Critical Force 2

Main logo for Critical Force 2

Critical Force 2 is a 3D light gun rail shooter developed and published by ACS. It is the sequel to Critical Force. Released in 1999 for Arcades (ACS TGX2 Modeller System) and the PlayStation 2 as an exclusive title.

Gameplay

Gameplay remains the same from the first game, with a few new changes. Like in the previous installment, players use optical light gun controllers to shoot the on-screen enemies before they attack. The standard pistol holds 6 bullets at a time, and players must reload their guns by shooting off-screen.

The biggest addition to the game is the brand new Weapon Switch system, which, as its name suggests, grants players the ability to freely switch between weapons. Players are now able to swap between the default pistol, the shotgun, the machinegun and the grenade launcher on the fly by tapping on a button located on the side of their gun controller.

The special weapons still cannot be reloaded regularly, and therefore become unusable once they run out of bullets. To refill these special weapons, one must obtain special weapon pickups by shooting boxes or killing Elite enemies. All special weapons also replenish upon entering a brand new mission.

Another new addition to the game is the introduction of branching paths. Halfway through each level, players are given a choice between two alternate paths, giving the game more variety. Each level also has a secret path with an abundance of bonus lives and special weapons that the player could pick up.

The PlayStation 2 home port of the game is compatible with both Namco’s GunCon and GunCon 2 light gun peripherals.

Weapons

• Shotgun

Bullets: 6

• Machine Gun

Bullets: 30

• Grenade Launcher

Bullets: 3

Story

Several years have passed since the Libertad's coup d'detat was thwarted by Shoot on Sight (S.O.S.) agents Gino Alfonso and John Greyson. Another threat looms over the horizon, this time in Hong Kong, where the Dragon's Triad, led by the notorious crime lord only known as "the Kingpin", has taken over most of the city, using it as a hive for all of his criminal activities. With no one else to oppose him, the reign of the Dragon's Triad appears to be unstoppable.

Meanwhile, the S.O.S. agency sends two of their agents on a mission to eliminate the Dragon's Triad and take down the Kingpin, dead or alive. This time around, veteran S.O.S. agent Gino Alfonso joins forces with the attractive, yet sharp-tongued agent Cynthia Lang, who bears a grudge towards the Kingpin for murdering her father during her childhood.

Characters

S.O.S. Agents

Shoot on Sight (often abbreviated to S.O.S.) is a secret government agency hosting a group of elite special agents, known for their excellent marksmanship. Their fame and accolades have increased ever since their suppression of the Libertad's coup d'etat several years ago.

• Gino Alfonso

The player 1 character. A veteran S.O.S. agent known for his contributions during the Libertad coup, Gino's skills and womanizing attitude have garnered him both fame and infamy.

• Cynthia Lang

The player 2 character. An S.O.S. agent of half-Chinese descent, beneath Cynthia's beautiful looks belies a gunslinger with a sharp tongue and unparalleled marksmanship skills.

Dragon's Triad

The Dragon's Triad is the largest and most influential crime organization in all of Hong Kong. The Dragon's Triad has been involved in many criminal activities, including smuggling weapons and illegal substances, among others.

• Alias: "Slasher"

The boss of Mission 1. A deranged madman who fights with a pair of Chinese swords.

• Alias: "Harlot #1 & Harlot #2"

The boss of Mission 2. A pair of sultry, yet dangerous knife-wielding twin sisters.

• Alias: "Vanish"

The boss of Mission 3. An assassin who could dash in and attack with blistering speed.

• Alias: "Kingpin"

The boss of Mission 4. The leader of the Dragon's Triad and the killer of Cynthia's father.

Missions

• Mission 1: The Airport Showdown

Upon arriving in Hong Kong, the S.O.S. agents recieve a not-so-warm welcome, as the Dragon's Triad attempts to ambush them.

Boss: Alias: "Slasher"

• Mission 2: The Red-Light District

As they continue to roam around the streets, the S.O.S. agents find themselves in the red-light district, where more Triad minions await.

Boss: Alias: "Harlot #1 & Harlot #2"

• Mission 3: The Cargo Docks

Receiving a tip from an informant, the S.O.S. agents enter the docks, where the Triad's drug and gun smuggling operations take place.

Boss: Alias: "Vanish"

• Mission 4: The Dragon's Palace

Boss: Alias: "Kingpin"

With everything else under control, there is one last thing left to do for the S.O.S. agents: hunt down the Kingpin and take him down for good.

Trivia

• This game was the final ACS game to be released for the TGX2 Modeller System. Its succesor, the NOVA System, would be introduced later the following year.
• Certain voice samples were re-recorded between the arcade and PlayStation 2 versions, most notably Slasher's, who lost his thick Asian accent in favor of a more deranged and psychotic vocal take.
• Besides improved graphics and exclusive game modes, the PlayStation 2 port also features unlockable outfits for Gino and Cynthia, which are obtainable upon finishing all of the Extra Missions in the game.