Truth is, unless you have a massive telly, there isn't much point in buying lightgun games. Mind you, for those of you who always wanted a coin-op in your house, Time Crisis must seem like violently animated manna from heaven.

Anyone who's already been drawn in by the omnipresent Time Crisis 3 arcade machine won't need to warm up here. In a nutshell, heavily-armed terrorists commanded by several camp bosses have stormed a Mediterranean island and it's up to two cops - who look like they could have formed Duran Duran - to sort it out.

As well as the single-player and two-player co-op modes, this time there are also unlockable levels where you get to play as a lady. Perform well and you'll stack up extra credits and power-ups which help you fare better in the more challenging sections. The better you get to know each stage, the better you'll perform - it's a simple matter of knowing where enemies will pop up. And, sadly, that's still in the same place, every time.

As for the 'Hit And Hide' reload feature, don't worry, it's still here - and, as always, the key to success is knowing when to come out all-guns-blazing and when to cower in fear. Many enemies can be dispatched with a single shot, so the emphasis remains firmly on fast-paced shooting action. And what about the camp villains? Reassuringly, the bosses are all super melodramatic and tricky to take down.

There's a choice of four weapons, reloadable by shooting the guys who wear yellow body armour. As well as a handgun there's a machine pistol, shotgun and grenades, although conserving your ammo for each stage's boss is worth doing. Sometimes though, you'll just want to go crazy with the shotgun - it's only natural. Each stage is made up of 40-second interludes but it's worth making the most of your time, staying safe and avoiding using up your credits unnecessarily.

The initial arcade mode is over painfully quickly but it's worth perfecting it to unlocking the Rescue and Crisis missions. They're more of the same sort of gameplay, but they offer a decent reward for expert marksmen and far extend the life of the basic arcade conversion.

Time Crisis 3 is familiar enough to please fans, good enough to entire non-arcade lovers into buying a G-Con2, and is a worthy addition to the series. Relieve stress like Elvis and shoot at your TV. It feels so good.

Graphics 70%
Arcadey but with a bit more polish than last time.

Sound 60%
Gunshots, gunshots and gunshots. Nice screams too.

Gameplay 80%
Fun and frenzied, you'll always want another go.

Lifespan 70%
Longer than your average shooter.

Overall 70%
Lightgun gaming hasn't evolved dramatically, but who cares when it's this much fun?