Time Gal - Reception and Legacy

Reception and Legacy

The game met with a moderate reception in Japanese arcades. GameSetWatch's Todd Ciolek believed it was released too late in the life of laserdisc games, and that players had grown tired of the genre's gameplay. He further commented that despite its gameplay, it was unique and charming. GamePro's reviewer referred to the arcade game as a "lost, laserdisc treasure", and was enthusiastic about its Mega-CD release. He called the death sequences "hilarious" and felt they reduced the tediousness of dying. MEGA magazine rated the Mega-CD version the number five CD game, commenting that though it lacked difficulty, it was a good showcase of the system. Prior to its Mega-CD release, Electronic Gaming Monthly praised the use of CD technology and felt it would be followed by titles with similar gameplay.

Critics praised Time Gal's visuals. GameFan magazine, in praising Wolfteam's port of the game, complimented the Mega-CD version's graphics and short load times. Shawn Sackenheim of Allgame complimented the animation, calling it "high quality". However, Sackenheim criticized the Mega-CD graphics, calling them "downgraded". He commented that though Time Gal offered a good thrill, it lacked replay value. Author Andy Slaven commented that though the animation is nice, it can't really be enjoyed while playing. Ciolek echoed similar statements, saying it is more enjoyable to watch than to play. He further commented that the game is frustrating and rigid when compared to more contemporary standards. Electronic Gaming Monthly's group of reviewers praised the Mega-CD version's graphics quality. Three of the four reviewers lauded the gameplay, specifically the challenge and format. The other reviewer stated he didn't care for this type of game, referring to the gameplay as "nothing more than memorizing".

Author Masaru Takeuchi attributes the origin of the Quick Time Event game mechanic to laserdisc games like Dragon's Lair and Time Gal. IGN's Levi Buchanan listed FMV games like Time Gal as one of the reasons behind the Mega-CD's commercial failure, citing them as a waste of the system's capabilities. Ciolek referred to the protagonist as one of the first human heroines in the industry. He further added that Reika was an appealing lead character that Taito could have easily turned into a mascot and featured in other games and media. The character was later included in Alfa System's shooting game Castle of Shikigami III—Taito published the arcade version in Japan. In the game, Reika features similar attacks and personality, but the character's visual design was updated. Reika's most recent appearance was in the Elevator Action remake Elevator Action Deluxe as one of the few free Taito DLCs.