The definitive light gun game was always that Nintendo duck-hunting classic that somehow managed to capture the imagination of Hollywood and legions of budding gunslingers.

Theoretically, it should have been time for the ducks of 'Duck Hunt' to go home to roost in eight bit gaming heaven because Namco's coin-op port 'Time Crisis 4' has arrived on the mighty PlayStation 3, together with a nifty peripheral called the GunCon 3 — a significantly revised light gun.

This orange piece of plastic is a little unwieldy and it takes a while to setup and get comfortable with, but bear with it and with the help of an accurate on-screen cross-hair, soon you'll be scything through villains like you were born with an Uzi in hand.

The inclusion of the analogue joystick makes for convenient navigation and it is endlessly amusing to blow imaginary smoke off the gun after completing a mission. Just about the only drawback are the wires — why not go the wireless route?

True to its arcade origins, 'Time Crisis 4' features a flimsy plot that revolves around VSSE task force agents Giorgio Bruno and Evan Bernard as they wage a running battle with the nefarious WOLF and its Terror Bites biological weaponry.

Saving the world with a shotgun (or a grenade launcher) in sunny California, in other words.

The arcade component is really a walkover that no serious gamer will find challenging. There are just too many power-ups and 'continues' in the offing, as the player goes through the motions of taking cover and snap-shooting at targets.

However, the novelty of being transported to an eighties style Neo-Geo coin-op is gripping.

The game really comes into its own in Complete Mission mode which allows the players freedom to roam the unusually large levels, unlocking new content and hidden areas and indulging in first-person shooter styled antics and puzzle elements.

As Army Captain and all-round hard man William Rush, the player will find the FPS complexities a welcome change. An assortment of upgradeable weapons and the ability to capture enemy machine guns are exciting and expansive new gameplay functions.

Ultimately though, the effort to breathe new life into a drained genre by incorporating new elements is neither here nor there: the idea is sound but the execution is found wanting.

Graphically the game falls far short of pushing the PS3 envelope. It is a travesty of justice that a PS3 game should look like this, especially considering the capacity of the platform and its price. It begs the question as to whether this is the right place for old arcade conversions. This could have been a PS2 game.

Sound is average with meaty but one-dimensional effects and a forgettable soundtrack that provides an adequate if not admirable musical accompaniment to the action. The hammy voice-overs though, are an entertaining 'Time Crisis' series trademark.

There will always be questions over the longevity of a game of this type, particularly in the single-player incarnation. The light gun gameplay is prone to becoming repetitive after a few plays. Even in 'TC4's' complete mission mode with its generous helping of additional adventure, it's doubtful that one would keep coming back to this time and time again.

'Time Crisis 4' finds itself in a tight spot at the tail end of a tiring series. If you're in the market for an entertaining romp that does not break any new ground or put up too much of a challenge, this is well worth a look for the sheer fun factor that will have you smiling long after the last terrorist has eaten lead.

As the only light gun shooter currently available on the platform, it doesn't face any imminent competition. But when other titles do arise, one gets the sense that 'Time Crisis 4' will simply flop around like a fish on dry land and then quickly breathe its last.

Hopefully Namco will choose this point to allow the 'Time Crisis' series to fade into gaming history — if not gracefully, then at least quietly.