V.R. Troopers

I have special memories of this show because my nephew who was 4 to 6 during its run had some V.R. Trooper action figures and left them at the Sheepshead Bay Movie theater and was quite upset when his father wouldn't let him go back for them. He was a devoted follower of the show and back in the day I checked it out.

It was a show for its time, the Nineties, when people were becoming aware of the virtual world via the home computer. Terms like cyber space and virtual reality were becoming known even to the youngest kids. It would follow that a show would be developed for them.

V.R. Troopers was obviously borrowing a lot from the Power Rangers and it too was of Japanese origin. Three clean cut American youths who were devoted karate students, Brad Hawkins, Michael Bacon, and Sarah Brown are chosen by Dr. Jeffrey Combs who lives inside virtual reality as Power Ranger like troopers fighting the wicked Grimlord who is the ruler of virtual reality and he'd like to conquer our reality.

What none of them know is that Grimlord is already here even if his army is not. He's a millionaire developer Carl Ziktor, a Donald Trump or Carl Paladino like figure who is one all around meanie in any reality and a villain you love to hate.

Brad Hawkins has an additional reason for getting in this fight. His father was a noted scientist who disappeared a decade before and now through Combs has contacted him. He went into virtual reality to fight Grimlord and now urges his son to the fight.

Sarah Brown works for an underground newspaper and she proves to be a valuable source of information for strange doings.

V.R. Troopers was a show aimed at viewers who hadn't passed into double digits in age. As such it had clear cut heroes and villains. A visit to the laboratory of Dr. Combs even turned Brad Hawkins dog Jeb into a talking pooch. Maybe he got himself a blog and passed on speech and the blog to Stan.

Two seasons only for V.R. Troopers, there should have been more.

This show is another one of Saban's Super Sentai Line Up, it's also one that is kind of under the radar as well as another guilty pleasure in my book. Not to say this show is really underrated it was a hit which did have an amount of popularity if not quite as much as "Power Rangers" but as time went on it's been sort of forgotten. Yeah, this show isn't perfect there is a hole or two even inconsistences in the story line and even characters aren't very deep. But this is a show where none of that really matters because it's one you just turn your brain off and have fun

And like any super sentai show were in it really for one reason only and that's the action which this show is powered up with. I really like the premise of the show which is really unique, for one thing this is more sci-fi orendented where "Power Rangers" is more on the sci-fi/fantasy side. The plot line I think is pretty nifty you can say this is mix of "Power Rangers" and "Ready Player One" (which strangely this show predates kind of). Dimensional beings from another dimention are going to infiltrate our world though the world of Virtual Reality. It makes sense that VR technology is somewhat a central focus since in the 90's VR was the newest technology which was just emerging and just taking it's steps, it's true that it did fade out and go into hibernation for a long while but then reemerge and now became common place.

The music tracks are pretty good or decent though not memorable which is one bug this show gets, not to say the music is bad it's not but it could have been better as there is hardly one tune I remember. The theme song that is decent that's strangely kind of catchy if repedative.

Characters are solid, really like Ryan Steele as he is heroic in every way, he's got some sharp charisma, but also the actor himself is a martial artist so his skill is top notch, it's a shame that this guy never became an action star as he's capable but oh well. What I like about his character is he's relentless and determined as his character has a developing plotline which was something that came into "Power Rangers" latter on, through out his war against Grim Lord he is looking for his lost father. Which I like I find it touching, trying to save a family member but also helped in rounding out the motive as is it's not just the cleche save the world kind.

J.B. played also by an actor with martial arts training, shame he also didn't do more. He's sort of like Billy from Power Rangers as he sort of the technical one of the group, I really like that he's a guy that is into technology and computer science which I can emphasize with because I'm into that stuff but also he keeps himself physically fit with his martial arts training, which shows just because you're a geek or nerd doesn't me you can be in shape and on a side note physical exercise really do help the thinking process.

Katlin she's also a really solid character, she sort of the scout of the bunch as she is a reporter for her newspaper which give her some vital information that what's going on. Her martial arts skill isn't really on the same level as the other too, but she's good enough to hold her own against danger.

For comic relief it's really the boss Woody and the talking dog Jeb. Woody is almost the ideal boss a lot of us would like, as he's friendly and helpful to the employees, and despite not looking the role he really does manage the newspaper well. I also like that he's a bit of a man child or child like as he does all kinds of fun and crazy things in and out of the office, I won't say what they are you have to see them for yourself but it just goes to show this guy is never boring and also how you can actually have fun at work.

Jeb is also a lot of fun, really like the voice which sound like actor Jack Nicolson. I really like how he always has some smart-ass remarks or just clever quips. He's also a hunger dog as he just like to eat and a bit on the mischievous side as he gets into some trouble intentionally or involuntarily. But he is supportive of the group there are sometimes where he actually is useful.

The main villain Grimlord is solid, really like the design of him as he looks like Pruneface from "Dick Tracy" Both his face and the voice with it just says evil all over. As he a ruthless power monger that wants to break out of the virtual dimension and conquer our realm reality.

The only character I really don't like is Percy, this guy is just a poor mans Steve Urkel as he is just franking annoying and unfunny. Let alone has no business really working at a newspaper.

