E3 2004: TimeSplitters 3: First Screens

First screens and details from EA's TimeSplitters Future Perfect - plus 'inevitable delay' gossip.

EA has officially announced TimeSplitters 3, or to give its new name, TimeSplitters Future Perfect. The sequel, the first in the series not to be published by Eidos, will feature "innovative time travel gameplay", an improved story mode, single-player co-op mode and online play.

However, the game, from the same people at Free Radical Design, is said to be massively behind schedule. In an article on Spong.com, an EA insider commented: "The images are not reflective of the game, and the actual truth that the game, in terms of it being no different from the last TimeSplitters, is being kept quiet. I don't know how we are going to manage it at E3."

However, that's not to say things won't take a turn for the better in Free Radical land. In TimeSplitters Future Perfect, victory is in the hands of the player's past, present, and future self in a battle that stretches throughout time where humanity is on the brink of destruction from the malevolent TimeSplitters. Cortez - the tough-as-nails hero from previous installments - finds himself in a frantic race against time in a desperate bid to trace the origin of the TimeSplitters and save mankind.

This third installment of the best-selling franchise will feature hundreds of hours of gameplay and an improved Story mode that ties all the missions together, immersing gamers in an epic adventure between the years of 1914 and 2401. Innovative "meet yourself" time travel gameplay lets players be their own ally by teaming up with past and future versions of themselves.

The game also will allow two players to fight through the Story in Co-op mode, and features extensive Challenge and Arcade modes, and a Multiplayer mode that will allow gamers to battle in 16-player death match online on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.

In addition, gamers will experience an improved Map Maker feature allowing them to easily create and play their own maps and share them online. TimeSplitters Future Perfect promises to be one of the deepest arcade shooters on the console with hundreds of unlockables, more realistic environments, spectacular special effects, high quality animated cut scenes, and an improved physics engine.

Stay tuned as the game nears an "early 2005" release - we'd say highly likely to be delayed - for PS2, Xbox and GameCube.

Adam Doree
Director, Kikizo.com