While this addition is still nothing too huge, it offers something new to the game play, which has basically been unchanged since Time Crisis 2.
The new game also borrows from other popular arcade shooters, mainly Machine Guns and Silent Scope, with segments that have you shooting rail guns from a helicopter and shooting with pinpoint accuracy from a sniper rifle. While the concepts are borrowed, taking down SAM trucks and helicopters provides a change of pace of shooting the same enemies you’ve encountered since, once again, part two.
Graphically, Time Crisis 4 is not much different than part three – which is a good thing. The environments are all nicely detailed, the characters look and animate great and the explosions look better than ever.
The most notable non-game play improvement lies within the sound. With Agent Rush and your communications, the number of voice clips in the game is bumped up significantly from other installments of the game. All of the main characters feature surprisingly decent voice acting that, for once, give the characters in the Time Crisis universe a little depth and personality.
Another great surprise for the series is the somewhat deep and twisting storyline. Featuring plot twists and mission segments that build tension, Time Crisis 4 provides a much more compelling storyline than a generic “save the world from this weapon” yet again.
While the surface has changed, unfortunately Time Crisis 4 is still the tried and true hide-and-shoot mechanic introduced nearly 10 years ago. The game is executed extremely well and brings a lot more freshness than part three did, but at the core, the game is still the same as the original Time Crisis. Also, much like parts two and three, Time Crisis 4 lacks the urgency of time the original did – you can take your time in moderation and still not have to worry about the clock.
Overall, Time Crisis 4 is a great addition to the series. Teaming up with a buddy gives the standoff mechanics a little more reason to bring a friend to watch your back and makes the already fun multiplayer a little deeper while the weapon weakness system gives players more reason to experiment with the different weapons. With new play mechanics, the same old shoot-everything-that-moves philosophy is built upon and gives the series a very solid arcade pinnacle.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Guppusmaximus
I have always thought that Time Crisis was the best Light-Gun series in the arcade because of the graphics,buddy system,action and sound. Namco is keeping the arcades alive and this 4th installation seems to be off the charts...
Great Review!!
2 - James McGovern
Aaron,
Awesome stuff on the House of the Dead 4 and Time Crisis 4 reviews! Keep them coming!
We posted a news item about them today at: retroblast.com
Regards,
RetroBlast.com
3 - Aaron Auzins
Thanks for the comments.
Frankly I wasn't even aware the game was out until I went to an arcade location testing for a business. While I hate the whole $1 a game thing, I was pretty satisfied with what Namco did with Time Crisis 4. To be honest, Time Crisis 3 didn't impress me one bit so I'm glad a little more attention was thrown into this installment.
4 - Denise
Will be there Virtua Cop 4?
5 - Denise Chan
Will be there Time Crisis 5 for real?
6 - Mark
I can't wait to play #4...I started playing the first Time Crisis waiting in line for a movie ticket...I have been hooked ever since! So hooked in fact, that I have been looking to buy one for the house! Time Crisis 4 is starting at about 16k if someone is interested...little to high for me...awesome game and well worth the $1 bills that I have shoveled into it over the years.
7 - Denise Christie Chan
I guessing Time Crisis 5 will be featuring some more new characters, such as VSSE agents, suppoerters and enemies
8 - Denise Christie Chan
I can't wait Time Crisis 5 for this new game, beside House of the Dead 5, this is the fifth instalment in the game.
9 - Denise Christie Chan
Time Crisis 5 will be released in this year, by the year 2012, Time Crisis 5 will make this idea of this game.
10 - Denise Chan
Time Crisis 5 is as good as House of the Dead 5, featuring newest characters.
11 - Denise Christie Chan
House of the Dead 5 will be out soon, so be prepared!!
12 - Denise Chan
I heard there's a new light gun game coming soon in 2012, that would be Time Crisis 5, it will feature 3 playable characters in the game, including the two new supporters.
13 - Denise Chan
i heard there's a Virtua Cop 4 making its way to sega games, I like the game installments.
14 - Denise Chan
I like Time Crisis games, it rocks all four games, i can't wait to see Time Crisis 5, this game will rock your body!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
15 - Denise Chan
VSSE agents were featured in every game such as Richard Miller, a lengendary VSSE agent in both Time Crisis 1 and Project Titan, Keith Martin & Robert Baxter in Time Crisis II, Alan Dunaway & Wesley Lambert in Time Crisis 3 and Giorgio Bruno & Evan Bernard uin Time Crisis 4, but who's will be the new characters in Time Crisis 5? We'll find out in the newcoming Time Crisis 5!!
16 - Denise Christie Chan
Time Crisis 5 will be out soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
17 - Denise Chan
I hoping for Time Crisis 5, the fifth installment of Namco's famous gun game.......
18 - Denise Chan
There will be Time Crisis 5, Time Crisis 6, Time Crisis 7 and so on. We can't wait for the next game.
19 - Denise Chan
Time Crisis 5 will be shooting soon for 2012...............Shoot you later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
20 - Denise Chan
Time Crisis 5 will be releasing the three guns, the three newest agents/protagonists and a rescue mission for two duetagonists.
21 - Denise Chan
Who's want to get Time Crisis 5?
22 - Denise Chan
I like all kinds of light gun games, this time it's Namco's famous and popular Time Crisis games.
23 - Denise Chan
I can't wait for both new games of Time Crisis and House of the Dead, that would be Time Crisis 5 and House of the Dead 5, double the action and double the power.
24 - Denise Chan
I have to wait for Time Crisis 5 to be out in 2012, this would take forever to release this game.
25 - Denise Chan
Wait for this Time Crisis 5 game for 3-4 years.