Time Crisis II
Encyclopedia
Time Crisis II is a light gun
arcade game
and the second installment in Namco
's Time Crisis series
, introducing co-operative multiplayer to the franchise. It was first released in arcades in April 1998, with an enhanced port released on the PlayStation 2
in October 2001, bundled with the G-Con 2 controller
.
's System 23
arcade board in 1998, and was ported to PlayStation 2
(with enhanced graphics and polygon textures) in 2001. The game utilizes the foot pedal system, just like Time Crisis
, where players can shoot or hide from enemy fire. One modification to the hide and attack system was the "crisis flash" system which alerts the players whether or not the enemy's attack would cause a direct hit, a feature not present in its first predecessor, Time Crisis.
When a player presses down on the pedal, he or she comes out of hiding, allowing them to shoot the enemies. Releasing the pedal puts the player behind cover, allowing him to avoid critical bullets and reload their weapon, though they are unable to shoot whilst hiding. Certain sections of the game give players a machine gun with unlimited ammo.
If the player is hit by a critical bullet or an obstacle, he loses a life, and the game ends when the player loses all their lives. Players also lose a life if the time limit, which is replenished after each area is cleared, drops to zero (unlike the first game where running out of time resulted in a game over). Players can continue from the point their current position, as opposed to the PlayStation version of Time Crisis, which required players to restart from the beginning of a section.
This was the first Time Crisis game to introduce two-player cooperation by allowing two people to play simultaneously, allowing each player to cover the other (in single player, the computer controls the other character). The arcade version used connecting cabinets, allowing players to allow another player to join them, or to exclusively play alone. The PlayStation 2 version features split-screen or System Link functionality, which requires two televisions, console and copies of the game and an iLink cable
to use. Points are deducted for shooting the other player, though neither player will lose lives as a result. The same system is utilized once again in Time Crisis 3
and Time Crisis 4
.
Christy Ryan, the agent responsible for uncovering the corporation's hidden agenda, attempts to escape NDI captivity and report the details of the plot to V.S.S.E. HQ, but is captured by Jakov Kinisky and his bodyguards. V.S.S.E. sends agents Keith Martin and Robert Baxter to shut down the Starline Network and rescue Ryan.
The first stage begins with Christy calling the V.S.S.E from her secret apartment above a town square, shortly before Jakov bursts in and kidnaps her. Keith and Robert fight through Jakov's henchmen through a town square, leading up to a river boat chase where Jakov is killed. The agents discover that NDI plans to transport the satellite via train. The agents arrive at a train depot, but are too late to stop the satellite from leaving. Instead, the agents take an autopilot helicopter to NDI's base of operations on a rig in the ocean.
Inside the NDI headquarters, situated on an island, CEO Ernesto Diaz and the mercenary Wild Dog begin preparing the nuclear satellite for launch from a sea-based site when the V.S.S.E. agents arrive. The agents encounter fierce resistance, but are able to defeat Wild Dog (who detonates himself later) and rescue Christy, who escapes by raft. The agents face off one last time against Diaz and a decoy satellite, ending when the agents successfully kill Diaz. The debris from the decoy falls on the real satellite, causing it to explode on launch.
version of the game featured enhanced graphics and additional cutscenes. It was packaged with the G-Con 2
lightgun peripheral, although it was also compatible with the G-Con 45 console. When completed enough times, the player could unlock alternative weapons, such as a machine gun or shotgun, and had the option of wielding two lightguns at a time (with combinations of both G-Con 2 and G-Con 45 possible). There is also a Crisis Mission mode, in which players have to complete various tasks, including a simulated gun fight against Richard Miller, the lead protagonist of the first Time Crisis
. Extras also included a clay pigeon shooting mode (including a port of Namco's Shoot Away II light gun clay shooting arcade game), and a virtual port of the mechanical arcade game, Quick & Crash.
Light gun
A light gun is a pointing device for computers and a control device for arcade and video games.Modern screen-based light guns work by building a sensor into the gun itself, and the on-screen target emit light rather than the gun...
arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
and the second installment in Namco
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
's Time Crisis series
Time Crisis (series)
Time Crisis is a first-person light gun shooter series of arcade video games by Namco. The first installment of the series was released in the arcades in 1995 and later ported to the PlayStation consoles.-Overview:...
, introducing co-operative multiplayer to the franchise. It was first released in arcades in April 1998, with an enhanced port released on the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
in October 2001, bundled with the G-Con 2 controller
GunCon
The Guncon , known as the G-Con in Europe, is a family of light gun peripherals designed by Namco for the PlayStation consoles.-Background:...
.
Gameplay
Time Crisis II was released utilizing NamcoNamco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
's System 23
Namco System 23
The Namco System 23 is an arcade system board produced and developed by Namco. Released in 1997, it was the last arcade system produced by the company that was based on their own custom design, as opposed to just a derivative of console hardware. Like the System 22, the System 23 also featured a...
arcade board in 1998, and was ported to PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
(with enhanced graphics and polygon textures) in 2001. The game utilizes the foot pedal system, just like Time Crisis
Time Crisis
Time Crisis is a light gun shooter arcade game produced by Namco in 1995 and released in early 1996. It was later ported for the PlayStation in 1997, bundled with the G-Con 45 controller.-Gameplay:...
