Time Crisis 5

[cj iwakura]

Wild Dog: Y/N?

I'd bet on it.

I've read a translated Japanese account of the loketest and all seems promising.

Now Namco seems to be breaking one of their old rules and bringing back a previous VSSE agent- Robert Baxter from TC2. I had a feeling that the 2P character WAS probably him. Player 1 is Luke O'Neill.

What doesn't change is the types of guns you use: handgun, machine gun, shotgun, and grenade. That weapon change button corrects an issue I've had with TC3 & 4. It seems the handgun power is a bit high (I can easily see that, because in TC4 1 HG shot is equal to 3 MG bullets).
A scoring system like TC4 is used, including a combo bonus at every 10 hit interval. Beside this, you will get bonuses for side attacks.

I'm surprised how small the pedals are now, compared to the bigger one found on Razing Storm and others.

The loketest had stages 1 & 2 available, so I guess Wild Dog will be added later. Apparently the difficulty will be "just right".

If I were a Time Crisis scenario writer(lol), I'd have the final bads be Sherudo Garo and Wild Dog because why not.

[ACSeraph]

Hori's beretta replica guncons

I want one of these. How much do they sell for in Japan?

I completely missed this sorry for the late reply.

On Amazon Japan the GC2 version can be found for 7000 yen at the low price end. The GC1 isn't available.

It's expensive, but honestly the 7000 is worth it if you really like TC. It's as good as having your own arcade machine if you ask me.

I was really lucky because I got both of mine from some junk store here for under 2000 yen, but that's not something I think I'd ever see again. I've never encountered them in the wild again actually, I think Amazon is the only option.

I'll post some pics of them later maybe.

[JBC]

I can't wait! Razing Storm was easily one of my favorites from last gen. It even inspired me to hunt down a couple of those RedOctane reload pedals for previous entries.

[Tarma]

Great news! Massive Time Crisis fan here!

I shall look forward to the (hopefully) announcement of a PS4 port... I really wish they would put out a compilation pack with Time Crisis 1 - 3 and the Gun Barl games with a gun con update for LCD / LED / Plasma compatibility.

Anyone have any experience of the light guns I see on eBay that allege you can play the PlayStation 1 & 2 originals on a LED/LCD screen?

[gameoverDude]

Arcade Heroes Story: TC5 to debut at EAG 2015

The above link has an English translated TC5 flyer.

TC5's deluxe version will be about 13 ft. wide with 2 55" WFP monitors. Namco is promising a strong feedback, low failure handgun controller with a weapon toggle button.

While it has 3 unique stages, there is a "Time Crisis 5: True Mastermind Edition" upgrade planned to have double the stages.

Once again, you board an assault heli and use a mounted MG. Also there's a high-speed motorcycle battle. Namco is calling it "The final gun game evolution". That statement concerns me a bit: are they wrapping the series up with this one? Hopefully "final" is mistranslated from "ultimate".

While the double pedal system lets you attack from a left or right position, having neither pedal pressed allows you to hide.

This is the game that is my PS4 killer app. We're probably not getting Ridge Racer 8 for a while if ever, so this will surely do. And I doubt that Namco would not port it.

[ACSeraph]

This is the game that is my PS4 killer app.

I'll almost certainly be playing at the arcade but I've got low hopes for the console port short of Hori doing some kind of foot pedal controller for it. Plus cursor drift ala PS3 era PSMove is a total deal breaker for me. I tried booting up 4 again and giving it another chance due to all the hype, but nope, it's as unplayable as I remember it. I'll just play 1-3 on my CRT instead.

[JBC]

Was the inferior NES port of TMNT 'II' unplayable compared to the arcade? No, it had it's drawbacks but it was & still is playable.

TC 4 & Razing Storm are great in the collected version, despite the lack of a pedal & (manageable) cursor drifting. Given, it's not as tight of an experience as it should be, but it's better than 90% of games & thankful fans means continued support for the franchise.

