This page was last updated on Thursday, 17 May 2001.

TimeSplitters

First Person Shooter : 1-4 players : PS2 Memory Card : PS2 Multitap : Analogue Dual Shock : Free Radical / Edios Interactive

[Back to PS2 main]

Result :                  7 -  Next-gen Doom?

TimeSplitters is a brutal FPS (first person shooter).  The plot is wafer thin, I think it's something about the evil TimeSplitters trying to manipulate the human race, you control various characters trying to stop them in the different time periods they are  infiltrating.  Lots of guns, high body count!  Unusually for a FPS is the lack of strong character recognition, instead you  have this huge range of characters, generally a choice of two per time zone.  This adds variety, but further weakens the plot.  There are three main game modes - single player "story" mode, whereby you normally go from the start, collect an item, and take it to the finish;   Arcade, which has the multiple aspects of Deathmatch, Capture the Bag, Escort, BagTag, Knockout, Last Stand, and various team combinations; and Challenge mode, where you are given certain tasks to complete (eg: punch 50 heads off some zombies in 3 minutes, or shooting 100 ducks).  The single player Story and Challenge will last for a reasonable amount of time, and then you can enjoy playing with a mate in Story mode, or play deathmatch type games in Arcade with either friends (up to 4 with a multitap) or against the bots.   The variety of different game types is refreshing, and of course there is the Map Maker to try, which also adds to the lifespan.

The graphics are silky smooth, supposedly 60 frames per second, and have an incredible draw distance (compared to the PSX), it makes sniper rifles seem much more realistic.   The game has a surreal cartoony feel, but throws in the odd dark aspect.  Of note is the lack of gore?!  Shooting someone produces grunts, but no blood, even popping off a head, while seeing the part go flying, is very bloodless.  The skins/bots are very detailed, and carefully made to reduce any blockyness.  The lighting is particularly impressive, better even than Unreal Tournament on my iMac, with lens flare, coloured lights, and shadows all well done.  There are no FMV's, although the character selection has short animations which are often amusing (Ravelle Velvet is particularly good!).  Although I only gave TimeSplitters an eight for graphics, they really are amazing, it's just that it feels like there is room for expansion - mainly better textures and world effects (heat shimmers, moisture).

Sound is slightly superior to PSX games in quality, the main difference is in the number of simultaneous sounds (with no slowdown), a failing in the PSX.  Supposedly there will be full surround sounds on upcoming games, same as is used in DVD movies (Dolby digit 5.1?).  There seems to be very few different "voices" for the different characters, so you get to hear the generic male and female grunts fairly often.   The range and quality of the weapon noises is impressive however, there is a definite clunky feel to the reload of the rocket launcher, and the twin-chainguns will rattle your teeth with enough volume (and piss off your neighbours :-) very well done.   Musically the game has some nice tracks, some are even catchy enough for my partner to enjoy listening to them (this is very surprising!), they do try to be themed to the period you are playing in, if with a slightly techno feeling, but overall it is not as memorable as having real bands.

The rest of the game feels well done too.  Menu's are functional but with the right balance of flash to let you know this is not a PSX.  Level design is mostly very good, the same levels are used for both Story mode (a little too linear in this mode), and Arcade where design is arguably more important.  Some levels are very weak for deathmatch, they need more paths and more vertical movement too, but there also some real gems (Docks, Site, Chemical Plant) of course you can make some yourself with the map maker.  While many objects are breakable, the lack of a jump means no throwing yourself out of windows as you cannot step over that small sill... The controls are better than Medal of Honour and Quake 2 (and Perfect Dark for that matter), utilising one analogue stick for forwards/back/strafe left/right and the other for "mouse look".  It will take a little while for this to become second nature, but once there you can frag quite happily.  The default controls can be fully customised, but there's no "best weapon" key (you get an auto-pickup option of Always/Best/Never), no quick keys for your favourite death-dealing weapon, and NO provision for a USB keyboard/mouse, all oversights I think.  Also of annoyance is that Challenge games use the Triangle and X keys to Quit and Retry at the end of the game (unlike the other modes that use Start), this can cause inadvertent selection since x is fire and Triangle is reload...  The bots function reasonably well, but the team tactics are poor compared to UT, and even on max skill a one-on-one with a bot is no challenge to me.  They duck, dive and use cover nicely, and it all makes the game feel that much more realistic and next-gen.   Once the TimeSplitters themselves start teleporting into the game (often in great numbers), the adrenaline surges as you try to make that final dash back to base.   Toning down the damage and upping the monster count would make it more like Doom, as it is there is a nice balance between almost stealthy sections and big blast fests, sadly I must say that the game could do with being harder.

TimeSplitters is a quality game with only a few minor annoyances.  It really does make my benchmark of Gran Turismo look outclassed in almost every area, is so far above it's PSX or N64 rivals that I cannot play them anymore, and only struggles to compete with Unreal Tournament due to that game's quality bot AI.  I've been quite harsh with my marks, but that's because it could, and should, be doing more;  remember the differences between Ridge Racer, and RR Type 4 on the PSX.  Fortunately there is a sequel in production - which should hopefully make this into a PC beater too!  Buy this game, practice a bit, and then cream your mates senseless.  You'll be grinning for weeks!

