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Timeshift (PC DVD)

Publisher: Activision
Platform: Windows XP
ESRB Age Rating: Adults Only
Release date: 2nd November, 2007
Media: Video Game

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Editorial Review

It’s never obvious what to make of delays in video games. Sometimes it’s simply an indication of a problem production that ends up looking out of date before it’s even released. Other times though it’s simply evidence of ruthless perfection: thankfully TimeShift seems to be the latter. At first glance it seems like any other first person shoot ‘em-up, with some technically impressive but artistically ordinary visuals. What makes it unique though is the gameplay, with the best use of time travel in a game since Prince of Persia.

The story of the game involves the unlikely named Aiden Krone go back in time and changing history to suit him – kind of like a more evil version of Back to the Future, Part II. However, the time travelling doesn’t end there as the special suit you’re strapped into to chase after him also allows you to stop, rewind or slow down time whenever you want. Since Krone has got his own version of the same kind of time suit many of the enemies can’t even be properly seen under normal conditions because they’re moving too fast, but there are more subtle uses for the rewind and stop powers. Slipping past guards or running through a burning building becomes child’s play, while stopping time, running up to an enemy to grab his gun and then nipping back to cover to shoot him with it is just one of the game’s unique pleasures. Even if Doctor Who wouldn’t approve.

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Average rating - (more reviews)

Rating: - Great start, peters out

FPS players are always on the lookout for something different, and Timeshift seems to promise a lot, just going by the opening section which is set in a crumbling, dystopic urban milieu in a parallel universe! Wow, great opening premise. Sadly, after that the missions become all too generically familiar - follow the markers on the overhead, fight past groups of adversaries, occasionally engaging in a puzzle-like obstacle, then on to the next on-rails mission. The time-manipulation aspect is indeed novel, yet the potential is scarcely explored. To my mind, the entire game should have stayed within the urban setting rather than taking off along countryside roads from which you cannot deviate.

There is a kind of narrative but its fragmentary and hardly seems to relate to the in-game sequences at all.

Coulda been a contender.

Rating: - When do we get Timeshift 2?

Excellent visuals, punchy weapons, good AI, novel time-related puzzles. I really enjoyed this game. The style of it pays homage to HL2. So much fun at a bargain price.

Rating: - A good but flawed game

and if it hadn't been trying to be so Half Life 2 it might have been a bit more successful. At some points you really feel like you are playing HL2, although they also seem to have borrowed the fire extinguishers from FEAR as well.

Ultimately it is another FPS, with the unique game mechanic of time control as its main theme. Bullet time is common in games, but this takes it further allowing the player to stop and reverse time as well as slow it. It isn't just a gimmick, without using it you die very quickly and some `puzzles' need it to be solved, although they aren't very taxing.

The ability is very powerful and allows things such as stealing weapons from enemies and more accurate aiming, but the duration is not very long and requires recharging. Frustratingly you can easily run out of power during combat and have to either hide and recharge or die and there is a large gaming hole where there should have been upgrades to extend the time.

Dying is unavoidable and mars what could have been an excellent game. Some sections are `die and learn', progress being made simply by learning how you last died and avoiding it again. The game isn't particularly difficult, but if measured on deaths it would be.

The weapons are also powerful, some of the most powerful I have seen in any game, although some of them have limited ammo so are not of much use. Only three can be carried and the shotgun, rocket launcher and crossbow can easily be used exclusively throughout the game. The crossbow is deadly, possibly too, with a sniper scope and killing in one hit.

The graphics are excellent, and again makes the game stand out even after two years. Enemy modelling has had a lot of work put into it and the physics is great, blowing things up and watching them fly around with bits of enemy is great fun. Sound is good but on the city levels the repeating PA system message will have you accessing the sound options to turn it off.

The DRM is Securom, but as far as I can tell it is not limited installs or activations.

So a game that most people will possibly have missed, nothing special in the FPS stakes with interspersed on foot, in vehicle and in gun emplacement storyline mixed in with time control ability that just doesn't quite work.

Well worth the cost of what it can be bought for today, although it falls short of a classic and it is unlikely that the ending that seemed to promise a sequel will ever see the light of day.

Rating: - Much Satisfaction

This is a unique game. If you are into first person shoot 'em up then this is for you. The ability to stop time and pounce on your frozen enemies can be very satisfying. There are many puzzles to solve using this incredible to slow down , stop or even reverse time.
Go for it!!

Rating: - Atmospheric, well designed and great fun

Bought this after reading other reviews and really enjoyed it. The time manipulation features work well and as an FPS it is up there with the best of them. I would recommend this to anyone who likes FPS with atmosphere.

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