Time Crisis II

UPC: 722674020831

Platform: PlayStation 2

Publisher: Namco Hometek, Inc.

Developer: Namco Ltd.

Category: Shooter

Style(s): Shooter with Weapon Peripheral

Synopsis: Arriving three years after its arcade brethren, Namco's Time Crisis 2 is the first light gun game to appear on the PlayStation 2. The game's release also marks the debut of the GunCon2; a popular light gun peripheral fashioned by Namco themselves. The home conversion plays host to a wealth of new modes and options, including support for two-player split-screen and i.Link support -- which enables two players, each with a PS2, TV set, and copy of the game to emulate the setup found in the arcade. The Arcade mode allows one (using either one or two guns) or two players to make their way through the game's three stages. Gameplay adheres to many of the genre's established conventions, but what separates Time Crisis 2 from similar gun-toting titles, is the use of the "ducking" mechanic. By pressing a button on the gun (or a pedal in the arcade title), players can duck and hide behind objects in the stage, thereby avoiding enemy gunfire and facilitating reloading of your weapon at the same time. While the majority of the action takes place on foot, players will also find themselves on speeding boats and trains. As the game title suggests, each area must be completed within a time limit or you will lose a life, lose too many, and the game is over. As agent Keith Martin or Robert Baxter you set out to find a missing agent Christy Ryan, and discover Neodyne Industries' true intentions for a network of military satellites they're set to put into operation. The Extra Games mode provides three different disciplines to compete in: Agent Trainer, Quick & Crash, and Shoot Away 2. The last two are in fact classic Namco arcade titles. A hidden mode called Crisis Mission presents players with various challenges, such as killing a certain number of enemies within a specified time limit or rescuing a group of hostages. ~ Gavin Frankle, All Game Guide

Package Contents: 28-page Instruction Manual

Controls: Gun, Joystick/Gamepad

Standard stuff. The various facets of the title are covered well enough. A color manual would have been nice. ~ Gavin Frankle, All Game Guide

Nice texture work and solid models. A step up from the arcade version. ~ Gavin Frankle, All Game Guide

The original Time Crisis provided the genre with a much-needed breath of fresh air with its innovative use of the "ducking" mechanic. By pressing a pedal attached to the arcade unit, players could force their onscreen personas to take cover behind an object in the environment, allowing them to reload their weapon while avoiding enemy gunfire at the same time. Time Crisis 2 took this concept to the next level by allowing two players to play through the arcade title cooperatively, with two completely different perspectives of the action. Namco has fortunately preserved this aspect in the PlayStation 2 version, and players can partake in the cooperative action in one of two ways: using the iLink cable to connect two systems together for play on two separate television screens, or using the split-screen mode on one television. Even as a solo outing, Time Crisis 2 is still highly enjoyable. Though it can be beaten in under an hour, the game's story mode can be played through multiple times thanks to some clever level design. While the enemies always appear in the same locations, players will still have a blast (pun intended) attempting to best their own high scores and playing on higher difficulty settings. Additional gameplay options and modes can be unlocked by finishing the game multiple times, and additional credits (continues) are granted with each successive play through until you're awarded infinite credits for future attempts. Namco has made a valiant attempt to increase the longevity of the title by including a number of periphery modes, including two classic arcade titles called Quick & Crash and Shoot Away 2. The latter is a virtual incarnation of skeet shooting, requiring you to achieve as high a score as possible by completing a number of rounds, each of which gives you two bullets and two targets to hit. Believe it or not, it's actually a lot more challenging than it sounds. A training mode and a hidden mode called Crisis Mission round out the collection of extra games. Crisis Mission provides a series of objective-based challenges for the player to complete, and proves to be a nice distraction, although a short-lived one. The same can be said for the other modes as well; they're all little more than a distraction from the main Arcade Mode of play. Those with a penchant for John Woo-style gunfights will appreciate the option for one player to play through the game using two guns. And let's face it, who wouldn't want to do that? Much improved over its arcade sibling, the PlayStation 2 incarnation is a good -- if not stunning -- looking title. Character models are sufficiently detailed, while the world is populated with crisp textures throughout. Time Crisis 2 ranks as one of the better light gun games released to the home market. ~ Gavin Frankle, All Game Guide

You'll likely play it every few weeks or months, but at less than an hour per play-through, there's not a lot to keep you occupied. ~ Gavin Frankle, All Game Guide

Serves as enjoyable accompaniment to the onscreen action. Voice acting is laughable. ~ Gavin Frankle, All Game Guide

As good as the genre has seen for many years, but the single-player game could be longer. ~ Gavin Frankle, All Game Guide

the game requires Gun, Joystick/Gamepad.