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| {{short description|Video game series}} | |||
| {{Refimprove|date=March 2009}} | |||
| {{for|the internet radio show|Time Crisis with Ezra Koenig}} | |||
| {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}} | |||
| {{Infobox video game series | {{Infobox video game series | ||
| | title = Time Crisis | |||
| | width = | |||
| | |
| image = Time Crisis logo.png | ||
| | caption = The logo utilized in the original ''Time Crisis'' | |||
| | collapsible = | |||
| | platforms = ], ], ], ], ] | |||
| | state = | |||
| | developer = ]<br>] | |||
| | image = | |||
| | publisher = Namco<br>] | |||
| | caption = | |||
| | genre = ]<br>]<br>] | |||
| | platform of origin = ] | |||
| | first release version = '']'' | |||
| | platforms = ], ], ], ] | |||
| | first release date = December 1995 | |||
| | year of inception = 1996 | |||
| | developer = ]<br>] | |||
| | latest release version = '']'' | |||
| | publisher = Namco (currently ]) | |||
| | latest release date = August 2015 | |||
| | genre = ]<br /> ] | |||
| | first release version = '']'' | |||
| | first release date = 1996 | |||
| | latest release version = ''Time Crisis 5'' | |||
| | latest release date = 2015 | |||
| | spinoffs = | |||
| | spinoff of = | |||
| | website = | |||
| }} | }} | ||
| '''''Time Crisis''''' is a ] ] ] series of ] ]s by ]. |
'''''Time Crisis''''' is a ] ] ] series of ] ]s by ], introduced in 1995.<ref name="EGM"/> It is focused on the exploits of a fictional international intelligence agency who assigns its best agents to deal with a major threat by a hostile organisation, which has ranged from criminals, terrorists and hostile military outfits, and mostly take place within fictional locations across the world. The arcade series differed from other light gun shooters of its time by incorporating unique mechanics, including the ability to duck into cover to dodge attacks and reload the player's weapon, and forcing players to complete battles in each level within an allotted amount of time. | ||
| Over time, the series developed to incorporate additional features of gameplay, including two-player co-operative modes on arcade machines, the ability to use additional weapons in combat, and dealing with dangerous events. Alongside arcade machines, the series was also developed for consoles, beginning with a port of the first installment to ] consoles in 1995,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=time-crisis&page=detail&id=2903 |title=time crisis arcade video game, namco, ltd. (1995) |publisher=Arcade-history.com |date=February 13, 2012 |access-date=June 13, 2012}}</ref> with all ported versions of arcade titles featuring additional content and game mechanics, such as additional stages, and different difficulty modes. | |||
| Alongside the main games in the series, it also has spawned a number of spin-off titles that incorporate the cover mechanics and time limit gameplay elements, but with notable differences in combat situations and organisations involved in each game's story and levels. | |||
| ==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| The setting of each ''Time Crisis'' revolves around a serious threat to usually one nation. However, some games have involved a threat to |
The setting of each ''Time Crisis'' revolves around a serious threat to usually one nation. However, some games have involved a threat to the world (''Time Crisis II''), the protagonist/player (''Time Crisis: Project Titan''), or to the protagonists'/players' organization (''Time Crisis 5''). The V.S.S.E. (Vital Situation, Swift-Elimination), a covert organization, must send in its highly skilled agents to eliminate any possible security threats. The first ''Time Crisis'' had three ]s with four areas (location where the game starts) each. The second and third installments have three stages, each with three areas. The fourth installment adds a prologue for a total of 4 stages each with three areas (with the exception of the prologue, which has only one area). The fifth installment has an exclusive upgrade kit version of (''True Mastermind'' edition, which is the full version of the game) to double the stages from 3 to 6, with 3 areas that were interconnected with each other, thus there would be no breaks/loadings after clearing an area (with the exception of the final stage, which only has one area).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arcadeheroes.com/2014/12/15/time-crisis-5-debut-eag2015/|title=Time Crisis 5 To Debut At EAG2015 - Arcade Heroes|date=December 15, 2014}}</ref> | ||
