The Sci-Fi Sniper Rifle, also known simply as the Sci-Fi Sniper, is a futuristic Sniper Rifle. In TimeSplitters Future Perfect, it features in the future-set, military-based levels, suggesting that it was developed as a military tactical/covert weapon. In TimeSplitters, it featured in most futuristic timeframes, leaving its origin and creation in dispute. In TimeSplitters 2, this weapon was replaced by the Lasergun.
Appearances[]
TimeSplitters[]
| TimeSplitters Weapon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scifi Sniper Rifle | ||
| Native TimeZone | 2020 | |
| Ammo amount | 10 / 190 | 
|
| Fire rate | 2 bps | |
| Reload time | 0.47 | |
| Damage (Head/Body/Legs) | 100%/75%/30% | |
| Weapon type | Sniper | |
| Scope range | Very far, x12 | |
| Action (Primary) | Fires bullet | |
| Action (Secondary) | Fires bullet | |
| Weapon sets | None | |
Firing high-speed plasma (or sci-fi) bolts, which are red in colour, this weapon can hold a maximum of 10 rounds, and uses the same ammunition as other Sci-fi weapons (Raygun, Raygun Carbine, Sci-fi Autorifle). Unlike its TimeSplitters Future Perfect counterpart, this has only one fire mode, but its zoom feature is indispensable when picking off long distance targets, especially on high levels, such as Planet-X.
When "if best" is switched on, the Sci-Fi Sniper Rifle ranks as the 10th worst weapon on TS1, on the same level as the standard Sniper Rifle and Colt Pistol (x2).
TimeSplitters Future Perfect[]
| TimeSplitters Future Perfect Weapon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scifi Sniper | ||
| Native TimeZone | 2243 - 2401 | |
| Ammo amount (Primary) | 8 / 32 | 
|
| Ammo amount (Secondary) | Full gauge / Full gauge | |
| Fire rate (Primary) | >2 per sec | |
| Fire rate (Secondary) | >1 sec | |
| Reload time | 02.25 | |
| Damage (Head/Body/Legs) | Instant kill/35%/14.5% (Head/Body/Legs) | |
| Weapon type | Sniper | |
| Scope range | Very far, x14 | |
| Action (Primary) | Fires laser | |
| Action (Secondary) | Sets up shield | |
| Weapon sets | Mars Prison; Plasma; Siberia; VR | |
It shoots orange laser bolts and has a temporary - but rechargeable - shield, similar to the one found on the Lasergun in TimeSplitters 2. The shield will block almost any projectile, but only if it directly hits the shield. It pays to crouch while using the shield, since shots can still hit the player's legs. The shield cannot defend the user against explosives and ElectroTool beam.
It has magazine of eight rounds, and the user can carry a maximum of thirty-two rounds. Headshots are always fatal, but hits elsewhere on the body cause little damage. It first appears in Time To Split (although its only purpose in the level is to take out Time Assassins firing from a bunker), then later in Machine Wars, where it is used to take out many turrets near the middle of the level, and The Hooded Man, where it is used extensively to protect Past Cortez.
A small glitch can also occur if the shield is activated.
This is the only weapon in the game that contains a temporary frontal shield to help you. With the shield activated, shots cannot hit the middle of the body. Only the feet and head are vulnerable. Crouching covers a larger area, but impedes movement. The shield takes at least 10 seconds to deplete, and depletes faster if hit with any projectiles. After five seconds of recharge time, the shield recovers to the maximum battery. The shield does not protect against explosive damage.
The Sci-Fi Sniper's shield in use.
Trivia[]
- It is very likely that the Sci-Fi Sniper is based off the World War II era Russian anti-tank rifle, the PTRS-41. Like the PTRS, it has a very long length and, if one adds realism to the game, cannot be portable. It also has a magazine compartment identical to the PTRS. The cover on the underside functions exactly like the PTRS; it opens, revealing the magazine. The magazine of the Sci-Fi Sniper is a "box" clip, while the PTRS has a stripper clip similar the the box clip of the Sci-Fi Sniper.
- In TimeSplitters 1, this weapon uses sci-fi ammunition like all its other sci-fi counterparts, yet it has a very different visible firing style, suggesting that sci-fi weapons use a generic Plasma medium, which is modified within each weapon to give the desired effect.
- Interestingly, the TimeSplitters Future Perfect Sci-Fi Sniper appears in The Machine Wars mission (set in 2243) and in Time To Split (set in 2401). This means that The Sci-Fi Sniper is over 150 years old, an exceedingly long period of time.