Best place to get Time Crisis games for the PS2?

[Kintaro56]

Wow...I must have been living under a rock when these game out for the PS2...I don't know why I never got these games!

I looked on BestBuy and CircuitCity's website, and they only offer Time Crisis 4 for the PS3.

Does anyone know of a retailer that would have the PS2 Time Crisis games? I won't go to GameStop or one of those type places.

Any information about these games would be appreciated, in addition to info on other light game games for the PS2.

Thanks!

[PsychoCandy]

Your best bet if you don't want to go to a chain game store would have to be local bestbuys/circuit cities or pawn shops.

[diskoboy]

I think you still may end up having to buy it used.

From what I remember, Time Crisis 3 and Crisis Zone for the PS2 have been out of print for a while now.

And if you have an HDTV, the guncon 2 won't work on it.

[roushimsx]

I won't go to GameStop or one of those type places.

Bummer, because with the Buy 2 Get 1 Free, you could quite easily get Time Crisis 2, Time Crisis 3, and Crisis Zone together for under $30. You're still left with needing to buy the GunCon2s, but you'll at least have the games. Also, Time Crisis 2 works with the GunCon1 if you have it. If you DO have it, I hope you have Time Crisis and Time Crisis: Project Titan for PS1.

I have high hopes for Namco one day rereleasing the earlier games on a compilation disc of some sort with GunCon3 support. That'd just be so hella neato. Hell, I wouldn't even complain if they just did 'em on the Wii, like Sega. The only reason I have an SDTV right now is for my lightgun games.

[Vectorman0]

Outside of GameStop, you are going to have a very difficult time finding these games. The only other place you may have a chance finding it as at and independent game store or maybe an FYE (or any of its affiliated places). Last time I saw either of the TC2 or TC3 bundles were at those two places over a year or two ago. Last time I saw them used was at gamestop recently, or at and independent game store. I can't imagine you finding this new at a Bestbuy, Circuit City or a similar retailer; I think it would have been clearanced out a long time ago.

[Kintaro56]

Thanks everyone; I really appreciate it.

You're all right: I looked at ebay and amazon, and some online shops want $139.00 for just Time Crisis 3 sealed...f..forget that!

How does the dual GunCon2's work? If I buy two of them, can I then hook them together and use them in singleplayer in any of the games? If I buy the games and then the guns seperately, will I need anything else like an attachment or something?

I'll check out GameStop after all, it's just that I've had some bad experiences with buying anything used from them.

Thanks again.

[roushimsx]

I'll check out GameStop after all, it's just that I've had some bad experiences with buying anything used from them.

Be picky when you snag the games there. If you're not happy with the case, if the manual isn't in there, or if the disc doesn't look good enough for you, just don't buy it. If you impulse buy it without checking, just return it within 7 days and tell them why you're returning it (not happy with its condition) and they'll take it back.

It's hard to believe that a little over a year ago they were dumping new copies of Time Crisis 3 for $20 a pop (I only bought one :( ).

Like Vectorman said, check those local shops, too. You'll probably have better luck finding guns at smaller stores (locally we have Vintage Stock and Game Exchange, both of which tend to be good for random stuff).

Multiplayer is split screen & system hook up. Not sure if there's an akimbo mode or not...don't think so, but I honestly haven't ever checked. Split screen is kinda "meh" (resolution drop per screen is too great) and system link is cost prohibitive (less now that used PS2s can be had on the cheap)...but hey, the options are there.

[studvicious]

I got lucky and found a Time Crisis 3 at my local K-Mart a few months back. I believe I paid a whopping $3 for it.

[RadiantSvgun]

I remember buying Time Crisis 3 with 2 guncons for like 24.99 back in the day at Gamestop. If you don't want to go to Gamestop/EB, check ebay or Replays.

I didn't know that the guncon and guncon 2 isn't compatible with a HDTV. Bummer.

[Poofta!]

time crisis 2 w/ guncon goes for crazy money on ebay these days, no idea why.

gamestops are definately the way to go.

[josekortez]

Sad story - I've got multiple new copies of Time Crisis: Crisis Zone (PS2) sitting in my storage unit but I don't know what boxes they're in nor do I know how far back behind all the other junk they are...