| Many of the fighting areas are dangerous situations, such as a steadily capsizing ship or a train dangling off a damaged bridge (as in ''Time Crisis 3''). In the third and fourth installments, supporters from various organizations come in to assist the V.S.S.E. agents, sometimes to aid them in their mission, sometimes to protect their own reputations. '']'' has a different plot, which is focused on a ] rather than ]s. It takes place in the United Kingdom and concerns the S.T.F. (or Special Tactical Force)'s attempt to destroy the U.R.D.A., a terrorist organization. '']'' and '']'', which take place in the near-future, involve an elite task force known as S.C.A.R. (Strategic Combat and Rescue) being sent to a South American country during a revolution to capture and defeat the mastermind who has orchestrated an attack on the United States together with several international military organizations, while battling terrorists and other renegade soldiers and other combatants. | |||
| ==Games== | ==Games== | ||
| ===Main series=== | |||
| * The original first '']'' was released for the arcades in 1996 and ported for the ] in 1997. It was the first game to support the ] light gun peripheral. | |||
| ====''Time Crisis'' (1995)==== | |||
| * A two-player sequel, titled '']'', featured two machines linking together, allowing players to cover each other. Each player dispatches enemies on slightly different routes, creating unique environments to defend themselves on. It was released for the arcades 1998 in and for the ] in 2001. It was the first game to support the ] light gun peripheral. | |||
| {{Main|Time Crisis (video game)}} | |||
| * The spin-off to this game, '']'' (also supervised by Takashi Sano), was also produced. While ''Crisis Zone'' had similar play mechanics as with ''Time Crisis'', ''Crisis Zone'' featured solo play with a fully automatic ] (as opposed to the standard ], though the pistol can be used later in the remake version), interactive backgrounds, and a different storyline centering through the anti-terrorist tasks of elite S.T.F. trooper Claude McGarren (spelled "Croad MacGalain" in the arcade version). A ] remake of the title has been released in 2004 and is a subtitle to its full name, ''Time Crisis: Crisis Zone'', likely to denote that the port had undergone major (if not total) cosmetic and technical changes. | |||
| The first installment, ''Time Crisis'', was released for arcades in 1995.<ref name="EGM">{{cite magazine|date=November 1995|title=Time Crisis|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/b/b3/EGM_US_076.pdf|magazine=]|publisher=]|issue=76|page=217}}</ref> Its story focuses on Richard Miller, an agent of an international intelligence agency, as he races against time to rescue the daughter of a newly installed president, from a member of the previous regime seeking to reclaim control of their former country. The game introduced several of the gameplay elements that would form the foundation of the series, including combat sections that had to be completed within a strict time-limit and the cover mechanics, and well as introducing the recurring character Wild Dog, who would feature prominently as a boss character in the main series. | |||
| * A follow-up, '']'', came out in 2001 exclusively for the ], featuring a new multi-hiding system. It serves as a side story to the first ''Time Crisis'' game. | |||
| * In 2003, Namco released a direct sequel called '']'' for the arcades and ]. It granted four different weapons available at the start (handgun, machine gun, shotgun and grenade launcher). The ammo of the latter three had to be recharged during play. The home version featured a new side story in which you can use a sniper rifle during certain scenes. | |||
| * In 2006, '']'' was released in August and introduced a refined multi-hiding system (similar to the one featured in ''Time Crisis: Project Titan'') where the player can move the gun in a certain direction to move the character's position in certain areas of the game regardless whether or not the player may hiding or attacking. A ] version was released in 2007 in the United States and Japan, and in 2008 in Europe and Australia, exclusively bundled with the ] light gun peripheral. It was notable for introducing a ] mode to the series. | |||
| * ''Time Crisis Strike'' was released by Namco in January 2009 for ]. It is actually a spin-off and an alternate version story of ''Time Crisis 3''. | |||
| * In 2009, another spinoff game, '']'' was released. It was re-released in October 2010 under the name '']'' exclusively for the PS3. The PS3 version is known in Japan as ''Big 3 Gun Shooting'' and comes packaged with ''Deadstorm Pirates'' and the arcade version of ''Time Crisis 4''. All games feature full ] and ] support. | |||
