GENRE
	First-Person Shooter
	DEVELOPER
	Free Radical Design
	PUBLISHER
	Eidos
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1-4
	CONNECTIVITY
	no
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In the beginning, there was Goldeneye and Perfect Dark on the Nintendo 64, which single-handedly proved that first person shooters could be enjoyable on a console system. Next came TimeSplitters, which was a rushed product, but it still managed to become one of the best PlayStation 2 multiplayer games ever created. Fast forward to 2002 where Free Radical Design (formed by several key members from Rare's Goldeneye and Perfect Dark teams) has kept the tradition alive with the release of TimeSplitters 2.

visuals

As for the graphics, Timesplitters 2 is certainly the best looking first person shooter to date, with smooth-looking levels and amazing animation. The characters look a little cartoonish, but isn't that the new fad with all the new games being released lately *cough cel-shading cough*. The lighting effects are also quite stunning -- especially from many of the laser guns in the game. Free Radical Design has also managed to mimic some of the visual effects from Metal Gear Solid 2. For example, if it is raining or snowing and you look up, transparent water drops or snow flakes will collect on the screen. Yeah, we've all seen it before, but it is still very impressive.

audio

The sound effects for each weapon are pretty much the standard stuff. In fact, the silenced pistol sounds a whole hell of a lot like the silenced pistol in Goldeneye. The songs in the game have been kicked up a notch from the original, and now you can even choose the song you want to hear (Gasp!). Plus, the best thing about first person shooter sounds, the grunts and screams the AI make as you shoot them, are plentiful and they're all hilarious.

gameplay

One thing for which the original TimeSplitters was heavily criticized was the lack of depth in the Story mode. Even the game's producers admitted that it didn't turn out as well as they wanted. With TimeSplitters 2, Free Radical Design has added various objectives to each mission which really gives the Story mode a lot more depth. For example, one objective has you shooting down UFOs with a massive turret, while another has you helping the Hunchback of Notre Dame fight off hordes of incoming zombies. Boss battles have also been thrown into the mix. These battles are rather straightforward, but they are still entertaining.

multiplayer

Much like the previous game, the Story mode in TimeSplitters 2 can be played cooperatively with a friend using a split-screen view. Sure, killing your friend in a deathmatch is nice and all but providing cover fire and helping him complete objectives is a lot more fun. Also, if you beat all ten Story mode levels on easy and go back and play it on normal, each mission will have additional objectives that will make you want to play through the game again.

In Deathmatch you get to choose pretty much every aspect of the game. You get to choose Level, Bots, Weapons, and even the music; its all up too you. You could go all alien weaponry in an old west town, or you could go tommy guns and shotguns in an alien spaceship. It's your call.

overall

In the end, I truly believe that TimeSplitters 2 is one of the best first-person shooter games ever. The only major flaw I can find with the game is the lack of online support. Now that I think about it, that is the only reason why TS2 isn't getting a perfect score from me, but don't let that stop you from checking this game out, because TimeSplitters 2 provides a near perfect off-line experience.

Up and out of Rare’s ashes rises Free Radical Design, the vast majority of its employees comprised of/from the much ballyhooed teams responsible for such classics as Goldeneye and Perfect Dark. Expectations were high, the online anticipation was high, and -- more than anything -- the stakes were high. Does Free Radical still have what it takes to create a good first person shooter? Did they successfully venture away from their spiritual home, the Nintendo 64? Aye, that they did. Timesplitters 2 feels more like an original game than a sequel. I’ll go out on a limb and say that this title is what the original Timesplitters should have been. Then again, as Morgan said, the original game was rushed into this generation. Timesplitters 2 is of immense fun, a great fix for long nights of multiplayer thrills. After Halo, I showed my friends this other little FPS, and we’d spent the remainder of the night shooting away at flaming monkeys and rescuing damsels in distress from the clutches of the malevolent Jacques de la Morte. In addition to its four player death matches and cooperative story (main) mode, Timesplitters 2 offers a wealth of other modes and options. In fact, the sheer size of this game can often feel a bit overwhelming. Being that you travel through time, hence the title, you will encounter a variety of different personalities, venture across excellent (detailed) locales, and acquire the weapons of the ages. And, even more so than Perfect Dark or Goldeneye, new mission objectives and fun extras will constantly appear. Seeing as how I don’t usually like first person shooters, Timesplitters 2 caught me off guard. It has just the right mix of style and intuitive play that keeps me coming back for more. While I can go on for much longer, I’d best end right here, as I have some Al Capone underlings to thwart. 8.6/10 -- William Jacques

9.2/10