TimeSplitters: Future Perfect

"Sweet as moonshine, future perfect is ace!!"

History:-
The Timesplitters series began its life on the PS2 with the first Timesplitters, this was the start of something big. Although the story was very simple: shoot your way through a level grab an item and leg it back to the start in a time limit. Although very simple it was enjoyable. Timesplitters also introduced the challenge mode and arcade league where players are dropped in scenarios, which are completed for medals, thus unlocking characters, maps and weapons. Also on there was mapmaker, a marvelous tool where players can create their own playable maps.
Then, Next came the huge Timesplitters 2, an improvement was made on story mode in this one you had no time limit and there was an even mix of old and sci-fi levels which included an even mix of stealth and run ‘n'gun. This game was highly praised for its multiplayer, some even say its better than Goldeneye, and that is an achievement and a half! With over 100 playable characters, over 12 game modes, loads of multiplayer maps and the most interesting guns it was unbeaten. Also Mapmaker returned with more advanced features such as game logic and you can even add Story AI to your levels. To top this off also arcade league and challenge made a triumphant return.

Story 8/10:-
Now Timesplitters future perfect is here, I was proven wrong when I said Goldeneye could never be beaten. The story on this game is much more involving, the other two games despite being so good where criticized for their story plot or therefore lack off. Free Radical has obviously put much more effort into an more involving and exciting story line. Story mode has the space marine, Cortez, traveling through time. Being as you travel through time on Timesplitters it means more variation. All the levels are different in many ways such as the way they must be completed, objectives, guns, atmosphere and enemies. This wide range of variation is overwhelming, being as one moment your fighting zombies, the next minute robots. However the story levels despite being linear in places boast lots of brain itching puzzles and tasks which must be tackled quickly and accurately these make a nice pace breaker from the shooting. Also the story features meet yourself game play where sometimes another You (past or future) needs/lends a helping hand, very clever indeed. Another notable feature is the addition of sidekicks, these people are often in a level coincidently doing a mission similar to yours these will help you as you go and give you hints. They are not ‘dumb' and do not get caught on scenery. Despite being good shooters players cannot sit back as their CPU friend blasts there way through the level as the computer sidekick (or a human in co-op) stays with you. There is also the return of story Co-op which is where two players work their way through levels, making the whole experience more fun and strategic. The story in this installment is best yet in the series

Controls 9/10:-
In Timesplitters 2, some people found aiming a slightly fiddly process with the C stick being sensitive sniping was harder than it should have been. However on this new installment this has been eliminated the controls are customizable from the buttons to the turn speed, which is sometimes too fast in more compact levels. However the controls are easy to use with the two sticks used in partnership to move and aim. A as your action button, B to duck and L and R to shoot and zoom. Easy. Also I am glad the C stick is less niggly now, this raking in a whole point for the controls!

Graphics 9/10: -
Free Radicals unique graphics are wonderfully animated. This game is beautiful, not revolutionary but no complaints here. Characters faces are brilliantly animated, each boasting a wide range of realistic facial expressions. There is little on no pre-rendering and the levels because of the graphics, are even more atmospheric and realistic. The graphics are very convincing with rain, lightening, sun, waves, buildings or whatever else the player would see rendered beautifully. Bullets also will smash windows, and splash water also the debatable addition of the blood when characters are shot just adds to the realism and the graphics don't suffer even in multiplayer! Characters are also very unique all 150 of them! They are slightly cartoon but realistic… don't think I am mad but play this game and you will soon see what I mean and love them! (50Hz/60Hz)

Sound 9/10: -
The sound is marvelous, more of Free Radicals brilliant music returns. The music is composed well and fits the time era and situation well. All the music is appropriate for the situation at hand, this makes the story more involving and atmospheric, the sound in places makes you just tap your feet on the floor as you play or whistle it on the way to the shop its is very catchy and mostly memorable. The voice acting and voices suit the character well and sounds the real deal too. Furthermore all the tracks from the previous Timesplitters are now gone except three classics, but then again im reviewing this game not them so this fact does not influence my score.

Gameplay 10/10:-
Gameplay is superb here, with 14 different game modes, load of challenges, Tons of arcade matches this has more variety then Shigeru Miyamoto's brain. Now unlike the other games the bots are much more human like and harder they will follow and shoot you at all costs. They also adapt well and take note of players strategy for example say if you instead of crossing the battlefield you took as small tunnel round the outside by the third time you would be intercepted in your paths and fought until the death. The Weapons and levels also add to the gameplay factor with loads of situation at hand such as baseball fight sin the disco to sniping matches in and artic tundra, its is facts like these which means everybody is playing the game differently and two matches are rarely the same. The challenges are also more varied with something for everybody and are a nice break from the hardcore shooting of the other modes. There really Is something here for everybody, from dancing with cyborgs in a disco to cat racing, no I am not mad. Arcade league is also back and is much harder, Arcade is mainly gun battles for medals each medal, bronze, silver, gold or the elusive platinum earning you secret characters and cheats. Players will feel the need to unlock characters you can't help but get involved.
Also mapmaker a brilliant tool, which allows players to create story and arcade matches as before, as well as the addition of assault modes and vehicles and more enemy options. The gameplay is great on this game and a huge improvement on its predecessor.

Lifespan 10/10: -
This lifespan on this game is unmatchable players will play for several trying to unlock all cheats and characters which are genuinely desirable not ‘some extra'. After one player mode finally finishes, all characters, cheats and all the medals there's multiplayer. Get three players round and you will soon clock well over 10 in one sitting, don't believe me? If you get Timesplitters Future perfect then check your progress, I do not lie. Multiplayer does not get old but with loads of weapons, 14 game modes, 150 characters, over 10 maps and more to be made in mapmaker how can it get old? I may sound biased here or like a fanboy but the series is acclaimed for its lifespan and this installment is no exception, but if you purchase this you will agree, especially if you have three friends to play with you!

RePlay Value 6/10:-
Although you will play your favorite challenges and story levels again or even to get your last few platinum medals this is not enough to score this higher. I will explain, because after unlocking every character and cheat and weapons perfecting all your medals and your progress states 100% completion the majority would not want to do it all again, I had to because my memory card went corrupt and it soon became a bit of a chore, not hellish experience but if you've done everything a number of times you may get fed up.

My Opinion/Overview 10/10:-
As with all the Timesplitters series I love it. What game has so much variety, lifespan as well as humor all piled on top of the hardcore FPS it is? You will become attached to the characters and I loved it ever since Timesplitters 2, which made me buy Timesplitters 1and left wanting more, now Future perfect is sitting in my Gamecube I am thoroughly impressed the story improvement is brilliant and when your first meet yourself and you will think to yourself “whoa that was cool”. Being as I have friends round often as well this boosts the score to a mighty 10! I love this game and I hope you do too.

Buy or Rent:-
I strongly recommend buying because if you rent it, like I have said before wou will gett attached and feel the need to unlock everything, and there simply will not be enough time for you to venture deep in to timesplitters future perfect and enjoy all it s features. If you do rent it however the chances are you will rent it out again because of the urge to unlock everything and play some multiplayer!
Buy!

Final Recommendations
1. I you do not have a memory card, get one as this game has so much to unlock the game soon becomes personal to you compared to starting the game again from scratch again every time you turn it on.
2. Learn how to use mapmaker, you will find the lifespan increase even more!

Overall 10/10!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 04/07/05