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1999

Crisis Zone

Short Overview

Crisis Zone is one of Namco's most intense light gun arcade games, set in the Time Crisis universe. Released in 1999, the classic kept the legendary cover pedal but offered a completely new experience: this time you take on the terrorists with a fully automatic machine gun. With its non-stop firefights and destructible environments, every mission feels like a real action movie.

Crisis Zone

Basics

  • Release1999
  • DeveloperNamco
  • GenreLight Gun Shooter (Rail Shooter)
  • Players1 player
  • HardwareNamco System 23 Evolution 2

What Makes This Cabinet Special

Recoil-simulating light gunPedal-based cover systemHighly detailed destructible environmentsCinematic action sequences

Controls

Automatic machine gunCover pedalTriggerStart button

Play It Live!

Grab the machine gun, step on the pedal, and clear out the Garland Square building on this fast-paced Namco arcade classic at the Arcade Hungary museum!

Insert Coin

Objective

Use your machine gun to wipe out the enemies, protect the civilians, and complete the mission before time runs out. Sustained automatic fire, precise aiming, and quick changes of cover make every stage a serious challenge.

Hold Your Cover!

An armed terrorist organization has seized the Garland Square shopping mall. As the leader of the elite S.T.F. unit, it's up to you to clear the building, free the hostages, and stop the terrorist leader. Survival comes down to popping out and ducking back into cover at exactly the right moment.

Fun Facts

  • A standalone spin-off of the Time Crisis series.
  • The classic cover pedal is a central element of the gameplay here too.
  • It features an exceptional amount of destructible scenery for an arcade game.
  • The machine gun is an MP5K-style light gun that simulates recoil.
  • In Crisis Zone almost everything can be shot apart: shop windows, shelves, advertising signs, and furnishings all take damage from gunfire. In 1999 this was a strikingly impressive technical feat, and it contributed a great deal to the game's cinematic feel.

Why Is It Special?

Crisis Zone broke with traditional pistol-based controls and pushed players to stay on the offensive. Explosions, shattering shop windows, glass walls, and richly detailed environments made every shot spectacular — which is why many fans still consider it one of the most visually impressive games in the genre.

Who Is It For?

If you love the Time Crisis games but want even more action, greater firepower, and spectacular destruction, Crisis Zone is sure to become one of your favorites.