Joystiq hands-on: Time Crisis 4 (PS3)
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Jul 18th 2007 at 9:28AM }
We would love to try and set up the Guncon ourselves, but the kiosk at E3 certainly proved that, under the right conditions, the Guncon works. There are two sensors that must be placed at the top left and right of the television screen, essentially mimicking the technology found in the Wii sensor bar.
Shooting without an on-screen cursor was easy, and it wasn't too long before we were shooting enemies, switching weapons, and dodging enemy fire rather easily. The weapon select feature is fantastic: being able to switch between a pistol, to a shotgun, to a rifle for the various encounters adds an appreciable amount of strategy to the game.
Time Crisis 4 is looking to be a rather complete offering for PS3 owners, especially with the inventive FPS mode the game is promising. Although we're not fond of the generic art style, and the rather dull graphics, the Guncon 3 opens a world of possibilities for future light gun games on the PS3.
Gallery: Time Crisis 4 and Guncon 3
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Alex S. @ Jul 18th 2007 9:32AM
Don't you mean Guncon?
JodyAnthony @ Jul 18th 2007 9:40AM
should be guncon.
also i love time crisis
Curmeo @ Jul 18th 2007 9:43AM
"Recreating an arcade experience at home has always met with a few stumbling blocks, but it appears that the new Guncom 3 might be the best home light gun yet."
this is great news for PS3 owners. hopefully they significantly improve the graphics/art style. cant wait for this game. i admit i found Resident Evil/Wii Zapper Gun appealing, but this title might just satisfy me.
bm @ Jul 18th 2007 9:45AM
Holy crap. Surely this is the PSP version?
Andrew Yoon throws a ridiculous fit over SC Legends, elaborates widely on how he thinks MP3 looks crap, yet is full of praise (and barely mentions the graphics) of this game, which looks considerably worse than an average PS2 game in many of those shots (check out the jungle shots with the missiles) on the PS3! Teh real next gen!
Don't you just love thinly veiled trolls who pretend to be normal people?
Stevo @ Jul 18th 2007 9:50AM
Yeah, those screens definitely don't look next gen. Maybe they are just bad captures...Either way, last time I bought a lightgun game was House of Dead 2 for the DC. It was a blast w/ 2 guns, but definitely got old after a weekend. I'm sure these will be no different.
Konny @ Jul 18th 2007 9:46AM
Finally, a real lightgun solution for non-crt displays.. this trumps the Wiimote by many times.
With Guncon.. (once calibrated) where you point is where you SHOOT; whereas the wiimote is simply a relative point like a mouse... thereby necessitating an ONSCREEN cursor. This reduces games like RE:UC to a simple point and click game... el-lame-o
JodyAnthony @ Jul 18th 2007 9:50AM
in re4 wii or zelda:tp, when I look right down the center of my wii remote the onscreen cursor is exactly where i am pointing at my tv.
vidGuy @ Jul 18th 2007 10:01AM
So you'd rather have to lock your shoulders and directly exact at the screen? That brings back the pain of the old lightguns, have fun with that.
The Wii remote trumps that with relative movement like a mouse - ease and accuracy of direct aiming from the comfort of your lap, side, or shoulder (if you want).
vidGuy @ Jul 18th 2007 10:01AM
So you'd rather have to lock your shoulders and point directly at the screen? That brings back the pain of the old lightguns, have fun with that.
The Wii remote trumps that with relative movement like a mouse - ease and accuracy of direct aiming from the comfort of your lap, side, or shoulder (if you want).
Alex S. @ Jul 18th 2007 10:03AM
It's the exact same system. If nintendo wanted to put sights on the wiimote, and add a calibration feature, it would be exactly the same.
megaStryke @ Jul 18th 2007 10:19AM
Shame that this is EXACTLY like the Wiimote, Konny.
Konny @ Jul 18th 2007 10:49AM
The difference is that the guncon3 sensors are SEPARATE, meaning that the guncon3 knows the width of your screen.. this improves the horizontal accuracy many times as opposed to having a fixed sensor bar.
Knowing the width of the screen (more important than vertical height) coupled with on-screen calibration makes this more accurate than the wiimote.. it can be used without an ON-SCREEN reticle.
megaStryke @ Jul 18th 2007 11:27AM
So can the Wiimote if the developers so choose.
And yeah, the GunCon may recognize the WIDTH of your screen, but unless there are sensors on the top AND base of the screen then it won't be able to recognize the HEIGHT of your screen.
As for the in-game calibration, that hasn't even been mentioned yet. We can only hope for that. Now be a sport and please educate yourself before spouting baseless claims.
vidGuy @ Jul 18th 2007 9:59AM
Hello PS2! What's up with the disappointing visuals? Surely the newer arcade versions look better.
