History VideoGame / TimeSplitters

* ''[=TimeSplitters=] Rewind'': A [[FanRemake fanmade "greatest hits" remake]]. This game aims to capture all the best moments of the trilogy with the benefit of modern technology. The game is planned to initially ship with multiplayer only, although the team hopes to eventually be able to add both the singleplayer and co-op campaigns from the first 2 games.

Development of an official fourth game is quite possibly one of gaming's most tragic tales of DevelopmentHell. After Free Radical Design went belly-up as a result of both an economic recession in the UK and their [[SoOkayItsAverage incredibly adequate]] [=PS3=]-exclusive title ''VideoGame/{{Haze}}'' failing to live up to its hype, they were subsequently bought out by Creator/{{Crytek}} and rebranded as Crytek UK, with development of ''[=TimeSplitters 4=]'' being put on hold. In 2012, it was revealed that there were no plans to resume development of "[=TimeSplitters 4=]", and after Crytek UK's closure in 2014, the franchise was all but confirmed to be left in dormancy. However, the announcement in August 2018 that Creator/THQNordic bought the IP ignited some hope for the series getting revived, and in May 2021, Deep Silver [[HopeSpot announced that they were resurrecting Free Radical Design and brought back two of Free Radical Design's founders, David Doak and Steve Ellis to make a new TimeSplitters game.]] Unfortunately, in December 2023, due to restructuring within Embracer Group following a failed $2 billion deal, [[YankTheDogsChain the newly reformed Free Radical was shut down, once again leaving the status of the series up in the air]].

* {{Foreshadowing}}: There's actually subtle hints as to the true nature of the [=TimeSplitters=] (finally revealed in the third game) dating all the way back to the ''plotless first entry.''

* Foreshadowing: A very subtle example that most people don't notice. If you look closely at the models of the Splitters in this game, you will notice that they have more human designs (albeit, mutated zombified-looking humans). [[spoiler:This is a foreshadowing of the twist in ''Future Perfect'' that the Splitters are in fact former humans]].

** The Splitters themselves were also more skeletal/zombie-like in appearance, compared to their more alien-like designs in the later two sequels. They also attacked the player by throwing energy balls, unlike in the sequels, where they fired lightning at the player, and they did not have the ability to turn themselves invisible like they did later on in the franchise.
** Stealth is also virtually non-existent in this game, unlike its sequels, where it was one it as one of its main gameplay features.

If these games cause you to draw comparisons to the heralded Nintendo 64 first-person shooters ''{{VideoGame/GoldenEye|1997}}'' and ''VideoGame/PerfectDark'', then that's expected. When Rare released the latter in mid-2000, much of the core team for both games left the studio: notably directors David Doak and Steven Ellis, artist Karl Hilton, and composer Graeme Norgate. Within a few months of Free Radical Design's founding, ''[=TimeSplitters=]'' was released for the then-brand new UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, its release coinciding with the console's launch in Europe. This game would be followed up by two sequels: The second, releasing with critical and commercial acclaim in 2002, and ''Future Perfect'' in 2005, a game many consider to be the most polished out of the series in terms of mechanics, story, and customization options.

* ''[=TimeSplitters=]'': Exclusive and launch title for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 in Europe (was intended to be a UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube title as well, but Free Radical could not obtain a translated developers kit). [[{{Speedrun}} Short missions]] and lack of story (unless you [[AllThereInTheManual read the manual]]). Loved for its fast-paced action and in-depth multiplayer, but was criticized for long loading times and lack of a plot.

Development of an official fourth game is quite possibly one of gaming's most tragic tales of DevelopmentHell. After Free Radical Design went belly-up as a result of both an economic recession in the UK and their [[SoOkayItsAverage incredibly adequate]] [=PS3=]-exclusive title ''VideoGame/{{Haze}}'' failing to live up to its hype. They were subsequently bought out by Creator/{{Crytek}} and rebranded as Crytek UK, with development of ''[=TimeSplitters 4=]'' being put on hold. In 2012, it was revealed that there were no plans to resume development of [=TimeSplitters 4=], and after Crytek UK's closure in 2014, the franchise was all but confirmed to be left in dormancy. However, the announcement in August 2018 that Creator/THQNordic bought the IP ignited some hope for the series getting revived, and in May 2021, Deep Silver [[HopeSpot announced that they were resurrecting Free Radical Design and brought back two of Free Radical Design's founders, David Doak and Steve Ellis to make a new TimeSplitters game.]] Unfortunately, in December 2023, due to restructuring within Embracer Group following a failed $2 billion deal, [[YankTheDogsChain the newly reformed Free Radical was shut down, once again leaving the status of the series up in the air]].

