Developer: Free Radical Publisher: Eidos Release: 10/25/02 Genre: Action
Goldeneye left its mark on the first person shooter genre. There were many console first person shooters before its release, many of them PC ports. But Goldeneye, with its meaty and fun campaign and legendary multiplayer mode is one of the games that made the genre popular on consoles. When the team left Rare after Perfect Dark to strike out on their own people took notice. TimeSplitters was solid first effort with its suite of multiplayer options and innovative map maker. But the single player campaign was lackluster. The developers took that criticism to heart and came back strong with the sequel less than two years later. TimeSplitters 2 offers more multiplayer options than three games combined. But it also marries its fast-paced gameplay and quirky humor with an engaging time-travel story worthy of your time. This one is truly great.
In the year 2401 an alien race named the TimeSplitters wage war on humanity. In the midst of the war the humans discover the TimeSplitters have time crystals that they plan to use travel back in time to disrupt key points in history. Space Marines Sergeant Cortez and Corporal Hart travel to a space station to stop them. But they arrive just as they send the last crystal through a portal. Hart stays behind to operate the device while Cortez travels through time righting the events of history while also trying to stop the TimeSplitters once and for all.
From its user interface to its sound effects TimeSplitters 2 wants to remind you of Goldeneye. Indeed, even its opening mission on a Russian dam is similar. That is not a knock against the game; it is a compliment. That familiarity however is a sign that the developers are taking the campaign seriously and that dedication plays out. The game continues the Goldeneye formula of offering multiple mission objectives depending on the difficulty level. These are varied and incorporate elements of sniping, sabotage, and stealth to ensure players do not get bored. But at its heart this is a first person shooter and the game excels due to its fluid controls. The dual analog setup replicates mouse and keyboard aiming wonderfully. Plus the enemy AI is both intelligent and aggressive to provide a suitable challenge. I have no qualms with the gunplay; it shames many other titles.
The time hopping theme is TimeSplitters 2’s greatest strength. Because you travel through so many eras in history each level feels like a period piece. The settings are varied; one moment you are shooting outlaws in the Wild West and the next battling gangsters in 1930s Chicago. You fight natives in an Aztec ruin and then travel to the distant future to disable a robot factory. They are not all completely combat focused either. In Neo Tokyo you spend the majority of the time in stealth and using various tools to find information discretely. Not all eras are great; Planet X is a little undercooked. But between the era appropriate weapons and the varied mission objectives the campaign is satisfying despite a mean difficulty spike toward the end.
The game has more to offer beyond the campaign. TimeSplitters 2 also has an enjoyable Challenge mode that will sharpen your skills for both the story and multiplayer. The scenarios are both inventive and challenging and just as wacky as the rest of the game. Some of these are borderline stupid: one is a team deathmatch against zombies which is common. But the only catch is your only weapons are bricks and they are one hit kills! There are a ridiculous number of challenges split in to different leagues. It might even take longer to complete than the main story itself if you can believe it. Completing challenges and earning medals unlocks more characters or cheats sort of like Goldeneye. This makes it worthwhile to engage with beyond just being fun too.
The first TimeSplitters had a healthy suite of multiplayer options and the sequel outdoes it by a wide margin. Whether through split-screen with friends or battling AI bots, the multiplayer modes offer endless replayability. There are a wide array of features to customize matches like maps, modes (like Deathmatch, Capture the Bag, and Virus), and the series’ quirky characters and humor go a long way toward adding charm and giving it an identity among a crowded fps lineup. The rock solid 60 fps enables a much smoother experience than its legendary forbearer on the N64 too.
Honestly I thought for sure Nightfire would be the multiplayer game to tide us over until Halo 2’s release. However TimeSplitters 2 quickly became the odds on favorite when we wanted 4-player fun. We enjoyed the game so much we never bothered with the game’s map editor. That should give you an idea how much fun we were having. The robust map editor gives an already fantastic package even more replay value. The tools are simple and intuitive, allowing creation of multi-tiered arenas with an assortment of blocks and textures for variety. This feature was ahead of its time and extended the game’s lifespan by fostering a community online to share maps. It is a wonder few games at the time copied this feature, it is fantastic.
In Closing
TimeSplitters 2 is one of the best first person shooters of that era. Free Radical Design take inspiration from their past work and knock it out of the park in every category. The combination of retro-inspired mechanics, humor, and creativity make it a standout title that holds up well even today, especially for those nostalgic for the golden age of couch multiplayer gaming. The only thing it is missing is online multiplayer, but you have to save something for the sequel.