[ACSeraph]

When within 30 seconds of calibrating my cursor is 25% of the screen length to the right of where I'm pointing it isn't manageable. Sorry, but even if the tech problems are Sony's fault, I'm not going to be thankful for a shit port. In a light gun game the accuracy of the gun is the primary determining factor on whether it's worth playing, TMNT isn't even a remotely decent comparison. Namco needs to deliver on a guncon that is comparably accurate to the arcade since they can't rely on Sony's faulty tech. I don't really expect a pedal, but I do expect a gun that actually works.

[JBC]

Then think of any other inferior port that was still worth playing. I get the cursor drift on mine but not as bad as what you are describing. I play all the original Crisis games on a CRT so I know the GunCon2 is more accurate & responsive, but using the PS3 Move & camera isn't that bad. Learning to adapt is a part of gaming.

Try playing Silent Scope Complete with the light rifle designed specifically for it & you will see a port worthy of being labelled "unplayable".

[Pretas]

Still waiting for a Kinect-compatible port of Mocap Boxing. Though it would be too easy without the weighted gloves.

[gameoverDude]

This is the game that is my PS4 killer app.

I'll almost certainly be playing at the arcade but I've got low hopes for the console port short of Hori doing some kind of foot pedal controller for it. Plus cursor drift ala PS3 era PSMove is a total deal breaker for me. I tried booting up 4 again and giving it another chance due to all the hype, but nope, it's as unplayable as I remember it. I'll just play 1-3 on my CRT instead.

One thing that doesn't help the home version of TC4 is that you get slowdown if you play at higher than 640 x 480.

I haven't noticed cursor drift myself on PS3 Razing Storm.

Namco did consider a wireless Guncon 4 for Razing Storm. Hopefully now they'll make a GC4 with an optional pedal to go with TC5, or at least hire Hori to whip up something good. I don't want to have to reach up atop the Move controller to hit the weapon change button.

Surely a home port of TC5 will be easier to make and more accurate than 4's, considering that whatever hardware is used for the arcade will be more similar to the x86 powered PS4 (either System 478 like Tekken 7, or ES3). This won't be like porting from a souped up PS2 to the PS3's Cell architecture, which required a rewrite rather than using the same code base.

I wonder if System 478 is PS4 based, or if Namco put together a custom PC hardware that's supposed to be similar.

Namco kind of missed out by not bothering to use System N2 instead of Super 256 for TC4. This probably would have required a bit more development time, but frankly would've been worth it. TC4's arcade graphics aren't terrible, but wouldn't you rather have had the arcade version start out looking more like the PS3 one? N2 was used in 2005's Counter Strike Neo which came to arcades the very year before TC4.

[xxx1993]

I hope the "True Mastermind Edition" is the console port. Not an extra within the console port like the Special Mode in the original, the Rescue Mission in the third game, or the Complete Mission in the fourth game.

[gameoverDude]

And now, Stinger Report and Arcade Heroes have brought out some video from TC5 at EAG 2015.
EAG EXPO 2015 day 1: Time Crisis 5, Showdown, The Wizard of Oz Pinball.

Video quality isn't the best even at 1080p, but I'm glad to see something. TC5's tutorial now explains the dual-pedal system, and it's guaranteed that Wild Dog is back. Like Tekken 7, TC5 is using Unreal Engine 4.

There are 3 stages which one poster at AH says is "very short"- but I think this means 3 stages, each having probably 3 areas and coming in at probably a half hour. Of course, that's without the True Mastermind Edition upgrade (which I think the console port WILL be).

[cj iwakura]

Wild Dog seems to be in full-on pimp mode. Maybe he's the endgame baddie again?

[gameoverDude]

Wild Dog seems to be in full-on pimp mode. Maybe he's the endgame baddie again?

Probably until the TM edition stages are added.

[boagman]

And now, Stinger Report and Arcade Heroes have brought out some video from TC5 at EAG 2015.
EAG EXPO 2015 day 1: Time Crisis 5, Showdown, The Wizard of Oz Pinball.

