Time Crisis 4 (PS3) Review - Video Games Reloaded

N-Galaxy

Rated O

Time Crisis 4 (PS3) By: Adam Waddilove

This franchise runs into its own gameplay crisis

Join operatives Giorgio Bruno and Evan Bernard to investigate and prevent a top secret weapon from falling into the hands of international terrorists!

Now, the most advanced game in the stellar Time Crisis series arrives on the PlayStation 3, delivering totally immersive, intense gameplay. Time Crisis 4 is reborn, and includes a full FPS game mode, stunning HD quality graphics and a newly designed Guncon to enhance every aspect of the game. Superior to its arcade counterpart, Time Crisis 4 brings a fresh new look to launch the series into the next generation.

Time Crisis 4 with G-Con Features:

Next Generation Guncon – The most advanced Guncon ever, redesigned specifically to enhance next-gen gameplay.

New dual analog stick design- Change camera angles, switch out weapons and control your character’s movement, including crouching and jumping.

Full compatibility with all displays- Enjoy the adrenaline pumping action in HD quality graphics whether you have an LCD, plasma or widescreen display. (Also supports Standard Definition displays)

FPS mode – Exclusive to the console version and entirely new to the Time Crisis universe, roam freely as a new, console exclusive playable character, and experience FPS style gameplay in 5 new stages.

Multiple modes – Time Crisis 4 delivers intense-action in numerous modes of play including:

Full Mission – Play through a combination of original stages and brand new FPS stages.

Arcade - Experience arcade action in your very own living room!

Crisis Missions - The popular Crisis Missions are back and more exciting than ever, now with new tactical missions! Destroy biological weapons and complete other objectives requiring the utmost in stealth and precision.

Mini Games - Test your sharp shooting skills and complete your objective within seconds, or go head-to-head with a friend in a variety of challenging mini games.

Upgraded Arsenal – In addition to your standard weapons assortment, such as handguns and shotguns, upgrade to grenade launchers and mounted machine guns (FPS mode only) to increase your lethal arsenal. Also features unlockable console exclusive bonus weapons. Select your weapon and be prepared to assault enemies from every direction.

The only previous Time Crisis game I had played was the very first on the original Playstation. Back then I was purely a Nintendo man as you know, but I did have some appreciation for the game since the N64 lacked a game like that throughout its lifespan. However, I cannot recall the original Time Crisis having LED sensors over the TV I played it on. Maybe I’m wrong about that, but it’s something I don’t remember. Now, Time Crisis has always been famous for being an on-rails shooter with a pretty cheesy plot that doesn’t matter, it’s all about the shooting. Sadly, TC4 has broken the tradition for the worse.

The story is typical of the franchise, so don’t dare take it seriously for a second. Instead of being only on-rails, Time Crisis 4 will go FPS and make you walk and strafe with the two analogue sticks on the G-Con. But it just doesn’t feel effective or enjoyable, plus the LED sensors took me forever to configure on my HDTV, then again it took me ages to work out how to make them stay on it! I can’t help wondering why they didn’t make the gun wireless and have ONE sensor like that of a certain motion-control console. The gun itself feels very cheap but I wanted to love it, I gave it a chance but it’s just very clunky with its design and you’ll question why they chose to make it like an everyday FPS as opposed to the traditional on-rails design. There are some traditional on-rails moments through the game, but not as you’d hope.

That aside, the game is just a very short and predictable shooter. Sadly, the game doesn’t exactly make use of the PS3’s graphical capabilities. Instead the FPS mode could look better on the PS2 in some instances, I seriously question what Namco were thinking with all of this. They tried to innovate but instead push the gamer further away by failing. There’s also the hefty £65 price tag, which is hardly worth it for a game that’s only a few hours long, has very little replay value and handles very poorly with the ugly orange G-Con.

The Verdict

It must be disappointing for fans of the franchise to hear this, but the 4th instalment just does not deliver. It’s full of ugly textures, poor AI, bad controls and ridiculous sensors to place on the TV. Wireless is the way to go! Nintendo themselves would tell you that, oh the irony! Until the Wii Zapper came out, Nintendo hadn't had a light gun accessory since the SNES and today they have done a better job than Namco by simply making it wireless. I do feel a level of sympathy for the fans and certainly the franchise itself, it’s in big trouble. From here, they need to back to the drawing board, find out what gamers want for the next game and take it from there. Let’s hope they listen..