Let me start off by showing you the cross-section of what makes up Timeshift. I need to alt-tab to reference this chart several times a session, just to remember what game I’m playing.

Imagine Half-Life 2, F.E.A.R. and Prince of Persia all got hammered one night, had a threesome, and out popped baby Timeshift years later out of Sierra’s womb.

A lot of genes combined to make this spawn child. The dominant F.E.A.R. DNA inserted everything from… the game’s engine, to its intense gameplay, all the way to the amount of F.E.A.R.-like weapons you can carry (three). Then throw in the ‘time-shifting’ abilities of Prince of Persia. Finally, Half-Life 2 brought the vigilant dictator, complete with propaganda televisions and loudspeakers. It even has physics puzzles with a time-related twist to them. But one thing was missing: the story chromosome.

This game throws you into action without taking any time to develop the story. Sad, really, because the developer actually was given an extra year to polish the game, and chose to revamp the story. They failed, and here’s why:

Any game that has to explain who the main character is on a loading screen, is doomed to mediocrity. Timeshift spends next to no time developing it’s story from the beginning, and it is a true shame. All I know is I am some guy in a magic time suit fighting for a rebel resistance by killing government bad guys. Oh, and some loading screen told me I like to play badminton in my spare time.

Don’t get me wrong; Timeshift is not a terrible game. It is actually quite fun at points, and the AI is marvelous. If you sit in one place for too long, the AI will flank and chuck grenades at you. And it’s not easy, especially since it takes about eight shots to the head with the submachine gun to kill an enemy. Then the game will rush about 15 guys at once, and the time powers (as well as the quick save key) become indispensable.

So please, do go buy/rent/steal this freak three-fathered child. Haven’t you always wanted to stop time, steal a bad guy’s gun, and shoot him with it? That gimmick never gets old! Never!

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