The unique style of each level is represented in the look of the characters, the weapons, and the surroundings, offering a better sense of reality. The levels themselves are generally larger, and this leads me on to the second main point of improvement, the single player mode. This was the main problem with the original game as there was no plot and it was just a collection of what were essentially non-respawnable "capture the flag"-style sprees. TS did feature an excellent multi-player mode, which arguably rectified the game, and some even went on to say that single-player wasn't really needed, but Free Radical knew better, and this time around they bring us a proper story-driven single player mode. While the script is not a touch on Goldeneye, the advancing time-travelling adventures do offer far more enjoyment than the game's predecessor. Now you'll be undertaking proper objectives, relating to the level's environment, and there's also secondary objectives to take up if choose to do so. The levels are paced well, and are not the "sprint through pick up objective" missions of the original.
The single player mode does offer quite a lot of enjoyment, but you may find you want to proceed through it, not to uncover the story, but to unlock characters, modes, and maps, for use in the brilliant multiplayer mode. Free Radical have improved this already-excellent part of the game and when fully unlocked offers 15 multiplayer modes, ranging from the basic deathmatch, to capture the bag (TS2's own Capture the Flag), to MonkeyAssist (where three monkeys travel around the map attack other players in support of the person in last place). Some are more enjoyable than others, but all are worthy of inclusion and unlocking. The maps and weapons continue to entertain, and nothing beats getting 3 mates round, plugging in 4 controllers into a MultiTap 2 and blasting each other to help (with the help of monkeys, of course!). However, if you happen to be one of the lucky ones with up to 8 PS2s, 8 TVs and the required iLink cables, then the iLink mode awaits you. As mentioned in my preview, you can have up to 16 human players playing simultaneously, with either 8 PS2s and two people at each, or 4 PS2s and four people at each (or other such combinations). So if you're rich enough, or have mates who don't mind hogging equipment round to your house, then TimeSplitters 2 offers extra fun for you.
Earlier I talked about atmosphere, and TimeSplitters 2 completes this with its music. Each level has original music that perfectly suits the level's theme, and comes in excellent, crisp, digital quality. Added to this are the sounds that accompany the excellent visual effects, such as the explosions and lasers, which still sound as great as the original game.
An important feature of the original also remains in this sequel; the MapMaker. It now allows you to create your own single player maps, with gun turrets, AI enemies, and triggers to set these off. It offers you a whole lot more freedom, and the ability to the make the game last even longer.
Lastly, the gameplay of TimeSplitters 2 is superb; it's what makes it such a great game. It's fast, furious, easily manageable, and above all, extremely enjoyable. It's got to be one of the best console shooters, and works so well in multiplayer. The controls are easy to adjust to, and the defaults are almost identical to those which I am so used to from the original (although oddly they seem to have switched primary and secondary fire buttons around, although that is easily sorted), and so help the game's pick and frag experience.
Reviewed by Matt Bailey.
From: All About Games.
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