Video quality isn't the best even at 1080p, but I'm glad to see something. TC5's tutorial now explains the dual-pedal system, and it's guaranteed that Wild Dog is back. Like Tekken 7, TC5 is using Unreal Engine 4.

There are 3 stages which one poster at AH says is "very short"- but I think this means 3 stages, each having probably 3 areas and coming in at probably a half hour. Of course, that's without the True Mastermind Edition upgrade (which I think the console port WILL be).

Appreciate you bringing the link. Glad more details have spilled out, but man...the quality of the video is just so stinking shoddy that I can't get through it. Nigh-unwatchable.

[gameoverDude]

From one image in a gallery on Gematsu, it looks like Wild Dog loses his shades at some point in the battle.

I'm looking forward to hearing the Wild Dog theme again. Takeshi Miura's renditions of it in TC3 and TC4 are my personal favorite ones. I hope they have him doing TC5's BGM.

Gematsu gallery of TC5 images

[gameoverDude]

A better quality video: Arcade Belgium TC5 footage

Thanks to Arcade Heroes for the heads-up on the first one.

And: Parallax Play's TC5 video

Robert Baxter is not one of the playable characters but you are assisting him, like Captain Rush in TC4. Luke O'Neill & Marc Godart are the player characters.

There's at least one "hit a handful of markers" bit like in Virtua Cop 3, as well as a QTE scene involving a downed chopper that's about to fall on you. A variant of Razing Storm's HACS even shows up. You need to shoot at the tank on his back, and that's one place where the dual pedal system proves useful.

For better or worse, the Terror Bites seem to be gone. YMMV on that- I didn't mind them at all, actually.

[Pretas]

TC4's Terror Bites weren't annoying, but they weren't remotely a challenge to fight and didn't help the pacing at all.

[boagman]

TC4's Terror Bites weren't annoying, but they weren't remotely a challenge to fight and didn't help the pacing at all.

So, wait...would they have to sell you insurance or something in order for them to fall under the "Annoying" category for you?

[Pretas]

I mean it was still satisfying to mow down hordes of them with the machine gun. They're not one of the reasons I consider TC4 the weakest of the series (discounting the console-exclusive Project Titan).

[ACSeraph]

They're not one of the reasons I consider TC4 the weakest of the series (discounting the console-exclusive Project Titan).

What's wrong with Titan? I love that game

[JBC]

TC4 is much better than folks give it credit for. I think the white color scheme in the intro sections & first PS3 version ruined it's rep. The first bit seems really bland visually & most people's introduction to the game was using the GC3. The game is just as fine as any other Time Crisis - it's that port that's f'd up.

Also PT feels like a great add-on for 1!

[boagman]

TC4 is much better than folks give it credit for. I think the white color scheme in the intro sections & first PS3 version ruined it's rep. The first bit seems really bland visually & most people's introduction to the game was using the GC3. The game is just as fine as any other Time Crisis - it's that port that's f'd up.

Also PT feels like a great add-on for 1!

Couldn't disagree with you more, here, and I'm strictly speaking of the arcade machines. TC4 was a couple of steps back. It didn't draw me in as a player at all. To my recollection, I think I can count the number of plays I've ever had on TC4 on one hand...actually, scratch that: I *know* I can. It's a mess.

The previous 3.5 (I'll include Crisis Zone as the .5) did a *heck* of a good job in eliciting my funds from my wallet. TC4 came onto the scene with a resounding "THUD". With the prior 3.5 games, I wanted to play more and more to get better and better. With TC4, I didn't care one bit about it, and certainly didn't desire to give it any more of my money.

Ask any operator who bought it, and had previous experience with the others..."disappointing" would be the kindest, most gentle term they'd use to describe it. TC2, Crisis Zone, and TC3 all pulled far more than their fair share of revenue, whereas TC4 faltered greatly.

I'm glad you like it. Honest. There's no denying, though, that this entry into the series was panned by most, and they voted with the most important thing they could: their wallets.

It'd be hard not to improve on TC4.

