Timesplitters 2 - PS2

Released alongside the European launch of the PS2, the original TimeSplitters suffered mixed reviews. Created by ex-Goldeneye team members, the game was lumbered with an expectancy so big, its lack of a greatly-involving single player game ultimately meant a fair amount of disappointment. In its favour, TimeSplitters was also recognised for being an extremely entertaining, quickfire multiplayer game, featuring a solid game mechanic and intuitive control system. Claiming to have ironed out its predecessor's flaws, as well as also improving significantly on its commendable aspects, it therefore comes as no surprise to hear that the game's sequel should be greatly anticipated.

As the story goes, the power of the TimeSplitters has grown and the fate of mankind is in the balance. Space marines called in to fight against these evil creatures are being outnumbered and outfought as they battle through the futuristic space station that the TimeSplitters have set up as their base. The space marines finally stumble across a TimePortal powered by nine rare crystal shards, which enables the TimeSplitters to travel through time and affect the course of history. The only way to stop the TimeSplitters' evil reign continuing is to follow them into the TimePortal and recover the nine crystals before they are lost forever. The marines take a leap into the unknown, without any idea as to which time period they will end up in and without any idea as to what the future - or past - will hold.

Placing greater emphasis on the single player experience, TimeSplitters 2 offers an involving story mode, which features a complex narrative with multiple objective-based episodes. Nine time travelling episodes can be found throughout, set across a diverse array of locations, ranging from the Wild West through to Neo Tokyo.

The game engine has been extensively upgraded to accommodate more expansive backgrounds and a host of graphical effects, while still providing the distinctive smooth fast paced action of the original. On top of this, a completely rewritten animation system incorporating inverse cinematics brings convincing movement and dynamism to a new collection of characters.

Building further on the original's extensive multiplayer options, TimeSplitters 2 allows up to four PS2's to be connected up, via the system's iLink cable, thus enabling a total of 16 players to battle it out across the various game modes. That's some serious multiplayer action if you can afford all the machines, multitaps and TV's required for such a pleasure. If you can't, there's still the traditional 4-way, split screen mode in there, as well as plenty of moneys-worth of one-player game.
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