When the original TimeSplitters was released way back just after the PS2 launched, it offered fast, heart-pumping gameplay that was always a blast when your friends were over. But sadly, the Story mode was extremely short and suffered greatly due to the lack of development time.
Free Radical has described TimeSplitters 2 as the game the original was supposed to be. The Story mode is longer, the gameplay is even faster and well, everything that was great about the original has been pumped up and made even better.
The storyline, put plain and simple, is that a bunch of evil ‘Reaper Splitters’ have stolen the time crystals and scattered them throughout time, unraveling our vital history. You, obviously, must retrieve the time crystals and defeat evil once and for all.
Being a time traveling game, it offers the player completely different locations for each mission. Ranging from a Siberian Dam to the Aztec Ruins, or even an area set in Chicago, back in 1932.
Each area has it's own set of weapons. At Chicago you'll be using the Vintage Rifle, a Luger Pistol and even a pair of Tommy Guns, then at the Robot Factory, the Lasergun and the Plasma Autorifle will be at your disposal. With around 26 different weapons, including a Brick you can throw, you won't get tired of slaughtering Reaper Splitters for a long time.
The enemy intelligence has been improved greatly since the original. Rolling, Diving and Jumping out of the way of your fire are just a few things they can do. You will be going around corners cautiously as an enemy may be ready to jump out and ambush you.
But no matter how far technology goes a computer will never be able to out smart a real person. In Terminator the humans ended up taking out those damn Sky Net robots, but that's getting a little far from the point. What I'm trying to say is getting some mates around to play is where the real fun is at.
If you have friends with PS2's, why not buy an iLink hub and a couple cables and enjoy full screen networked carnage. With different combinations of iLink and multitaps, you can have up to 16 people competing at the same time. Split-screen gaming is also available if you can't arrange a network.
Co-op mode is back again in TS2. Having a friend go through story mode with you is great. Flanking the enemies, leading them into traps, it's all good stuff. But the multiplayer fun doesn't stop there...
With 16 multiplayer game modes, there will surely be something you will enjoy. The list includes the classic Deathmatch, Flametag, Gladiator and Capture the Bag. But my favorite would have to be Monkey Assist. This mode is both fast and extremely entertaining. It is basically Deathmatch, but a bunch of monkeys drop out of the sky at random times to help out the player that is coming last.
The great thing about multiplayer in the game is the ability to fully customize the game mode. There are so many options for you to change you'll probably be startled at first. You can change what bots you want, what weapons you want to cut loose with and other things that are score, time and handicap related.
The game features a whopping 126 characters, all playable in arcade mode, including a gingerbread man, an imitation Elvis and even a monkey!
TS2 has 16 amazing multiplayer levels for you to choose from. Classic levels such as the Chinese and Chasm return from the original game, along with brand new areas such as the Hospital, Ice Station and Training Ground.
The Amount of detail that has gone into the levels in the game is astonishing. The ability to blast chairs apart, fruit sitting around can be splattered and you can even play Pool by shooting the balls on the table at one level (Duke3D anyone?), it's all there.
TS2 is one of the most player-friendly games created. You can fully customize your controller, down to every button, so everybody should be able to find a control setup they can use.
On the graphics side of things, TS2 doesn't let down. Going for more of a fun, or even 'cartoony' look to the game, Free Radical have steered away from the fully realistic looking graphics that you see in most other games today.
TimeSplitters 2 runs at a consistant framerate. One of the first things noticed when playing the game is how smooth it plays. Even when falling into the thickest of the mayhem where 10 bots are cutting lose with grenade launchers; there is no slowdown to be seen.
The game also features, in my opinion, the best glass shattering effect in any game today. Put a couple of bullets in a window and a couple of pieces of glass will fall, before the whole window shatters. There's nothing like lobbing a grenade in a room and watching the glass blast out from the force of the explosion.
But what good is top-notch graphics and gameplay without the sound to match? Don't worry, the game has one cool soundtrack. The Wild West level has a signature guitar tune which really makes you feel like Clint Eastwood, and the Siberia music sounds a lot like the Bunker theme off Goldeneye, but what can you expect from ex-Rareware developers.
Another thing TS2 has in common with Goldeneye is that the Hard difficulty really is just that. Finishing the story on hard will probably take about 10 years off your life expectancy because of the stress levels. The challenges that the game has are also frustrating as hell, missing out on a gold medal by 0.02 seconds will send your dual shock flying through the air, no doubt.
If you are really feeling the heat, the games map maker is a perfect way to settle down after a disgraceful performance in Story Mode. That's right folks, the map maker is back with more tiles, more building space and loads of new features.
This time around, the map maker offers the option to create your own Story levels. Using basic trigger and action events, you can set objectives such as assassinations and find-the-items. You can also build up to 6 stories high, giving you plenty of vertical room to play around with.
One problem the map maker does have is that the memory bar runs out quick. If you don't be careful and manage your pieces the right way you'll end up having a great level, but won't have any memory left to add items. It has happened to me and trust me, it's not funny.
TS2 also has its fair share of bugs. You may be playing the game and out of nowhere it will stall. Making ridiculous maps in the map maker will sometimes cause the game to crash when at the loading screen. It’s nothing a push of the reset button won’t fix though.
With that small rant over, the lifespan of TS2 is huge. You won't be able to brush the game over in a couple days and retrieve the precious 100%; it will take hours of work and dedication. The story mode, challenges and arcade league adds up to about 30 hours. Throw the map maker and the excellent multiplayer abilities into that and you have one hell of a game.
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