1995 · Cryo Interactive · Action · Beat 'em up

Timecop

Nintendo exclusive

Timecop is a side-scrolling action game. This game follows Max Walker as he heads off on another time-hopping criminal case. The time criminal is Dr. Hans Kleindast: the original inventor of the time-travel technology that the Time Enforcement Commission relies upon.

Released: 17 February 1995
Platforms: SNES
Genres: Action Beat 'em up Dystopian Science
Developers: Cryo Interactive
Publishers: JVC
Series: Timecop
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Side view
Themes: Action Science fiction
Country: France
Age ratings: ESRB T
Languages: English
Composers: David Cage

About

Timecop is a side-scrolling action video game produced by Cryo Interactive for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995. It is based on the 1994 film of the same title and takes place after the events of the film. Despite the use of digitized actors to portray the characters in the game, Jean-Claude Van Damme was not used to pose as protagonist Max Walker. Levels range from locales in the past (e.g., New York City during the 1920s, the European front of World War II), the present day, and a dystopian Los Angeles of the distant future.

Although the game was only released for the Super NES, a version was also developed for the Sega CD, with a short demo being distributed in May 1995 alongside the European Sega Pro magazine. Despite being fully completed by the developer, JVC pulled off the Sega CD version publishing and it remained unreleased. In 2007, a complete version of the game was eventually released on the Internet by the Sega CD version coder.

Keywords

world war ii - ww2
cyberpunk
shoot 'em up
time travel
time manipulation
brawler
based on - movie
time limit
countdown timer
underwater gameplay
octopus
water level

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Players must stop the original inventor of time travel, Dr. Hans Kleindast, and must fix all the wrong things that Kleindast does in the game. There are 15 levels in all; most of them are standard platforming levels. Some levels involve the use of a player-controlled vehicle and use of martial arts.

A time limit is in effect for all 15 levels of the game; resulting in instant death and the loss of a life if the timer reaches 0:00.

Reception

On release, Famitsu magazine scored the game a 20 out of 40. GamePro panned the game, citing exaggerated animation, lack of digitized voice, and almost unplayable design. Allgame gave the game a 2.5 out of 5 score.

The game is popular among the Games Done Quick speedrunning community as part of their "Awful Games Done Quick" block, where they provide humorous commentary on various aspects of the video game.