Time Crisis

This article is about the first game in the series. For information on the series as a whole, see Time Crisis (series).

Time Crisis
Cover art
Developer(s)	Namco
Publisher(s)	Namco
Designer(s)	Takashi Sano (supervisor)
Series	Time Crisis series
Platform(s)	Arcade, PlayStation
Release date(s)	Arcade INT 1995 PlayStation JP June 27, 1997 NA October 30, 1997 PAL November 30, 1997
Genre(s)	Light gun shooter Rail shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player
Cabinet	Upright
Arcade system	Namco System Super 22
Display	Horizontal orientation, Raster, 640 x 480 resolution

Time Crisis (タイムクライシス, Taimu Kuraishisu) is a light gun shooter arcade game released by Namco in 1995. It is the first game in Namco's Time Crisis series, notable for its revolutionary pedal mechanic for utilising cover. It was later ported for the PlayStation in 1997, bundled with the G-Con 45 controller. The PlayStation version received a direct sequel, Time Crisis: Project Titan, in 2001.

Gameplay

Time Crisis is a three-dimensional on-rails light gun shooter that puts players in the role of only special agent from V.S.S.E Richard Miller as he infiltrates an island to rescue a hostage called Rachel. The original arcade version utilises a light gun with recoil function and a foot pedal. In the PlayStation version, players may use the GunCon/G-Con 45 light gun peripheral or alternatively use a standard controller to navigate a moveable crosshair target.

The game is best known for its introduction of the cover system, which allows players to hide from attacks. During the game, the player will hide behind some cover, where they will be unable to shoot enemies. By holding down the foot pedal (or pressing a button in the console version), the player will emerge from their cover and are able to fire at their enemies. Players can shoot six bullets at a time, after which they must take cover again by releasing the foot pedal in order to reload. Whilst out of cover, players will be vulnerable to certain attacks such as direct shots, knives, missiles and various obstacles, and will lose a life if they are hit, though additional lives may be gained through skilled play. Players must also face against a ticking clock, which can be replenished by clearing each section or shooting certain enemies quickly. If the player loses all of their lives or runs out of time, the game ends. They may continue if they have any remaining credits, although in the PlayStation version, they will need to resume from the beginning of the current area as opposed to where they left off. The game consists of three stages, each split up into three areas and a boss battle.

The arcade version consists of two modes, Story Mode and Timed Mode. In Story Mode, players play through each stage whilst progressing through the story with limited lives. At the end of the game, players are ranked on their completion time and performance. In Timed Mode, players select a single stage and are given unlimited lives to try and clear it as quickly as possible. The PlayStation version features an original side-story in which Richard must stop a weapons dealer named Kantaris. This mode features numerous routes that the player will take depending on how quickly they clear certain areas, culminating in one of three final stages that have different outcomes depending on whether or not the player manages to defeat Kantaris at the end before she escapes.

Plot

A GunCon controller that could be bought bundled with the game

The main plot of the first original Time Crisis arcade game release involves an attempted coup in the fictional republic of Sercia. For a millennium, the Garo family ruled Sercia with an iron fist. In the year 1995, the V.S.S.E. International Intelligence Agency sent William MacPherson, who successfully toppled the Garo regime and became its first democratically elected president.

The last remaining member of the Garo family, Sherudo Garo, sought to recapture the throne from the hands of President MacPherson. He sends a mercenary named Wild Dog and kidnaps the president's daughter, Rachel. Garo demands military secrets in return for Rachel's safety or he will kill her by sunset. V.S.S.E. sends its best and only agent, Richard Miller (also called the "One-Man Army") to break in, invade Garo's castle and rescue Rachel.

Miller manages his way through the lower levels of the castle only to find a trap set up by Moz, one of Garo's henchmen armed with a clawed hand. After defeating Moz and being directed to the clock tower, Richard works up through the upper levels of the castle and finds Rachel and Garo. Garo pulls out his knives and they battle, which ends when Miller kills him; however, Wild Dog reappears, kidnaps Rachel, and drags her away. Miller pursues Wild Dog, and it finally ends on a bridge just outside of the castle. Wild Dog begins detonating the castle and is planning to fly away on a helicopter, shooting Rachel in the arm but missed as she tries to escape. After a rough battle, Miller defeats Wild Dog, causing him to drop his radio detonator and become engulfed in the destruction. Miller and Rachel safely make it out and return home.

The Kantaris deal is a side special story exclusive to the PlayStation version of Time Crisis. Miller has received orders to infiltrate a mysterious hotel known as Chateau Du Luc, which is operated by Kantaris, leader of the smuggling network of the same name. The V.S.S.E. has received positive verification that Kantaris supplied arms to the Wild Dogs, and it is Miller's mission to disband this organization. Exactly how this happens will differ depending on the player's performance in this story. Depending on these different routes, Miller may face off against Kantaris' pet cyborg "Web Spinner" in the ballroom, a giant robot in the Lounge, a Spider-like battle tank in the Parking Lot, or the Kantaris attack helicopter on the Heliport. The story will end with a "Mission Complete" message if the player managed to gun down Kantaris' car, destroyed the robot in enough time so it causes Kantaris to be pushed out of the window or shoot down the helicopter with Kantaris inside it. However, it will end with a "Mission Failed" message if Kantaris managed to get away or remained alive.

Soundtrack

In 1997, a soundtrack known as "Time Crisis Arcade Soundtrack" was released. Later another soundtrack known as Time Crisis 3D Sound Ensemble was released. The soundtrack contains audio dramas that depicts events during and before the game, such as Miller's battle against Sherudo from the game.

Reception

The game holds an average aggregate score of 9.0 out of 10 at GameStats. The noted novelist Stephen King stated that he enjoys playing Time Crisis.

Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator	Score
GameStats	9.0 / 10
Review scores
Publication	Score
GamePro
GameSpot	8.4 /10
IGN	8 /10

External links

• Time Crisis at the Killer List of Videogames
• Arcade-History.com entry