And a lightgun!? "OMG GIMMICK! The PS3 is totally catering to the 14-year-old arcade junkies!"
Vidikron @ Jul 18th 2007 10:09AM
Do you really have to act like an idiot in every comment you make? Seriously?
vidGuy @ Jul 18th 2007 10:13AM
You haven't been around long, have you? No, I don't, and if you look back in Joystiq records for maybe the last two years you'll see plenty of non-idiot posts by myself. However, I'm fed up with the trolls and I'm going to continue using their arguments to show how idiotic they can be.
Are the visuals in this game up to par with what we'd expect from the PS3? No - so we need to ask why. Is the lightgun a gimmick? In the same way the Wii control scheme is a gimmick, yes. Does that make it any less of an awesome control? No - same goes for Wii.
baby sea tuna @ Jul 18th 2007 10:03AM
"I'M COMING! GET DOWN!"
I think when this comes out, I'm gonna need to sample that audio for my new Baltimore Club song.
Ricksta @ Jul 18th 2007 10:11AM
This would be a reason to buy a ps3, if it had better graphics and could bundle Time Crisis 1-3 with it. A 25 gig disk should be able to hold 4 dinky arcade games right?
I'd rather spend $600 at the arcade...
megaStryke @ Jul 18th 2007 10:19AM
The reason this looks like a PS2 game with only slightly upgraded visuals is because the arcade hardware, the System Super 256, is a tweaked System 256, which was basically a PS2.
http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=872
OrganicShadow @ Jul 18th 2007 10:40AM
I wish they would have an option in the game for us regular CRT users. The whole sensor bar idea is good for those without CRT, but it makes aiming INSANELY inaccurate. I couldn't imagine having to play a lightgun type game on the Wii on my 30" CRT HDTV. I can't even get the wiimote to point at the screen where I am actually pointing, much less play lightgun-esque games like the minigame on Warioware and the shooting game on Wiiplay.
PLEEEEEEASE add an option for us regular CRT users so that the IR emitter on the Guncon works like normal lightguns. :(
megaStryke @ Jul 18th 2007 10:42AM
The new GunCon does not use IR technology, so tough nuggets.
However, all these problems are easily solved if there is in-game calibration.
vidGuy @ Jul 18th 2007 11:04AM
Start using the Wii remote as a relative pointer - you have a lot more accuracy that way. Picking off Ganados is even easier and more accurate than I imagine it would be with a lightgun.
Evan @ Jul 18th 2007 1:32PM
The Wii-Mote/Sony-ripoff are better than the old CRT light guns. The CRT guns worked by flashing the screen white, and measuring the time in which the sensor picked up the brightest point of light. But the newer IR technology can track the position continously, and you don't have to ruin the visuals with white flashes ever time you pull the trigger.
accidental @ Jul 18th 2007 6:30PM
@Evan, not every light-gun game flashes white. Some games use a white flash to get a stronger signal but they're not a requirement.
Henry @ Jul 18th 2007 10:56AM
Is there any word about a different Guncon for left- handed players?
alu @ Jul 18th 2007 11:14AM
guess left handed people are screwed.
baby sea tuna @ Jul 18th 2007 1:24PM
Paging Ned Flanders!
Jeff @ Jul 18th 2007 11:01AM
Arcade version looks pretty much exactly the same: http://www.bandainamcogames.co.jp/aa/am/vg/timecrisis4/special/stage/index.php
If they upgraded the visuals, then you'd have people complaining that it's not like the arcade game. (I'd be one of them.) They really can't win unless they make two separate versions of the game.
Paul B @ Jul 18th 2007 6:24PM
So wait, people who are left handed like me will be forced to play right handed?
jsn @ Jul 18th 2007 12:49PM
i'm just shocked that people still play these types of games and find them enjoyable... I've never found these types of games to offer more than a few quarters worth of entertainment while we're waiting for the theater to let us take our seats.
Cap'n Jack @ Jul 18th 2007 1:13PM
PUT IT ON WII!!! It has a zapper.
greatslack @ Jul 18th 2007 7:30PM
A wired controller? bleh.
greatslack @ Jul 18th 2007 7:33PM
I also noticed there's no left-handed version.
Peter Carey @ Jul 18th 2007 10:47PM
This is cool but I wish it was for the 360 because I'm not buying a PS3 just for this game. Especially since you can beat it in about 20 minutes. I already beat it at my local movie theater and have the 1st place High Score =]. Also sucks with no left-handed controller considering I'm left handed.
koston. @ Jul 19th 2007 5:52AM
It's official, I wanted a PS3 for third time ever. But then I saw the gameplay. Namco, the original A Team is on the phone for you, they want to know how you traveled into the future 3 years to steal this advance prototype software.