Preview 2 || Preview 1

Much has been revealed since originally writing a preview for this game, what with E3 revealing new levels, weapons and online play. All these details have pretty much made it a foregone conclusion that this will be the best first-person shooter to grace a console this year, if not ever. You may question that previous statement, “but you haven't played it”, well I can tell you that I've played Timesplitters2 and it is beyond what I expected in terms of depth, detail and playability.

Levels are very much in the style of Goldeneye. Primary objectives have to be undertaken to proceed through the game, while Secondary objectives are an optional task, rewarding players with extra characters and the like if completed. The harder the difficulty you select, the more objectives there'll be to complete, and the harder the task will be to do, with even more higher-skilled bullet-firing foe scattering the level to dispatch of. The level I played, Dam, is much like the first level of Goldeneye, and suits a slower, more methodical style of play instead of outrageous frenzied firing with your eyes closed and fingers crossed. But I'll go more in-depth about my hands-on experiences later. The point is, unlike the original, they'll be different styles of play, some levels will require stealth and pin-point accuracy, while others will require the most manic running and shooting you'll have experienced in any first-person shooter.

There are cut-scenes this time around. Taking a rather comedic style in the cartoon approach graphics that Free Radical Design have chosen, they're both amusing and add a little purpose to the game. Being such fantastic developers, the FMV sequences have been well constructed too, and aren't ridiculously long enough to break up the frantic gameplay. This was a big gap in the original game, there was no story and it gave the game no purpose, for all you know, you could have been helping an alien race destroy Earth, the vast majority of the original's story was on the back of the box. Timesplitters2 is more self-explanatory and should feed the plot-hungry gamers with what they require, but not have to sacrifice the great variety of levels on offer because of the nature of the “timesplitting”. Unfortunately, prior to cut-scenes there's an extra load time, hopefully to be eradicated before release, after all, this is an early build.

The roster of single-player/co-operative story levels is now known. The levels are Siberia, Chicago, Notre-Dame, Robot Factory, Atomsmasher, Wild West, Aztec Neo Tokyo and finally the return of Planet X. It's an extremely impressive variety of levels on show, spanning over many different eras of time, expect Aztec to feature limited weaponry such as the Crossbow, and something like Robot Factory to contain Laserguns and Rocket Launchers. Multiplayer-specific levels include Hangar, Circus, Hospital, Nightclub, Mexico, Ice Station and Scrapyard, with a few levels yet to be revealed. The levels on offer are of the greatest diversity, which no other first-person shooter can claim to match; even Halo can't compare with its similarly themed levels throughout.

The weaponry on offer is of a great diversity also, as it spans over many time zones, you'll get your Tommy gun's and bolt action sniper rifles, but they'll also be mini-guns, plasma rifles and what will become the new favourite, a flamethrower. There's enough here to get a selection of weapons to suit anyone's style of play, prefer slow play, go for a sniper-rifle for head shots and a machine-gun for back-up. Prefer ridiculously over-the-top ammo depletion? Choose the mini-gun and a futuristic energy weapon, such as a lasergun. Or are you just in it for style? Why don't you show all your friends up with the old, but trusty crossbow or just burn them alive with a flamethrower. It's a magnificent range for an armoury, no other FPS offers this and it makes the game much more varied and not repetitive for this, the opportunities are almost limitless. I almost failed to mention the turret style sentries, they will be mountable guns that fire at an unbelievable rate or be magnificently powerful. But remember your behind is very vulnerable in this position and you should check for traps before hand, as turrets are often a most sought after (and fought after) placement.

On the map-maker front, little has been revealed from the last time, but the ability to create more open spaces has been promised, the ability to have objectives in a map-made “story level”. All this along with switches, characters you have to escort from beginning to end, and being able to place enemies, setting their style of gunplay (e.g. defensive, medium or pressing) and their patrol area. It does all sound very good, but have your reservations, no-one is yet to have experienced this upgraded feature and we were promised so much form the map-maker last time around, so we'll have to wait and see.

New modes will include Flame Tag, Kill the Ogre, Vampire and returning favourites, plus of course original deathmatch. Kill the Ogre being the same as the PC version. Vampire being like it sounds, you drain energy from others by shooting them, improving your health in the process (imagine that with the flamethrower). And finally flame tag being exactly like it sounds, and will almost definitely be the mode of choice upon release. To bolster all this, they'll be an option of adding 12 bots into the fray and of course, you'll be able to be one of nearly 100 characters in Timesplitters2. The depth of this game really is unparalleled in every sense of the word.

