Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: TimeSplitters 2

Written by Adam Woolcott on January 24, 2002

Hands-On Preview: Shaping up to be yet another must-own PS2 hitЕgreat, just what we need, more games to buy.

The original TimeSplitters was a PlayStation 2 launch title that came in under heavy hype and scrutiny. Developed by Free Radical Design, a team of developers who came from Rare and were on the team that created the Nintendo 64's prime first-person shooter Goldeneye 007, the game had a lot to live up to, considering the pedigree of the developers. The game was met with favorable reviews, due to the fast action and good graphics, as well as the strong multiplayer features. The only knock against TS was the lack of a true story for the single player mode, but beside that, TimeSplitters was the best FPS on PS2 for quite a while.

Now, Free Radical and publisher Eidos Interactive have begun the process of hyping up the anticipated and expcted sequel, the creatively titled TimeSplitters 2. The sequel promises to improve the 1 player mode with a real, deep story-based atmosphere, as well as the vaunted multiplayer the original TS game was so brilliant for. From early hands-on impressions, it looks like Free Radical has done just that, as TimeSplitters 2 is shaping up to be quite the game, and one that should be a no-brainer when it's released this summer.

The playable demo I played is from September 2001, and considered an early build (you can play this demo yourself in the February 2002 issue of Official PlayStation Magazine), but seems to have all the elements in place. The game begins with 2 guys down in a cave somewhere, adventuring. All of a sudden, a monster of some sort pops up behind them and apparently sends the 2 men to their death. From there you wind up outside a base in Siberia (my mom always said she'd send me to Siberia if I acted up, and now here I am in Siberia. Even if it is a video game), sniper rifle in hand, out to infiltrate the base. That's about all they tell you at the start Ц obviously preaching the gameplay over the story, for the time being.

Like any good FPS, objectives are added to each level as you progress, and TS2 is no different. Right away, once you get past the initial rush of enemy troops, you see an elevator that's out, and you're to restore power somehow. So you take the stairs and climb, killing the enemies, either by stealth means, or by brute force. It's your choice for the angle you'd like to take.

The weapons included the sniper rifle, a regular shotgun/pistol weapon, and a Soviet grenade launcher gun, among others. This gun fires live grenades at a distance, to take out enemies in a stealthy way. Obviously this gun isn't useful for firefights, but is great for peeking around corners and blowing away the unknowing evil.

If you played the original TimeSplitters, the controls should be easy to pick up on, except for one small tweak. The analog stick controls are reversed, making for an awkward style of play until you adjust. Instead of moving up and down with the left stick, you're using the right stick. Strafing/turning directions is now the left stick. Considering most PS2 FPS's (and Max Payne, for that matter) use the standard controls with the stick, this is something to get used to, but in the long run becomes pretty easy to get down. However, you can revert the controls to play like the original TimeSplitters game, saving from headaches and splitting hairs learning.

Visually, the difference between TS and TS2 is actually quite large. TS was a good looking game for the launch, and extremely fast. In the case of TimeSplitters 2, the game looks even better, and retains that same sense of speed that defined the original. And it all runs at a locked in 60 FPS, with barely any slowdown. The characters don't look as УfunnyФ compared to TS, looking more realistic and real, yet still slightly cartoony. The various buildings and backgrounds look much more detailed and there's some great lighting effects to be had. Considering this build is now about 6 months old, you can imagine it's probably even better looking now.