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The biggest attraction that light gun games hold is that they really feel like an arcade experience. Right when console games where reaching the same plateau of performance as their arcade counterparts, the light gun shooters had already mimicking the flashy arcade style extremely well and the guns that came with the titles really enhanced the experience. Time Crisis 3 is no different, as it continues to throw creative enemies towards the player, who ignore their aching arms to pull their guns up and blast whatever they can. While the game can be played without the gun, it isn't recommended. The main point of there being a release without the peripheral is because Namco has a number of light-gun titles and some people would rather not have 5 guns. If you're new to the series, then you will be happy to know that buying the game with the gun isn't all that expensive - especially when compared to a few years ago. So not only will you get to experience something unique, but you will also have the chance to get some definition in those forearms. Unfortunately, Time Crisis 3 is a little too much like the arcade. For the arcade versions of these games to really grab players, they have to be relatively short, consisting of only a few missions with each containing a handful of levels, and move at a fast pace. The hope - and it's a realistic one at that - is that players will either be too sore to continue, too intrigued to stop once they learn the enemy's patterns, or remain interested by the quick action and new environments. This has tended to be true for the home versions as well, but unfortunately, the home isn't the arcade, and players will want more to play once they breeze through the three stages. The home version adds a few features, but nothing that will really give the game the kind of longevity it needs; for instance, story mode is the arcade mode, but with cheesy cutscenes in the middle to tie it all together. The difference between arcade mode and the sub-mode of story is that story mode starts from the beginning and arcade mode allows the player to continue on whatever stage they left off on, and also adds the ability to let a second person play. The solo route means playing through the game with a computer-controlled friend who isn't too bright. The story is strange, but not the good kind of strange like in Ace Combat 4, but the bad kind, the kind that is both generic and random. Other modes that are exclusive to the PlayStation 2 are Rescue Mission Mode and Crisis Mission Mode: Rescue mission mode features a third character, Alicia, and adds a weapon-upgrade feature (meter fills up as she kills people, filling it upgrades a sub-weapon) and a semi-sniper mode; Crisis mission is an objective-oriented mode which means the player will have to kill 30 enemies within a given time limit and so on. To be fair, these do add quite a bit to the original game; however, these kinds of games can be beaten so quickly that they won't be enough to satisfy most players. The game would have benefited more from bulking up the actual arcade mode as well. Sadly, the shortage of levels and functions has become a norm in this sub-genre. Actually, compared to past releases, Time Crisis 3 is generous with its additions. I think one of the problems I had was that the novelty of such an experience has worn off quite a bit, and I know gamers who plunk down the $60 will want something more - as would I. Of course, inherent to games like this, there is built-in replay value of trying to beat one's own score, which is strangely strong in light gun titles. Trying to make it through levels without damage and with better combos is all part of the fun, and rarely does it get old railing on a guy whose only weapon is a hatchet. Despite there not being any real branching paths in the arcade mode, the game does do well in making up for this by having such a cinematic feel. On one level, there is a fantastic scene where the player is inside of a barge that is being bombed, and as their character holds onto something, the player has to shoot at enemies who are sliding down as the ship tips on its side. The enemies are also a varied lot. Some sport sleek looking armor and attack at close range with claws, some have more generic garb and use rifles, others with bazookas, etc., and there is also a class that is stronger and has better aim. Taking these grunts down will be done by the standard pistol, or by machine gun, shotgun, or grenade. Acquiring ammo for the weapons comes by way of killing enemies who have them, but this also brings up interesting situations: if some enemies are in the back of a jeep, does the player blow up the tank and kill them all or do they dodge the fire and kill each men individually to get more ammo? There are also bosses (remember those?), attack helicopters, submarines, and all sorts of over-the-top enemies. It's all very action movi-ish, just without the personality of a Steven Seagal. I
was hoping for a little something more this time around. Sadly, it's a pretty
standard release for the genre. Then again, this isn't a genre that is busting
with new entries all the time, so the feeling of similarity might not be applicable
to many people. It also doesn't hurt that the presentation and included modes
are high quality. Hopefully next time Namco will take advantage of their standing
as the sole company continuing the fine tradition of shaking a plastic gun at
a television screen, but until that release comes, Time Crisis 3 should
satisfy the Dirty Harry inside you.
Graphics: 7.5/10 Control: 9/10 Overall:
8/10 [ top ] | |||