Other than that, everything else is fine. I really like the designs of the robots which make them memorable along with the fights, their sort of like the Decepticons from "Transformers" as each of them are unique looking and have a speicality. Really love the design of the power suits for the Troopers, each of them are unique and have different capabilities, from Ryan steels suit which is awesome looking as it's a humanoid form but has the blue and red colors on different sides, his is more on speed and agility as it has the capability of going fast but also that lighting hand command which is just awesome as he uses it as his finisher for the enemies.

Though my favorite suit is J.B.'s which is very technologically based which is really cool and fits his characters as he is technical. Really like that device he has on his belt, which can send enemies or both Caitlin and himself to other battle ground. Though my favorite weapon is the lighting lance which predates the double light saber from "Star Wars". Really love how that weapon, how both ends just light up and cut down any of the robots that come his way.

The action is great, the fight chirography is spot in along with the effects and pyrotechnics which as usual with any super sentai show has as many explossions as a Michael Bay movie. What really makes the fights unique is that there is a bit of strategy involved not to say there wasn't any strategy in the fights in Power Rangers but most of the time it was just simply beating the crap out of the monster and blowing it away. Here the fights are almost a bit evenly matched as each of their opponents are armed with a certain specialty the troopers have to find a way to counterattack against their attacks and deceptive tactics. Even in the reality realm when they have to deal with the cannon fodder robots the Scuds whom have interesting gold masks with slanted eyes and a permanent smile or what resembles one, though really daft black body suits and capes. I like that they're not that easy as opposed to the Putties from "Power Rangers" whom anyone could beat easy. It seems like the Scuds have some fighting skill which is why it shows how the Troopers have to work just as hard outside their suits. But also taking the Scuds out isn't that easy as they always have to come together to be vaporized, why the heck the Scuds can't touch each other is anyone's guess, differences in electrical field for each one maybe.

And in most of the battles each of the troopers aren't really together that much which I'll admit that's one bug in the shows system it would have been cool seeing all three of them fight together, though it could be helped due to technical issues. But this helps in contributing to the show's uniqueness where "Power Rangers" is based on group action this show is based on individual action. Which also puts in a jeopardy factor as they their sometimes in a jam they can't always rely on the other to help, that's something they have to do themselves most of the time.

Personally, I would love a revival of this show maybe even have it on the silver screen, with today's technology it can be done with it we can put a little more depth into things. Like the existence of Grimlord and his forces, make them beings from another dimetion that infiltrated the world of virtual reality or something. Some depth on Ryan's Dad and the Professor to how they discovered the beings and maybe see both of them were the first VR Troopers protecting us over the years; let alone how the professor became a computer program. Better yet, we could have a comic book series adaptation from Boom Studios (or IDW since Hasbro has bought the rights to Saban) it would fit we would have a super sentai comic block going on as this series could be along side the current "Power Rangers" comic series; and heck if that happens then we could have a potential crossover on our hands, it's a thought to consider anyway.

If you're a "Power Rangers" or Super Sentai fan, then this vintage classic like any good VR game is worth viewing as its virtual powered fun.

Rating: 3 stars

You know everything is really strange even when you look back on it. It always seems when there is a popular movie or TV Show just around the corner there is something trying to cash in on it success.

Even as a kid I felt that V.R.Troopers were more or less a copy cat of the already popular Mighty Morphin Power Rangers which I was a huge fan of.

But as a kid of the 90s I have to say there were endless shows that you could get hooked on it's just that Mighty Moprhin Power Rangers won me over because it had more to offer to me and it had my interest more than this series did.

It just hard to even consider this show to be on the same network let alone the same level as the Power Rangers were. This show was doom from the moment it aired I mean I try to watch the show I really did and there was only one episode that I purely remember the movie and a few other episodes that were shades of gray in terms of memory

Also the characters just didn't stick out to me sure they might have had their interest to viewers but V.R.Troopers really had nothing to offer that much it was just more or less a cash in on Power Rangers.

Only watch it if you're curious otherwise it is not worth your time

well thats my statement anyways.

I liked VR-troopers as a kid. this series was a combination of the Power rangers and Starwars.

it had it's childish goofs, but the fighting scenes where fun to watch for me at that age. I'm not gonna judge this series for having childish contents. couse it is A KIDS show!.

besides that it had a decent story.

you have your standard villain that wants to take over the world. with his robot army. and I find that the Robot army gave it a little more realism. couse in the power rangers you can clearly see it's a lame ass monster costume.

the whole Trooper thing was all about special crystals that acted as battery's. for powering high technical suits.

unlike the first negative comment that was given, this series had it's value for me. + I still like the themesong LOL

VR Troopers was 1 of many cashing in projects by the Saban & Levi money factory. The stars of this show fought a slightly more realistic but still, far too melodramatic battle against some of the most extravagant cardboard boxes ever made.

Of course, not just the enemies were made of cardboard, true to the success-formula of power rangers, fortresses, vehicles and anything else you can't find anywhere else in the human world were made for a few nickles, and merchandised for thousands and thousands of dollars.

So my conclusion is pretty much my title, because even though it was lame... it wasn't as lame as the Power Rangers.