TimeSplitters 2
Eidos and Free Radical once again deliver one of the most frenetic, fast-paced first-person shooters ever made. Best of all, it's wicked fun, to boot.
Published: November 3, 2002
TimeSplitters was one of the first games released on PlayStation 2, back in October of 2000. It was a solid and addictive FPS, yet at the core of the game, the lack of a true storyline took away from the game's overall goodness.
Now, after two years of improvements and renovations, Free Radical Design is back with the sequel, TimeSplitters 2. With tons of unlockables and playable modes, amazing multiplayer action, AND a logical storyline, TS2 is truly back with a vengeance and taking the first-person-shooting genre by storm. Step aside, Halo, TimeSplitters 2 is here to put up a fight. But who takes the crown as the FPS king?
When it comes to gameplay, TimeSplitters 2 is a fresh mix between Goldeneye and House of the Dead. It features the story mode objectives similar to those featured in the 007 game. Similar to House of the Dead, TimeSplitters 2 features a batch of enemies from the undead (zombies), as well as the storyline bosses that you must defeat at the end of each level (which, in a way, resembles HOTD). Unlike these two other first-person shooters, though, TimeSplitters 2 is able to pull together everything you'd expect in a shooter, as well as a plethora of features and unlockables for both single and multiplayer modes of the game.
Seeing as TimeSplitters 2 is, of course, a FPS that involves you taking down hoards of enemies with the weapons at your disposal, most games of its type tend to lean away from single player action. Sure, you are usually granted with a Story mode, but the bulk of your average shooter lies within the multiplayer mode. Thank God Free Radical Design decided to be a rebel. Simply put: TimeSplitters 2 has such a selection of playable one-player modes, just limiting the game to single player would be rewarding enough.
The biggest complaint of the original TimeSplitters was the lack of a storyline. This time around, though, Free Radical Design took in these suggestions and with TimeSplitters 2, added a focused and understandable story, so this time you KNOW why you're flying through time and shooting up enemies along the way. In TS2, your true objective is to eliminate the "TimeSplitters", a mutant race who is attempting to use time travel in order to permanently end the future of mankind.
In every one of the nine stages in Story mode, though, is a conflict of its own, from eliminating a gang boss (Big Tony) to investigating a crashed UFO. To the gamer's dismay, though, as you are traveling through each level, trying to complete the assigned objectives and shoot up any enemies along your way, the TimeSplitters, thanks to the time machine, will find their way into the level and you'll have take them out as well. Your story levels vary anywhere from the 1932 gangster streets of Chicago to a robot factory in the year 2315.
A certain amount of objectives will be assigned to you, required and optional, and it becomes your job to get them done. As any FPS will reward you with, though, you'll be blasting your way through each level's enemies in order to get the jobs done. Fans of the first TimeSplitters will surely find the Story mode of TS2 challenging and rewarding, which certainly adds a good amount of flavor to the game.
On the other hand, challenging, for some, may be describing the difficulty of TimeSplitters 2 lightly. Even avid FPS gamers should consider venturing through Story mode on Easy difficulty the first time through. Although your on-target controls remain the same scheme as in the first TimeSplitters (although switiching weapons has a bit of delay), the odds are usually stacked against you. Even at Normal difficulty, TimeSplitters 2 truly puts the gamer to the test, which, to no surprising, can easily become overwhelming and cause some frustrations. Though you will eventually get the Story mode difficult under control, there is another disappointment that may not be as easily avoided.
Free Radical delivers to you each Story mode level, complete with a plot for each, objectives, and a good amount of enemies to blast through. These features seem to be all you need, but the truth is, there never really come together in a stable way. For the most part, the objectives are quite random, and although you do know your main goal for each level, what you don't know why you must complete the other oddball tasks. When it comes down to it though, the fact that there's no "connection" between each level's tasks and objectives won't get in the way of fun and addictive gameplay, so worry not.