[Top of document]

Cheats/Hints:

All weapons:

Pause the game, then hold L1 + L2 + R1 + R2 and press X twice, Triangle twice.

Play as the Cultist:
When you beat the tomb (in story mode) on the easy difficulty you will unlock the Cultist as a playable character in arcade mode!

Unlock the Challenge Mode:
If you beat all the levels in story mode on the easy difficulty you will unlock the challenge mode in the main menu!

1935 Tomb Story Level:
Complete the level under the normal difficulty setting to unlock the Graveyard level in arcade mode.

Play as Chinese Chef and Site Level:
Beat the 1970 Chinese level in story mode under the easy difficulty setting to unlock Chinese Chef as a playable character in arcade mode. Complete the level under the normal difficulty setting to unlock the Site level in arcade mode.

2005 Cyberden Story Level Rewards:
Beat the 2005 Cyberden level in story mode under the easy difficulty setting to unlock the 1950 Village, 1985 Chemical Plant, and 2020 Planet X as levels in story mode; Dr Seth Graven. Dr Kate Nadir, Fingers McKenzie, Ravelle Velvet, Sebastian Photon, Angel Perez, and Badass Cyborg as playable characters in arcade mode; and Badass Cyborg, Siamese Cyborg, and Female Cyborg as Bots in arcade mode. Complete the level under the normal difficulty setting to unlock the Streets level in arcade mode.

Period Horror Bot Set:
Beat the 1950 Village level in story mode under the easy difficulty setting to unlock "Period Horror" as a Bot Set in arcade mode. Complete the level under the normal difficulty setting to unlock the Castle level in arcade mode.

Usual Suspects Bot Set & Bank Level:
Beat the 1985 Chemical Plant level in story mode under the easy difficulty setting to unlock "Usual Suspects" as a Bot Set in arcade mode; and Lumberjack, Malehood, and Waiter as Bots in arcade mode. Complete the level under the normal difficulty setting to unlock the Bank level in arcade mode.

2020 Planet X Story Level Rewards:
Beat the 2020 Planet X level in story mode under the easy difficulty setting to unlock 1965 Mansion, 2000 Docks, and 2035 Spaceways levels in story mode; Peekabo Jones, Mary-Beth Casey, Jacques Misere, Olga Strom, R108, and Gretel as playable characters in arcade mode; "Space Opera" as a Bot Set in arcade mode; and Tuxedo Cyborg, Red Alien, and Green Alien as Bots in arcade mode.

Horror Shocker Bot Set & More:
Beat the 1965 Mansion level in story mode under the easy difficulty setting to unlock "Horror Shocker" as a Bot Set in arcade mode; and Fishwife Mutant, Hick Hyde, Insect Mutant, Overall Mutant, Police Zombie, Girl Zombie, Skull Zombie, and Jacket Zombie as Bots in arcade mode. Note: Set "Auto Aim" to toggle, leave it on, and crouch to get easier head shots to make this level a little easier.

Law and Order Bot Set & More:
Beat the 2000 Docks level in story mode under the easy difficulty setting to unlock "Law and Order" as a Bot Set in arcade mode; and Male Soldier, Female Soldier, Gasmask Soldier, Male SWAT, Female SWAT, and Gasmask SWAT as Bots in arcade mode. Note: There are a lot of snipers in high perches by the waterfront, so be alert in this level.

Space Opera Bot Set:
Beat the 2035 Spaceways level in story mode under the easy difficulty setting to unlock challenge mode and Space Opera as a bot set.

The Living Dead Bot Set:
Beat "Challenge 1A Behead the Undead" to unlock The Living Dead as a Bot Set in Arcade Mode and challenge 2A Putrid Punchout.

Duckman Drake Bot Set:
Beat "Challenge 2A Flock Around the Dock" to unlock Duckman Drake as a bot in Arcade Mode and Challenge 2B Dock Duck Shoot.

Robofish Bot:
Beat "Challenge 3A Tin Man" to unlock Robofish as Bot in arcade mode and Challenge 3B Lobster Run.

All Enemies are Robofish:
Beat "Challenge 3B Lobster Run" to unlock the "All Enemies are Robofish" cheat and Challenge 3C Bowl them Over.

Play as Robofish:
Beat "Challenge 3C Bowl Them Over" to unlock Robofish as a playable character in arcade mode.

Unlock "Challenge 4B Don't Wait Around":
Beat "Challenge 4A Shame if Something Got Broken" to unlock Challenge 4B Don't Wait Around.

Enemy Bricks:
Beat "Challenge 4B Don't Wait Around" to unlock the "Enemy Bricks" cheat and Challenge 4C Brick Flung High.

Unlock Brick as a Weapon:
Beat "Challenge 4C Brick Flung High" to unlock the brick as a weapon in arcade mode and the Bricks weapon set in Arcade Mode.

[Top of document]

[Back to PS2 main]