TimeSplitters: Future Perfect

"Forget TimeSplitters 2, Future Perfect is all you need."

The TimeSplitters series has been known for its time-travel theme, fast-paced gameplay, and awesome multiplayer. TimeSplitters 2 has been a cult classic for as long as its been released, and many fans anticipated the release of the third game in the series, TimeSplitters: Future Perfect. Does it live up to expectations? It does, and more.
STORY: 9/10

The story in Future Perfect picks up where it left off at the end of TimeSplitters 2. The space marine you played as in the last game, Cortez, returns from the assault on the TimeSplitter space-station with the Time Crystals. It is with these crystals that he is sent on a new mission through time to track the origin of the TimeSplitters, and destroy them, ending the war before it ever began.

The actual story isn't award worthy here, but it's definitely a large step up from TimeSplitters 2. The levels are actually strung together, instead of sending you to random areas through time. And instead of inhabiting characters in that time period, you are simply Cortez, and in most of the levels are aided by AI-controlled teammates in their respective time period. There is plenty of humor thrown in the levels, from Jo-Beth Casey urging you not to make comments about the size of her butt, to drunken guards spewing out amusing gibberish.

One thing they could have 'upped' a bit is the difficulty. Free Radical lowered the difficulty from TS2, making it easier to conquer the game on Hard mode. However, I think they lowered it a tad too much, because I could go through Hard mode in one sitting, while it took me forever to just beat the first level in TS2 on Hard. Still, it was for the most part a welcome change. The co-op mode returns as well, but unlike TS2, both players must be alive, just like the single-player versions of the levels. This makes it a bit tougher, if you're looking for a challenge in the Story mode.

GRAPHICS: 10/10

If you thought TS2's graphics were good, you're going to love the look of Future Perfect's graphics. The graphics got a major boost, and still manage to keep the series' signature unwavering framerates, keeping the action smooth at all times. In addition to the boost, characters look more detailed, animations are smoother (guns now have individual reloading animations, which I welcome since the 'pull down, pull up' method of reloading bugged me) and everything just looks great.

GAMEPLAY (Arcade/Challenge/MapMaker): 10/10

(Since I already described the Story mode, it is excluded from this section.)

Making a return is the Arcade mode. This mode is basically the core of your multiplayer sessions. Arcade mode sports 13 modes of play (minus the 14th mode, Story) , ranging from Deathmatch, to Capture the Bag, to Monkey Assistant. There is quite some variety here, and I guarantee you'll find a mode you like. Combine that with the impressive array of weaponry this game has to offer, and you've got some fun times. Keeping with TS2, there is quite a bevy of characters to choose from, a whopping 150 of them. Of course, they all aren't available from the start, so you move on to the Arcade League portion of the Arcade. There are three leagues of arcade matches to play from. You can unlock a lot of characters here, as well as other bonuses. When you finish the short story mode, the Arcade mode will be there for you.

Also returning is the Challenge mode. This mode features several challenges (some taken from TS2) like killing as many undead as you can without dying, and driving a cat around a track. This also nets you more characters, bonuses, and even unlockable weapons.

Last, but definitely not least, the MapMaker. The MapMaker has seen a huge substantial upgrade, eliminating many restrictions from the previous game's MapMaker. You can now add skies and weather, there is an increased memory space, new tiles, new themes (which are all fun to use), and with the introduction of Stackable tiles, makes for a whole new dimension of MapMaking. When you get bored of the original Arcade maps, the MapMaker will allow you to fill any niche. Story maps made in the MM are a joy to play, and sic on your friends.

There is so much to do and fun to be had here, and I myself, after nearly having this game for a year, still play it constantly. It's that fun.

REPLAY VALUE: 10/10

Even when you've unlocked everything, played the arcade maps several times over, there is still more to do and come back for. You can devise new strategies, find hidden gags in the Story mode (every time I replayed a level, I found something new) and of course, make map after map with the MapMaker. In fact, the MapMaker is pretty much 7 of the 10 points there, due to its room for creativity.

FINAL SCORE: 10/10

BUY OR RENT?: BUY

With all I just described, was there any doubt in your mind that this would be anything other than a pure buy? For first person shooter fans, this is your heaven. Go out there and buy it now! What are you waiting for?

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 08/19/07