Time Stalkers | |
---|---|
![]() North American Dreamcast cover art | |
Developer(s) | Climax Entertainment |
Publisher(s) | Sega |
Platform(s) | Dreamcast |
Release | |
Genre(s) | Roguelike, role-playing |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Time Stalkers, also known as Climax Landers [lower-alpha 1] in Japan, is a role-playing video game for the Dreamcast featuring appearances of worlds (and playable characters) from several of Climax Entertainment's earlier games in crossover fashion. The player initially takes the role of Sword, a character caught in a world made of many worlds. As he goes along, similar heroes show up for the player to control. The player may do things such as enter dungeons, take special assignments, and upgrade/buy/sell items.
Time Stalkers is a role-playing video game with party members consisting of Climax characters as well as in-game enemies that can be collected and trained. The battle system combines RTS and turned based out of phase situational combat. The enemies appear on screen and transition to individual arrangements for RTS style combat. The game takes between 30–60 hours to complete and features multiple endings.
![]() | This article needs a plot summary.(August 2018) |
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
GameRankings | 52% [3] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
AllGame | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
CNET Gamecenter | 4/10 [5] |
Electronic Gaming Monthly | 3.67/10 [6] [lower-alpha 2] |
Famitsu | 27/40 [7] |
Game Informer | 6.5/10 [8] |
GameFan | 68% [9] |
GameRevolution | C [10] |
GameSpot | 5.2/10 [11] |
GameSpy | 4.5/10 [12] |
IGN | 6.5/10 [13] |
Next Generation | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
RPGamer | 7/10 [15] |
RPGFan | 63/100 [16] |
Time Stalkers received mixed reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. [3] Pete Bartholow of GameSpot gave the Japanese import a mixed review, criticizing its "traditional" story, randomized dungeon layouts, ugly graphics, and most particularly the resetting of experience points at the beginning of each dungeon. He concluded by advising gamers to instead get the "vastly superior" Evolution: The World of Sacred Device (the Dreamcast's only other RPG at that time). [11] Anoop Gantayat of IGN praised the unique overworld and the monster capture mechanic. However, like GameSpot, he took issue with the resetting of experience points and also complained of the game's concise dialogue and short length. [13] PlanetDreamcast gave it a negative review, over a month and a half before its U.S. release date. [12] Jeff Lundrigan of NextGen said of the game, "It ain't bad, but the Dreamcast RPG audience needs more than this generic fix." [14] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 27 out of 40. [7] GamePro summed up the review of the game by saying, "RPG aficionados looking for that great adventure for the Dreamcast will have to wait—Time Stalkers isn't it. While it'll probably satisfy dungeon crawlers, it will barely get a real adventurer's attention." [17] [lower-alpha 3]
Bangai-O is a multidirectional shooter developed by Treasure and released in 1999 on the Nintendo 64 in Japan. It was ported to the Dreamcast worldwide shortly after with some gameplay changes and updated graphics and audio. The game places the player in control of a weaponized mech that can hover across large stages and fire at enemies all around them. The player must reach the end of each stage and defeat the boss, while avoiding hazards scattered across the map such as enemy mechs and gun turrets.
Phantasy Star Online is an online role-playing game (RPG) developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega in 2000 for the Dreamcast. It was the first successful online RPG for game consoles; players adventure with up to three others over the internet to complete quests, collect items and fight enemies in real-time action RPG combat. The story is unrelated to previous games in the Phantasy Star series.
ChuChu Rocket! is an action puzzle game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. Released for the Dreamcast in 1999, it was the first game for the system to support online console gaming. Players must place arrows on a board to lead mice into escape rockets while avoiding cats. The game features single-player modes in which a player must save all the mice on a board, and a multiplayer mode in which players battle to collect the most mice.
Skies of Arcadia is a 2000 Dreamcast role-playing video game developed by Overworks and published by Sega. Players control Vyse, a young air pirate, and his friends as they attempt to stop the Valuan Empire from reviving ancient weapons with the potential to destroy the world.
Tech Romancer is a 1998 3D fighting arcade game by Capcom that draws heavily from the various subgenres of mecha anime. It was later ported to the Dreamcast console. The player controls a giant robot which is used to fight another robot in one-on-one combat. Studio Nue designed the robots in this game.
Super Magnetic Neo is a 3D platform game developed by Genki and released exclusively for the Dreamcast console. The game was originally released in Japan on February 3, 2000. The North American version was published by Crave Entertainment and was released on June 15, 2000, followed by the European release on August 4, 2000.
Evolution: The World of Sacred Device is a role-playing video game for the Dreamcast and Neo Geo Pocket Color. It was developed by Sting and published by Sega and Entertainment Software Publishing in Japan and Ubi Soft in North America and Europe.
