If you were around for the mid-90s console wars, you remember Battle Arena Toshinden. It was the "Saturn killer." It was the game that proved the PlayStation could do 3D fighters better than anyone else—at least until Tekken showed up and took the crown. But if you dig into the messy, polygon-heavy history of Tamsoft’s flagship series, one name always pops up as a point of genuine frustration and curiosity: Vermilion.
Vermilion is a weird one.
He’s the secret boss of Battle Arena Toshinden 2, and honestly, he represents everything that was both cool and absolutely broken about fighting games in 1995. You couldn't just pick him. You had to earn him, or more likely, you had to use a cheat code because the requirements were borderline sadistic. He’s a guy in a red suit with a shotgun. In a game where everyone else is swinging swords, spears, and giant clubs, Vermilion just brings a firearm to a martial arts tournament. It’s hilariously unfair.
Who Exactly Is Vermilion?
In the lore of the series, Vermilion isn't just some random thug. He’s the top brass. He’s the leader of the Secret Society (yes, that’s the actual name, very creative) that organizes the Toshinden tournament. While Gaia was the face of the first game, Vermilion was the shadow behind the curtain. He’s older, he’s cynical, and he’s wealthy. You can see it in his design—the tuxedo-style suit and the arrogant stance. He doesn't look like a fighter because he doesn't think he has to be one.
He’s basically the personification of "pay to win" within the game’s own narrative.
He doesn't use a blade. He uses a Winchester-style rifle and a handgun. This was a massive shift for the series. Battle Arena Toshinden was marketed as a "weapons-based fighter," which usually implies something from a Kurosawa flick or a medieval fantasy. Then Vermilion shows up and starts blasting. It changed the rhythm of the matches. Suddenly, zoning wasn't just about poke range; it was about dodging literal bullets in a 3D space.
The Struggle of Unlocking a Legend
Back then, we didn't have patches. We had rumors.
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To play as Vermilion in the original PlayStation version of Toshinden 2, you had to jump through hoops. You had to beat the game on Hard (Level 6 or higher). You couldn't use continues. You had to reach him, beat him, and then hope you did everything right. Or, you did what everyone else did: the title screen cheat. On the title screen, when the words "Push Start" appeared, you’d input a sequence that felt like trying to defuse a bomb.
If you were on the Japanese version, it was different. If you were playing the PC port, it was different again. The PC version actually made him a bit more accessible, but it also highlighted how "boss-broken" he really was.
He was never meant to be balanced.
When you play as Vermilion, you realize he’s a collection of cheap shots. His fire rate is ridiculous for a 1995 fighting game. He has a move where he just fires into the ground to hit you with a low, and another where he sprays the air. If you played against a friend who picked Vermilion, you usually didn't stay friends for long. He was the "No Oddjob" rule of the Toshinden world.
Why the Design Still Sticks With Us
There’s something about the 32-bit era's aesthetic that made characters like Vermilion feel more imposing than they actually were. His polygons were sharp. His cape—one of the few in early 3D gaming—clipped through everything, but it looked regal.
Tamsoft was experimenting. They didn't know the rules of 3D fighting games yet because they were literally writing them alongside Namco and Sega. Battle Arena Toshinden was the first 3D fighter to feature a sidestep move. Think about that. Without Toshinden, we might not have the movement systems in SoulCalibur or Dead or Alive.
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Vermilion exploited that 3D space.
He forced you to use the sidestep. If you stood still, you died. He was a mechanical teacher disguised as a cheap boss. He forced players to stop thinking in 2D Street Fighter terms and start thinking in 3D circles. His shotgun blasts had a wide spread, but they were linear. If you timed your roll or your sidestep, you could get inside his guard. Once you were close, Vermilion was surprisingly vulnerable. He was a glass cannon. A man with a gun is only scary until you’re close enough to punch him in the throat.
The Toshinden 2 PC Port and the "Vermilion Factor"
Interestingly, the PC version of Toshinden 2 is often cited by purists as the "best" way to experience this character. Why? Resolution. On a high-end PC in 1996, Toshinden 2 looked incredibly crisp compared to the somewhat blurry, dithered output of the PS1.
In this version, Vermilion’s animations are smoother. You can see the detail in his rifle. You can see the smug expression on his face. It also made the projectile trails clearer, which ironically made him easier to fight because you could actually see the "hitboxes" of the bullets.
The PC port also highlighted the game’s soundtrack, which remains some of the best hard rock in gaming history. Vermilion’s theme is a driving, synth-heavy track that perfectly captures the "final boss" vibe. It’s tense. It’s fast. It feels like a 90s action movie climax.
The Downfall and the Legacy
So, where is he now?
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The Toshinden franchise fell off a cliff. Toshinden 3 was a bloated mess with way too many characters and recycled animations. Toshinden 4 (or Toshinden Subaru) was a disaster that basically killed the IP. Vermilion didn't really survive the transition into the modern era. While Tekken and SoulCalibur evolved, Toshinden stayed stuck in 1996.
But for a specific generation of gamers, Vermilion represents a very specific memory. He represents the time when hidden characters felt like actual secrets. Before DLC, before "Season Passes," and before leaked rosters on Twitter.
Finding Vermilion was like finding a ghost in the machine.
He was the guy who broke the rules. He brought a gun to a sword fight and almost won. He was the avatar of the Secret Society, a mysterious figure that made the world of Toshinden feel larger than just a tournament bracket. He gave the game stakes. He wasn't just fighting for a trophy; he was the one running the whole twisted show.
How to Experience Vermilion Today
If you want to revisit the glory days of the Secret Society leader, you have a few options, though none are especially "modern."
- Original Hardware: Dust off a PS1 and a copy of Battle Arena Toshinden 2. It’s the most authentic way, flickery textures and all.
- Emulation: Using an emulator like DuckStation allows you to upscale the resolution to 4K. Seeing Vermilion in high definition is a trip—it makes the 90s "cool" factor pop in a way the original composite cables never could.
- The PC Port: If you can find a way to run the 1996 PC version on modern Windows (it requires some fan patches and compatibility layers), it’s arguably the superior visual experience.
Don't go into it expecting Tekken 8 levels of fluid combat. It's clunky. It's stiff. The jumping feels like you're on the moon. But the moment you trigger that shotgun blast and hear the metallic "clink" of the reload, you'll get it. You'll understand why we spent hours trying to unlock a guy in a red suit just to cheese our friends.
Vermilion isn't just a character; he's a time capsule. He’s the mid-90s edge, the experimental 3D design, and the "boss syndrome" all wrapped into one arrogant package. He’s the reason we always check the character select screen for hidden boxes.
Step-by-Step Action Plan for Toshinden Fans:
- Check your regional version: If you're playing the PAL or NTSC version, the cheat codes differ. Look for the "Unlock All" sequence specifically for your disc's ID.
- Master the Sidestep: To beat Vermilion without cheats, you must remap your L1/R1 buttons to be comfortable. Sidestepping is the only way to avoid his long-range chip damage.
- Focus on the PC Fan Community: Look for the "Toshinden PC" wrapper projects online. These fixes allow the 1996 version to run with modern controllers and wide-screen support, making the Vermilion fight much more playable in 2026.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: If you don't want to play the game, at least look up Vermilion's theme on a streaming service. It’s a masterclass in 90s arcade rock.