Crisis Zone

Posted May 28, 2012 by Speed - 0 comments

I first bought my light-gun shaped like a Walther PPK (that’s right 007’s loyal pistol) in the Makro. It was a very cheap package: the gun (which can be used as Gun-con 2 or Gun-con 45) and the PSOne title Time Crisis: Project Titan for only €22,99 so I was afraid there would be a catch. Obviously there was: the game didn’t have a case, only the disc and booklet where thrown into the box! I could not live for as long that I did not have an empty jewel case. I searched the internet and found a shop that sold them but apparently they stopped selling them too. Afterwards I found a Russian cover and printed it out so now I could finally get on with my life. However, the longer I had the pack in my possession the more I began to appreciate its value for money!

All its sequels, like Time Crisis 3 for example, have only improved graphically. I must admit that the difference between a PSOne and a PS2 game is like heaven. However, I cannot see any improvements between Crisis Zone and Time Crisis 2.

Then again, it is not so much the visual aspect that matters I guess but the problem is that the gameplay isn’t that revolutionary either. In fact, it is based on the system used for the first Time Crisis which means that your scores are based on the time you needed to finish the level and that is too simplistic if you ask me (which you do actually since you are reading my review). During the story mode you can shoot everything that moves or doesn’t, in a flash reload your gun and rush another forty bullets through your fully automatic pistol. The metal shield still stops twenty-five rockets, knives, grenades and tons of bullets which makes it unlikely to get hit when the approaching object is marked with a red square. A knife for example isn’t marked but because you are just shooting at everything you won’t always see the blade coming as there is too much dust and rubbish flying around. That makes it very frustrating sometimes and leads to situations where you simply remember where this guy throws his knife so that you pay attention to it the next time you play.

Things get a bit more refined when you play a crisis zone. These modes have different objectives which are perhaps not original but certainly necessary and very entertaining. Shoot all enemies without destroying the store, destroy 190 objects within 38 seconds, shoot everybody except your allies, move up to the tenth floor or survive without using your shield are only a few of the choices you can make. Some of these goals are really hard to beat but I want that to sound positive so let’s refer to them as challenging. Besides I like these modes better than the story mode because they are so addictive.

Because of the review purpose I played with an ordinary controller too and it was more fun in the story mode than I had thought but it really sucked for the mini-games. So, don’t worry if you are too stingy to buy a gun because you could still enjoy the biggest part of the game.

Now, I guess it could be so that in real life everything turns to a mess too when you start shooting everything but then noise will come from behind you aswell which is not the case when you can only play with mono or stereo sound. That is a real pity because it would have definitely helped to create an exciting atmosphere.

Technically this game is quite good but the problem is that its predecessors are equally good or even better. Graphics, gameplay, sound and story are just the same as its older brothers but that doesn’t make this a bad game so fans of the series will be more than satisfied. If you are looking for something innovating you’d better buy another game like Gunfighter 2 which now is cheaper too.

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