TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
Short overview sentence that summarizes the review goes here.
Introduction
The Time Crystals are finally in hand. Cortez is flying back to the base in order to deliver the secured crystals for further examination. A war is being waged below as he comes in for a closer look. The ship he is piloting is shot and crashes into a small canyon. Little does Cortez know that this is only the start of a new journey through time that he will most likely not enjoy.
Future Perfect allows you to take the role of Cortez, a soldier in the human army fighting against the Timesplitters, and travel through time learning the real meaning behind the Time Crystals. Prepare for a long journey because time waits for no one...
Graphics
The look and feel of the environments contained in Future Perfect tell of the many hours put into sculpting a game from a title that was previously well received and upgrading it to an experience that is something better. Be prepared to salivate at the detailed areas and the rich designs of the characters. Also, awe in wonder at the usage of coloring and shading while trekking across time. The architecture of Future Perfect matches perfectly with the specific time period which Cortez travels through. From the classic rendition of an ancient castle in Europe to the futuristic setting during the Robot Wars, detail has not been spared in bringing together a flourishing portrait that begs to be hung on a museum wall. The enjoyment of playing the game is immensely engrossing.
The cutscenes in the game are very well rendered as well, giving a fantastic detail to Cortez and the people that he interacts with. This really helps to tie the game together through the many travels through time into a neatly packaged deal.
Sound
Future Perfect has quite a bit of great quality sound in the game boundaries. The superb compositions for each level are well done and really enhance the particular setting. Also, the different weapons have nicely timed sound effects that make the authenticity shine through. Even during multiplayer sessions, the sound of bullets whizzing in the air make it feel as if the game is taking place in real time. The proper usage of sound in this game has not gone unnoticed. The only regrettable item is when some bullets fly, they make the sound of ricocheting nearby when they actually fly past you and into the far wall. The quality of the sound library is truly reminiscent of previous Timesplitters titles and the addition of an announcer during multiplayer sessions is something that is decent in moderation.
Gameplay
The contents of the game are definitely Future Perfect’s strongest area. The story is truly a continuance of what was shown in Timesplitters 2. The way that the mystery behind the Time Crystals is revealed is really a captivating experience. Also, the inclusion of the new Time Protection missions are something that definitely shows the uniqueness of Future Perfect.
There is a comedy factor found in Future Perfect that tries to lighten the mood of the game to a certain degree. While it provides a few chuckles, it is nothing that is really gut busting. The material used is minimal at best and really could have been put aside.
The arcade challenges and leagues are another facet of Future Perfect that has taken something that was well done and improves on it to a higher caliber. The majority of what Timesplitters 2 had to offer in this area returns from the classic Deathmatch to the Monkey Assistant. It is definitely worth going through and working on in order to gain the full experience of the game. When you beat a level, you will receive a trophy based on the requirements of obtaining said trophy and may even be rewarded with a new character or cheat. Of course, also completing a specific group of challenges will open up the next set for play.
There are several unlockables in this title that require a lot of work. Several characters and modes are available when the requirements are met. Also, some of these characters are available through the regular Story Mode depending on the degree of difficulty.
The multiplayer area is definitely the strongest point of Future Perfect. With over 150 characters to choose from and several cheats and modes to use, it is no wonder that there will be people who play this title as religiously as they did with the previous Timesplitters game. Levels range from the expansive wastelands of Siberia to the close-knit corridors of a battlefield in Vietnam. With a number of options available for play and people who will not tire of the game, there will be countless hours that are played.
The controls found in Future Perfect are pretty standard for most first person shooters. The handling of the characters is also pretty standard concerning games that are in the same genre.
There is also a feature with for online capabilities with Xbox Live so that players can compete against others in several game modes.
The only really major gripe that a person can find for the game is the ability to shoot and hit a person with some of the oddest shots. Case in point, a shot underneath the right arm of a character in sniper mode was really a head shot.
Everything about Future Perfect dealing with the gameplay is really worth the money to buy. For those who enjoy Timesplitters titles, the experience will leave an indelible mark on them.
Lastability
After going through the story of Future Perfect and experiencing what multiplaying has to offer, there is not much left to keep someone occupied with the game. What really will keep people coming back for the game will be the facets of multiplay and those challenges that are not finished the first time through and will take some work getting through.
The story is very well done and deserves at least two plays before truly understanding how the mechanics work. People will only play Deathmatches and other modes as the life of this game continues.
Overall
The overview of Future Perfect is quite simple: brilliant. EA has taken Timesplitters 2, tweaked a few details in a few areas and continued with the storyline to give us the next title in the series that truly carries on the mantle placed by diehard fans. With many things to accomplish in the game, it will give many hours of enjoyment and game time that will make people want the next edition to come out quicker than Future Perfect came out.
What really is endearing to this title is the fact that it remains true to its roots and keeps the experience real throughout the whole game. What will really help this game is the way that it sells itself to the crowd through the many diversions that are housed in one disc. Definitely worth the amount of money it retails for.
FINAL SCORE
94 %
