time-crisis-4
Latest
Time Crisis: Razing Storm trailer shoots up your browser
During Sony's E3 keynote, a new Time Crisis game was revealed in Time Crisis: Razing Storm. As you can see in the trailer past the break, Razing Storm features a lot of the same stuff you've come to expect from the franchise: you shoot dudes and you shoot furniture. Frankly, we think there are better ways to evict tenants and remodel homes, but maybe that's just us. The game's first trailer also takes time to highlight its PlayStation Move support, eight player online functionality and two included extras: Time Crisis 4 and Deadstorm Pirates. Shoot your way past the break and check it all out!
Deal of the Day: Time Crisis 4 for $60
Supposedly, amazon.com had a magical sale where they offered Time Crisis 4 (with Guncon) for $50. We missed out on that limited time only offer -- but the game is still seriously discounted. Now only $60, Time Crisis 4 costs the same as any other game out there. We like collecting peripherals, so we already have a copy. But, should the rapidly dropping price on this game suggest it's not doing as well as Namco Bandai had hoped?[Thanks, danny!]
Namco Bandai: Guncon 3 NOT sold separately
How much do you like Time Crisis 4? Is it the kind of game you'd spend $180 on? Well, that's what Namco Bandai is asking from players that want to play the game with two players. The Guncon 3 peripheral does not come separately, and will not come separately from the game, effectively forcing fans to purchase two copies of the game. The Consumerist contacted Namco Bandai's live support and got this response: "I'm sorry, but the Guncon 3 is not sold separately. It is only sold bundled with Time Crisis 4 ... If you wish to play two players using two Guncon 3s then you will need another copy of Time Crisis 4."Strangely, Namco Bandai won't sell extra controllers directly either. "We do not sell replacement Guncon 3s. If the Guncon 4 [sic] is defective, then we can provide an RMA exchange where we'll inspect and repair or replace your Guncon 3."Much of the appeal of games like Time Crisis 4 comes from the ability to play with friends. Why is Namco Bandai making it so difficult (and expensive) for PS3 fans to make Time Crisis 4 a better game? "At least it's cheaper than the arcade version," must be thought going through their heads.[Thanks, Alkaiser!]
Want two GunCons? Buy two copies of Time Crisis 4
Namco-Bandai has a habit of doing inane things -- frequently . The company's latest misadventure involves the sale of the Guncon 3. More accurately, it's more about the non-sale of the Guncon 3. See, although Time Crisis 4 is a two-player game, only one Guncon is bundled with the game -- and you can't buy another one separately. Basically, you'll need to buy another copy of the game to get another Guncon.The whole thing plays out on a Live Support Chat posted over at The Consumerist. The guy who contacted Namco-Bandai is informed that he can always have the second player use "a controller" if he wants to play co-op and is told, "If you wish to play two players using two Guncon 3s then you will need another copy of Time Crisis 4." Redonkulous, but not unheard of. Come on, let's break up those peripheral bundles from day one![Thanks, Alkaiser]
Today's most Scarface-infused Time Crisis video
Is there anything funnier than Japanese people pretending to be Al Pacino? Not tonight. A new TIme Crisis 4 video has surfaced on the web, and it showcases a silly Scarface homage using the Guncon. Bad acting, bad props, and bad special effects merge into an experience that's very special. It's sort of like the game's FPS mode ...
Time Crisis 4 producer says Guncon 3 'more accurate than Wii'
We're happy with on-rail shooters on the Wii. We enjoyed Resident Evil: Umbrella Chroncles, love to talk about Ghost Squad and we're definitely looking forward to House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return. We'd say the console is a pretty good place to look to for developers anxious to produce an on-rails shooter.Producer for Time Crisis 4, Teruaki Minami, thinks the new Guncon 3 is more advanced than the Wiimote, however. While we'll entertain his thoughts on how it's more advanced in the LED department (hint: it's got more of them), we're pretty confident that the Wiimote beats it on innovation and the fact that it is included with the system. But, we'll still allow him to state his case, as he claims "Guncon 3's LED markers are actually much more accurate. Much better than Nintendo Wii's controller. In the Wii, there are only two LED points, but for the Guncon 3 there are six LED points, so it is more accurate than the Wii." OK, it's more accurate, but is it totally necessary? Can the average consumer even tell the difference?
The not-so-cheap way of playing Time Crisis
Namco's Time Crisis 4 comes out today, and its high Guncon-infused price tag may scare a few people. At $90, it certainly isn't cheap ... but when you consider the alternative, it certainly feels like a bargain. For the truly hardcore, instead of picking up the PS3 game, why not consider buying the arcade game downright? It'll only cost you $16k.Certainly, this makes the price of a PS3, an HDTV and the game seem very, very cheap in comparison. Stay tuned for the complete review of the PS3 version of Time Crisis 4.