[Despatche]

How can you keep going back and forth between subjective and objective like that? Never mind how completely fucking random people's tastes are, you're even forgeting the part where all the previous games were released in times where arcades weren't entirely dead in the US and when light gun shooters made real money (the mid-'00s is when the arcade really died here).

Was the inferior NES port of TMNT 'II' unplayable compared to the arcade? No, it had it's drawbacks but it was & still is playable.

TMNT really isn't a remotely decent comparison because the original arcade version isn't a very good game to begin with, and too many people are going to be familiar with the godawful export release anyway.

[JBC]

It's not a comparison. I use TMNT as an example of a popular arcade that received a well known, inferior port.

TC4 needs to be given a chance before one will find what they like in it. Everyone dismisses it without really delving in. It gets much better after the first stage. My biggest gripe is the terrible costume designs for the protagonists. Wow I wouldn't be caught dead wearing that! But yeah, it hops into a neat LA Machineguns type segment & then a TC2-ish forest level. There's an interesting cave sequence where the lights go out & then a series of challenging boss fights & nice set pieces before it's over. If you can get past playing as... Evan & Giorgio (even thier names are pansyish) then you'll see there's a lot to like about the game. The dialogue is incredible if you're a fan of the series' cheese, & I am.

My favorite entry is still Razing Storm though, at least for quick plays. I know most people prefer 2 or Crisis Zone & knock RZ but I find it to be the most batshit insane entry of the series.

[ACSeraph]

More than anything else my problem with 4 was the gun itself. And then Sony's lolipop managed to perform even worse than the GC3 which was kinda of impressive in a way. For the same reason I haven't delved into Razing Storm much either, but I think I'd like it if I did.

If the arcade cabinets can have accurate guns on HD screens then I personally expect no less from the home ports. At the moment I'm just praying that Namco does a GC4 rather than going with move. I'm willing to bet that the GC3's problems may have just been a fluke caused by the difficulty of working with the PS3 hardware. Sony just doesn't know what the fuck they are doing, I got no faith in them at all.

[JBC]

Yeah the Move does suck but it's manageable. Well, it can be adapted to.

Now that I own a Wii it's easy to see how Sony's ripoff jacked up the whole concept. I use the Sharpshooter setup & it's pretty clunky & uncomfortable so I think I'm gonna pick up a set of those red pistol enclosures. Still, it's worth it to play Razing Storm.

I recently got the Umbrella & Darkside Chronicles for Wii after owning them on PS3 since release. The Wii versions are 10x more playable & simply funner. Smashes the PS3 version in all aspects besides visuals.

[ACSeraph]

^Yep, I bought the PS3 version day 1 because I loved them on Wii so much but I was extremely disappointed. I also really regret selling my copy of HotD Overkill on Wii o buy the PS3 "upgrade".

The only game I really feel like the move works decently for is RE5 Alternative, since the cursor seems to reset the drift every time you draw your gun.

[boagman]

TC4 needs to be given a chance before one will find what they like in it. Everyone dismisses it without really delving in. It gets much better after the first stage.

Let's spot your point for a minute. Not that I actually believe that you're right (I've seen the rest of the game, too...just not drawn in. Sorry.), but let's put that aside for a second and say that, sure: it gets much better after the first stage.

READ THAT AGAIN.

I don't think I can tell you how unbe-freaking-lievably stupid it is, in terms of game design, to have a lousy beginning to your game. It's basically unforgivable, and perhaps in this case, it's to blame for TC4 being what can only be classified as a commercial disappointment. I think it's a lot more than that, myself, but honestly: WHY WOULD THEY RELEASE IT LIKE THAT?

If I have to *work* in order to find something I like in an amusement game or machine, my friend, I hate to say it, but the tail is wagging the dog. It's completely bassackwards. Ridiculous on its face. Completely, utterly, and absolutely missing the point.

Huh. You're actually making me less sorry that I hate TC4. I'm actually really starting to despise the design team as a result of this discussion.