PS3 Fanboy

How much do you like Time Crisis 4? Is it the kind of game you'd spend $180 on? Well, that's what Namco Bandai is asking from players that want to play the game with two players. The Guncon 3 peripheral does not come separately, and will not come separately from the game, effectively forcing fans to purchase two copies of the game. The Consumerist contacted Namco Bandai's live support and got this response: "I'm sorry, but the Guncon 3 is not sold separately. It is only sold bundled with Time Crisis 4 ... If you wish to play two players using two Guncon 3s then you will need another copy of Time Crisis 4."

Strangely, Namco Bandai won't sell extra controllers directly either. "We do not sell replacement Guncon 3s. If the Guncon 4 [sic] is defective, then we can provide an RMA exchange where we'll inspect and repair or replace your Guncon 3."

Much of the appeal of games like Time Crisis 4 comes from the ability to play with friends. Why is Namco Bandai making it so difficult (and expensive) for PS3 fans to make Time Crisis 4 a better game? "At least it's cheaper than the arcade version," must be thought going through their heads.

[Thanks, Alkaiser!]

Is there anything funnier than Japanese people pretending to be Al Pacino? Not tonight. A new TIme Crisis 4 video has surfaced on the web, and it showcases a silly Scarface homage using the Guncon. Bad acting, bad props, and bad special effects merge into an experience that's very special. It's sort of like the game's FPS mode ...

Namco's Time Crisis 4 comes out today, and its high Guncon-infused price tag may scare a few people. At $90, it certainly isn't cheap ... but when you consider the alternative, it certainly feels like a bargain. For the truly hardcore, instead of picking up the PS3 game, why not consider buying the arcade game downright? It'll only cost you $16k.

Certainly, this makes the price of a PS3, an HDTV and the game seem very, very cheap in comparison. Stay tuned for the complete review of the PS3 version of Time Crisis 4.

The new FPS mode of Time Crisis 4 has so much potential. Too bad it isn't actually taking advantage of any of it. Combining a terrific FPS with the free aim of the Guncon would be nothing short of incredible. Instead, it seems we're receiving a rather primitive attempt at a generic, basic FPS that's sloppy in too many ways. A shame, really. We're certain the Arcade on-rails segments will be a lot of fun, and hope that a more capable team will deliver something a bit more refined than this first attempt at a light gun FPS game.

The light gun genre may be a dying breed, but Time Crisis 4 ignores all warnings. In spite of some sloppy graphical and presentation issues, it's clear that Time Crisis 4 is the best, if not only, option for fans of the genre.

Right now, the game doesn't have that "next-gen polish" we've become so accustomed to on the PS3. Textures and character models don't really pop out. However, the framerate seems pretty solid, and the action flows at a brisk pace. At the very least, it looks better than the other light gun port, Ghost Squad on Wii.

The new FPS mode is where the game features the most potential, adding some depth to the arcade experience. Right now, the AI is fairly unintelligent, and the level design feels similar to the original on-rails mode. What may come as jarring for some is the lack of a gun model on-screen. FPS players have long been used to the gun being on screen, but because this game requires players to aim with the Guncon 3 (G-Con in the PAL territories), the indicator is unnecessary.

Right now, Time Crisis 4 looks like it needs some polish. However, Guncon 3 is an excellent peripheral that has us keeping high hopes for future light gun titles.