Gaming franchises are a wonderful thing and it is something every developer strives to create. Once developers find a successful formula, all they have to do is keep adding new features to it, improve graphics, and fix anything wrong that the consumers weren’t too happy with in the last version. TimeSplitters has become such a game for the developers over at Free Radical. The third game in the series has hit the Xbox and it is better than the previous game and even adds Xbox Live support. Read on to find out more about this great first-person-shooter game.

The main story mode of TimeSplitters: Future Perfect will have players take on the identity of Sergeant Cortez, who is the best of the best in the military. There is no mission too small or large that he won’t take on and come up victorious. The mission that he has been assigned is to prevent the war that the vicious TimeSplitters started, because humanity is on the brink of destruction. Are you up to the arduous challenge that lies ahead?

Check out the hairstyle and sun glasses.

In order to prevent this war, Cortez will transverse though many different time periods. In each one he will have some form of backup to help him through each of the missions. Some of these backup characters are hilarious, such as the Bond-type character from the 1969 and the punk rock girl in 1994. What makes each of the missions such as blast is that you will be seeing “future” and “past” Cortezes, and this make the game a trip to play. You will have to provide cover for you “future” self in some missions such as watching him take out a helicopter, and in another you will have to hand a key to your “past” self so you can get though a door later on in the mission. All of these encounters are really funny and add character to the game.

Even though TimeSplitters: Future Perfect has a very interesting story mode, the main focus of this game is multiplayer. This game’s whole life is about multiplayer, and gamers will be able to tell this from the minute that they load up the game for the first time. The variety of modes that this game offers is staggering, because there are so many different game types that players will be able to take part in.

The most interesting mode is vampire, in which you must kill other players in order to stay alive, because your health is constantly draining. Another game mode is assault, which is where your team defends the base while the enemy tries to take it over, and then vice versa. Another interesting mode is racing a robot cat in a race track; as interesting as this seems it is also very funny and a nice diversion from the other portions of the game.

Robots gone wild.

One thing I want to know is where is my jump button? For the past few years, the jump button has become, in my opinion, a very crucial part of a game of this nature. Having a jump button really helps flesh out the game and is something that helps you dodge enemy fire. Playing a first-person shooter today without a jump button gets very frustrating because you are thinking the whole time “I so could have dodged that shot and taken them out if only I had that option available.”

You will have to give plenty of “props” to the developers for creating a first-person shooter that has a wide variety of weapons to choose from throughout the course of a game. There are times when you will be able to use pistols, machine guns, rifles, and even flame throwers. Besides all of the fire power, players have the option of using blunt weapons as well as explosives. The possibilities are endless. Not only that but you will find some other interesting weapons that you might find to your liking.

If you are a fan of getting many different unlockable items while you are playing through a game, then TimeSplitters: Future Perfect is what you have been craving. After you complete any level on story mode, you are bound to unlock someone or something for all of the game’s different modes. It is always a good thing when the developers put in more incentives for gamers to play through the game to get additional rewards, even it if is another character to play with in multiplayer games.

The joys of portal jumping...

The graphics for TimeSplitters: Future Perfect are really good. The best part about this game is that the framerate stays at a steady 60 fps, which is very crucial in games like this, especially in multiplayer when things can get really hectic. The level designs are great and really have the feeling that you are in that certain time period. Character models will match this as well. For instance, in the 1969 mission the supporting character and enemies will be decked out in garments that the particular era was known for.

The music for this game fits its wacky structure as well. Each of the time periods has music that fits really well with that level. The sound effects contain the usual explosions and gunfire that you will expect from a game of this nature. What I really liked is the voice acting in this game. All of the different supporting characters for the story levels' voice acting really fit the time period that they are in.

One last feature that many people praise this series for is its map builder. TimeSplitters: Future Perfect's map maker is back and better than ever. The tools that players have at their fingertips will allow them to create a truly great fighting background. Not only that but once you have completed a map you can upload yours and even downloaded other gamer's maps. This greatly increases the replayability of this game, because the possibilities are endless for you to do battle in.

TimeSplitters: Future Perfect is rated M for Mature.

Gameplay: 8.9
If you are a first-person-shooter fan then you will love this game, because of the sheer variety of modes it provides. TimeSplitters: Future Perfect offers a game mode that will surely please you, as it even includes a co-op mode. Only question I want to know the answer for is why is there no jump button?

Graphics: 8.6
You have to love TimeSplitters: Future Perfect just because it stays at a steady 60 fps while you are playing. This is a very critical thing for games of this nature. All of the environments and character models are very well detailed.

Sound: 8.5
The voice acting for this game is really well done, unlike many other games of this nature. The music fits for each era that you will go through as well. Sound effects such as gunfire and explosions are properly recreated as well.

Difficulty: Medium
This game is not all that difficult, but it all depends on your skill level. You can adjust it to better suit your personal needs.

Concept: 8.4
The concept for TimeSplitters: Future Perfect is not as great as it once was, since it has been done twice already, and there isn’t that many things that are new.

Multiplayer: 9.1
Since day one this has been a great multiplayer game. Now the developers over at Free Radical sweetened the pot by adding in splendid modes that can be played on or offline and even a co-op mode. This is a great game for you and your friends to play. Playing online was really great, because I rarely ran into any lag.

Overall 8.7
TimeSplitters: Future Perfect is a really good first-person-shooter game that should be in your gaming library. This game will take you through different time periods, many different game modes, and even online play; which makes it a first-person player's dream. If you are a fan of first-person-shooter games then I highly suggest picking this up.