TimeSplitters (series)
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TimeSplitters is a series of first person shooter video games which have a storyline based on time travel. The first two games were published by Eidos. The first, released on the PlayStation 2 as a launch title for the system, while its sequel was also released on Xbox and GameCube, in addition to the PlayStation 2 version. There are currently three games in the series, TimeSplitters, TimeSplitters 2, and TimeSplitters: Future Perfect (published by EA Games).
The original game, TimeSplitters, was developed by the Nottingham based company Free Radical Design and published in 2000 by Eidos. Set over 100 years of past, present and future, TimeSplitters boasts probably the fastest gameplay yet seen in a console FPS, demanding the players keep their wits about them at all times.
The look of the games are substantially more stylized and cartoon-like than most first person shooters, with character models and expressions more closely resembling games such as XIII or Serious Sam rather than more realistic contemporaries such as Half-Life or Red Faction. This emphasis on often comic book-style character design, many of which represent instantly recognizable parodies of established pop-culture stereotypes (such as the aristocratic English explorer or the suave secret agent) combined with an often surreal and self-mocking style of humour.
The series is notable for the inclusion of a Mapmaker, a simple grid-based level editor. In TimeSplitters, Mapmaker maps may only be used in Arcade mode.
Classics such as GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark are often mentioned alongside TimeSplitters because the Free Radical Design team was once a part of Rareware, the creators of these two FPS games for the Nintendo 64. TimeSplitters is often considered to be a continuation or spiritual sequel of the popular FPS style that GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark induced.
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[edit] Story Mode
Story mode is a series of missions. In TimeSplitters 1 and 2, this was based upon the retrieval of a key object and its successful return. In TS2 however, there were also additional objectives and the levels were more complex. The only link between the seperate time periods are the enemies that materialize whenever you complete your goal in a level and must exit the level. These are the TimeSplitters themselves, who travel through many points in Earth's history in an attempt to disrupt and destroy humanity.
In Timesplitters: Future Perfect a more substantial storyline is established. The main character Cortez travels throughout time periods investigating a mysterious time traveller and the origin of the Timesplitters in an attempt to stop the Timesplitters from ever being created.
Enemy AI in TS1 is simple yet determined. On harder settings, there's little room for error. Enemies can appear out of nowhere and there are no checkpoints to allow breathing space. In TS2 stealth was possible, they weren't always suicidal, and they were sometimes sneaky themselves. The difficulty curve in TimeSplitters is steep, in the harder settings the enemies become more numerous, better armed, and the maps themselves can change to make things more difficult.
There are always two playable characters on each mission in Story Mode. Cooperative play is also available, though enemy numbers and weapon/health placements remain the same as in Single Player Mode, with the addition of both players being weaker than on single player, so it can be harder if you don't work as a team.
The Story mode is also where many of the games unlockables are found. Completing a mission will often be rewarded with a new character or characters in the Arcade game. Other rewards include new cheats and new Arcade maps.
[edit] Arcade Mode
Arcade mode is the multiplayer aspect of the TimeSplitters series and has 2 types of gameplay: Arcade Custom, which is simple multiplayer, and Arcade League (found only in Timesplitters 2 and Future Perfect).
[edit] Arcade Custom
Arcade Custom is a multiplayer mode that can be played with friends or single player versus bots. There is a large selection of modes available:
All games:
- Deathmatch: Kill the other contenders
- Team Deathmatch: Kill the other team(s)
- Capture the Bag: Retreive the bag from the other base(s)
- Bagtag: There is only one bag, hold onto it for the longest time to win
Timesplitters 1 only:
- Knockout: Retreive bags from a central point and return it to your base to score
- Last Stand: Hold out against attacking forces for as long as possible
Timesplitters 2 only:
- Leech: Absorb health by inflincting damage
- Regeneration: Health regenerates over time
- Flame Tag: Contenders are set on fire when touched and must pass it on as fast as possible
Timesplitters 2 and Future Perfect:
- Elimination: Everyone has a limited number of lives. The winner is the last one standing
- Shrink: Contenders size is dependant on ranking, giving those in lower places an advantage
- Vampire: Contenders have a limited lifespan, kill enemies to increase it
- Thief: Collect the coins left by dead contenders to win
- Virus: Once touched contenders stay on fire, the last one uninfected is the winner
- Zones: Contenders score points for each zone that is under their control
- Assault: Complete objectives to capture the enemy base
- Gladiator: Only the gladiator can score, kill the gladiator to become the gladiator
- Monkey Assistant: The contender in last place periodically has monkeys helping them
[edit] Arcade League
Arcade League, available in Timesplitters 2 and Future Perfect are single player challenges, similar to Challenge mode, but arcade league challenges can be recreated in Arcade Mode. There are three leagues of increasing difficulty, and all challenges must be completed to at least a bronze level before access to the next league is granted. Rewards, such as extra characters for Arcade Mode, are given for successful completion.
[edit] Challenge Mode
Challenge mode, available in all games of the series, consists of 9 (7 in Timesplitters 2 and Future Perfect) sets of 3 single player challenges. In Timesplitters 2 and Future Perfect challenges are unique and cannot be recreated through Arcade Mode, but in TS1 many of the challenges are based around a pre-set Arcade match. Rewards, such as extra characters for Arcade Mode, are given for successful completion.
[edit] Soundtrack
In 2006 Free Radical placed the soundtracks for all of their currently available games up for download on the company website, including printable album artwork. The soundtrack for the TimeSplitters games can be found here.
[edit] See also
- Free Radical Design
- TimeSplitters
- TimeSplitters 2
- TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
- TimeSplitters (Race)
[edit] External links
- Free Radical Design - Home Site.
- TimeSplitters series at MobyGames
- TimeSplitters Musicbox
- TimeSplitters Games (French)
- Timesplitters Unleashed
- Timesplitters wiki An extensive wiki about the series.
