| TimeSplitters Future Perfect | |
|---|---|
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| Released | 22nd March 2005 (NA) 25th March 2005 (EU) |
| Platforms | PS2 XBox GameCube |
| Publisher | EA Games |
| Characters/Maps | 150/15 |
| Modes | Deathmatch Team Deathmatch Capture the Bag Bagtag Elimination Vampire Shrink Thief Zones Virus Gladiator Monkey Assistant Assault |
| Max Players | 16 (Xbox LAN) |
TimeSplitters Future Perfect is the third installment of the TimeSplitters series, released March 22nd, 2005 for the PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox consoles and receiving a Mature Rating from ESRB, and 18+ from PEGI. In the UK, BBFC issued it a 15.
TimeSplitters Future Perfect brings back many of the classic Arcade modes (e.g. Arcade Custom, Challenge) from the previous TimeSplitters games. Many of the Arcade maps, characters and weapons from the older games remain as well.
This game was the first in the series to be published by EA, after Free Radical Design changed publishers, possibly after a contract ran out or because of a dispute. The graphics have become greatly improved, though they keep the signature TimeSplitters cartoonish look. The overall pace of the game is slower than its predecessors, since it features a more plot-driven Story than the frantic pacing of previous titles.
New Features
The game features 150 different characters, many of whom must be unlocked after beating Story mode levels or various challenges. Characters from the previous installments come back for a second or third round. Dozens of new contenders also come into the fray to duke it out.
Blood also finally makes its way into the TimeSplitters series, including fully modeled gibs.
Most of the weapons are new or have been significantly changed in appearance or function from previous games. Only a few weapons, such as the ElectroTool, remain relatively unaltered.
The majority of the maps are new and more complex, often featuring bigger levels and more detail, such as the switch in Subway that causes a subway car to speed by, eliminating any player unfortunate enough to be on the tracks. The Training Ground, Chinese, and Mexican Mission maps from the original TimeSplitters and TimeSplitters 2 make a reappearance, but are altered slightly.
An improved Mapmaker allows for open skies, more items, more customization, more logic options, and the ability to create maps for Assault mode play.
Dropped Features
Future Perfect does not offer selection of an Arcade Style, which determined how fast characters move. Regeneration, Leech, and Flame Tag Modes were removed. The "Big Tile" was removed from the MapMaker in favor of stackable tiles. Also in Mapmaker, Story mode maps can no longer be played as any character, and you are forced to play as Cortez.
Story
Future Perfect features a more complex plot, unlike those of TS2 and TS1. In Story mode, you follow Sergeant Cortez through history in his quest to defeat the TimeSplitters. Throughout the story, Cortez teams up with sidekicks both new and returning. The Co-Op Story mode makes a return from TimeSplitters 2, allowing you to team up with a friend as you play. Unlike TimeSplitters 2, if player two dies, it gives a gameover. There is a loop within the story that repeats for eternity, seeing as Cortez is seen going back in time to meet his past self many times and vice versa.
Online
Both the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions provide online modes which allow you to play against people from anywhere in the world. This feature is not available for the GameCube version. This was the first TimeSplitters game to feature online multiplayer. The Xbox version allows 16 players maximum per match and the PlayStation 2 version allows 8. However, the PlayStation 2 online servers for Timesplitters Future Perfect have been terminated and therefore that version has no online play. As of April 15, 2010, Microsoft has discontinued the original Xbox Live service, meaning that across all platforms multiplayer will be limited to splitscreen and LAN for Timesplitters Future Perfect, however, online play can still be achieved by using a program called Xlink Kai (http://www.teamxlink.co.uk/), for both Playstation 2 and Xbox.
TimeSplitters 4
Because Cortez destroys the Time Crystals at the end of the game, it was assumed that this would be the last installment of the series. Many skeptics also cite that there was nothing in the credits indicating that TimeSplitters would return, unlike the previous titles. In their FAQ, Free Radical Design claims that they simply forgot.
TimeSplitters 4 was reported to be in development by PlayStation 3 Magazine in late June 2007 & was later confirmed on Free Radical Design's website. However due to Free Radical going into administration and subsequently being reacquired by another company, it is unknown at this time if Timesplitters 4 will be made.
Recently, a Crytek representative said in an interview that TimeSplitters 4 would be made if there was enough demand for the game. You can show support by signing the online petition (http://www.petitiononline.com/TS4tcbd1/petition.html Website Host Dead), and buying the previous games if you do not already own them.
A non-profit team of fans called Pantheonyx is currently working on a TimeSplitters video game that combines all the previous video games in the series together called TimeSplitters Rewind.
Trivia
- This is the first TimeSplitters game not to recieve a Teen Rating from ESRB, a 16+ from PEGI, and the only game to recieve a rating from BBFC.
- The loop in the story is inspired by many other stories featuring it, including the Christopher Reeve film Somewhere In Time.
- This is the only game where the first mission does not involve zombies.
- This is the only game where you play as the same character in more than 1 mission (Cortez in every mission).
- Running zombies were added, as well as there being 2 new zombie-walking animations, and a unique zombie-fire death animation.
- Character gestures were revived, since the first game.
- This game had proper reloading animations, and you could see the character's hands when using weapons.
