Hands-on with Time Crisis: Razing Storm for PS3 and PlayStation Move

Namco Bandai‘s upcoming PlayStation Move shooter will include three full games on one Blu-ray disc. The centerpiece, of course, being Time Crisis: Razing Storm, the newest and most sophisticated game in the Time Crisis shooter series.

Time Crisis: Razing Storm includes a fast-paced “on rails” Arcade mode that enables one player – or two, in same-screen co-op play – to blast hordes of terrorists, soldiers, and sci-fi battle mechs. In the Arcade mode, it’s all about unloading heavy firepower at anything and everything in your way: you aim by pointing the Move, shoot by pulling the trigger, and reload behind a protective riot shield by pressing and holding the Move button with your thumb. The PlayStation Move controls felt precise and responsive. But if you’re a poor marksman, or saddled with a novice co-op partner, fear not: the Arcade mode mercifully includes unlimited continues.

The Arcade mode has you mowing down hordes of enemy combatants, and supports two-player, same-screen co-op.

Razing Storm’s Arcade mode is fast, frantic fun, but Namco Bandai is also adding a beefy new Story mode to this PS3 version. The Story mode differs in its control scheme, playing more like a full-fledged FPS. You aim with the PlayStation Move and maneuver using the Navigation Controller – holding a DualShock 3 or Sixaxis in your left hand works just fine, as well. By dropping the “on-rails” approach of the Arcade mode, the Story mode opens up more flexible gameplay possibilities: you can take cover by pointing the Move upwards, and cook off a grenade’s fuse to trigger an airburst explosion. The Story mode’s advanced control scheme plays into Razing Storm’s online PSN multiplayer, too, which will support up to eight players in a competitive deathmatch-style setting.

The new Story mode allows you to control your character’s movements with a Navigation Controller or DualShock 3.

Time Crisis: Razing Storm will also ship with two bonus games: the full arcade version of Time Crisis 4, as well as a new arcade lightgun title called DeadStorm Pirates. Both titles are fully compatible with PlayStation Move, and much like Razing Storm’s Arcade mode, look to be ideal for two-player party sessions.

The full arcade version of DeadStorm Pirates (left) and Time Crisis 4 are included as bonus games with Razing Storm.

In addition to the central PlayStation Move and Navigation Controller support, Time Crisis: Razing Storm supports the GunCon 3, the peripheral that shipped with the PS3 version of Time Crisis 4. You’ll also be able to toss your PlayStation Move into the upcoming “Shooting Attachment.”

What do you think of Time Crisis: Razing Storm’s multiple play modes and bonus arcade games? Sound off with any comments or questions, and I’ll do my best to answer them.