| * A cellphone spin-off game, ''Time Crisis Elite'', was developed by Electronic Arts and published by Namco in 2009. | |||
| * ''Time Crisis 2nd Strike'' was released by Namco in September 2010 for ]. It is the sequel of the Time Crisis spin-off and the alternate version of ''Time Crisis 4''. | |||
| * ''Time Crisis 5'' was announced by Namco on October 2014, for a March 2015 release on the arcades worldwide. A ''True Mastermind'' edition/upgrade of the game is slated for sometime in 2015, which will be released exclusively for all consoles (PS4, Xbox One, Wii U and PC) on 2016 with an upgraded GunCon 4, Delta Six Gaming Controller and ], supported with ], ] and ]. The Time Crisis 3rd Strike will also be a spin-off to Time Crisis 5 and also available for iOS and Android. The PC version will just only be using Windows 8 and 10 only, and is only available through the Windows Store. | |||
| A port of the game for the ] was released in 1997, supported by the newly launched ] light gun peripheral, and included an add-on of new stages set after the events of the main story. These events focus on Miller being assigned to investigate a criminal organisation, operating out of hotel that is a front for a munitions factory, and dealing against with its mysterious leader as well. | |||
| ==Gameplay== | |||
| ''Time Crisis'' focuses on shooting all on-screen enemies when spotted in an area while ]. Successful players must proceed to the next area or level. The franchise's distinctive feature, a foot pedal, controls whether the player's character takes cover (leaving him invulnerable but unable to shoot) or attacks (which makes the player vulnerable). Players must take cover to reload their guns. A countdown clock, recharged by clearing an area and stage of enemies, forces the player to take risks by remaining vulnerable most of the time, shooting quickly at any enemy on sight. This time limit prevents the player from taking cover indefinitely. In ''Time Crisis'' and ''Project Titan'', after the clearance of an area the game adds only a partial amount of time to the clock while the timer keeps running down. The game ends if the time expires. In multiplayer installments, the clock runs only when the player fights and moves, with the timer resetting back to a certain amount of seconds when a portion of a battle stage is cleared. Also, if the player only loses one life if time runs out. | |||
| === |
====''Time Crisis II'' (1997)==== | ||
| {{Main|Time Crisis II}} | |||
| In the first ''Time Crisis'' enemies fired "unannounced" direct hits, which caused problems because players did not know when they would be hit and loss damage for their lives. Different-colored enemies provided different accuracy-levels (with red soldiers the most accurate). ''Project Titan'' attempted to address that problem using "different colored bullets", but this did not fix the "unannounced" direct-hit issue. This problem was fixed in ''Time Crisis II''; life-threatening shots are indicated with a red flash (known as a "deadly eye") which gives the player time to release the pedal. In Crisis Zone, enemies that are about to hit the player with a shot had a target icon on them, reminding the player to shoot them quickly or hide. | |||
| ''Time Crisis II'', released for the arcades in 1997, focuses on the efforts of intelligence agents Keith Martin and Robert Baxter, as they attempt to thwart the efforts of a major industrial tycoon from launching a nuclear military satellite in space, and rescue a fellow agent that they kidnapped. The game offered co-operative gameplay between two players for the first time, with the arcade original being launched with linked game machines that featured contrasting coloured light gun controllers. In addition, the original game mechanics of its predecessor were modified for the sequel, including the time-limit system, while incorporating new elements such as each playable character having their own battle situations at times, players receiving a score penalty for shooting the other character, and a new game highlight system for indicating a deadly shot about to hit the player. A port of the game for the ] was released in 2001, supported by the ] light gun peripheral, which included enhanced graphics and additional story scenes. | |||
| ====''Time Crisis 3'' (2002)==== | |||
| ==Characters== | |||
| {{Main|Time Crisis 3}} | |||
| Each ''Time Crisis'' game features a different ]s as playable characters (each of them a field agent of V.S.S.E.), one or more supporting characters, and a different set of chief antagonists. Spinoff games often do not involve the V.S.S.E. and instead have the player character be a soldier in a military squad team. | |||
