TimeSplitters: Future Perfect

"Ever fired a flare gun at someone?"

Yeah... they'll run pretty fast, but it'll catch up to them.

Quick thing to note, this review is for the X-Box version of this game, I don't know if there are any differences.

Story:
"Not bad for a first person shooter." Is what I could have said about a 3 years ago, but after Doom 3, Half-Life 2, and the Deus Ex games (I guess Halo is also in there), it just doesn't cut it anymore. It's too short, and the ending is boring (though the final boss is interesting).

Now when compared to the first 2 Timesplitters, this is an improvement. Timesplitters 1 had no story, you just did some random missions with short text explanations before each one. Timesplitters 2 had a confusing (bad) story where you played quantum leap and took control of various people's bodies to get time crystals. In Future Perfect, you're warping around time as the main character causing all sorts of trouble.

It's not that the story in Future Perfect is bad, no, it's actually very good and detailed, but it's entirely too short, and that's a big problem.
Grade: 7/10

Multiplayer:
As this is probably the main reason why you should get this game, I'll get right into it.

Up to 4 players running around killing each other with some truly awesome weapons. One of my favorites is double flare guns, perfect mid range weapon. And with online finally added in this installment, you can always find someone to shoot at. There are several modes you can play the game on and several ways to customize the battles. But with how frantic the game itself is, something is lost in the team modes. Well, all but assault, which is just fun.

The multiplayer is top notch. It's missing some good vehicles and team elements, but it's stellar none-the-less.
Grade: 9/10

Create-A-Map:
A review should be unique to a game, so I made up this category. Besides, its part of what makes the game so cool.

In the first Timesplitters, you could just make a map. In the second one, you could make a map and create missions for the map with no more then 10 enemies in it. Now, you can create massive maps and missions that have so many enemies popping out at once, that you literally can't fire a gun without hitting one. And you can even upload your created map online and play on it with friends, or others can download your map and try out your missions.

There still aren't very many skins your created map can have, but what is there is more then enough.
Grade 10/10

Controls, Graphics, and Sound:
The controls are good, though anyone use to Halo might accidentally throw a grenade when they first dual wield a gun.

The graphics aren't the best, but it has it's own feel. The characters are also very animated in the scenes, and can't seem to stand still, but it makes it seem more real.

The sound is perfect. Music and gun fire blend together so well. And the Music itself is wonderful.
Grade: 9/10

Gameplay:
The gameplay is about the same as it was in Timesplitters 2. Fortunately, that's a good thing.

You appear in a level, you pick up a gun, you start shooting. That's the flow of battle mode. Story is a bit different. Depending on which level your in, things work differently. In the war levels you're following around your allies and just trying to get by. In the survival/horror levels, you're looking over your shoulder and hoping you don't run out of ammo. In the stealth levels, being seen means getting shot, a lot. But most of the other levels are like battle mode, shoot stuff and don't stand still.

When you get down to it, it's a first person shooter, if you don't like first person shooters, you won't like this game. But if you do, there's no reason to leave it alone.
Grade: 10/10

Replay:
There are 150 characters in this game. One hundred and fifty. You don't start with half of them.

There is an easy, normal, and hard mode for each story level. Then there's Co-op story mode for each level of difficulty. Then there's bronze, silver, gold, and platinum for each challenge and arcade league battle. Then there's creating your own missions in create-a-map. And if you get bored, you can download other peoples missions or play on other peoples maps.

Believe me, there's plenty to do. Though some of it can get a little too hard.
Grade: 9/10

Overall:
When it's all said and done, you can play this game for as long as you want. But if you don't like it at first, it's not going to grow on you.
Grade: 9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 04/29/05