Give this light gun game a try

Light gun shooters are a rare breed.

They attract a limited crowd, and are generally short and not too engaging.

That said, one of the better light gun series is back, and "Time Crisis 3" from Namco for the PlayStation 2 might revive interest in the breed.

If you're already packing, the game comes in a software-only package. If you'd like the latest in orange plastic firearms, it also comes packaged with the Guncon 2 controller.

You can certainly play the game without the gun, but don't. The Guncon 2 is an excellent piece of equipment and triples the fun.

"Time Crisis 3" takes the intrepid operatives of the VSSE International Intelligence Agency to the tiny Mediterranean island of Astigos. Astigos, once a peaceful place as a territory of Lukano, has come under attack from General Giorgio Zott and his evil flunkies in the Zagorian army.

They quickly subdued the island's residents and placed missiles on the island. It's your job to gather information on what's going on, and in the process polish off as many of Zott's stooges as possible.

"Time Crisis 3" is a classic arcade title, and Arcade mode is the main way to play. Play the Story mode under Arcade and you battle through all three stages, or choose one to play alone.

There's also a Rescue mode, in which you play as one of the locals, a young freedom fighter named Alicia. And there's a Crisis mode, which features a series of missions. There's a two-player mode, which offers cooperative play on a split screen.

You follow a set-in-stone path through the game, firing at every enemy you see. Of course, they're shooting back. A button allows you to duck, then pop up and open fire. Enemies wear brightly colored jump suits -- no camouflage here -- and your partner has a little identification arrow over his head. If you shoot him, you lose points off your score, and probably your place on his Christmas list.

A new feature in the series is a variety of weapons controlled by the Guncon 2, including the basic pistol with an unlimited supply of ammo, and a machine gun, shotgun and grenade launcher, with limited supplies of ammunition that can be replenished by shooting soldiers in yellow outfits.

"Time Crisis 2" isn't going to keep you tied up for weeks -- a good player can probably blast through it in an afternoon, even at the higher difficulty settings. But replay value is high, simply because the game is a hoot to play.

Graphics get an A. They are bright, beautifully colored and detailed, and weapons effects are the best ever for a light gun title.

Control gets another A. The Guncon 2 is a fine piece of equipment, and once you have it sighted in, it is accurate to a fault. Your only control over your character is having it duck at the appropriate moments.

Sound gets a B. Voice acting could be better, but the musical background and the sound of weapons and explosions is excellent.

Give "Time Crisis 3" an A. It's absolutely state of the art, featuring a fantastic look, plenty of action and the excellent Guncon 2. If you wrote off light gun games in the past, give it a try.

"Time Crisis 3" is rated T, for ages 13 and up.