Timesplitters (PS2) - Part 4

Channel:

Louis B

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2,720

Published on April 4, 2018 8:00:04 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV4PqQpdjfk

Game:

TimeSplitters (2000)

Duration: 58:52

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1

During the first few, tumultuous, months of the Playstation 2, the system had few truly excellent titles that really showcased what the next generation represented. Besides the obvious yearly sports incarnations, Sony pushed an underwhelming Ridge Racer sequel, a fighting game that unified its roster to a basic team battle mechanic with Tekken Tag Tournament, and then there were oddities like Fantavision that only were best serviced as tech demos for the emotion engine processor. As with any console launch, there was not enough to prove that the new device was a substantial leap over its predecessor. The Playstation 2 even relied on the Dreamcast, as Sony oversaw (inferior) ports of Sega's library moved over on to their fledging machine (e.g. Dead or Alive 2).

Ironically enough, given its similarities to Goldeneye and Perfect Dark, Timesplitters was one of those early releases that stepped up the game of other third party developers and showcased the promise of 128-bit hardware entering into 2001.

It is difficult reminiscing on the era because the idea of a console first-person-shooter was still laughed at by the majority of the press and consumers. The shooter belonged in the realm of keyboard and mouse, and truth be told, precise controls are still arguably better with this layout. Whether it was Codename Tenka, Turok 2 or Powerslave/Exhumed, fifth-generation hardware could never handle the large branching levels that they ambitiously sought to create. There was always a compromise somewhere, someplace to make the experience possible to begin with.

The aforementioned Perfect Dark and Goldeneye both came closest to perfecting the cinematic FPS experience on console, with great presentation values, fantastic approaches to level design and guns that delivered on the oft described visceral feeling that you would hope to expect from a game of its ilk. And yet, despite both games strengths, they suffered from poor frame-rates ,well below a 20FPS average, and controls handicapped by the limited scope of the N64 analogue stick and camera controls.

The reason Timesplitters works as successfully as it does lies with how it remedies both of these problems, in effect, becoming the sleeper hit the Playstation 2 needed. The DualShock 2, with its two very responsive analogue sticks: One for movement, one for control, give depth to precision never previously realised on any prior home system. The actual grunt of the various processors and fast memory of Sony's Playstation 2 hardware give way for a 60FPS target, albeit field-rendered, but with 60 fields nevertheless.

Both of these factors created the perfect storm that made Timesplitters so fun, so continuously playable as late as 2018. Beginning Timesplitters' story in 1930s Egypt; There is a certain enjoyment to the snappy feedback of the Thompson machine gun as it bites off the heads of the mummies and zombie hordes that surround your pathways to the tomb's exit. There is a certain enjoyment with four player splitscreen, when you can let those you kill around you know first hand how venerating it is to be top of the leaderboard. There is a certain enjoyment to beating Mansion on Hard: You would know it if you played it (trust me). It is little wonder then that this series grew the following that it did.

While I do not crave a Timesplitters 4 like many of my peers might, as suggested, this game still plays wonderfully. In an age where every first person shooter has to follow the standard set by Halo, has to be similar to Call of Duty, it boggles the mind as to why Timesplitters is never seen on those same lofty heights.

Being the inverse of its forebearers, Timesplitters biggest detractor was in its production value and presentation - with a very minimalised approach to story, plot and characterisation. These elements were addressed in its sequels ultimately leading to a 𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 but never at the cost of the core game itself, the same cannot be said for other franchise first person shooters.

All in all, if you have not played Timesplitters then do it. If you have, play it again, chances are you will still enjoy it.