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Member Rating
73.8%
(12 votes)
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| Alternate Title: | Time Splitters |
| Console:
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Sony PlayStation 2
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| Region: |  |
| Year:
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2000
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| RFG ID #:
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U-072-S-02340-A
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| Part #:
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SLUS 20090
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| UPC:
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788687113212
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| Developer:
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Free Radical
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| Publisher:
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Eidos
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| Rating:
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| (ESRB): Animated Violence |
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| Genre:
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Shooter
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| Sub-genre:
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| Players:
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1-4
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| Controller:
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Standard Controller
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| Media Format:
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CD-ROM
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Collection Stats:
- 204 of 7621 collectors (2.6%) have this game in their collection
- 15 of 7621 collectors (0.1%) have this game in their wishlist.
- 0 of 7621 collectors (0%) have this game for sale or trade.
Overview:
A futuristic FPS shooter in which players are able to travel through time and experience a wide array of environments. A spiritual successor to Goldeneye and Perfect Dark, the game contains similar play mechanics but a very unique single player mode.
Review:
The first person shooter genre is constantly changing. During the N64 era the console FPS's tended to be mission oriented while others were your run and gun style situations. As time progressed FPS's were constantly changing, however one company stuck with their roots. Free Radical, composed of many of the minds behind such classics as Goldeneye and Perfect Dark, comes a spiritual successor; Timesplitters. For the most part, the game is extremely similar to the developer's previous games of the past, but it seems as though in an attempt to compose a new method of play they managed to overlook what made their games fun.
Timesplitters is very much a spiritual successor to Goldeneye and Perfect Dark. The pacing in the game is very fast, the multiplayer mode shines, then guns are unique and interesting, and the characters are lovable. The biggest mistake in Timesplitters though is the lack of a compelling single player mode. Instead of maintaining a mission oriented style of gameplay, Timesplitters provides players with a unique run and gun style. Players attempt to get from point A to point C then back to point A. The only exception to this typical overview is one level in which the ending isn't point A but some other place. Another gripe of the game is the inability for players to jump which can be seen as an attempt to maintain the feel of Goldeneye and Perfect Dark. To some this may come of as a huge annoyance while this won't bother others.
As an attempt to distinguish this game apart from the vast majority of other FPSs is the aspect of each level taking place in a different time period; thus enabling unique environments as well as guns and enemies for every level. For the most part, this little gimmick works assuming you don't mind a rather lackluster story. Even though the aspect of time travel is nothing more than a ploy to introduce completely unique levels at the expense of an extremely uninteresting story the method does work. Each story mode level contains a time crystal which must be obtained. Upon capturing the time crystal a time portal is opened (typically in the vicinity of the beginning of the level) which players must run to.
On the lower difficulties, the levels are best played by simply running and shooting everything that appears on screen, thus reverting back to the play style of unintuitive games such as Wolfenstein and Doom. In some regards this is rather cumbersome and boring, but at the same time the unique throwback can be entertaining. On the highest difficulty, gameplay becomes much more interesting for the most part. In order for players to maintain their life bar and not die easily, stealth is rather necessary in order to survive. The aspect of stealth heightens the variety in the gameplay. Even though the game wishes for players to utilize stealth, it is completely unnecessary for the most part. Upon obtaining the time crystal in each level, the whole aspect of stealth is completely thrown out the window. The level becomes nothing more than a run and gun in which monsters generate out of nowhere and attack left and right. If players take their time though, the they will easily realize that the spawning of the 'random' enemies is always in the same position so in actuality the game is extremely easy if players are willing to dedicate time into finding where exactly the enemies will spawn.
Though the story mode is underwhelming for the most part, the multiplayer mode is fantastic. Players are given a plethora of levels, each of which are incredibly unique and provide a wide array of diverse environments ranging from pyramids to alien planets etc. Furthermore, players are able to include a huge amount of bots into gameplay extending the replay value. The level design is rather remarkable and leaps and bounds above most other FPS games. Along with an amazing amount of maps, the game also totes a great amount of game modes. These modes range from your typical death match and capture the flag, to more unique modes not found in other games. As one can imagine the multiplayer mode is very much like the type found in Goldeneye and Perfect Dark; though now players are given a much more diverse range of maps and amped up game speed.
Rounding out the story mode and multiplayer mode is a rather unique arcade mode and mapmaker. The arcade mode creates different scenarios for players to take part in. These can range from a death match against ducks to collecting crazy items and bringing them back to a destination. Upon completion of these scenarios players obtain a medal and depending on the medal obtained more characters to play as. The final mode of play is a mapmaker mode. Players are able to create their own maps to play multiplayer on or a story mode of sorts. As fantastic as the aspect of being able to create your own maps is, the customization is lacking.
Timesplitters is a rather good FPS. The multiplayer is top notch and the arcade leagues provide unique challenges and extends the single player mode. As for the story mode, players are provided a rather dry and uninspired mode of play. Though the developers weren't afraid to change up the single player experience ironically maintaining a more traditional mode would have worked better in the long run. It should also be noted that the game contains incredibly long load times. Even though certain game modes are fantastic, as an entire package the game falls short.
RF Generation Review Score
80%
Extra Media:
Prima Official Strategy Guide
Variations:
Related Games:
Game Trivia:
Made by many of the developers behind Perfect Dark and Goldeneye.
FAQ's/External Links:
Page Credits:
| Michael Collins: |
Page design, HTML code.
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| Eddie Herrmann: |
Perl script.
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| Mike Swindell: |
miscellaneous data, scans.
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| Pop Culture Portal: |
Part #, UPC, Media Format, Game Rating
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| Shimra: |
Overview, Review, Trivia, Links
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| Zagnorch: |
Photos, Alt Title
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Last Updated: 2016-05-14 09:10:21 |
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