| ''Time Crisis 3'', released for the arcades in 2002, focuses on the efforts of agents Alan Dunaway and Wesley Lambert being sent to help thwart the efforts of a hostile nation, who recently took control of a neighbouring country's island, as part of a plan to strike at several countries in its vicinity with tactical missiles. As part of their mission, the pair work alongside Alicia Winston, a local resistance fighter, who seeks to rescue her brother and her men, after they are captured following a failed attempt to destroy the missiles themselves. | |||
| The game expanded on the series' gameplay mechanics by allowing players to use three additional weapons in each level, alongside the traditional handgun of the playable characters, though unlike the main weapon, each has limited ammo that can only be replenished by defeating a special type of enemy during combat sections. In addition, a health bar element was included for bosses and certain enemies that must be depleted in order to defeat them, and destructible objects that can take out enemies close to them when they explode. The ported version for the ], released in the same year, featured additional content including a side mission mode, which is focused on Alicia's perspective of events in the story. While it featured similar gameplay, it also included the addition of stages in which players take out enemies while using a sniper rifle. | |||
| ===Protagonists=== | |||
| *'''Richard Miller''' - appears in ''Time Crisis'' and ''Time Crisis: Project Titan'' as the only solo agent (AKA "The One-Man Army") of the franchise. | |||
| *'''Keith Martin''' - appears in ''Time Crisis II'' as player 1's lead character. | |||
| *'''Robert Baxter''' - Keith's ally and player 2's character in a linked or solo game. He serves as an NPC supporter in the first release of ''Time Crisis 5''. | |||
| *'''Alan Dunaway''' - appears in ''Time Crisis 3'' as player 1's lead character. | |||
| *'''Wesley Lambert''' - Alan's ally and player 2's character in a linked or solo game. | |||
| *'''Alicia Winston''' - appears in ''Time Crisis 3'' as an NPC supporter in the arcades, and as a playable character in the ] edition. | |||
| *'''Giorgio Bruno''' - appears in ''Time Crisis 4'', as player 1's lead character and as the sole protagonist in '']'', guided by V.S.S.E. supporter '''Sarah Martin'''. | |||
| *'''Evan Bernard''' - Giorgio's ally and player 2's character in a linked or solo game. | |||
| *2 Unnamed '''V.S.S.E. trainees''' - often referred as the '''Mystery Characters''' are featured in ''Time Crisis 3 and 4'' as for the Crisis Mission modes in the consoles version of both games. Their names are confirmed to be '''John Martin''' and '''Rick Abdul'''. | |||
| *'''William Rush''' - appears in ''Time Crisis 4'' as an NPC supporter in the arcades, and as a playable character in the PS3 edition, aided by '''Elizabeth "Beth" Conway'''. | |||
| *'''Claude McGarren''' - appears in ''Crisis Zone'' as the sole protagonist from the special peace-keeping team, Special Tactical Force '''(S.T.F.)'''. | |||
| *'''Strategic Combat and Rescue (S.C.A.R.)''', an elite peace force and protecting terroristic squad keeping group featured in ''Razing Storm'' and ''Time Crisis: Razing Storm''. The player characters are only known as "Alpha 1 & 2". | |||
| *'''Luke O'Neil''' - appears in ''Time Crisis 5'', a player 1's lead character. | |||
| *'''Marc Godart''' - appears in ''Time Crisis 5'', Luke's ally and player 2's character in a linked or solo game. | |||
| ====''Time Crisis 4'' (2006)==== | |||
| ===Supporting characters=== | |||
| {{Main|Time Crisis 4}} | |||
| *'''Rachel Macpherson''': The president's daughter and hostage in ''Time Crisis''. | |||
| In 2006, '']'' was released and introduced a refined multi-hiding system (similar to the one featured in ''Time Crisis: Project Titan'') where the player can move the gun in a certain direction to move the character's position in certain areas of the game regardless whether or not the player may hiding or attacking the enemy. A ] version was released in 2007 in the United States and Japan, and in 2008 in Europe and Australia, bundled with the ] light gun peripheral. It was notable for introducing a ] mode to the series. | |||
| *'''Christy Ryan''': An agent who discovers Ernesto Diaz's plot and is the hostage in ''Time Crisis II''. | |||
| *'''Xavier Serrano''': The president of Caruba and victim in an assassination attempt in ''Time Crisis: Project Titan''. Reveals captive alive as a hostage, He hands Richard Miller a computer full of files on Project Titan, clears Miller's name, and orders him to get rid of both Project Titan and Wild Dog himself. | |||
