The name “Time Crisis”
brings just one thought to mind: bang, bang, bang. Or if you’re not a
fan, it might sound a little more like blah, blah, blah. It’s a game
where your only goal is to stay alive while killing the enemy. Thanks to an
automatic dodge feature, which allows you to duck and cover every time you
reload, it’s possible to go through an entire level without getting shot once.
But as gamers, we’re too impatient for that. We jump out of cover too quickly
and get shot. And if we don’t, the timer will run out and end the game for us.
Time Crisis 4, the first
sequel developed for PlayStation 3, brings a new Guncon and a new game mode to
the forefront. Two LED sensors (to be placed on top of your television) work
together for superior accuracy, while a first-person mode lets players take the
game off-rails.
Popcorn Movie
For an on-rails shooter
that’s in its fourth edition, Time Crisis 4 is cutting-edge entertainment. The
thrills are unmatched at home and are rarely seen in arcades, not even 15 years
ago before their near-extinction. By the graphics alone, you wouldn’t think this
is a next-gen sequel. But when you see the abundance of enemies, the enormous
environments, gunfire and explosions that fill the screen, it’s hard to imagine
this game on PlayStation 2.
In caves and other dark
places, a flashlight is attached to your gun. Enemies are slightly visible as
they move out of the shadows, but they won’t be in clear view until they’re
within your sights. The effects are pretty impressive, but not as cool as the
camera work, which is some of the best you’ll ever see in a lightgun shooter.
There is never a time when the game stops moving.
At the end of the first
stage, players command a railgun (with unlimited ammo) attached to a helicopter.
The copter soars over an embattled city, flying above and around skyscrapers in
an attempt to catch the enemy. Several of his allies get in the way, using
helicopters and armored cars (and when all else fails, they go on foot) to keep
you from completing your mission. During this whole scenario, the camera leaps
from enemy to enemy, providing no more than a few seconds to battle each. Enemy
fire is noted with a bright pink circle, but it’s often too fast to dodge.
You’ll have to expect the worst and be ready to duck at all times to evade these
attacks.
The new FPS mode takes players off the on-rails format.
This may only be one
mission, but the others – whether on foot, getting absorbed by quicksand, or
battling a madman with multiple lives – are just as exciting. The game is short
but tough and high in replay value. It may not take you long to finish but
you’ll definitely come back for another play-through.
Unfortunately, the same
cannot be said for the first-person stages, which are part of the arcade upgrade
mode entitled Complete Mission. They play like any FPS but move much slower. All
the standard functions are here: running, crawling, jumping, weapon changes,
etc. The Guncon 3 features two thumbsticks and, as expected, one controls your
movement and the other controls the camera. Aiming and shooting, however,
function just like the rest of Time Crisis.
In the beginning, you’ll
be encouraged to keep playing. That feeling won’t last. Free-aim shooting is
great, but the dual-stick controls are counterintuitive. FPS movement is clunky
and slow – when the cool factor (from being able to move around in an on-rails
world) wears off, you won’t be coming back for seconds.
No wonder there’s a time crisis — they won’t stop telling us to wait.
The Guncon 3
Action flicks make people
antsy. They try to ease this feeling by filling their hands with popcorn. While
watching Time Crisis 4, the only thing you’ll want to fill your hands
with is the Guncon 3. Its body is very similar to the last Guncon but is made
with different plastic (it’s sturdy but feels like a toy) and has a controller
piece sticking out of its left side. Some might say it’s the lovechild of a
lightgun and a Wii nunchuck. After all, the controller piece does contain two
shoulder buttons (A1 and A2) and a thumbstick, which is used for controlling
your character in the FPS mode.
Two other buttons (C1 and
C2) are placed on the left side of the Guncon, and on the back you’ll find a
second thumbstick (for controlling your view) and the B1 and B2 buttons. Like
the Dual-Shock 1, 2 and SIXAXIS controllers, both thumbsticks may be depressed,
bringing the total number of buttons to eight.