Time Crisis 4 video shows new FPS mode, unskilled player
We've noticed a disturbing trend in some of the preview videos we've been getting through the usual channels - the people playing the games in these videos are terrible at them. Exhibit F - this preview for the new First Person Shooter mode in Time Crisis 4 gives you a great idea of what repeatedly getting shot in the face is going to be like. We can't really blame this particular player, though. On-rails shooters are on rails for a reason - we can't be expected to walk and shoot poorly-rendered terrorists at the same time. Why'd you have to go and make things so complicated, Namco?
Footage of Time Crisis 4's FPS mode
The new FPS mode of Time Crisis 4 has so much potential. Too bad it isn't actually taking advantage of any of it. Combining a terrific FPS with the free aim of the Guncon would be nothing short of incredible. Instead, it seems we're receiving a rather primitive attempt at a generic, basic FPS that's sloppy in too many ways. A shame, really. We're certain the Arcade on-rails segments will be a lot of fun, and hope that a more capable team will deliver something a bit more refined than this first attempt at a light gun FPS game.
The creation of the Guncon 3, part two
Yeah, we left you on a sort of cliffhanger last time we talked about the creation of the new Guncon for Time Crisis 4, but as promised, we're back to follow up with the final steps of its creation. First and foremost (and important to this blogger on a personal level), we have been assured that the new Guncon 3 design works equally well for left-handed players, so fear not if you think the design favors one handedness over another. A second humorous point is the fact that outside of Japan, the Guncon 3 has a really cheesy (literally) bright orange color. Japan gets a cool black one. Why? Government regulations in the US and certain parts of Europe -- anything modeled after a gun needs to look significantly different than a real gun.It helps that the gun is accurate. The hardware side of the gun sounds impressive: "the lens of the gun was designed by a company that makes precision lenses used in cameras and scanners that can minimize distortion at the 90mm level. In the Guncon 3 itself, there are chips dedicated to computing the location of the sensors, which can detect their position within 1/60th of a second and transmit the data to the PS3. These chips also contain the functionality to detect movement and tilt" like a Sixaxis -- might be handy for reloading? Anyway, check out the post on the PlayStation Blog to see all the prototypes and the final result.
Multiple weapons appear in Time Crisis 4 trailer
It's about time we saw another trailer for Time Crisis 4, the baddest mother of all arcade shooters. Debatable, but we'll say it under the condition you guys offer your favorite arcade shooters in your comments. A personal favorite, for example, is Crypt Killer. It was rad. So is this trailer. Not only does it seem like you get a large array of weapon possibilities, but you get to control helicopters, have standard-looking missions a la previous Time Crisis games as well as the new fully controllable "FPS Stages". Lookin' good!
How the GunCon 3 came to be
Ever wondered what kind of work goes into creating those GunCon devices? The one you'll use for Time Crisis 4 is different from its predecessors, as it dictates all on-screen movement as well as aiming/shooting. This is something the franchise has wanted to do for a while, but with the GunCon 2 and older consoles, it just didn't seem feasible. As you can see from the picture, early renderings put an analog stick where the gun's hammer would be. It doesn't look that comfortable for moving around a level, honestly, but that's why it's an early rendering and not the final product. After a month, a prototype was created where two people could move around in a room and try to shoot one another. It only had algorithms for horizontal aiming, which obviously had vertical aiming to add later, but for the gun itself, testing it this way was necessary. We're left wondering about the final stages of the process, as it has yet to be written. It seems a lot of work was put into the GunCon 3, so much so that the game itself seems like an add-on, though it's the reason for the redesign.
Deal of the Day: Time Crisis 4 for $80
How can an $80 game ever be a deal? Well, when it includes the Guncon 3. Namco Bandai's upcoming Time Crisis 4 is a pricey purchase thanks to the bundled peripheral. However, it promises to be the most advanced light gun on the market. Hopefully, we'll see other games support the Guncon -- it would be a total waste to just make a single game for it. The PSN is a perfect place for Namco Bandai (or any other publisher) to release small new light gun games. (Of course, we hope Sega realizes how perfect it would be to bring Let's Go Jungle! to the system ... )Amazon.com is offering the game and gun peripheral for $80. Yes, it's a bit much, but it's probably the cheapest pre-order you'll find right now.[Via CAG]
Time Crisis 4 trailer assures us they still suck at voice acting
Giorgio, Evan, and William. Those are your main characters for Time Crisis 4 and your mission is to battle terrorists -- wait, no, they're not terrorists. But they are! Insert cheesy voice-over and explosion. This trailer is bad. Not bad as in "this game sucks" but it's hilariously bad like Zero Wing. But, as they say at the end of the trailer, at least it won't be boring. These games are a lot of fun to play and have eaten our quarters for over ten years. We're excited to test it out in our homes!