| *'''VSSE Grunts''': a group of young soldiers from ''Time Crisis 2nd Strike'' who supports Giorgio Bruno and secured against terrorist's remaining plots. | |||
| *'''Christine Ricci''': Serves as a dispatcher for Robert Baxter, Luke O'Neil, and Marc Godart in the first release of ''Time Crisis 5''. | |||
| ====''Time Crisis 5'' (2015)==== | |||
| ===Antagonists=== | |||
| ''Time Crisis 5'' was released by Namco in March 2015 in the arcades. It is the first entry in the ''Time Crisis'' series to use Epic Games' ]. Unlike its predecessors, the game uses two pedals. Namco later showed a ''True Mastermind'' edition of the game which was released near the end of August the same year, and includes the second half of the game, consisting of three new stages, for a total of six stages, the largest in the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arcadebelgium.be/ab.php?r=art&p=repeag2015|title=Arcade Belgium - EAG International 2015 report (en)|website=www.arcadebelgium.be}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpuEQu8TJ80 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/wpuEQu8TJ80 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title= Time Crisis 5: P1 Stage 1-6 (Final) No Damage Mission Complete (Player 1 Solo)|last=dlon9|date=August 28, 2015|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> It is currently the only main entry in the series not yet released for any home console. | |||
| === |
===Other games=== | ||
| ====''Crisis Zone'' (1999)==== | |||
| While the games have some contributing unplayable or non-playable characters and serves as primary or secondary antagonists in addition to/for the aforementioned chief antagonists, all ''Time Crisis'' antagonists have employed and/or conspired with a mercenary named '''Wild Dog''' – the only character to appear in all of the main ''Time Crisis'' video games series. At the end of every battle, after the player has defeated him, he will be caught within an explosion which is often self-induced and appear to die. After Richard Miller defeated him, he dropped his detonator for the castle which was triggered by falling on its button when it was dropped. One of the bombs planted in the castle exploded and caught Wild Dog in the explosion. Wild Dog lost his left arm in the explosion. In ''Time Crisis: Project Titan'' and ''Time Crisis 2'', Wild Dog outfitted it with a ] arm (the "gun arm"), which would later receive ] upgrade, a ] in ''Time Crisis 3'', and a ] and a ] in ''Time Crisis 4''. The character is inspired by '''Mad Dog''', ]'s difficult to kill gunfighter from the film '']''. Wild Dog has other allies, including a younger partner (and apprentice) named '''Wild Fang''' (who appears in ''Time Crisis 3'' and the PS3 port of ''Time Crisis 4''). Wild Dog was the main antagonist in ''Time Crisis: Project Titan'', and serves as a key antagonist in the first release of ''Time Crisis 5''. | |||
| '']'' was released in 1999 in the arcades. While ''Crisis Zone'' had similar play mechanics as with ''Time Crisis'', ''Crisis Zone'' featured solo play with a fully automatic machine gun (as opposed to the standard pistol, though the pistol can be used later in the remake version), interactive backgrounds, and a different storyline centering on the anti-terrorist tasks of elite S.T.F. trooper Claude McGarren (spelled "Croad MacGalain" in the arcade version). A ] remake of the title was released in 2004 and turns it into a subtitle of its full name, ''Time Crisis: Crisis Zone''. | |||
| ====''Time Crisis: Project Titan'' (2001)==== | |||
| *'''Sherudo Garo''' - appears in ''Time Crisis'' as the main villain in this game. Unlike most games, he is found, fought, and killed in the second stage instead of the third and final stage. | |||
| {{Main|Time Crisis: Project Titan}} | |||
| *'''Kantaris''' - Leader of the arms dealing organization of the same name. Appears as the suspect in the ''Time Crisis'' special mode, and in the first level of ''Time Crisis: Project Titan''. The only female antagonist in the series. | |||
| A side story to the first ''Time Crisis'' game '']'', was released in 2001 for the PlayStation, featuring a new multi-hiding system. | |||
| *'''Ricardo Blanco''' - The master of disguise who disguised himself as Richard Miller and shot Xavier Serrano, the president of Caruba, in order to frame Miller for Serrano's assassination, but betrayed by Wild Dog. | |||
| *'''Zeus Bertrand''' - appears in ''Time Crisis: Project Titan'', as a henchman of Kantaris, and the boss of the first stage. | |||
| ====''Razing Storm'' (2009)==== | |||
