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WORLD EXCLUSIVE: TIMESPLITTERS 3 - WE´VE PLAYED IT!
Contrary to reports suggesting Free Radical´s monster FPS sequel is in ´crisis´, we´ve actually played it and came away impressed - head inside for our world exclusive pre-E3 sneak peak
19:28 It´s been a topsy-turvy week for TimeSplitters 3, that´s for sure. With anticipation levels sky high for the first EA-published instalment of Free Radical Design´s award-winning console FPS, minor turmoil was created earlier in the week by reports suggesting that development on the title was in crisis, with EA panicking over the state of code in advance of next week´s E3 showcase.
Crisis? Well, we admit to being more than a little surprised on reading such reports, especially since we could have sworn we actually played a game called TimeSplitters: Future Perfect not so long ago... Oh that´s right, we did! Which begs the rather obvious question: if TimeSplitters 3 really is in such a sorry state, why on Earth would EA allow the notoriously fickle press to actually go hands-on with an early build?
Anyway, first the facts, which Electronic Arts announced yesterday, on the eve of E3. In TimeSplitters: Future Perfect players reprise the role of series stalwart and protagonist Cortez, as he battles the nefarious TimeSplitters across history, uncovering the mysterious origins of his classic foe while saving mankind from the verge of destruction. The twist is, the player´s past, present and future selves must unite to vanquish the impending threat to all civilisation.
Gameplay covers the time period between 1914 and 2401, within which the various versions of the protagonist must interrelate to make progress, with the story mode also allowing two players to proceed co-operatively.
Challenge and Arcade modes are also included, but the major addition is the 16-player online deathmatch mode, exclusive to the PlayStation 2 version of the gane. Toss in an enhanced Map Maker, which players can use to swap content online, and the elements are already in place for another rip-snorting action extravaganza.
Yet despite the game still being almost a year away from release, Electronic Arts, contrary to recent opinion, was evidently confident enough of its product to allow us to go hands-on with the title in its US offices last month. We´re here to give you an insiders peak at what to expect from the final game.
The level we played is set in Scotland in 1924, which we were told will be the second level in the final game. The level begins on an exposed hillside, with Cortez and an AI character ( or another player in co-op we guess) having to fight their way up to a castle at the summit, and break in.
Progress is impeded by grunts hiding behind walls and emplacements, and while you´re dealing with these guys, you need to keep on eye on the numerous propeller-driven aircraft, swooping from above, spraying bullets. Added together, this busyness creates an immediate tension, compelling you to drive forward and enter the castle without delay.
Once inside, we found traditional TimeSplitters fare mixed in with the promise of greater story integration and more scripted events. We´re not going to spoil things too much for you, but it was here that we encountered the first instance of a Cortez from a different timezone appearing at the appropriate moment to help you out just as you get stuck - what producer Mike Ress calls ´meet yourself gameplay´. It´s like if you turn up at the pub after last orders, but then Future Johnny appears and pours you a golden pint of finest fighting lager. Can you tell it´s a Friday night and we want to leave?
Back outside we got our first taste of vehicular action; a jeep awaits in a garage and you can either take the driving seat or take control of the gun at the rear while your ally takes the wheel. Further on we came across an impassable gorge, which requires you to flick the controls which operate the bridge. Unfortunately, those are on the other side of the gorge; fortunately, you have an amazing anti-gravity gun with which to shift the controls then carry on the carnage. Fast, furious and very cool.
Other levels you can expect are one on a train in 1969 and a haunted mansion in 1994, plus there will be two levels set in the future which a central to the denouement as players grow ever closer to the truth explaining the time jumping motif the series is built around.
We only experienced a single level of TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, and while it´s not currently a massive leap forward from TS2 ( which is awesome anyway), it´s clear even at this early stage there´s little evidence suggesting fans of the superb previous instalments have anything to worry about, especially with a year´s development time remaining.
Well that´s our sneak peak into the compelling world of Free Radical´s latest ´Splitter over with; but be sure to check back next week, when our hard-working future selves will be back with fuller impressions of the game direct from E3, while we drink margheritas by the pool in LA.
TimeSplitters: Future Perfect is due to release on PS2, Xbox and GameCube in early 2005.
Johnny Minkley