A greater portion of both the single and multiplayer action in TimeSplitters 2 is within the Arcade and Challenge modes. In Arcade mode, you'll be able to choose for three categories: Arcade League, Arcade Custom, and Network. The Arcade League puts you into set tournament with pre-selected enemies, weapons, and locations. On the other hand, some may prefer the Arcade Custom, where YOU, the gamer, picks the type of game (Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, etc.) enemies, weapons, and so on.
Then comes the Network option, where, believe it or not, you can play against up to 16 characters via the i.Link peripheral (or LAN). This feature truly makes up for the game's removal of its online capabilities. For most FPS fans, the Arcade mode will be the heart of the game, and is as deserving of it. The action runs at a smooth 60fps and the depth of the enabled customization is truly amazing. For those looking for more of a distinct challenge though, the Challenge mode assigns certain tasks (behead zombies, break windows, etc.) for the gamer to try to tackle in the best time. Those who get their adrenaline pumped by racing the clock will be dazzled by the Challenge mode – try to get all of the Gold Medals is you can! The all-out shooting action shines brightly through the Arcade and Challenge modes of TimeSplitters 2, and when it comes to that, we couldn't ask for more. And for those with creativity, Free Radical Design even through in the revamped MapMaker once again, where you can literally create the level of your dreams. Put these three modes together, and you've got a masterpiece of a FPS without a setback in sight.
Visually, TimeSplitters 2 packs a solid punch with its unique style. The most noticeable and creative graphic attempt by the Free Radical team is the cartoon-like animation of the game's characters, mostly when they're in the lively action of the game's cutscenes. Colorful and full of spirit, the tons and tons of protagonists and antagonists featured in TS2 bring some true originality into the FPS atmosphere.
Detailed locations and generally crisp environments also do a great job of expressing the game's non-linearity and spacious settings. Take for example, the open city streets of Chicago in the 1930's. As you're taking on the objectives featured in this Story level, you'll be able to interact with everything in the level, indoors and out, and restrictions are no where to be found! Interaction, my friends, is an amazing addition to the TimeSplitters 2 setting. Believe it or not, you can shoot up glass bottles (very similar to Metal Gear Solid 2) in the Chicago bar, and even play billiards using your handgun as the momentum behind each ball!
If there were any complaint at all with the graphics of TimeSplitters 2, it would be the misusage of light in some instances. In the Story Mode, this first becomes obvious in the Notre Dame castle, where you'll have to wander up several flights of stairs and hallways, but because the level is too darn dark, you'll have to literally feel your way around. While you're blasting away in a Deathmatch set in the Aztec ruins, though, you won't have to worry about this minor setback.
Now that Free Radical Design rightfully added a storyline the TimeSplitters sequel, sound plays a much larger role in TS2. And thank god they did it right. TimeSplitters 2 may not feature high-profile actors of movie stars, but the voice acting accompanying the game's "movie scenes" deserves a lot of respect.
While it may only be necessary for the voicing to simply elaborate on what's going on, the voices of TimeSplitters 2 show a lot of heart and expression, and even delivers some good old humor when fitting. And while the audio of each cutscene remains intact, the in-game sound is a bit iffy.
The music accompanying each level is fitting and contains quite a bit of variety, yet the tracks are mostly forgettable. Each character's "oohs" and "ahhs" are all in good humor, but the zombie moans can get nerve-wracking easily. And while the game's soundtrack stays on the positive side, while the character grunts hardly hang in there, the overall audio candy sets a needed tone for the TimeSplitters 2 action. And a good one, too.
Hands down, TimeSplitters 2 is one of the best first-person shooters you'll find out there. With an intriguing Story mode, addicting Arcade battles, and a Challenge mode that truly puts you to the test, it's no secret that the key features that made GoldenEye such a hit leaked its way into the TimeSplitters world. Top it off with the ingenuity of an extremely deep MapMaker, and you've got yourself one hell of a game.
