• Category Archives PlayStation
  • Retro Games » PlayStation
  • Time Crisis (PlayStation)


    next_generation_issue_027_076

    Source: Next Generation – Issue Number 27 – March 1997

    Time Crisis is a light gun based arcade game that was released in 1995. It was similar to other popular light gun games of the time, including games like Virtua Cop and The House of The Dead. However, Time Crisis did have a couple of unique features that made it stand out.

    The most unique part of Time Crisis was its emphasis on taking cover. The arcade version of this game had a foot pedal that was used to duck behind various objects. Being hit with a bullet while not taking cover cost you a life so this was an important part of the game. However, your time was limited so you couldn’t exactly spend as long as you want hiding. Another unique feature of the arcade version of the game was that the gun simulated recoil adding a bit of realism. The plot is somewhat convoluted but the important part is that you have to run around and shoot stuff.

    The PlayStation version of the game was released in 1997 and included the Guncon light gun controller. While not quite as graphically impressive as its arcade counterpart, it was still a good port. The PlayStation port retained the importance of taking cover but the foot pedal was replaced by a button on the controller. Unfortunately, the recoil feature was left out but it isn’t really that big of a deal.

    Original hardware is still the best way to play this game, and that includes a CRT based TV if you are going to play the PlayStation version as the original Guncon controller won’t work with LCD based TVs. This is one limitation that makes playing older light gun based games via emulation less than perfect.

    The image up top is from the March 1997 issue of Next Generation and features a preview of the unfinished game on the PlayStation. Screenshots above are from the PlayStation version of the game.




  • PSM (September 1997)

    000-1

    Source: PSM – Number 1 – September 1997

    PSM was one of the earliest and most popular PlayStation specific magazines. The September 1997 issue was the first issue and includes:

    Features

    • 16-Page Special: Every PlayStation Code! – We’ve searched everywhere to compile the end-all-be-all PlayStation Code Bible – 16 pages of pure cheater’s heaven! Within these pages you’ll find codes, tricks and passwords for every PlayStation game imaginable.
    • Know Your PlayStation! – Think you know all there is to know about your system? Then check out our expansive report on everything PlayStation, and prepare to be surprised!
    • Felony 11-79: The Getaway Driver’s Handbook – With our escape maps and pro advice, the cops’ll never get their hands on you!
    • Cover Story: Final Fantasy VII 10-Page Guide! – The biggest PlayStation game of the year is finally out, and we’ve got all the expert info you need to get you started on your adventure! Be warned though – our strategy is so complete, you’ll only want to peek at it when you’re really stuck. You may spoil the game for yourself!
    • Ace Combat 2: The Skills to Make You an Ace – Before you’re ready for the real thing, you gotta go to school.
    • The Top 25 PlayStation Games of All Time – The votes are in, and we’ve got your top 25 favorite games of all time! Who made number-one? See for yourself…

    Monitor

    • Peripheral Reviews
    • Yaroze News
    • Gossip
    • Nihon Game Otaku!

    Reviews

    • Flashback
    • Backlog

    Previews

    • Blasto
    • Colony Wars
    • Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
    • Gex: Enter The Gecko
    • NFL GameDay ’98
    • Tomb Raider 2
    • Wild 9’s
    • Porsche Challenge
    • Fighting Force
    • Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero
    • Bushido Blade
    • Deathtrap Dungeon
    • G-Police
    • Madden ’98
    • Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back

    Code Junkies – The latest codes for all of your addicts

    Letters

    • Link-Up
    • Ask Sony
    • Top This!
    • Marketplace

    Reset – A sneak-peek at what’s gonna be hot for next month

    …and more!






  • MDK (PC, Macintosh, PlayStation)


    037

    Source: PSM – Number 1 – September 1997

    MDK is a third person shooter initially developed for the PC and then ported to Mac OS and later the PlayStation. While it was developed at a time when 3D accelerators were starting to take off in popularity, MDK was developed without as hardware based 3D graphics. All rendering was done via software and the requirements were still relatively modest at the time…a Pentium 60 with 16MB of RAM. The graphics were pretty good for the time too.

    The game was originally to be called “Murder Death Kill” but was changed for marketing purposes. Even the MDK became more ambiguous as there were a few instances of that acronym in the game. The most obvious of which was the name of the mission being executed which was called “Mission: Deliver Kindness”. The game has a rather humorous backstory though the main plot is pretty simplistic…save the Earth from invading aliens. You must accomplish this, in part, using a newly invented “Coil Suit”.

    The PlayStation version of the game was released about 7 months after the original PC version though development overlapped somewhat. Graphically speaking, there are some things better about the PC version and other things better about the PlayStation version. Personally, I prefer the PC version and that’s probably the easiest version to get as it has been released on both Steam and GoG. The PlayStation version shouldn’t be too hard to find but you will have to track down an original. A sequel (MDK2) was released in 2000 for Windows and the Dreamcast and in 2001 for the PlayStation. A third game was planned but never released.

    The ad above is for the PlayStation version of the game and it appeared in the September 1997 issue of PSM (the first issue). Screen shots are from the PC version of the game.