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| Developer |
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| Publisher |
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| Platform |
Arcade, |
| Arcade System |
Namco System 23 |
| Release Date(s) |
Arcade: April, 1998 PlayStation 2: October 4, 2001 |
| Controllers |
DualShock, |
| Designer(s) |
Takashi Sano |
| Composer(s) |
Kazuhiro "Hige" Nakamura, Junichi Nakatsuru, Yuji Masubuchi |
Time Crisis II (タイムクライシス
Gameplay[]
Time Crisis II was released utilizing Namco'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 its predecessor, where players can shoot or hide from enemy fire. When players press down on the pedal, they come out of hiding, allowing them to shoot the enemies. Releasing the pedal puts players behind cover, allowing them to avoid critical bullets and reload their weapon, though they are unable to shoot whilst hiding.
Scoring[]
Players score points by landing short, successive hits on enemy soldiers and equipment. There is also time bonus points for remaining time at end of each area. The game also features no-miss bonus for rewarding players with having high accuracy during their gameplay. Players can lose points by hitting allies during specific parts of the game.
Story[]
| “ | ネオダイン･インダストリー しかし、この VSSEは VSSEは |
„ |
| ~ Time Crisis II background story as taken from the Japanese Arcade official website |
October 31, 1998: It's been two years since Richard Miller rescued Rachel MacPherson from the grip of Sherudo Garo and Wild Dog. Now a time for a crisis arises… again.
Neodyne Industries Ltd., the current leading communication corporation, had declared accomplishment of the "Starline Network," which consists of 64 low orbit communication satellites.
However, three weeks after that, International Intelligence organization V.S.S.E. intercepted internal communication of NDI, revealing that the latest communication satellites were actually military satellites.
V.S.S.E. immediately sends agent Christy Ryan into NDI undercover to retrieve relevant information. Just when information was in hand, she was discovered by NDI staff, and she is now in the need for help, and the need to escape.
V.S.S.E. now indicated Keith Martin and Robert Baxter to save Christy and uncover the intelligence.
At all costs…[1]
Plot[]
| Japanese version | English version |
|---|---|
| 「スターラインネットワーク」それは |
The "Starline Network" is a mere front for a plan to launch a nuclear satellite into space. VSSE has dispatched two agents to prevent the launch! |
Remarks: From the opening narration.
Neodyne Industries, LTD, has successfully completed a network of 64 satellites called the "Starline Network". The Starline Network is supposedly a communications system which the NDI claims will unite the world. So far, they're about to launch the new satellite. Nevertheless, the covert agency V.S.S.E. discovers that the Starline Network is actually a mere front for 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 Jacob Kinisky and his bodyguards. V.S.S.E. sends agents Keith Martin and Robert Baxter to shut down the Starline Network and rescue Christy.
The first stage begins with Christy calling the V.S.S.E from her secret apartment above a town square, shortly before Kinisky bursts in and kidnaps her. Kinisky thinks that the plans weren't revealed, only for his smug demeanor to be pulled down several pegs when Keith and Robert come in the secret apartment. Kinisky leaves, and Keith and Robert give chase, fighting through Kinisky's henchmen through a town square, which takes them to a canal through the town. Kinisky finally battles them, but is eventually killed when his armed cruiser crashes and explodes.
In the second stage, the agents discover that NDI plans to transport the satellite via train from files left on Kinisky's computer in his briefcase. The agents arrive at a train depot, but are too late to stop the satellite from leaving due to the fact that Diaz's men heavily guarded the area. Soon, they fight another of Diaz's henchman, Buff Bryant, battling with him on the train. After that, he retreats, only to come back in a helicopter. Bryant fights hard, but is no match for the two V.S.S.E. agents, who wound him. As he is wounded, he accidentally causes his helicopter to crash into the bridge due to his Hand Vulcan misfiring and hitting the engine, the explosion killing Bryant. This also takes out the bridge, and almost kills Keith and Robert, who barely escape. They then commandeer a helicopter to head to NDI Headquarters.
The third stage begins inside the NDI headquarters, which happens to be situated on a marine base, 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.
| Japanese version | English version |
|---|---|
| NDI |
NDI's launching of a military satellite, armed with a nuclear warhead, was prevented by a hairbreadth thanks to the efforts of the VSSE agents. Dealing in the arms industry behind closed doors, NDI put a great deal of effort into the launch of their military satellite. However, following the incident, the marine base, which was used for their satellite development, was placed under VSSE jurisdiction, the sensitive data and equipment were confiscated, and the scientists were taken into custody. No report was heard regarding the existence of a nuclear military satellite. The incident was officially announced to the public as a launch accident of a communication satellite. One month had passed since the incident. Keith, away on a break, was contacted with a single message. It was an order for all VSSE agents operating around the world to assemble. Alarmed by the unexpected military strength of the enemy in the recent incident, VSSE decided it was immediately necessary to conduct training drills to improve the combat skills of its agents. Exercises were devised using the actual sites of the incident as the training ground. For the exercises, it was decided that special shells would be used as ammunition, and the VSSE officers would simulate the enemy. The agents participating were not informed of any further details.... |
Remarks: From Time Crisis II: Crisis Missions backstory as taken from the official game. It shows the aftermath the NDI incident and the reason for the creation of Crisis Missions.
Versions[]
Arcade[]
PlayStation 2[]
The PlayStation 2 port 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 (auto bullets) or shotgun (wide bullets), 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 the players have to complete and perform various tasks, including a simulated gun fight against Richard Miller, the lead protagonist of the first Time Crisis game. 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.[2]
Reception[]
The game was met with positive reviews upon release, as GameRankings gave it a score of 79.68% for the PlayStation 2 version, while Metacritic gave it a score of 81 out of 100.
On release, Famitsu magazine scored the PlayStation 2 and Gun Con 2 bundle a 32 out of 40.
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Aggregator | Score |
| GameRankings | 79.68% |
| Metacritic | 81/100 |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| Allgame | 4.5/5 STARS (ARC) 3.5/5 STARS (PS2) |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 7.5/10 |
| Eurogamer | 7/10 |
| Famitsu | 32/40 |
| Game Informer | 8.25/10 |
| GamePro | 4.5/5 STARS |
| Game Revolution | B |
| GameSpot | 7.2/10 |
| GameSpy | 80% |
| GameZone | 8/10 |
| IGN | 8.7/10 |
| Official PlayStation Magazine (US) | 4/5 STARS |
| Maxim | 8/10 |
Trivia[]
- This is first game in the Time Crisis series whose number on the logo is not written in Arabic but in Roman.
- This is the first game in the Time Crisis series which all the antagonists wear shades or glasses.
- This is the first game in the Time Crisis series which none of the enemy soldiers uses bullet-proof shields.
Gallery[]
Attract Modes[]
Time Crisis 2 Arcade Intro NOT MAME!!!! VERY RARE!
Time Crisis 2 Intro (Arcade Version)
Time Crisis 2 Intro (PS2 version)
Credits[]
References[]
External links[]
- Official Arcade website (Japanese)
- Official PlayStation 2 website (Japanese)
- It is announced on January 2016 that warranty support for this game on Arcade cabinets has ended. Link: End of warranty support (Japanese)