| *'''Ernesto Diaz''' - appears in ''Time Crisis II'' as the main antagonist of this game. | |||
| In 2009, '']'' was released in the arcades. It was re-released in October 2010 with the title '']'', for the PS3. This version is known in Japan as ''Big 3 Gun Shooting'' and comes packaged with ''Deadstorm Pirates'' and the arcade version of ''Time Crisis 4''. All games feature full ] and ] support. | |||
| *'''Giorgio Zott''' - appears in ''Time Crisis 3'' as the main antagonist in this game | |||
| *'''Jake Hernandez''' - Zott's minion and spy in side storyline. (Seen only in Rescue Mission) | |||
| ===Mobile games=== | |||
| *'''Marcus Black, Mathers Bros. (Frank and Jack) and Gregory Barrows''' - appears in ''Time Crisis 4'' and creators of Terror Bites. | |||
| ====''Time Crisis Strike'' (2009)==== | |||
| *'''Derrick Lynch''' - is named after one of Time Crisis's creators in ''Time Crisis: Crisis Zone'', '''(U.R.D.A.)''' leader who tries to destroy London with the Garland Square's nuclear reactor, Geyser One. | |||
| ''Time Crisis Strike'' was released by Namco in January 2009 for ] and J2ME. It is a spin-off of '']'', with a different story. | |||
| *'''Jared Hunter''' - Lynch's minion in ''Time Crisis: Crisis Zone'' side storyline and Grassmarket District crisis. He kidnaps the S.T.F. Commander's daughter, Melissa Kessler and plans to avenge Lynch. | |||
| *'''Paulo Guerra''' - appears in ''Razing Storm'' as a madman whose plot is revealed in the PS3 version. | |||
| ====''Time Crisis 2nd Strike'' (2010)==== | |||
| {{Main|Time Crisis 2nd Strike}} | |||
| ''Time Crisis 2nd Strike'' was released by Namco in September 2010 for ], and in May 2013 for ] (Japan only). It is the sequel of the ''Time Crisis'' spin-off and the alternate version story of '']''. It allowed players to use another iOS device as a gun controller via the app ]. It is no longer available for purchase as of March 30, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/bandai-namco-terminating-love-katamari-noby-noby-boy-splatterhouse-many-ios/|title=Bandai Namco Terminating i Love Katamari, Noby Noby Boy, Splatterhouse, Many More On iOS|last=Priestman|first=Chris|date=March 30, 2015|website=Siliconera|publisher=]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408110105/https://www.siliconera.com/bandai-namco-terminating-love-katamari-noby-noby-boy-splatterhouse-many-ios/|archive-date=April 8, 2023|url-status=live|access-date=December 30, 2023}}</ref> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| * ] Text was copied from at Time Crisis Wiki, which is released under a . | |||
| {{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * at ] | |||
| *{{IMDb character|0238609|Wild Dog}} | |||
| {{Time Crisis series}} | {{Time Crisis series}} | ||
| {{Franchises owned by Bandai Namco Holdings}} | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
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Latest revision as of 18:19, 18 December 2024
Video game series For the internet radio show, see Time Crisis with Ezra Koenig.Video game series
| Time Crisis | |
|---|---|
 The logo utilized in the original Time Crisis | |
| Genre(s) | Light gun shooter Rail shooter First-person shooter |
| Developer(s) | Namco Nex Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) | Namco Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, iOS |
| First release | Time Crisis December 1995 |
| Latest release | Time Crisis 5: True Mastermind August 2015 |
Time Crisis is a first-person on-rails light gun shooter series of arcade video games by Namco, introduced in 1995. It is focused on the exploits of a fictional international intelligence agency who assigns its best agents to deal with a major threat by a hostile organisation, which has ranged from criminals, terrorists and hostile military outfits, and mostly take place within fictional locations across the world. The arcade series differed from other light gun shooters of its time by incorporating unique mechanics, including the ability to duck into cover to dodge attacks and reload the player's weapon, and forcing players to complete battles in each level within an allotted amount of time.
Over time, the series developed to incorporate additional features of gameplay, including two-player co-operative modes on arcade machines, the ability to use additional weapons in combat, and dealing with dangerous events. Alongside arcade machines, the series was also developed for consoles, beginning with a port of the first installment to PlayStation consoles in 1995, with all ported versions of arcade titles featuring additional content and game mechanics, such as additional stages, and different difficulty modes.