Evolution 2: Far Off Promise is a role-playing video game for the Dreamcast console. It is a sequel to Evolution: The World of Sacred Device. It was developed by Sting and published by Ubi Soft in North America. In Japan it was published by ESP, while in Taiwan a Microsoft Windows version was published by Dysin Interactive Corp.
Giga Wing is a 1999 vertically scrolling shooter arcade game developed by Takumi Corporation and published by Capcom on their CPS-2 arcade system board and ported later that year to the Dreamcast console. The arcade version is notable for using a horizontally aligned monitor, something that is considered rare for a vertical shooter. The Dreamcast version had been scheduled to be released in the U.S. in April 2000, before it was delayed to July 18, 2000.
Blue Stinger is a 1999 action-adventure game developed by Climax Graphics for the Dreamcast. It was published by Sega in Japan, and by Activision in Western territories as a console launch title. The story follows emergency rescuer Eliot Ballade after he is stranded on the monster-infested Dinosaur Island and allies with fellow survivors and the alien being Nephilim to find the source of the monsters. Gameplay has Eliot navigating Dinosaur Island, fighting monsters using various weapons found or purchased during the game, and finding items to progress to other areas.
Sega Rally 2 is an arcade racing game developed by Sega for the Model 3 arcade hardware. It is the sequel to 1994's Sega Rally Championship. The game was first released in arcades in February 1998, and was later ported to the Sega Dreamcast, becoming one of the console's earliest titles when it was released in Japan on January 28, 1999. The Sega Dreamcast version was released in Europe as a launch title on October 14, 1999, and then in North America on November 27. A PC version was released in Japan and Europe that same year, with the North American release following suit in September 2000, where it was published by Mattel Interactive.
Tokyo Xtreme Racer 2, known as Shutokō Battle 2 in Japan and Tokyo Highway Challenge 2 in Europe, is the sequel to Tokyo Xtreme Racer, which is also on the Dreamcast. Tokyo Xtreme Racer 2 has been enhanced with better sound quality and graphics over its predecessor. The game managed to produce two more sequels. It is the last game in the series that was produced for Sega Dreamcast, though some of the game's mechanics were implemented into Daytona USA 2001.
Armada is a video game developed and published by Metro3D. It was released for the Sega Dreamcast in North America on November 26, 1999. Armada is a shooter role-playing game (RPG) that allows up to four players to fly about the universe, fighting the enemy, performing missions and improving their ship.
Sega GT, released in Japan as Sega GT: Homologation Special, is a sim racing video game co-developed by Wow Entertainment and TOSE, and published by Sega for their Dreamcast home console. The game was released in 2000. A Microsoft Windows version was published the following year—in Japan by Sega, in North America by Activision Value, and in Europe by Empire Interactive.
Climax Entertainment was a Japanese video game development company. It was a small company, with just 20 staff in 1996. Climax got its start during the 16-bit era, primarily developing games for the Sega Genesis console. During the 32-bit era, some members of the team left to create Matrix Software. Following the development of Dark Savior (1996), a group of staff members from the company's CGI division formed an independent company Climax Graphics, initially described as a "brother company".
Redline Racer is a racing game that was developed by Criterion Games and published by Ubi Soft.
TNN Motorsports HardCore Heat, known in Japan and Europe as Buggy Heat, is an off-road racing video game for the Dreamcast, developed and published by CRI, and published by ASC Games and Sega in 1999.
Soul Fighter is a 3D beat 'em up video game developed by Toka and published by TLC Multimedia for the Sega Dreamcast in 1999.
Rainbow Cotton is a 2000 rail shooter video game developed and published by Success exclusively for the Dreamcast. The fifth installment in the Cotton franchise, it is a follow-up to Panorama Cotton (1994) and the first 3D entry in the series. In the game, players assume the role of the titular young witch who, alongside her fairy companion Silk, sets out on her broomstick on a quest to defeat the evil demon Tweed and retrieve a stolen Willow candy from York Country. Its gameplay is similar to Panorama Cotton, consisting of shooting mixed with role-playing game elements while flying through 3D environments on a predetermined track.
Climax Graphics Inc., renamed Crazy Games Inc. in 2001, was a Japanese video game developer based in Tokyo. Established in December 1996 by Shinya Nishigaki as an independent "brother company" of Climax Entertainment. The staff were made up of CGI developers who had worked on Climax Entertainment's Dark Savior. Their debut project, the action-adventure Blue Stinger, began production for the Sega Saturn, but on encouragement from Sega it shifted to becoming an early Dreamcast title.