Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #779 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Sierra
• Released on: 2007-11-02
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• ESRB Rating: Adults Only
• Platform: Xbox 360
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .0 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review

It's never obvious what to make of delays in video games. Sometimes it's simply an indication of a problem production that ends up looking out of date before it's even released. Other times though it's simply evidence of ruthless perfection: thankfully TimeShift seems to be the latter. At first glance it seems like any other first person shoot `em-up, with some technically impressive but artistically ordinary visuals. What makes it unique though is the gameplay, with the best use of time travel in a game since Prince of Persia.

The story of the game involves the unlikely named Aiden Krone go back in time and changing history to suit him - kind of like a more evil version of Back to the Future, Part II. However, the time travelling doesn't end there as the special suit you're strapped into to chase after him also allows you to stop, rewind or slow down time whenever you want. Since Krone has got his own version of the same kind of time suit many of the enemies can't even be properly seen under normal conditions because they're moving too fast, but there are more subtle uses for the rewind and stop powers. Slipping past guards or running through a burning building becomes child's play, while stopping time, running up to an enemy to grab his gun and then nipping back to cover to shoot him with it is just one of the game's unique pleasures. Even if Doctor Who wouldn't approve.

Manufacturer's Description
Dr. Aidan Krone has made sure he will be the first human being to make a Timeâ€"Jump across the space-time continuum--a reckless act with frightening implications. As a result the megalomaniacal physicist now resides within an alternate reality that is his to control. A disturbing existence that has evolved into an experimental nightmare.

It is during this alternate reality that you have arrived within the bleak and rain-soaked Alpha District. You are welcomed as the newest member of the Occupant Uprising, the few remaining soldiers that refuse to surrender to the ruthless Krone Magistrate. This outmanned rebel uprising is on the brink of extinction--but that was before your arrival.

Armed with the experimental Beta Suit, a malfunction has given you the ability to SLOW, STOP, and REVERSE the flow of time itself. Only you can perfect this ability to end Krone's madness. Join this battle for survival and lead the uprising to victory.

Customer Reviews

The story is rubbish...but lets face it who cares?
OK, I'm telling you now, the story is crap. You are trying to get this guy, who has another one of these time suit things and while you do it you have to go into various places and shoot lots of bad guys.

However...there are some things which make this game very very good! Firstly, the whole concept of stopping, slowing and reversing time is amazing and (in a sick kinda way) fun. Also, this game is rated 18, and this makes it so much better, because they put tonnes of gore into it - like when you put a grenade on someone, they're limbs, head and rest of their body blow up and scatter around the place.

The creaters have thought very carefully about use of time as well. You can stop time, and walk on water and not fall in. Or you can walk through fire and not get burned, etc. There are great selection of weapons from Assauslt rifles and crossbows to flamethrowers!

I really really wish they had made this game so you could play it in 3rd person view - that would have definately cranked the score to 4/5. The suit looks cool on the advert and game cover, yet you can't see it in the game.

All in all, if you like the idea of stopping time and totally destroying your enemies (and there is nothing they can do about it) then I would get this game. If you're looking for a game with a fantastic storyline and challenging enemies who can anticipate your every move, this is not the game for you really

Good game, shame about the ending
Well, i am more of a casual gamer, but i have GOW and Halo 3 to compare this to. As previously stated in another review, this would have worked far better seen in the third person perspective, whats the point of having an ultra cool suit, but never being able to see it to appreciate it??
That said, i found it to be a pretty good game, with the time altering aspects rescuing it form mediocrity, i mean, freezing time, shooting three of four guards in the head unfreezing it and just watch them drop to the floor NEVER gets old!
However, having completed it, i was left totally dumbfounded at the ending. Throughout the game there were some rather tricky bits to negotiate, that required a bit of thought, but the ending!!! All the way through the game, that HUGE sentinel kept appearing and i kept thinking, i'm going to have to get on that and fight my way through it, WRONG!!
Shoot three plasma cannons on top of it, slightly tricky, walk through a room, shoot the bottom cannon, game finished!! Completely lets the whole game down as far as i'm concerned.

One unique gameplay aspect wrapped around a derivative FPS
If you've played through "The Orange Box" and "Halo 3" and are looking for more original FPS fodder, look away now. Almost all of the solo campaign play is reminiscent of HalfLife2 with dabs of the Halo trilogy added to mix it up a little. It's as if a committee of businessmen asked "what's gone down well lately then?" and set about steeling other developers ideas. And given how long this game has been in production, that probably did happen at some stage.

So why am I still playing it then? Because, even though this game is a loveless void of facsimile with fairly dated game-play, YOU CAN BEND SPACE-TIME.

After a while, you realize that the only weapon you would really need is a big spanner, because once you've paused time, run around a soldier and then happy-slapped him from behind, what's the need to have elaborate high-tech weaponry? Ok, there are those semi-scary time-bending supersoldiers to deal with from time to time, but since they are expecting to win, pinning them with explosive crossbow bolts is amazingly satisfying. I laughed once when I picked up a tossed grenade, reversed time to prevent the thing going off and then deposited between one of these supersoldiers' legs. He actually said "huh? impossible..." before going up his own posterior. Classic.

So there you have it. If you are a Valve or Bungie zealot, stay well away. If, on the other hand, you can get over the obvious influences (ahem) of this title, and especially the "circa 2004 feel", you might just have a good giggle with this one.

Oh, I should mention that there are some clever puzzle solving aspects to this game that are impossible to complete unless you utilize your time-space bending powers, so it's not all slow motion slaughter.

Frankly though, I think this game would have worked much better as a third-person shooter ala "Gears of War". Maybe next time, eh lads?