Kotaku
Target: Terror was always a game behind its time. The light gun game featuring a terrorism theme and digitized bad guys came out in 2004, well after the blending of faux guns and digital graphics created a mini-light gun renaissance in arcades. Even the fact that Eugene Jarvis, the man behind Defender, was behind the game couldn't get it off the ground. I was a more than a little surprised to see that Konami had decided to lift this game, of all of the light gun titles, out of the arcade graveyard and try to give it new life on the Wii.
Light gun games on the Wii, though, are a match made in heaven, or at least they could be if someone ever finds the right match. Could Target: Terror be it?
Loved
Digitized Bad Guys: Nothing takes me back to the days of Terminator and Mad Dog McCree like a little digitized blasting action. The game and it's digital graphics hold up well on the Wii.
Kitschy Arcade Fun: There's no way that someone can take Target: Terror seriously. It's got over the top bad guys and women, bizarre weapons like a freeze ray and is set in a motley assortment of locations, including Denver International Airport, of all places. Fun for the sake of fun is never a bad thing.
Hated
Major Lag While the game has some potential, that potential is absolutely destroyed by the lag that infects this game. At times the lag is so bad that you can't reload and shots are so delayed you end up hitting people who weren't even on screen when you pulled the trigger. When it happens it's game destroying and unforgivable.
Wii Mote Reaction Time: As if the occasion game-killing lag time weren't bad enough, the Wii remote's target reticule tends to drift a fraction of a second behind where you are aiming. You can get used to it, adapting to the slight delay, but you really shouldn't have to.
Lackluster Mini-Games: The mini games, unlockable by shooting stuff up in the campaign play, are for the most part uninspired and not very fun. The only exception for me was ICBM Defense Shield—which is essentially Missile Command—but even that is so short lived that it sucks the fun out of the concept.
Credit System: I get that the developers had to figure out a way to make a quarter-eating arcade game more challenging. Without the risk of going through an entire allowance in ten minutes of game play there really isn't a lot of tension built into the game. Giving a set number of credits to make it through the game is a fine solution, but it shouldn't be the only option, especially when you have to beat every single level to make it to the final stage. Unforgivable.
Target: Terror isn't a game someone would knowingly pick up expecting hours of over the top, deep gameplay. But even for those who go into the game with their eyes wide open, hoping to only relive a bit of arcade light gun nostalgia, Target: Terror is a let down. The glitches in the game are so bad at times, it makes me wonder if Konami or developer Leviathan Games even bothered to play test the game before shipping it out.
If you can pick this game up at a bargain price and are willing to grit your teeth through the slowdowns, the game does have its moments, just don't expect them to last.
Target: Terror was developed by Leviathan Games and published by Konami, and was released on April 22nd. Retails for $39.99. Available on Nintendo Wii. Played single player game to completion (less bonus round) in single player, multiplayer and dual-remote Justice Mode. Tested all mini-games.
Comments
"Light gun games on the Wii, though, are a match made in heaven, or at least they could be if someone ever finds the right match. Could Target: Terror be it?"
No.
Ghost Squad and House of the Dead 2&3 were really good, so I think I'll stick with them.
They're charging $40 for this shit!!! This is why the Wii sucks. $40 bucks for a budget title, just because the system is so popular
Wow. A laggy lightgun shooter.
So in other words, don't buy it because it doesn't work, period? That's sad.
Maybe we'll get Point Blank later, it was good on DS. Or Mad Dog McCree, I actually spent some time on that one in arcades.
I still wonder who at Konami thought it was a good idea to put their own name on this game. Maybe they should have revived the Ultra Games label for it.
@pd771: So, if your Porsche stalls because you put bad gas in it, it's the car that sucks? Don't blame the Wii for the bad games ... there are plenty of good ones on the system.
40 Bucks? WTF...That seems a little high to not even have a new coat of paint. Even RE4 Wii was 29.99...
This game could be uglier than "Cruis'n".
@pd771: Bad game =/= bad console.
But I'm incredibly surprised you put that 'it's digital graphics hold up well on the Wii'. From here it looks more Goldeneye than anything.
Maybe seeing it in motion would change that?
It seems weird to think that someone is still making games with digitized graphics. I thought they completely died out with the introduction of 3d video game systems.
"Could Target: Terror be it?"
No.
Now if they remake that cowboy western "Quick Draw" game and include an "Authentic Leatherette" belt and holster for the Wii Mote (with the option of having two) THEN we'll be talking.
