bit-tech Shopping: Namco Bandai Time Crisis 4 (PS3)

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Months

Strengths: Fun game

Weaknesses: The GunCon 3 controller has many buttons

Summary: Overall, it is a good game. However, it would be better if I could purchase another GunCon 3 because it is more fun to play with friends. The bad thing about the GunCon 3 is that it has a lot of buttons on it. It makes the game harder for me to play.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 30 Days

Strengths: Pretty Graphic; Lot of Bonus Modes to Keep You Busy

Weaknesses: No Much Improvement

Summary: This is the 4th sequel of the famous Time Crisis series from Namco. The gameplay of TC4 does not change much, basically using a lightgun to clear out all enemies in front of you and beat all three stages. Namco did a good job on migrating the arcade mode to playstation 3. You can experience the same arcade feeling and graphic at home. Guncon 3 works a little bit differently than all previous lightguns to be compatible with flatscreen TVs. Basically you need to place two sensors above your TV and make the gun "knows" where it is shooting at. Doing this however, requires a lot of setup in term of both hardware and software. Guncon 3 also has a working distance restriction depending on the size of your TV. You cannot use it too close or too far. I am using a 26" LCD and sometimes I found shooting smaller target a little tough because I have to stay far from the TV to make the gun work. After beating the game you will be given several bonus modes, which would keep you busy for quite a while. Among all these modes the most attractive one for me is the "Complete Mission". You will experience the game from the view of Captain Rush(The guy on the cover). It introduces a "Guncon FPS" playing style. You need to use guncon to move around, aim and shoot, which gives you a very real "first person" feeling. Some people might think the control is too complicated considering it uses nearly every button on guncon3. However it is still a pretty decent add-on to TC4. Overall, TC4 is a great (and so far the only) lightgun shooting game for PS3. It is fun to play and would is a good way to kill some of your spare time. However it could be better by introducing some significant improvement or new concept to the arcade mode. I will be expecting the next sequel of this classical series.

Rating: 4

Time with product: 2 Days

Strengths: Many hours of nonstop fun just like the arcade but in your own home.

Weaknesses: Gun is not wireless and the uses of led markers is a pain to setup. The gun is very unergnomic. My hand hurt after 5-10 mins of play.

Summary: TC4's Guncon is based on the "LED marker" technology. Older Guncons used a video-sensing lightgun, but that method doesn't work with LCD/LED/plasma/projection TVs therefore, they included 2 led sensors to place on the corners of the tv.Overall Time Crisis 4 delivers on exactly what it advertises to deliver: An arcade experience in your house. The addition of the FPS mode helps make the game about double the time in length with some interesting game dynamics (if you have ever wanted to play a normal FPS with a light gun, this gives you a taste of that). Should you buy TC4? For fans of the series it's an easy purchase, especially at the new low prices. If you're unfamiliar with the series, keep in mind there isn't much depth to it as there's no real strategy involved--it's just shoot, shoot, shoot. But for mindless fun and excitement it's hard to beat.

Rating: 4

Time with product:

Strengths: None

Weaknesses: set-up

Summary: Time crisis is reborn onto the PS3 console but what were they thinking? The game requires corded sensors strung across one's television in each corner. The guncon isn't cordless so get used to a 10-15ft cord running from your ps3. All in all, too much work for for a $90 game.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 3

Strengths: Includes Gun with sensors.

Weaknesses: Not Wireless and Gun it not sold separately for multiplayer.

Summary: This is one great game. I bought it from Amazon for $50 and it sure worth it. The game comes with a gun and censor clips that you can put top of your TVs. So it's just like the arcade, simple point and shoot. The story is pretty much basic and simple and entertaining. However the gun is not wireless and I wish they had made the gun little better. It's orange plastic and feels cheap. Overall I am satisfied with the game and I recommend to all those who loved Time Crisis on Arcades.