Publisher: Eidos, www.eidos.com
Ages: 12 and up.
Parental
Advisory:
Violent action
We don't recommend violent first-person shooter games for families. And for this reason, we can't enthusiastically recommend TimeSplitters 2. But if your kids insist on playing these games and you're gradually giving in, then
Eidos' TimeSplitter 2 is the game to get. While the action is violent, the game is conservative on the blood and guts. More important, the title offers a fantastic cooperative mode that lets kids work together to destroy the forces of evil. This cooperative multi-player mode is the best and most entertaining that we've seen on the market.
In the game, the evil TimeSplitters have traveled back in history to trigger events that will lead to the enslavement of all mankind in the present. Players have to hunt down the TimeSplitters through historical eras that include the gangster-ridden 1920s, Aztec empire, and cold war, as well as the future.
The levels happen in different areas and eras and thus, the settings, foes, weapons and characters change from level to level, which makes for lots of variety. Players fight zombies, soldiers, gangsters, robots, and more. And each level serves objectives that players learn as you they go along, which keeps them on their toes. The game offers a good single-player mode, as well as great multi-player modes and games.
The controls are intuitive and let players freely move characters and aim and shoot. An impressive sniper rifle lets players zoom in with a scope. Interestingly, the game lacks an ability to jump. This is not a real problem, but there are places where a short jump would seem to be the answer to enter another area.
TimeSplitters 2 looks great and offers detailed and attractive graphics. What makes this game stand out in our eyes is its compelling cooperative multi-player mode. Letting two players work together in a split screen mode to accomplish an objective is a blast. The players not only have to figure out how to best handle situations together, they have to share the weapons and ammunition that they find along the way. So if kids are going to play a violent game, don't we want them to play one that makes them work together, as opposed to shooting at each other?
As we said earlier, we don't recommend violent titles for youngsters. But if the kids insist on a first-person shooter and they have worn you down, TimeSplitters 2 is one to consider.
2/4/03 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
