TimeSplitters: Future Perfect | |
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Released | NA: March 21, 2005 EU: March 24, 2005 |
Platforms | PlayStation 2 Xbox Nintendo GameCube |
Publisher | EA Games |
Characters/Maps | 150/15 |
Modes | Deathmatch Team Deathmatch Capture the Bag Bagtag Elimination Vampire Shrink Thief Zones Virus Gladiator Monkey Assistant Assault |
Max Players | 16 (Xbox Live) 8 (PS2 Online) |
TimeSplitters: Future Perfect is the third installment of the TimeSplitters series, released on March 22nd, 2005 in North America and March 25th in Europe for PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox and receiving a Mature Rating from ESRB, and 18+ from PEGI. In the UK, BBFC issued it a 15.
Future Perfect brings back many of the classic Arcade modes (e.g. Arcade Custom, Challenge) from the previous TimeSplitters games. Many of the Arcade maps, characters and weapons from the older games remain as well.
This game was the first in the series to be published by EA, after Free Radical Design changed publishers, disappointed by the sales of TimeSplitters 2. The graphics have become greatly improved, while maintaining the signature TimeSplitters cartoonish look. The overall pace of the game is slower than its predecessors, since it features a more plot-driven Story than the frantic pacing of previous titles.
On November 15th, 2021, the Xbox version of Future Perfect, alongside TS2, were made playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S via backwards compatibility.
The PS2 version of the game is expected to be added to the PlayStation Plus game catalog, alongside the first two games, on August 20th, 2024 for PS Plus Premium members.
New Features[]
The game features 150 characters, many of whom must be unlocked after beating Story levels or various challenges. Several characters from the previous installments come back for a second or third round. Dozens of new contenders also come into the fray to duke it out.
Blood also finally makes its way into the TimeSplitters series, including fully-modeled gibs.
Most of the weapons are new or have been significantly changed in appearance or function from previous games. Only a few weapons, such as the ElectroTool, remain relatively unaltered.
The majority of the maps are new and more complex, often featuring bigger levels and more detail, such as the switch in Subway that causes two trains to speed by, eliminating any player unfortunate enough to be on the tracks. The Chinese, Mexican Mission, and Training Ground maps from the original TimeSplitters and TimeSplitters 2 make a reappearance, but are altered slightly.
An improved Mapmaker allows for open skies, more items, more customization, more logic options, and the ability to create maps for Assault mode play.
Cut Features[]
Future Perfect does not offer selection of an Arcade Style, which determined how fast characters move. Regeneration, Leech, and Flame Tag Modes were removed. The "Big Tile" was removed from the Mapmaker, in favour of stackable tiles. Also in Mapmaker, Story mode maps can no longer be played as any character; you are forced to play as Cortez.
Story[]
Future Perfect features a more complex plot, unlike those of its predecessors. In Story mode, you follow Sergeant Cortez through history in his quest to defeat the TimeSplitters. Throughout the story, Cortez teams up with sidekicks both new and returning. The Co-op Story mode makes a return from TimeSplitters 2, allowing you to team up with a friend as you play. Unlike in TimeSplitters 2, if one of the two players dies, it is game over. There is a loop within the story that repeats for eternity, seeing as Cortez is seen going back in time to meet his past self many times and vice versa.
Online[]
Both the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions provide online modes, which allow you to play against people from anywhere in the world. This feature is not available for the GameCube version. This was the first TimeSplitters game to feature online multiplayer. The Xbox version allows 16 players maximum per match and the PlayStation 2 version allows 8. However, the PlayStation 2 online servers for TimeSplitters: Future Perfect have been terminated, and therefore, that version has no online play. As of 15th April, 2010, Microsoft has discontinued the original Xbox Live service, meaning that, across all platforms, multiplayer will be limited to split-screen and LAN for TimeSplitters: Future Perfect. However, online play can still be achieved by using a program called Xlink Kai (http://www.teamxlink.co.uk/), for both PlayStation 2 and Xbox.
Trivia[]
- This is the first TimeSplitters game not to receive a Teen Rating from ESRB, a 16+ from PEGI, and the only game to receive a rating from BBFC.
- The loop in the story is inspired by many other stories featuring it, including the Christopher Reeve film Somewhere In Time.
- This is the only game where the first mission does not involve zombies.
- This is the only game where you play as the same character in more than 1 mission (Cortez in every mission).
- Running zombies were added, as well as there being 2 new zombie-walking animations, and a unique zombie-fire death animation.
- Character gestures were revived, since the first game.
- This game has proper reloading animations, as you can see the character's hands when using weapons.