The minor setbacks here and there will honestly have no affect of the blast you'll be having, well, blasting away! Without a doubt, TimeSplitters 2 should be in every PS2 owner's collection, and if you're looking to either unlock all of the modes and characters or simply play a quick deathmatch, TS2 has you covered.
Now, after two years of improvements and renovations, Free Radical Design is back with the sequel, TimeSplitters 2. With tons of unlockables and playable modes, amazing multiplayer action, AND a logical storyline, TS2 is truly back with a vengeance and taking the first-person-shooting genre by storm. Step aside, Halo, TimeSplitters 2 is here to put up a fight. But who takes the crown as the FPS king?
When it comes to gameplay, TimeSplitters 2 is a fresh mix between Goldeneye and House of the Dead. It features the story mode objectives similar to those featured in the 007 game. Similar to House of the Dead, TimeSplitters 2 features a batch of enemies from the undead (zombies), as well as the storyline bosses that you must defeat at the end of each level (which, in a way, resembles HOTD). Unlike these two other first-person shooters, though, TimeSplitters 2 is able to pull together everything you'd expect in a shooter, as well as a plethora of features and unlockables for both single and multiplayer modes of the game.
Seeing as TimeSplitters 2 is, of course, a FPS that involves you taking down hoards of enemies with the weapons at your disposal, most games of its type tend to lean away from single player action. Sure, you are usually granted with a Story mode, but the bulk of your average shooter lies within the multiplayer mode. Thank God Free Radical Design decided to be a rebel. Simply put: TimeSplitters 2 has such a selection of playable one-player modes, just limiting the game to single player would be rewarding enough.
The biggest complaint of the original TimeSplitters was the lack of a storyline. This time around, though, Free Radical Design took in these suggestions and with TimeSplitters 2, added a focused and understandable story, so this time you KNOW why you're flying through time and shooting up enemies along the way. In TS2, your true objective is to eliminate the "TimeSplitters", a mutant race who is attempting to use time travel in order to permanently end the future of mankind.
In every one of the nine stages in Story mode, though, is a conflict of its own, from eliminating a gang boss (Big Tony) to investigating a crashed UFO. To the gamer's dismay, though, as you are traveling through each level, trying to complete the assigned objectives and shoot up any enemies along your way, the TimeSplitters, thanks to the time machine, will find their way into the level and you'll have take them out as well. Your story levels vary anywhere from the 1932 gangster streets of Chicago to a robot factory in the year 2315.
A certain amount of objectives will be assigned to you, required and optional, and it becomes your job to get them done. As any FPS will reward you with, though, you'll be blasting your way through each level's enemies in order to get the jobs done. Fans of the first TimeSplitters will surely find the Story mode of TS2 challenging and rewarding, which certainly adds a good amount of flavor to the game.
On the other hand, challenging, for some, may be describing the difficulty of TimeSplitters 2 lightly. Even avid FPS gamers should consider venturing through Story mode on Easy difficulty the first time through. Although your on-target controls remain the same scheme as in the first TimeSplitters (although switiching weapons has a bit of delay), the odds are usually stacked against you. Even at Normal difficulty, TimeSplitters 2 truly puts the gamer to the test, which, to no surprising, can easily become overwhelming and cause some frustrations. Though you will eventually get the Story mode difficult under control, there is another disappointment that may not be as easily avoided.
Free Radical delivers to you each Story mode level, complete with a plot for each, objectives, and a good amount of enemies to blast through. These features seem to be all you need, but the truth is, there never really come together in a stable way. For the most part, the objectives are quite random, and although you do know your main goal for each level, what you don't know why you must complete the other oddball tasks. When it comes down to it though, the fact that there's no "connection" between each level's tasks and objectives won't get in the way of fun and addictive gameplay, so worry not.
A greater portion of both the single and multiplayer action in TimeSplitters 2 is within the Arcade and Challenge modes. In Arcade mode, you'll be able to choose for three categories: Arcade League, Arcade Custom, and Network. The Arcade League puts you into set tournament with pre-selected enemies, weapons, and locations. On the other hand, some may prefer the Arcade Custom, where YOU, the gamer, picks the type of game (Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, etc.) enemies, weapons, and so on.