Or better yet, Outlaws II. Outlaws is a game that deserves a sequel and with good light gun action it could be awesome.
39.99?
When I see the price at $5-$10 it'll make a great prank gift.
"At times the lag is so bad that you can't reload and shots are so delayed you end up hitting people who weren't even on screen when you pulled the trigger."
that's hilarious... except for the other part where they want $40 for it. Then that's not funny at all.
We seriously need some of American Laser Games' lightgun shooters on the Wii. Even the ones that horribly fail are funny for a couple laughs at how cheesy they are.
Port that lightgun game that appears in Back to the Future 2, and we're set.
@Pezdispenser: Right on. My favorite light gun games are already on the wii and work fine. I guess I'd pick up Crisis Zone if it came out, but my lightgun itch has been scratched for a long time with Ghost Squad and HotD 2+3.
How about some lethal enforcers for the virtual console? Or maybe some virtual cop action?
my understanding is that all the actors are the arcade development teams' friends/families .. and shots are context-sensitive -- you can shoot everyone in the balls or kneecap everyone in the game if you wanted to .. ?
God, Nintendo really needs to rethink their 3rd party games. This looks fun to plug a few quarters into, but $40?
@Jeff Paine: Indeed, most American Laser Games are the D-Movies of the arcade world. Noteworthy for their badness and hilarious when you're in the right, usually altered, mood.
@broomperson: The fact that they're 3rd party means there's no thinking on Nintendo's part at all. If there was they would be 1st party.
Just an FYI, Target is spelled wrong in the headline.
Umm you guys are missing the point. It's not about the graphics its about the gameplay. This looks more fun than GTAIV and MSG combined. Its about fun guys.
@Leobebes: Ummmm, you're missing the point, the gameplay has major technical problems.
@Leobebes: Yeah, that is just not true.
Shovelware (or sh*tware if you like) always hit hardest on the most popular machines. Godo times when the Gamecube didnt get many games per month, but the goo game ratio was much better... nowadays everyone thinks they can make Wii games... what the hell, world!? Begone, shovelware!
I looks like a Tim & Eric video
+ Watch video
In case any Sega employees are browsing our comments, I would TOTALLY pay $30 for a Virtua Cop compilation. :)
Time Crisis, with the option to use the wii balance board as the duck button would be awesome.
Uh.
"lag" has a very specific meaning, and this is not it.
Also shovelware.
Ugh. I played this a few weeks ago when Best Buy was having a game night on campus. It was so awful I didn't make it through the first level before putting it down and walking away.
I would certainly pay $5 for Area 51 1 & Site: 4 collection. Likewise I'd pay $5 for this game. I might MIGHT pay $30 for a collection of say a collection of like 4 of 5 of the old rail lightgun shooters.
Random q here: Why wasn't Lethal Enforcers included as an unlockable? I mean, Konami has the game so it shouldn't be that hard.
Ha. I love this game. Wouldn't buy it... but come on, school girls hiding in dumpsters, pleather dominatrices, guys who try to either chock or flex you to death, and the suicide bomber who could be confused as a flasher.
What's not to love?
@WildVulture: Thirded. I've had Ghost Squad for a while now, and I just bought HotD2&3 plus a Nyko Perfect Shot today. Sega wins in the arcade-shooter-port department.
Also, the Perfect Shot feels great. It's far superior than the Wii Zapper.
Gonna reiterate the Sega Arcade+Wii=love formula, one of the most positive examples of 3rd party game porting are their light gun shooters on the Wii.
This game? Not looking so great by comparison ;)
HOD2&3 is a great light gun shooter, and with it's calibration option, it sets a precedent that all future Wii light gun games should follow.
You can literally turn off the cross hair and play it based on sight, just like the arcade.
Target: Terror is just a mystery to me. I can't figure out who thought it was a good idea to resurrect and release this. And for $40?! That is absolutely obscene. HOD2&3 cost me $20 on sale at Circuit City.
I wonder why there's such a huge discrepancy between games in terms of how smooth the cursor is, even from first party games. Mario Galaxy has a super fast, super smooth cursor. Zelda TP had a horrible laggy cursor.
It seems as though the more fancy bullshit they try to pull with it graphically the less responsive it gets, but apparently that's not predictable either.
Geez, what a piece of crap! For 40 bones? There are games releasing on Wiiware for less than $15 that blow this out of the water five times over!
