Time Crisis – Run and Gun Nostalgia
Whether a gamer or not, you have more than likely heard of the Time Crisis franchise.
This immensely popular first-person shooter on release in arcades in 1995 by Namco was a pioneer of its time. Coming 1 year earlier than its undead counterpart, House of the Dead, Time Crisis consisted of a similar rail shooter format in which you moved through the levels pointing and shooting down enemies. Once the room was cleared, you would advance to the next to take on the next wave of enemies before clearing an entire level.
What made Time Crisis so ahead of its time was that the arcade machine featured a pedal which allowed you to duck in and out of cover, adding a new dynamic to the rail shooter format. This created a series of speed runners and sharpshooters aiming for no damage and no-miss runs like never before. Adding to this, the levels were time trials, meaning you only had a certain amount of time to finish them. This created a sense of adrenaline that kept people coming back to play.
Time Crisis would eventually be ported to the PlayStation 1 in 1997 where it would feature the iconic GunCon, a controller shaped like a gun which was to emulate the experience of playing at the arcade. The game is now known as a PlayStation classic, being right up there with some of the best in the prehistoric console’s expansive library of gems. Time Crisis would go on to release 4 official sequels across both console and arcade machines, with numerous different spin-offs including mobile games joining the universe.
Gameplay aside, Time Crisis also features a storyline reminiscent of an old ’90s action film. The newly elected president’s daughter has been kidnapped by a criminal organization and you play as Richard Miller [nicknamed the ‘One Man Army’] who is tasked to go and rescue her.
Time Crisis holds a special nostalgic place in many arcade gamer's hearts as one of the pinnacle moments of arcade gaming history. As the original featured no co-op, this resulted in many friends needing to watch and cheer you on, and due to the nature of the gameplay, it created moments that lasted a lifetime.