TGS07: Time Crisis 4 impressions
Click for high-res image. The light gun genre may be a dying breed, but Time Crisis 4 ignores all warnings. In spite of some sloppy graphical and presentation issues, it's clear that Time Crisis 4 is the best, if not only, option for fans of the genre.Right now, the game doesn't have that "next-gen polish" we've become so accustomed to on the PS3. Textures and character models don't really pop out. However, the framerate seems pretty solid, and the action flows at a brisk pace. At the very least, it looks better than the other light gun port, Ghost Squad on Wii.The new FPS mode is where the game features the most potential, adding some depth to the arcade experience. Right now, the AI is fairly unintelligent, and the level design feels similar to the original on-rails mode. What may come as jarring for some is the lack of a gun model on-screen. FPS players have long been used to the gun being on screen, but because this game requires players to aim with the Guncon 3 (G-Con in the PAL territories), the indicator is unnecessary.Right now, Time Crisis 4 looks like it needs some polish. However, Guncon 3 is an excellent peripheral that has us keeping high hopes for future light gun titles.%Gallery-4065%
Videos showcase new FPS mode in Time Crisis 4
Maybe a fanboy shouldn't write about Time Crisis 4. For example, the graphics are far from revolutionary, looking more like a PS2 game than a PS3 title. Yet, the unique control mechanism of Time Crisis 4's new FPS mode certainly warrants a closer look. Instead of having a virtual mouse on the screen, players are free to simply aim at the screen. Really. Aim as you would a real gun, and fire away. These two new videos aren't filled to the brim with depth, but they show, at the very least, the potential that Time Crisis 4 has in bringing something new to the genre.
Guncon 3 and Time Crisis 4: press that pedal down to see some screens
It's almost unfair how many quarters Time Crisis 2 sucked out of our pockets, but we're not going to talk about that classic. It's time to double that number and check out some screenshots of Time Crisis 4 as well as a few pictures of the featured Guncon 3. While the game may not be a graphical achievement, they never really were. But the fun factor made up for it in spades, clubs, diamonds and even hearts.So, you've seen the images of the game, but you're still wondering if the Guncon 3 will keep the red and blue plastic look we've all been able to recognize in arcades worldwide. Short answer? No. Long answer? No, but it looks pretty awesome. We've stuck a small image of it in the big image above so you can get the gist of it. It's metallic, looks a little beat up and used, but mostly screams "shoot me at your screen, please." We're excited for this game since the last time we had fun with a light gun style game was House of the Dead II for the Dreamcast. Any Time Crisis memories you'd care to share?
Time Crisis 4: FPS shooting for a new generation
One game easily stole the show at Namco Bandai's Editor's Day: Time Crisis 4. This PS3 exclusive title will feature support for the Wii-inspired Guncom 3. Having recently played the original arcade version, we can confidently say that the PS3 version will be superior in every single way. If you haven't taken a closer look yet, you should. This will easily become one of PS3's killer-apps amongst hardcore gamers.The new Guncom takes advantage of Wii-esque technology, which allows it to be compatible with SDTVs and HDTVs of all kinds (previous Time Crisis console titles did not work with certain types of TVs). The new HD graphics are stunning: a vast improvement over the pixelated mess of the arcade original.The single most exciting feature of the PS3 Time Crisis has to be its new FPS mode, which allows you to freely move around the world whilst using Guncom 3 to fire at enemies. By adding the precision controls of a light gun game into the FPS genre is certainly going to create a truly immersive experience. If Namco Bandai can nail down the controls on the game before its November release, we can't help but think that this game could potentially set the standard for FPS game control.View the trailer after the cut, or download the trailer directly to your PS3 by visiting our website on your console.%Gallery-4065%
PSP Fanboy Theatre: Volume 24
PSP Fanboy offers the latest and greatest movie and game trailers, formatted for the PSP in this new weekly feature. Check it out every Saturday. PSP owners can download files wirelessly via m.pspfanboy.com.Instructions: Save all movie and thumbnail files to the VIDEO folder. These high resolution 480x272 videos require firmware 3.30 or above. (Note: OE custom firmware will also play these videos.)New for PSP: Get selected videos delivered automatically to your PSP via our new RSS feed. Haze [PS3]Download MP4 (21.5MB) | Download JPG The following videos are featured after the break: The Agency (PS3), Soul Calibur IV (PS3, 360), Stranglehold (PS3, 360), Time Crisis 4 (PS3), The Darkness (PS3, 360), Mr. Bean's Holiday
PS3 Guncon relies on Wii-like pointer
With traditional light guns firing nothing but unhelpful blanks at our fancy LCD and plasma televisions, there was some question as to how the PlayStation 3's Guncon would function with the upcoming Time Crisis 4. An article on Japanese site Game Watch (which now appears to have been removed) provided the details, since documented and translated by Game|Life's Chris Kohler.Much like the Wiimote (as used by Sega's light gun game, Ghost Squad), the Guncon 3 relies on two markers placed on either side of the television. A sensor inside the gun's muzzle detects the markers and automagically figures out where it's being pointed. The controller also features six buttons and a second analog stick placed on an awkward "subgrip" that you're meant to hold with your left hand. The original article points out that while Japan gets a black gun, America and Europe will have to make do with a charming orange model, as seen above (in the company of the world's mangiest jacket)..
