Metacritic Games

TimeSplitters: Future Perfect (Xbox)

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 allows gamers to battle in 16-player death match online on the PlayStation(R)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, an improved physics engine, smarter enemy AI, and much more. [Electronic Arts]

Electronic Arts
First-Person Shooter, Action
Players: 16
M (Mature)
Developer: Free Radical Design
Released March 21, 2005

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

83 / 100

Critic Reviews

100 Four Fat Chicks
It's safe to say this game has more monkeys than any game other than Ape Escape. These aren't just any monkeys, either. There are zombie monkeys, robot monkeys, mutant monkeys, lab monkeys, disco monkeys, ninja monkeys and plain old throw-feces-at-you monkeys. If you love monkeys, this game is for you.
98 Game Chronicles
But with charming characters, fun scripted events, and the chance to play with past and future versions of yourself, you can’t help but have a great time with TimeSplitters: Future Perfect.
95 Next Level Gaming
I’m not going to sit here and tell you that Future Perfect is the best FPS ever. But I will tell you that if you give me a choice between this game and any other FPS (including either "Halo" game), I’ll choose to play Time Splitters.
91 Xbox Solution
There are so many unlockable characters, challenges, different difficulty setting, multi player modes, potential downloadable content, as well as downloadable user made maps, it would be hard to say there is little in way of replay value.
91 Gaming Age
It’s not perfect, but it’s pretty freaking fun!
91 DailyGame
The gameplay may be simplistic, but the multiplayer, challenge modes and mapmaking more than make up for it.
90 Total Video Games
It may not be the most original game in the world, but the fact that it offers a level of fun that is certainly unparalleled in the genre more than makes up for that.
90 Thunderbolt
Its Story mode is distinctly improved, brought together by a plot which is well acted out and never ceases to amuse. The Arcade component returns with more refinements and online play, cleverly engineered to reduce undue frustration.
90 Yahoo! Games
Every aspect of the game feels polished and ready to go, whether it's the single-player story, the online multiplayer, the numerous unlockables, or the custom mapmaker. This is one of those rare Jack-of-all-trades that has actually mastered them all.
90 Game Informer
Whether you are striving for higher ranks or want to dazzle people with a map that you created and uploaded, TimeSplitters' online presence is unprecedented and simply irresistible. [Apr 2005, p.114]
90 IGN
On the one hand, it’s a flat, uninspired single-player campaign, with vehicles and base-level NPC co-op play holding it up with shoes strings. While on the other hand, the multiplayer game is substantial, creative, and wildly fun.
90 Gamers' Temple
Sometimes it’s good to play a game that succeeds so well in the entertainment category while remaining light and humorous and this is one of those times.
90 GameBiz
Future Perfect has its highs and its mediums, but no lows.
88 Talk Xbox
If there was a game to dethrone Halo 2 as multiplayer king, it’d be TimeSplitters: Future Perfect. This game’s multiplayer is just incredibly fun, offering tons of variation as well as multiplayer bots to fit whatever your heart desires.
88 Gaming Illustrated
It is ALL about multiplayer gaming - which is a fantastically supported feature.
88 TeamXbox
150 playable characters, an absolutely nuts map editor, eleven online multiplayer types, a Challenge and Arcade mode; the list goes on for this refreshing spin on the borderline ho-hum first-person shooter genre.
87 Gamer's Hell
The humor may not be profoundly deep, but the wit is delivered well and you’d be hard pressed to find a character that sounds as though he’s reading a script.
87 GameZone
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.
87 eToychest
What it does do is take the simple, tactile pleasure of solidly built FPS action and inject it into such a staggeringly wide variety of situations, contexts and scenarios that putting down the pad after a heavy blasting session is genuinely difficult.
86 Inside Gamer Online
With the immense amount of toying and tinkering you can do in this entry of the TimeSplitters series, you will be hard-pressed to become bored quickly.
85 Jolt Online Gaming UK
TimeSplitters: Future Perfect is far from a revolution. It’s a step-up from TimeSplitters 2, but nowhere near as big a one as we’d hoped for.
84 XboxAddict
The bottom line is that TimeSplitters: Future Perfect is not in the class of elite first person shooters, but would easily be at the forefront of the second tier.
84 TotalGames.net
The story mode is too short but the challenges and multiplayer options make up for it. Although it's not a massive improvement over TimeSplitters 2, it is definitely just as good in terms of pure entertainment.
83 BonusStage
Free Radical still offers up a fantastic experience that will make you laugh, cry, laugh some more, and feel like a kooky bad ass from the future.
82 Game Over Online
Honestly, as far as FPS games go, it really doesn't get too much better than this.
82 Electronic Gaming Monthly
What clever things Future Perfect does within its trek-across-the-time-continuum framework... It works in the only way it can: with a whole lot of humor. [April 2005, p.115]
81 GameSpot
Makes for good, meaningless fun.
81 Kombo
Cries to be played by fans of the series and fans of "GoldenEye."
