G’aim’e Time Crisis lightgun review – Reader’s Feature

A reader offers his review of the new mini-console that allows you to play Namco lightgun games on modern TVs, including Time Crisis and Point Blank.

I would bet a lot of people haven’t heard of this. So there will be a few Google searches happening when people read it. It started as a Kickstarter project a few months ago and is now getting sent out to backers.

I received mine on Thursday 13th and have been playing it loads since I got it. I think there is a retail release in the UK on 25th November, according to Argos. [It’s also available for pre-order at the official website – GC]

If anyone hasn’t googled it yet. It is essentially an authentic Namco style gun (or two guns), and mini-console that is the same dimensions as an old school PS1 case. And if you get better than the basic package you get a foot pedal too.

The 3 models are:

• Basic, which is one gun and a console (and only has Time Crisis)
• Premium, which is one gun and a pedal (and all the games)
• Ultimate, which is two guns and a pedal (also, all the games)

It has some fancy AI in the guns, to accurately map your telly and make it accurate. Due to how it works, it will work with LCD,OLED, and projectors.

Got to say, Time Crisis being 30 years old makes me feel very old, for pouring in £1 a go when I was younger. But, on with the review.

Hardware:

Console (the necessary bit)

This is very solidly built and looks exactly like a PS1 game case. It even has the bit at the edge of the case to mimic.

On the back there is a USB-C socket for power and HDMI for video. There are two USB-C inputs on the front for two lightguns or one lightgun and a peddle.

The hardware is entirely plug and play, you connect the cables and turn it on. It then gives a little instructional video and then drops you into the games.

Oddly, to turn it on you have to keep your finger on the power button for five seconds, but to turn it off you just tap it.

And presumably, because it is plug and play, it has no form of internet connectivity. So the unit you buy is the unit it will always be (proper old school).

Guns (the fun bit)

These feel very solidly built, they have an ‘A’ and ‘B’ button, and a coin and menu button. There is also a toggle on the side to turn off force feedback (vibration). They do have a nice weight to them and feel quite substantial.

The only negative for me, is that I would have liked the old school arcade experience, where the top bit actually moves back and forward. But the vibration does add a lot to the games.

Pedal (the boring bit)

I am not taking a picture, it is a pedal. It is made out of very strong plastic and very solid and sturdy. It works exactly as a pedal should.

And it is very much needed to play Time Crisis properly.

Software:

Whenever you boot it up you get a video about how to use it. It doesn’t seem this can be skipped first time but is actually useful.

After that it gives you a calibration screen, this moves a target around the screen that you have to shoot three times each. The video explains this.

Then it puts you into a list of games and you shoot the one you want to play.

When you are done playing, you quit back and choose another game.

There are not extra features or options. To be honest, this does bring together the plug and play nature of it. Very basic but easy.

Games:

I won’t delve into full reviews of the games, but my thoughts and experiences on each are:

Time Crisis – This is just as it was in the arcade, a bit difficult and you will die (a lot) at first. The peddle is very much needed to replicate the original feel, as the alternative is pressing a button.

Point Blank – This game was in a pub in my city centre, and every weekend me and mates had a blast (literally) playing it. I also played it on the PS1 and have many fond memories. This is a total 1:1 recreation (as is Time Crisis) and is very much as fun as it ever was.

Steel Gunner 1 + 2 (pretty much the same game) – I had never actually seen or played these before, and Internet consensus seems to be they suck. From playing them, they are actually pretty fun shooting random alien games.

Steel Gunner and Time Crisis are initially constantly dying by getting shot games, while Point Blank is death by failing. On G’aim’e you have a credit button, so can avoid spending £1 every game over.

OVERALL:

+ It is a very well made piece of kit, all the hardware feels very solid

+ It is very easy to set up

+ The games are total 100% like they were in the arcade

– It has four games (with only Time Crisis on the base pack) and for retro mini-consoles this is relatively expensive for the number of games

– It can’t be upgraded/updated/ games expanded, as it has no Internet connection

-(ish) the gun top doesn’t move back and forward!

Overall, for my opinion, If you are fan of the specific games (or lightgun games in general) then I would say it is a good purchase.

If you particularly liked Time Crisis or Point Blank, and played them a lot, it is necessary.

I meet both of those, so my score is 9/10.

By reader Si-Zero

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

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