Gaming Target - Xbox: TimeSplitters 2

Written by Nick Doukas on January 09, 2003

Full Review: It's just a jump to the left... and then a step to the rightЕ

I love First Person Shooters (but of course, you already knew that, right?). Fortunately, console FPS's have come a long way since ports of Doom and Dark Forces first hobbled their way onto the PSX. The benchmark was set in 2001 with the release of Halo for Microsoft's Xbox, the finest example of the genre to yet grace a videogame system. Bungie's masterpiece has become the de facto king, and all other pretenders to the throne must attempt to put up or shut up. Which brings us to the point (I hear a collective sigh of relief from all of you, don't think I can't hear it, Сcause I can). So, does TS2 put up or not? I'm pleased to report that, for the most part, it does. While it may hit a few stumbling blocks here and there, Free Radical has done their homework, and the end result is a superior product.

TimeSplitters 2, the follow up to the solid, if unspectacular PS2 launch title, TimeSpltters, places you into the role of a time traveling commando. You're up against the TimeSplitters; an evil race bent on destruction. The story mode tasks you with combat across the millennia, as you deal death in a variety of locales; some futuristic, and some set in the past. Each time period features appropriate weapons, which you'll put to good use as you fight the TimeSplitters for possession of the Time Crystals, for those that command the crystals command time as well. In addition to the basic story mode, TS2 features several different challenge modes, co-op play, multiplayer (including system link. Unfortunately, TS2 does not support Xbox Live) and a unique mapmaker mode which allows you to design and implement your own levels, right down to the lighting.

TS2 takes excellent advantage of the Xbox controller. Movement is mapped to the left analog stick and you'll adjust your view with the right (and yes, before you ask; you can invert the look). Click down on the right stick to enter aim mode, which places a crosshair on your screen to assist in achieving greater accuracy. Aim mode is useful when sneaking up on an enemy, as the crosshair is ideal for painting a precise target. The right trigger fires your weapon's primary payload, while the left acts as secondary fire (though it must be noted that only certain weapons are packing this additional surprise). The Y button acts as your manual reload, and considering the amount of enemies the game can throw at you at any given point, it's a good idea to always make sure you're locked and loaded when you need it most. The directional pad cycles through available weapons, and the X button does double duty. In story mode, it's used to interact with certain objects in the game world. In multiplayer it's simply used to respawn.

Graphically, TimeSplitters 2 excels. Solid textures, clean level architecture, and quirky character models that are well animated evidence the talent that went into this project (several former Rare employees are now part of Free Radical, but you already knew that too, right?). Weapons fire has a solid, satisfying feel, and the enemy death throes are nicely realized. The levels are well designed, and each time period has a distinctive look and feel that really helps sell the idea of a time traveling adventure. Sound is great as well, from the whining ricochet of bullets during firefights to the massive explosions, sounds combine masterfully to create a true feeling of immersion. The variety of weapons found in the story mode are extremely impressive, and you'll find yourself wielding everything from Tommy Guns to Laser Pistols with equal aplomb. Collision detection is excellent, and the enemy AI is decent enough to supply a challenge. Soldiers will duck and roll, or pop from cover to smoke you. The story mode is a bit thin, and is little more than an excuse to tie levels together, but the missions are well structured and fun, and the gamut of weapons keeps the gameplay fresh throughout.

TS2 throws a multitude of multiplayer options at you. There's a challenge mode that puts you up against various scenarios, including defending a base from hungry zombies armed with nothing but a shotgun (I mean you're armed with the shotgun, not the zombies). Arcade mode is broken down into Arcade League (quick tournaments in a variety of locales) and Arcade Custom (which allows you to set a number of parameters for each match). Overall, the multiplayer modes are fast and furious and a hell of a lot of fun. The map-maker feature is well implemented, giving gamers a fairly complex level editor which allows the design of exciting and expansive arenas, as well as excellent control over lighting, spawn points and weapons placement. In the end, TS2 is a solid single player FPS. However, the multiplayer aspects of the game are worth the price of admission alone, and are arguably tighter than the story mode overall.