[Trebuken]

I recently saw both Time Crisis 2 and 3 at a store called BuyBacks. They both included guns(s), and were marked over $100 each. The price really threw me off because I bought all the Time Cris PS1, and PS2 games last year cheaply (actually I got all the PS2 GunCon games). I can't understand the price increase but am thankful for it since I have them...

[LiquidPolicenaut]

I have high hopes for Namco one day rereleasing the earlier games on a compilation disc of some sort with GunCon3 support. That'd just be so hella neato.

I love this idea too. Hell, it'd be great if they just release them on the PSN Store and thus could easily be compatible with the GunCon 3. While they are at, can they also throw in some Vampire Night as well? Even more of a stretch, but how about some forgotten love for Virtua Cop? :)

[roushimsx]

Even more of a stretch, but how about some forgotten love for Virtua Cop? :)

Perhaps if the House of the Dead doublepack does well then Sega will do a Virtua Cop pack...but I don't have my hopes very high on that one. They didn't include House of the Dead 1 in the pack because of its dated graphics, afterall :(

Has anyone figured out what the Time Crisis 4 1.01 update was for, btw?

[Overbite]

a while ago at Gamestop I picked up the Time Crisis 3 box with 2 guncons for $20. I went and got Crisis Zone there also but they don't have TC2 in stock :(


Perhaps if the House of the Dead doublepack does well then Sega will do a Virtua Cop pack...but I don't have my hopes very high on that one. They didn't include House of the Dead 1 in the pack because of its dated graphics, afterall :(

Has anyone figured out what the Time Crisis 4 1.01 update was for, btw?

The HotD pack is worthless without the first one. I want a virtua cop pack too

[roushimsx]

The HotD pack is worthless without the first one. I want a virtua cop pack too

Pretty much my thoughts exactly :(

[Kintaro56]

I did manage to pick up a surprisingly good copy of Time Crisis 3 at GameStop for $17.99 on the way home from work. Not a scratch on it, and the manual is in perfect shape.

Very nice surprise for me considering some of the games I've seen GameStop try to sell that were in horrific shape.

Now however, I can't find a GunCom anywhere to save my life...

[diskoboy]

A smidge off topic.... Anyone actually playing Time Crisis 4 yet? If so, how is it?


Saw it today, and thought about picking it up. I ended up getting Rachet & Clank Future Tools Of Destruction instead. $80 seems a bit steep for a Time Crisis game.

[roushimsx]

A smidge off topic.... Anyone actually playing Time Crisis 4 yet? If so, how is it?

It's a lot of fun, though setting up the guns is a bit of a pain to get just right and the PS3 exclusive FPS mode is pretty crappy. The arcade game itself is pretty awesome, especially if you liked Time Crisis 3. Multiscreen battles (rotate view by flicking the gun to the side) have been growing on me and I absolutely love the variety in each of the (massive) stages.

$80 is hella steep, though. I'd suggest waiting until it drops to $50 again. :(

[otaku]

I bought one boxset of TC3 with a guncon and a loose copy of the game with another guncon total was about 40-50 bucks at a local game/pawnshop I ended up selling the lot for around $80 later

[Kintaro56]

So does anyone know about one person using two GunCons, John Woo style? Do I just need to buy two seperate guns, or was there a dual version?

Thanks!

[Kintaro56]

Finally got my two GunCon 2's!

I caliberated them, but they seem be slightly inaccurate...they seem to aim too low. I really wish I could see an aiming reticule when I fire, but Time Crisis 3 does not have one...do all GunCom games neglect to show a reticule during the game?

[Gabriel]

A smidge off topic.... Anyone actually playing Time Crisis 4 yet? If so, how is it?


I wrote a semi-review and posted it on AtariAge. I'll copy it here for you:



Time Crisis 4 is the latest installment of the Time Crisis series, a series which, in my opinion, sets the highest standard for light gun games. Sadly, that standard was not met this installment. While improvements from Time Crisis 3 such as multiple weapon types, and Project Titan such as shifting your shooting viewpoint, have been integrated into this fourth installment, the flavor of the game has been changed. To use an analogy, the older Time Crisis games are Classic Coke, and Time Crisis 4 is New Coke, which tastes like Pepsi. Of course, anyone who wants to drink Pepsi will drink Pepsi, and still won't care for New Coke. They want Classic Coke. I want my old Time Crisis back.

(As a side note, I liked New Coke, but let's just ignore that inconvenient fact as I proceed through the rest of the review.)

