features four different endings, determined by key choices players make during the course of their playthrough. Important relationships between Virgo and the other characters will change depending on the choices players make as well. The endings aren't just superficially different either. They vary wildly, so multiple playthroughs are absolutely well worth the effort.