Of all the video game fanbases out there, the dedicated TimeSplitters supporters rank among the most tortured. With only three main games in the series, the classic first-person shooter franchise from the 2000s has many ups and downs. The series never fully disappeared from the hearts of fans, even after the fourth game was caught in development limbo for years before getting canned. That is until just a few days ago when it was announced the newly reformed Free Radical Design, the original studio geniuses behind the games, will soon begin working on the long-awaited next entry in the series.
The series is renowned for its hilarious comedy, addicting party-style multiplayer, and a memorable story involving jumping around different time periods to stop an evil alien race from destroying mankind. TimeSplitters fans rejoice, this is the moment everyone has been waiting for.
10 First-Person Shooters Are In Free Radical Design's DNA
Free Radical Design was established in 1999, formed mostly of employees from the team that designed the GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark games for Rare. The similarities between these classic N64 shooters and the original TimeSplitters games are noticeable, with shared ideas on split screen gameplay and wildly fun multiplayer madness. After three great TimeSplitters games, the company was bought by Crytek, the developers of the original Far Cry and the Crysis series, and the team has been shuffled around ever since. Free Radical Design has now reformed as a subsidiary of Deep Silver.
9 The First TimeSplitters Was A PlayStation 2 Launch Title
Launch titles are a huge factor in drawing potential players to a specific console and exclusives are a big attraction for players choosing a particular console. The first TimeSplitters game was released in 2000 as one of the first games for the PlayStation 2, and helped establish the console as a leader earlier on. The game was an immense success, noted for its split screen multiplayer and vibrant level design. Many gameplay features, characters, and weapons would continue to make appearances in the subsequent games.
8 There Was Almost A Game Boy Advance Game
It might be hard to visualize now but there was a TimeSplitters Advance planned for release. Very little is known about the game, but it was allegedly developed for a release alongside TimeSplitters 2 and was almost, if not entirely, completed.
The reasons for it never being released are still a mystery, but Game Boy Advance fans are still hopeful it may one day see the light of day.
7 The Series Loves To Reuse Characters And Levels
One of the most memorable aspects of the franchise is its emphasis on recurring characters and multiplayer maps. Some of the most beloved and wacky personalities in the series have appeared in all three games, including the adventurous Captain Ash, the groovy secret agent Harry Tipper, and the renegade Chastity Detroit. The whimsical monkey is also a recurring character, often included in side missions as a mascot of sorts. Several beloved maps have made several appearances in the games, including the iconic Chinese restaurant level that every TimeSplitters fan knows like the back of their hand.
6 The Main Protagonist Wasn't Introduced Until The Second Game
In the first game, the playable characters in the story are all different, entirely based in whatever level and time period the level takes place in. The second game finally introduced Sergeant Cortez, the space marine protagonist of the games. It wasn't until the third game, TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, that the memorable Cortez gained more of a personality and sense of humor, joining the ranks of the other humorous heroes of the series.
5 The Games Were Filled With Pop Culture References
Another strong point of the series is its love of pop culture references. From James Bond to The Shining, the series is all across the board in terms of winks and nods to other media. There was even a character named Robot Louis Stevenson, just to paint a picture of what kind of jokes the developers decided to include. The second game included a few old school arcade games like Snake to spice things up as well.
4 TimeSplitters Even Made A Movie Cameo
The TimeSplitters series itself got to be a pop culture reference in the iconic zombie comedy film, Shaun of the Dead. It's a blink and you'll miss it cameo, but Ed, played by Nick Frost, can clearly be seen playing TimeSplitters 2 in the movie. Video game references in movies can be tiresome, but this one is a great subtle gesture for fans of the game.
3 The Music Was Largely The Work Of One Person
Another memorable feature of the series is the glorious soundtrack that accompanies each game. From killer space techno to creepy ambient noise, the game's music sets the mood for every map and adds something special to the mix.
Graeme Norgate is the genius behind the soundtrack, orchestrating the entire soundtracks of the first two games and collaborating with Christian Marcussen for Future Perfect. Norgate previously composed music for several Rare games as well.
2 There Was Almost An HD Remake
There were talks of remaking the second game with updated graphics, a relatively common occurrence in the world of gaming. Things fell through with the dissolution of Free Radical Design, but the first two levels of TimeSplitters 2 still found their way into HD through an Easter egg in Homefront: The Revolution, where players could explore the levels on an arcade machine.
1 TimeSplitters Fans Are Working On Their Own Game
The announcement that TimeSplitters 4 would not be released hit fans really hard and no amount of lobbying seemed to work to change the game's fate. Thus fans took the series into their own hands. TimeSplitters Rewind is the most far along of the fan-games, meant to be an online multiplayer variation of the game's classic gameplay modes, including all the classic weapons and maps. It's a beautiful labor of love that shows how dedicated the fans of the series are, although there is no official release date from the developers. It is just comforting to know that there are new TimeSplitters games on the horizon.