Outside of reloading and
pausing the game, none of these buttons are used in the arcade mode. Your
control revolves around the shooting mechanic, which is activated by the LED
sensors. Players are asked to configure their Guncons every time the game is
turned on. It’s not a hard process by any means, but if your TV is small or if
its front edge is curved, you might not get a perfect configuration on the first
try. The game advises players to sit directly in front of the TV (not left or
right of it). It also notes that you shouldn’t sit too close or too far away
from the TV, and to make sure that the LED sensors are level with each other.
"Hey Namco! There’s a
controller growing out of my gun!"
I’ll bet this sounds like
a lot of work compared to the Wii sensor bar, whose configuration settings are
saved to the Wii, and whose pointer can be detected from either side of the TV.
But remember: with Wii shooters you see crosshairs or some other on-screen
indicator that notes the exact place of the remote. Time Crisis doesn’t offer
any such benefit. This is a game where you must actually aim – without a guide –
to score a headshot. Therefore a proper configuration at startup, no matter how
painful it may be to achieve, is integral to your success in (and enjoyment of)
the game.
Once you get it working,
the Guncon 3 is a great peripheral with one exception: the thumbsticks aren’t
very good. The tip is somewhat slippery, causing your thumb to slide off. Also,
the sticks don’t move as smoothly as those featured on the SIXAXIS controller,
and are partly to blame for the FPS mode’s shortcomings.
Luckily, the FPS content
is merely a bonus. It’s not forced on the player and may be skipped entirely by
sticking with the arcade mode, allowing thrill-seekers to get what they’re
craving and leave the rest behind.
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Gameplay: 7.8
Lightgun shooter
fans will be hypnotized by the non-stop on-rails action. The graphics aren’t
that great but the camera work is stunning. It’s as if a movie is playing and
you’ve come along for the ride, with complete control over when to fire. If you
can cough up the dough ($90 for the game and Guncon bundle – neither are
currently being sold separately), Time Crisis 4 is worth owning just for the
arcade thrills.
First-person shooting,
however, is not a genre that’s easily penetrated. Without even considering the
competition and high player expectations, it takes a lot to get the controls and
gameplay just right. As you now know, Time Crisis 4 has opened the door for some
interesting possibilities. But while their potential was massive, they are not
yet ready for mass consumption.
Graphics: 7.7
There is some
slowdown every now and then – that’s a bit uncalled for. But the action and
intensity stay high, the game never stops moving forward, and the camera work
makes you feel like you’re watching a movie.
Sound: 7
Cheesy dialogue
is expected (and may be skipped thankfully), but the sound effects are worth
cranking your speakers for. Musically, Time Crisis 4 is neither good or bad – it
just kind of sits there, playing in the background for anyone who cares to
listen.
Difficulty: Medium
Challenge? From a
lightgun shooter? I thought it went the way of the dinosaur. But there isn’t
anything prehistoric about this game.
Concept: 6.9
Time Crisis 4’s
only new feature is the FPS mode, and though it has shown a new path for game
development, it does not break new ground in its current, overly clunky form.
Multiplayer: 6
Time Crisis is a
great series to play with friends…in the arcade, where credits are determined by
the number of dollars you wish to spend. You don’t have to share your money, but
in the PS3 edition of Time Crisis 4, you do have to share your credits.
Also, the Guncon 3 is not
yet available to purchase separately. So unless you’re willing to buy two copies
of the game, you’ll be stuck using a SIXAXIS controller for two-player games,
which is not at all recommended. With the SIXAXIS, aiming is assigned to the
left stick, just like the console shooters of 90s. And that’s the least
desirable way you can play a lightgun shooter.
Overall: 7.7
The high price
tag will keep this game from going mainstream. But if you’ve been craving a
great lightgun shooter and don’t mind the steep investment, Time Crisis 4 will
add new thrills to your gaming collection.