, where players can shoot or hide from enemy fire. One modification to the hide and attack system was the "crisis flash" system which alerts the players whether or not the enemy's attack would cause a direct hit, a feature not present in its first predecessor, Time Crisis.
When a player presses down on the pedal, he or she comes out of hiding, allowing them to shoot the enemies. Releasing the pedal puts the player behind cover, allowing him to avoid critical bullets and reload their weapon, though they are unable to shoot whilst hiding. Certain sections of the game give players a machine gun with unlimited ammo.
If the player is hit by a critical bullet or an obstacle, he loses a life, and the game ends when the player loses all their lives. Players also lose a life if the time limit, which is replenished after each area is cleared, drops to zero (unlike the first game where running out of time resulted in a game over). Players can continue from the point their current position, as opposed to the PlayStation version of Time Crisis, which required players to restart from the beginning of a section.
This was the first Time Crisis game to introduce two-player cooperation by allowing two people to play simultaneously, allowing each player to cover the other (in single player, the computer controls the other character). The arcade version used connecting cabinets, allowing players to allow another player to join them, or to exclusively play alone. The PlayStation 2 version features split-screen or System Link functionality, which requires two televisions, console and copies of the game and an iLink cable
IEEE 1394 interface
The IEEE 1394 interface is a serial bus interface standard for high-speed communications and isochronous real-time data transfer, frequently used by personal computers, as well as in digital audio, digital video, automotive, and aeronautics applications. The interface is also known by the brand...
to use. Points are deducted for shooting the other player, though neither player will lose lives as a result. The same system is utilized once again in Time Crisis 3
Time Crisis 3
Time Crisis 3 is the third installment of the Time Crisis arcade series. Like its previous predecessor, Time Crisis II, it allows for two players to cooperate in a link play environment and has the Time Crisis signature pedal system for hiding and advancing and the first in the series to change...
and Time Crisis 4
Time Crisis 4
Time Crisis 4 is the fourth installment in Namco's Time Crisis series. The game introduces new features to the cover-based light gun shooter gameplay engine of its predecessors alongside a new story and roster of characters...
.
Story
Neodyne Industries, LTD, has successfully completed a network of 64 satellites called the "Starline Network". Starline is supposedly a communications system which NDI claims will unite the world. So far, they're about to launch a new satellite. Nevertheless, the covert agency V.S.S.E. discovers that Starline is actually part of a plan to launch a nuclear satellite into space - which is the new satellite.Christy Ryan, the agent responsible for uncovering the corporation's hidden agenda, attempts to escape NDI captivity and report the details of the plot to V.S.S.E. HQ, but is captured by Jakov Kinisky and his bodyguards. V.S.S.E. sends agents Keith Martin and Robert Baxter to shut down the Starline Network and rescue Ryan.
The first stage begins with Christy calling the V.S.S.E from her secret apartment above a town square, shortly before Jakov bursts in and kidnaps her. Keith and Robert fight through Jakov's henchmen through a town square, leading up to a river boat chase where Jakov is killed. The agents discover that NDI plans to transport the satellite via train. The agents arrive at a train depot, but are too late to stop the satellite from leaving. Instead, the agents take an autopilot helicopter to NDI's base of operations on a rig in the ocean.
Inside the NDI headquarters, situated on an island, CEO Ernesto Diaz and the mercenary Wild Dog begin preparing the nuclear satellite for launch from a sea-based site when the V.S.S.E. agents arrive. The agents encounter fierce resistance, but are able to defeat Wild Dog (who detonates himself later) and rescue Christy, who escapes by raft. The agents face off one last time against Diaz and a decoy satellite, ending when the agents successfully kill Diaz. The debris from the decoy falls on the real satellite, causing it to explode on launch.
PlayStation 2 port
The PlayStation 2PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
version of the game featured enhanced graphics and additional cutscenes. It was packaged with the G-Con 2
GunCon
The Guncon , known as the G-Con in Europe, is a family of light gun peripherals designed by Namco for the PlayStation consoles.-Background:...
lightgun peripheral, although it was also compatible with the G-Con 45 console. When completed enough times, the player could unlock alternative weapons, such as a machine gun or shotgun, and had the option of wielding two lightguns at a time (with combinations of both G-Con 2 and G-Con 45 possible). There is also a Crisis Mission mode, in which players have to complete various tasks, including a simulated gun fight against Richard Miller, the lead protagonist of the first Time Crisis
Time Crisis
Time Crisis is a light gun shooter arcade game produced by Namco in 1995 and released in early 1996. It was later ported for the PlayStation in 1997, bundled with the G-Con 45 controller.-Gameplay:...
. Extras also included a clay pigeon shooting mode (including a port of Namco's Shoot Away II light gun clay shooting arcade game), and a virtual port of the mechanical arcade game, Quick & Crash.