Historically, Time Crisis has been a light gun game which empahsizes methodical play. It's fast paced, but is based on split second decision making and relies on pinpoint shooting by the player. Virtua Cop used this same formula, and so did Silent Scope. But lesser light gun games like the overrated House of the Dead series or things like Carnival or Crypt Killer, simply adopt a philosophy of keeping the player shooting at the screen randomly and rapidly. Sadly, Time Crisis 4 has decided to go with this lesser formula. The entire Arcade mode of play can be summed up by a line from one of the characters therein, "Just hold the trigger down and keep firing." With this, Time Crisis 4 betrays its very nature and becomes the New Coke of videogames. Pepsi, please.

Luckily, there's the new FPS mode, which seems to be the meat of the game. Or is it? In this mode you control your movement and facing with the two analog sticks on the Guncon 3, but you aim and shoot at your targets with the traditional lightgun interface. In this mode, there is much more of the feel of classic Time Crisis. The bad news is that the levels are long and dull. There's also the distinct Namco-sub-game feeling. This could be much better with a higher degree of polish and better level design, but, as it stands, it just comes off as a rough side diversion.

In my quest for other opinions, I asked one of my gaming buddies to try the game too. He quickly noted the lack of interaction with the backgrounds, which he considered a hallmark of the Time Crisis games. He loved watching objects fly in the earlier games, but found Time Crisis 4's degree of interaction with scenery objects to be so reduced as to be non-existent. I agreed with his view. This was probably the most damning aspect of half-assedness in the game.

There are some other little target shooting subgames. But these show a lack of inspiration unparalled in the series. They all consist of blank play areas and simple round targets in various modes of movement. They're lame any way you look at them.

Finally, there's the Guncon 3. I had fears about how accurate the device would be. Thankfully, they were mostly unfounded. While not anywhere near as accurate as the Guncon or Guncon 2, it's at least up to the acceptable standards of the Saturn Stunner. The new handgrip makes it more comfortable to hold, and all the buttons except for two on the side of the gun are easily accessible. Namco misses the bus though by failing to make the gun wireless, and once again failing to include a recoil feature. The gun also lacks standard controller features like the PS button, so unless you have autostart on your PS3 enabled, you'll have to start the game with a powered up sixaxis. There's also the inconvenience that the Guncon 3 takes up two of the front USB ports: one for the gun itself and one for the LED sensor. And every time you power up your PS3, it will provide a message that it doesn't recognize the USB components you have hooked up. But the final problem is that the controller feels a bit cheap. The final verdict on the controller is that it's good, but it does have a lot of little flaws.

Back to the game, the graphics are decent and the sound is decent. There's nothing worth writing about here other than run of the will worksmanship. Storywise, the game maintains the Time Crisis tradition of pretending to be a big budget grade Z action movie like Die Hard or something. Due to the art design of the characters, especially the VSSE agents, I had a hard time taking them seriously. There are costumes that work in anime which just don't work in CG. The two VSSE agent characters prove that as truth. They look like idiots. Even SNK characters aren't as fashion challenged. Alba and Soiree Miera* have nothing on these guys.

(*Those two are from the KOF: Maximum Impact games. The openings, showing them walking along all tough and "bad ass" provides some of the greatest unintentional humor ever in a videogame.)

Is Time Crisis 4 fun? Not if you have Time Crisis 3 or Time Crisis: Crisis Zone around, which both do what Time Crisis 4 is trying to do in arcade mode, but do it better and without compromising the expectations of the series. By betraying it's defining nature, this installment has set a new low, not a new high. It's new randomly-hose-the-screen mechanic might have worked if there was more interaction with the scenery, but, as it stands, Time Crisis 4 has merely lowered itself to the blandness of the competition. I daresay Time Crisis 4 has finally managed to fully emulate one of those grade Z summer blockbusters: entertaining for the short term, but big, stupid, and utterly forgettable.

As much as it pains me. I think I have to say this one is just bad. Not horrible, but just blandly bad. It would almost be reassuring if the badness could be chalked up to something like the control, ala Link's Crossbow Training, but it can't. The game is just uninspired and a bore. You've played the arcade mode a thousand different times under different names. The FPS mode just isn't developed enough to be worth center stage. And the mini games are a total waste of time.

Now I'm going to go sulk, because I so wanted this game to be awesome.