Alongside the main games in the series, it also has spawned a number of spin-off titles that incorporate the cover mechanics and time limit gameplay elements, but with notable differences in combat situations and organisations involved in each game's story and levels.
Overview
The setting of each Time Crisis revolves around a serious threat to usually one nation. However, some games have involved a threat to the world (Time Crisis II), the protagonist/player (Time Crisis: Project Titan), or to the protagonists'/players' organization (Time Crisis 5). The V.S.S.E. (Vital Situation, Swift-Elimination), a covert organization, must send in its highly skilled agents to eliminate any possible security threats. The first Time Crisis had three stages with four areas (location where the game starts) each. The second and third installments have three stages, each with three areas. The fourth installment adds a prologue for a total of 4 stages each with three areas (with the exception of the prologue, which has only one area). The fifth installment has an exclusive upgrade kit version of (True Mastermind edition, which is the full version of the game) to double the stages from 3 to 6, with 3 areas that were interconnected with each other, thus there would be no breaks/loadings after clearing an area (with the exception of the final stage, which only has one area).
Many of the fighting areas are dangerous situations, such as a steadily capsizing ship or a train dangling off a damaged bridge (as in Time Crisis 3). In the third and fourth installments, supporters from various organizations come in to assist the V.S.S.E. agents, sometimes to aid them in their mission, sometimes to protect their own reputations. Crisis Zone has a different plot, which is focused on a SWAT team rather than secret agents. It takes place in the United Kingdom and concerns the S.T.F. (or Special Tactical Force)'s attempt to destroy the U.R.D.A., a terrorist organization. Razing Storm and Time Crisis: Razing Storm, which take place in the near-future, involve an elite task force known as S.C.A.R. (Strategic Combat and Rescue) being sent to a South American country during a revolution to capture and defeat the mastermind who has orchestrated an attack on the United States together with several international military organizations, while battling terrorists and other renegade soldiers and other combatants.
Games
Main series
Time Crisis (1995)
Main article: Time Crisis (video game)The first installment, Time Crisis, was released for arcades in 1995. Its story focuses on Richard Miller, an agent of an international intelligence agency, as he races against time to rescue the daughter of a newly installed president, from a member of the previous regime seeking to reclaim control of their former country. The game introduced several of the gameplay elements that would form the foundation of the series, including combat sections that had to be completed within a strict time-limit and the cover mechanics, and well as introducing the recurring character Wild Dog, who would feature prominently as a boss character in the main series.
A port of the game for the PlayStation was released in 1997, supported by the newly launched GunCon light gun peripheral, and included an add-on of new stages set after the events of the main story. These events focus on Miller being assigned to investigate a criminal organisation, operating out of hotel that is a front for a munitions factory, and dealing against with its mysterious leader as well.
Time Crisis II (1997)
Main article: Time Crisis IITime Crisis II, released for the arcades in 1997, focuses on the efforts of intelligence agents Keith Martin and Robert Baxter, as they attempt to thwart the efforts of a major industrial tycoon from launching a nuclear military satellite in space, and rescue a fellow agent that they kidnapped. The game offered co-operative gameplay between two players for the first time, with the arcade original being launched with linked game machines that featured contrasting coloured light gun controllers. In addition, the original game mechanics of its predecessor were modified for the sequel, including the time-limit system, while incorporating new elements such as each playable character having their own battle situations at times, players receiving a score penalty for shooting the other character, and a new game highlight system for indicating a deadly shot about to hit the player. A port of the game for the PlayStation 2 was released in 2001, supported by the GunCon 2 light gun peripheral, which included enhanced graphics and additional story scenes.
Time Crisis 3 (2002)
Main article: Time Crisis 3Time Crisis 3, released for the arcades in 2002, focuses on the efforts of agents Alan Dunaway and Wesley Lambert being sent to help thwart the efforts of a hostile nation, who recently took control of a neighbouring country's island, as part of a plan to strike at several countries in its vicinity with tactical missiles. As part of their mission, the pair work alongside Alicia Winston, a local resistance fighter, who seeks to rescue her brother and her men, after they are captured following a failed attempt to destroy the missiles themselves.