Then comes the Network option, where, believe it or not, you can play against up to 16 characters via the i.Link peripheral (or LAN). This feature truly makes up for the game's removal of its online capabilities. For most FPS fans, the Arcade mode will be the heart of the game, and is as deserving of it. The action runs at a smooth 60fps and the depth of the enabled customization is truly amazing. For those looking for more of a distinct challenge though, the Challenge mode assigns certain tasks (behead zombies, break windows, etc.) for the gamer to try to tackle in the best time. Those who get their adrenaline pumped by racing the clock will be dazzled by the Challenge mode – try to get all of the Gold Medals is you can! The all-out shooting action shines brightly through the Arcade and Challenge modes of TimeSplitters 2, and when it comes to that, we couldn't ask for more. And for those with creativity, Free Radical Design even through in the revamped MapMaker once again, where you can literally create the level of your dreams. Put these three modes together, and you've got a masterpiece of a FPS without a setback in sight.
Visually, TimeSplitters 2 packs a solid punch with its unique style. The most noticeable and creative graphic attempt by the Free Radical team is the cartoon-like animation of the game's characters, mostly when they're in the lively action of the game's cutscenes. Colorful and full of spirit, the tons and tons of protagonists and antagonists featured in TS2 bring some true originality into the FPS atmosphere.
Detailed locations and generally crisp environments also do a great job of expressing the game's non-linearity and spacious settings. Take for example, the open city streets of Chicago in the 1930's. As you're taking on the objectives featured in this Story level, you'll be able to interact with everything in the level, indoors and out, and restrictions are no where to be found! Interaction, my friends, is an amazing addition to the TimeSplitters 2 setting. Believe it or not, you can shoot up glass bottles (very similar to Metal Gear Solid 2) in the Chicago bar, and even play billiards using your handgun as the momentum behind each ball!
If there were any complaint at all with the graphics of TimeSplitters 2, it would be the misusage of light in some instances. In the Story Mode, this first becomes obvious in the Notre Dame castle, where you'll have to wander up several flights of stairs and hallways, but because the level is too darn dark, you'll have to literally feel your way around. While you're blasting away in a Deathmatch set in the Aztec ruins, though, you won't have to worry about this minor setback.
Now that Free Radical Design rightfully added a storyline the TimeSplitters sequel, sound plays a much larger role in TS2. And thank god they did it right. TimeSplitters 2 may not feature high-profile actors of movie stars, but the voice acting accompanying the game's "movie scenes" deserves a lot of respect.
While it may only be necessary for the voicing to simply elaborate on what's going on, the voices of TimeSplitters 2 show a lot of heart and expression, and even delivers some good old humor when fitting. And while the audio of each cutscene remains intact, the in-game sound is a bit iffy.
The music accompanying each level is fitting and contains quite a bit of variety, yet the tracks are mostly forgettable. Each character's "oohs" and "ahhs" are all in good humor, but the zombie moans can get nerve-wracking easily. And while the game's soundtrack stays on the positive side, while the character grunts hardly hang in there, the overall audio candy sets a needed tone for the TimeSplitters 2 action. And a good one, too.
Hands down, TimeSplitters 2 is one of the best first-person shooters you'll find out there. With an intriguing Story mode, addicting Arcade battles, and a Challenge mode that truly puts you to the test, it's no secret that the key features that made GoldenEye such a hit leaked its way into the TimeSplitters world. Top it off with the ingenuity of an extremely deep MapMaker, and you've got yourself one hell of a game.
The minor setbacks here and there will honestly have no affect of the blast you'll be having, well, blasting away! Without a doubt, TimeSplitters 2 should be in every PS2 owner's collection, and if you're looking to either unlock all of the modes and characters or simply play a quick deathmatch, TS2 has you covered.
