Time Crisis  

by Namco  Reviewed by: Mark Skorupa  

Overview

One thing that I have yet to figure out is why there are so many companies developing light guns. I think it is probably fair to say that there are an equal number of guns available as games. Well, along comes Namco and Time Crisis. Do they add a new game to the short list of light gun titles? Yes, but there is a catch. You can't use any of the other guns with the game. You have to use the GunCon, a pack-in gun that Namco boasts as the most accurate gun ever made. So if you already own a light gun, put it back in the closet and keep waiting for a new game.

The president of the Republic of Seria's daughter has been kidnapped. It is up to you to blast your way through scores of bad guys in either the original arcade game or the new Playstation original scenario. Hidden areas, multiple endings, and different gameplay modes will have you shooting for your life.

Gameplay

Time Crisis is a light gun game. There is no way to get around this fact. It follows the same move-you-from-scene-to-scene formula that all light gun games employ. The game does have a few things that are unique or just don't follow the cliché for light gun titles. Since most people have played a standard light gun game, I will highlight the things that make this one different.

The number one thing that makes this game different is the gun itself. Like I said, this game will not work with your standard gun. You have to use the pack-in GunCon gun. The gun plugs directly in line with the video signal which is supposed to increase the accuracy of the aim. I have no reason to believe that this is not true, because all of my shots were dead on. That does not mean my aim was dead on, but the shot went where I was aiming.

The next thing that is different about the game is the introduction af a duck button. The duck button allows you to hide behind structures to avoid the incoming fire. This means that instead of being out in the open at all times, you can control your character by making him duck back out of harm's way when a projectile is incoming. I know you are probably thinking that this must make the game extremely easy. Just wait for a clear shot, blast the bad guys, then duck for cover until the next clear shot. Well, the developers have thought about this also. You are on a time limit to get between stages. If you sit and wait for too long, the time will expire and it's back to the beginning of the level. This was a very clear way to keep you in the line of fire most of the time.

Another thing that this game did differently is the fact that you do not encounter power-ups. Most light gun games have you shooting crates to expose different weapons, grenades or other power-ups. The only thing that you will encounter in this game is the occasional time extension. If you pop a particularly tough shot, you may get a +2 or +5 seconds added to your time. You are basically assigned a six-shooter and it is up to you to make the best of it. I think that this was cool because it made things a little more realistic but I have to admit, I do like getting rocket launchers, shotguns or whatever other weapons of destruction run rampant in other games.

The last thing that makes the game different is the fact that your performance will affect the path you follow. If you shoot well, you will be taken down an alternative path to the end. Also, if you shoot poorly, you can still make it to the end of the mission, but you will be informed that the mission failed and you have to start over. Did this help the replay value? A little bit, but I did not find the paths varied enough to really want to keep trying for a new route.

As far as complaints go, I think this game falls into the same category as most light gun games. It just gets too damn repetitive. After a while, the areas start to feel the same and blasting bad guys jumping out from behind walls gets a bit on the boring side eventually. I will say that it took longer for me to tire of this game than others. But after playing through the different modes a couple of times, I really had no motivation to play again.

Graphics

The graphics were 3D polygon-based and worked quite well. The bad guys looked like bad guys and you were always able to tell when something was headed in your direction. I was a bit disappointed with the cheesy cinemas. They were blocky and did not look the slightest bit realistic. I would have thought that the company that brought us the beautiful animations in Soul Blade and Tekken would have been able to do a better job, but when it comes down to it, the cinemas don't affect the overall gameplay.

Bottom Line

As far as light gun games go, this is the best you will find. The inclusion of the GunCon was nice, especially since the game does not work with any other gun on the market. Overall, this game does deviate from the standard light gun path. Unfortunately, it is still plagued by the problem of repetitive gameplay with little replay value after playing through a few times. If you are a fan of these types of games, you will definitely be satisfied. If not, I suggest renting it first to see if it is up your alley.