The game expanded on the series' gameplay mechanics by allowing players to use three additional weapons in each level, alongside the traditional handgun of the playable characters, though unlike the main weapon, each has limited ammo that can only be replenished by defeating a special type of enemy during combat sections. In addition, a health bar element was included for bosses and certain enemies that must be depleted in order to defeat them, and destructible objects that can take out enemies close to them when they explode. The ported version for the PlayStation 2, released in the same year, featured additional content including a side mission mode, which is focused on Alicia's perspective of events in the story. While it featured similar gameplay, it also included the addition of stages in which players take out enemies while using a sniper rifle.
Time Crisis 4 (2006)
Main article: Time Crisis 4In 2006, Time Crisis 4 was released and introduced a refined multi-hiding system (similar to the one featured in Time Crisis: Project Titan) where the player can move the gun in a certain direction to move the character's position in certain areas of the game regardless whether or not the player may hiding or attacking the enemy. A PlayStation 3 version was released in 2007 in the United States and Japan, and in 2008 in Europe and Australia, bundled with the GunCon 3 light gun peripheral. It was notable for introducing a first-person shooter mode to the series.
Time Crisis 5 (2015)
Time Crisis 5 was released by Namco in March 2015 in the arcades. It is the first entry in the Time Crisis series to use Epic Games' Unreal Engine. Unlike its predecessors, the game uses two pedals. Namco later showed a True Mastermind edition of the game which was released near the end of August the same year, and includes the second half of the game, consisting of three new stages, for a total of six stages, the largest in the series. It is currently the only main entry in the series not yet released for any home console.
Other games
Crisis Zone (1999)
Crisis Zone was released in 1999 in the arcades. While Crisis Zone had similar play mechanics as with Time Crisis, Crisis Zone featured solo play with a fully automatic machine gun (as opposed to the standard pistol, though the pistol can be used later in the remake version), interactive backgrounds, and a different storyline centering on the anti-terrorist tasks of elite S.T.F. trooper Claude McGarren (spelled "Croad MacGalain" in the arcade version). A PlayStation 2 remake of the title was released in 2004 and turns it into a subtitle of its full name, Time Crisis: Crisis Zone.
Time Crisis: Project Titan (2001)
Main article: Time Crisis: Project TitanA side story to the first Time Crisis game Time Crisis: Project Titan, was released in 2001 for the PlayStation, featuring a new multi-hiding system.
Razing Storm (2009)
In 2009, Razing Storm was released in the arcades. It was re-released in October 2010 with the title Time Crisis: Razing Storm, for the PS3. This version is known in Japan as Big 3 Gun Shooting and comes packaged with Deadstorm Pirates and the arcade version of Time Crisis 4. All games feature full PlayStation Move and GunCon 3 support.
Mobile games
Time Crisis Strike (2009)
Time Crisis Strike was released by Namco in January 2009 for iOS and J2ME. It is a spin-off of Time Crisis 3, with a different story.
Time Crisis 2nd Strike (2010)
Main article: Time Crisis 2nd StrikeTime Crisis 2nd Strike was released by Namco in September 2010 for iOS, and in May 2013 for Android (Japan only). It is the sequel of the Time Crisis spin-off and the alternate version story of Time Crisis 4. It allowed players to use another iOS device as a gun controller via the app iGunCon. It is no longer available for purchase as of March 30, 2015.
References
Text was copied from Time Crisis 5 at Time Crisis Wiki, which is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA 3.0) license.
- ^ "Time Crisis" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 76. Ziff Davis. November 1995. p. 217.
- "time crisis arcade video game, namco, ltd. (1995)". Arcade-history.com. February 13, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
- "Time Crisis 5 To Debut At EAG2015 - Arcade Heroes". December 15, 2014.
- "Arcade Belgium - EAG International 2015 report (en)". www.arcadebelgium.be.
- dlon9 (August 28, 2015). "[dlon9] Time Crisis 5: P1 Stage 1-6 (Final) No Damage Mission Complete (Player 1 Solo)". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021 – via YouTube.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - Priestman, Chris (March 30, 2015). "Bandai Namco Terminating i Love Katamari, Noby Noby Boy, Splatterhouse, Many More On iOS". Siliconera. Gamurs. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
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