80 1UP
FPS snobs often talk smack about the TimeSplitters franchise for lacking sophistication and for being a bit silly, but the key to its success has always been that it puts fun ahead of any pretension. If that's what you value most, you could do far worse.
80 Computer and Video Games
With a potentially unlimited number of user-designed maps that can be shared over Xbox Live and even user-generated stories with scripted AI events, this game has the longevity of Rasputin and should spawn one of the liveliest online communities yet. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]
80 AceGamez
When it works, TimeSplitters: Future Perfectis a highly enjoyable and addictive title. The times when we were able to get good online games going without any problems were absolutely fantastic, a real reminder of great blazing fast arcade shooters from years past like Quake and the classic "Unreal."
80 AltGaming
While the game will not appeal to fans of more serious, focused shooters, and the Story is still not quite up to scratch, this game is still highly recommended thanks to some excellent humour and the top-class multiplayer.
80 Eurogamer
It's so rich with options that it can seem overwhelming, and although there's clear fodder there's also consistency and thoughtfulness in a lot of areas.
80 Edge Magazine
As forgettable as the story mode is, this is a game that should be judged by the pleasure it can bring to a room full of gamers eager for furious arena combat and a splendid variety of team games. And judged by those criteria, it has few peers. [Apr 2005, p.94]
80 GameShark
But what really blew me away was the inclusion of a cool and intuitive (if limited) map editor and the online facilities for players to trade their works of art amongst one-another easily and efficiently.
80 Gamer.tv
It's certainly refreshing to have a game that's long and tough, but doesn't forget that carnage needs to be entertaining before it's inspiring.
80 MS Xbox World
If you are looking for a wide variety of single and multiplayer game types then I would say that this game is well worth a look.
80 GameSpy
Unadulterated run-'n-gun goodness. Future Perfect is packed with so many features that even the most jaded FPS fans will find something they like on offer; decimating everything or hosting a multiplayer kill-a-thon, this game can accommodate all comers.
80 Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
Terrific multiplayer games and an engrossing set of challenges and Arcade leagues, but the Story mode still isn't offering what it should. [Xbox World]
80 GamerFeed
If only it had done something to keep the story mode a little longer, then it would truly be perfect.
80 Play Magazine
What this game contains that is totally removed from everything else out there is a quirky, infectious, humorous character, one that seems to deeply reflect the personality of its makers. When you play it, you really sense a stamp of originality and zany flavor in its presentation and structure. [March 2005, p.48]
80 games(TM)
Almost exactly what we wanted it to be. Story mode and single-player antics are diverting enough but the game excels in multiplayer, offering fast-paced thrills that only the highlights of the "Unreal" series can really contest. [March 2005, p.122]
80 Times Online
The mechanics are competent, but it is the characterisations, especially the wooden delivery of some lines, that let the game down. On the plus side, the ample options include a story mode, multiplayer clash modes and a mission designer to open up replay values.
80 GamePro
Packed with a bevy of features, TimeSplitters Future Perfect is a cornucopia of candy-coated goodness for any FPS fan. If you start now, you just might be able to unlock everything by the time "Halo 3" ships to stores.
80 WHAM! Gaming
It's a simple, fun first-person shooter, which is what gamers look for most in this series. Rest assured that's exactly what gamers will get. Nothing more, nothing less.
80 Gaming Nexus
Had Future Perfect been released this two or three years ago it would have been considered a masterpiece, but in 2005 TimeSplitters just feels out of touch.
80 PALGN
You'll be hard pressed to find a game that offers as much long term playability as this one.
80 Pelit (Finland)
An intensive 3D shooter with a twist or two. The plot does not make much sense, but it is entertaining. [Mar. 05]
79 Official Xbox Magazine
The graphics aren't the greatest, the core gameplay doesn't deliver great innovation, but there are so many game types, mini games, and little pieces to play with that it doesn't seem to matter. You'll have fun, whether you intended to or not. [Apr 2005, p.86]
78 My Gamer
Future Perfect has ‘it’ where it counts: great characters, a funny story, and incredibly varied environments.
75 Game Revolution
Vets, however, might find it hard to overlook the lacking A.I., inability to jump and brief Story. The future looks good, but far from perfect.
70 Gamestyle
It's just a shame that the online service is so 'imperfect' - because the game could have easily scored an extra point (or two) had it worked properly.
70 Stuff
Much of the run-and-gun action is marvelously good but whenever we were just starting to get comfortable with a level or a particular set of weapons, the game was already zipping us off to someplace new.
60 G4 TV
Lacks some of the technological prowess of other shooters, but its personality and extras keep its head above water.

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