I couldn't believe it when an early version/demo of Timesplitters2 popped through my door, I was over-the-moon and very excited when loading it up. I found that it was the Dam level, and within seconds I knew that it was going to take over my life once again.

I was first introduced to a cut-scene, it was well presented, and graphically speaking, looked more than adequate. The character models well animated, and the style of presentation unique and amusing. This was added to with great music and sound effects, along with faultless voice acting. Though relatively small in size, it was refreshing to see a big addition to the game in the form of a storyline, and I had at least a bit of a clue as to why I was taking out all these Siberian soldiers.

After the game had loaded up, I immediately saw a couple of weapons lying in the floor in front of me, to my delight, one was a silenced pistol and the other… a sniper rifle! Being the stealth freak that I am, and loving sniper-rifles in any game, I immediately sent a bullet into the head of a soldier far off in the distance, before he organically fell to the ground dead. I switched back to the pistol and took a few guards out but before long, I'd run into the path of an unseen camera and guards were onto me like a ton of bricks and…game over. I was extremely surprised at how much more careful you have to be in Timesplitters, and that it isn't a simple walk in the park, you have to plan, observe and dispatch. The go in and shoot tactics of old had been abolished, stealth was the key, and accuracy was the shine of it.

After a second attempt of the game I managed to get much further, and undertook objectives like blowing up a radar. It was much deeper than the previous game, and reminded me of Goldeneye, it had the missions that made you think, strategically. I also found the game more interactive, you could look through cameras, use sentry guns and doors were much more numerous. The surroundings, much like the original, are destructible, having firefights through racks of items is fun, and especially when you see a melon fall to the floor and split.

The level is also well-designed surprising you at times, you have to think before you shoot, strafe round corners and look at your surroundings for any lethal traps (believe me there are some b*tches for traps). Enemies are placed in the most annoying positions, but after a few attempts you'll learn the level, and be able to place a grenade to send them to hell once and for all.

Later on in the level there are some incredible set pieces, and some nervous ones. I won't spoil these for you but they add to the action ten-fold. Also, I got a chance to test out a soviet machine-gun with built-in grenade launcher, which was a tasty weapon, just a little loud. The timed mines were also useful for taking out the many cameras placed frequently throughout the level. But the best weapon I got to use was the flamethrower, I set alight the walking dead, set filing cabinets alight and watch them burn nice and slowly. It was all good and the level of satisfaction was of the highest standard. I can't wait to try it out on my brother in multiplayer mayhem when the full version is released.

When I finally did finish what was the best first-person shooting experience I'd ever, umm, experienced, I was greeted by a boss, but it was just a teaser, as when I saw the helicopter and had just mounted a sentry gun to start firing, the demo ended. This was a great cliffhanger to end on, and when this game is released I'm sure it will be the best first-person shooter ever made. But then there was a realisation that made my jaw drop to the floor. All this action would be in co-operative too! Doubling the fun, co-operative was what made the original's story so pleasurable, the level of enjoyment in Timesplitters2 will be too good for words.

Graphically the game stood up very well too, with the flaming effects being suitably impressive, little effects being absolutely fantastic and the surroundings being perfectly suited to the time zone. It's a graphical feast for the eyes and this is before all the lasers come into play in the finished version. Not only is the lightening fast frame-rate unmatched, the detail is also much deeper than many other games. Characters are filled with life, and move with fluidity I've not seen in other games of this type. Its unique graphical style is extremely impressive and really is what you'd expect to see in a proper next-gen title. Presentation isn't a weakness of Free Radical Design, and the sound has also been superbly executed. The screams of your burning victims are great, the atmospheric musical score is fulfilling and general effects are super. Never has the disposing of bullets ever sounded so realistic.

From what I got to play of Timesplitters2, it's definitely heading for game of the year. The set pieces, the playability, the style, the design, the weapons, the variety, the graphics, the sound and pretty much everything is of the highest standard. If this is just a taster of things to come, then I can see TS2 occupying my life for weeks upon weeks upon weeks.

What Timesplitters2 comes down to is the highest calibre of first-person shooter. It has everything going for it, and anyone with a slight yearning for shooting, co-operative games or an original game that lets you create is in for a treat. The funniest, most bizarre and most playable game will be hitting the Gamecube this September. So book a month of work now! This WILL be Game of the Year.

Need more info? Why not read the Original Preview !