Crazy.
+1 for the Ghost Squad love! Sounds like I've gotta get HOD2&3 at some point, too! Some day.
I personally like this game in the arcade. It's a completely mindless light-gunner and brings me back to the days of Lethal Enforcers.
My biggest problem with the game is the STUPIFYING difficulty! The enemies are many times so fast on the draw that I've even caught the enemies shooting me BEFORE THEY POP INTO VIEW!!!!
It's still mindless fun all-in-all.
Did anyone else start singing Aerosmith after looking at the picture?
I thought this was supposed to be like Target (my favorite French department store) the Game or something. Expect more, pay less, shoot our employees?
It's... it's just so DIGITAL! I really wish more video games these days were digital... Sigh... :P
@Zazu_Yen: Oh man, I would love to see Quick Draw on Wii. I remember playing it when I visited Myrtle Beach when I was a kid. I just remember the lady saying "You're dead, that's not good is it?" At least I think that's where it's from :)
@Pezdispenser: I would gladly pay 30$ for a Virtua Cop collection as well. Make it happen, Sega!
Wow. More proof that Konami blows.
@Zazu_Yen: My favorite scene has to be in Crime Patrol, when you're fighting terrorists on an airplane. They calmly, one-by-one turn around to shoot you, and none of the other passengers really seem to care. Then one lady randomly pops out, screams, then takes her seat. Then another lady pops out, says "Save us." in the most bored tone you could imaging, then goes back offscreen.
After that, you reach the front of the plane, where the stewardess instructs you to take your seat, then you open the cockpit, shoot the terrorist in the pilot's seat, and the co-pilot thanks you by saying "That oughtta earn you some frequent flyer miles!"
@GordieHoweHatTrick: That's from Crime Patrol 2: Drug Wars, and I feel pathetic for knowing that off the top of my head
@elpierce: No, just means this game blows. Konami is still an amazing company. Their Castlevania games for Nintendo handhelds are always engaging, and all of their shmups are excellent. Don't knock the company for a shitty port of a shitty game.
Sad that Midway/Konami were even still making these after the glory of Virtua Cop.
40$? goddamn, House of the Dead 1&2 is WAY better and it's just 30 bucks!
Meant to say 2&3....gah edit button.
It's pretty incredible that even with its already lackluster premise, they managed to screw the remaining attractive kitsch value by botching gameplay.
I mean, how hard is it to make a simple and ugly-ass game at the very least functional?
Goes to show how devs really don't care about their games when they know it's shovelware.
I actually thought of getting this! Not now. Wouldn't play it even if they gave it to me.
Kotaku! Kotaku!!
Please, write up more terrible Wii games.
Oh! Oh! OH!
Do Spy Games: Elevator Action next!
I hope this doesn't end my dream of a Lucky and Wild revival (seriously...Wheel? Gun? Helloooo?!)
Something's got to be done about those laggy wiimote controls. Nintendo, you're just BEGGING for the competition to come up with a better controller.
Ewwww, sorry mates sarcasm can't really be read accurately in print. Wasn't trying to troll, was just trying to highlight the whole "gameplay is better than graphics angle" but since gameplay is horrible on this game as well...nevermind. heh.
I thought it was the most stupid, ugly, annoying, poorly executed video game ever in the arcade and I'm proud to say it never got any of my quarters/tokens. It makes an even worse Wii game. Konami cred just hit the negative territory in my book.
This isn't from Activision?
Someday the world will realize that you can make good games for the wii.
Someday...
What did you expect? IGN gave it like a 2.
@Leobebes: You summed up my feelings on the wiinerds quite accurately.
Not saying I don't want a wii, mind... I want it for the good games (Mario Galaxy, Brawl, SPM, Twilight Princess) but it doesn't beat a real current gen system. The wii is, by and large, exceptions notwithstanding, a system for non-gamers... Wii Sports has inspired a new generation of shovelware that is unmatched even by the PS1... Only the Atari beat the wii in shovelware...
@inajeep: I'm glad you don't let how a game looks drive your judgment of it ;)
Although, in this case, the book and it's cover were pretty in sync. But it could suffice for some dumb fun when other games were tied up in an arcade that gave 5 tokens or more on the dollar, and it took 1, and the pinball game only had one working flipper...
One of the "local" movie theaters in my area has the arcade games as one of their money suckers while patrons wait for