* ''[=TimeSplitters=] 4'': One of gaming's most tragic tales of DevelopmentHell. The status of this game is unknown after Free Radical Design went belly-up as a result of both the UK's economic recession and their [[SoOkayItsAverage incredibly adequate]] [=PS3=]-exclusive title ''VideoGame/{{Haze}}'' failing to live up to its hype. They were subsequently bought out by Creator/{{Crytek}}. It is not known how the story will unfold or if there will even be one, as ''Future Perfect'' conclusively wrapped up the three-game long saga. [[TheTropeFormerlyKnownAsX The studio formerly known as]] Free Radical has announced it is publisher shopping for a sequel, and if publishers aren't interested in the ''[=TimeSplitters=]'' name we may wind up with a SpiritualSuccessor instead. Crytek has also stated interest in doing a 4th game, making it a matter of "when". However, on September 5, 2011, it was revealed that this installment of the franchise was in indefinite postponement. Fan campaigns have since appeared to convince Crytek to make the game, including one ran by the voice actor for series protagonist Cortez. The announcement in August 2018 that Creator/THQNordic bought the IP ignited some hope for the series getting revived, and in May 2021, Deep Silver [[HopeSpot announced that they were resurrecting Free Radical Design and brought back two of Free Radical Design's founders, David Doak and Steve Ellis to make a new TimeSplitters game.]] Unfortunately, in December 2023, due to restructuring within Embracer Group, [[YankTheDogsChain the newly reformed Free Radical was shut down, once again leaving the fate of the series up in the air]].
* ''[=TimeSplitters=] Rewind'': A fanmade "best of" UpdatedRerelease being developed by a 25-man team with the approval of Crytek UK and Crytek Frankfurt. This game aims to capture all the best moments of the trilogy with the benefit of modern technology (specifically [=CryEngine 3=]). The game is planned to initially ship with multiplayer only, although the team hopes to eventually be able to add both the singleplayer and co-op campaigns from the first 2 games.

* MoodWhiplash: The gothic horror of Notre Dame in 2 is followed by a bright futuristic alien landscape in Return to Planet X. The humorous spy parody of the Harry Tipper levels in Future Perfect are then followed by Jo-Beth Casey's nightmare fuel horror levels.

* ''[=TimeSplitters=] 4'': One of gaming's most tragic tales of DevelopmentHell. The status of this game is unknown after Free Radical Design went belly-up as a result of both the UK's economic recession and their [[SoOkayItsAverage incredibly adequate]] [=PS3=]-exclusive title ''VideoGame/{{Haze}}'' failing to live up to its hype. They were subsequently bought out by Creator/{{Crytek}}. It is not known how the story will unfold or if there will even be one, as ''Future Perfect'' conclusively wrapped up the three-game long saga. [[TheTropeFormerlyKnownAsX The studio formerly known as]] Free Radical has announced it is publisher shopping for a sequel, and if publishers aren't interested in the ''[=TimeSplitters=]'' name we may wind up with a SpiritualSuccessor instead. Crytek has also stated interest in doing a 4th game, making it a matter of "when". However, on September 5, 2011, it was revealed that this installment of the franchise was in indefinite postponement. Fan campaigns have since appeared to convince Crytek to make the game, including one ran by the voice actor for series protagonist Cortez. The announcement in August 2018 that Creator/THQNordic bought the IP ignited some hope for the series getting revived, and in May 2021, Creator/Deep Silver [[HopeSpot announced that they were resurrecting Free Radical Design and brought back two of Free Radical Design's founders, David Doak and Steve Ellis to make a new TimeSplitters game.]] Unfortunately, in December 2023, due to restructuring within Embracer Group, [[YankTheDogsChain the newly reformed Free Radical was shut down, once again leaving the fate of the series up in the air]].

* ''[=TimeSplitters=] 4'': One of gaming's most tragic tales of DevelopmentHell. The status of this game is unknown after Free Radical Design went belly-up as a result of both the UK's economic recession and their [[SoOkayItsAverage incredibly adequate]] [=PS3=]-exclusive title ''VideoGame/{{Haze}}'' failing to live up to its hype. They were subsequently bought out by Creator/{{Crytek}}. It is not known how the story will unfold or if there will even be one, as ''Future Perfect'' conclusively wrapped up the three-game long saga. [[TheTropeFormerlyKnownAsX The studio formerly known as]] Free Radical has announced it is publisher shopping for a sequel, and if publishers aren't interested in the ''[=TimeSplitters=]'' name we may wind up with a SpiritualSuccessor instead. Crytek has also stated interest in doing a 4th game, making it a matter of "when". However, on September 5, 2011, it was revealed that this installment of the franchise was in indefinite postponement. Fan campaigns have since appeared to convince Crytek to make the game, including one ran by the voice actor for series protagonist Cortez. With the announcement on August 15, 2018, that Creator/THQNordic bought the series, the future may yet have hope. In the meantime...

* Untitled ''[=TimeSplitters=]'' game: On May 19th, 2021, Creator/DeepSilver announced that they were resurrecting Free Radical Design and brought back two of Free Radical Design's founders, David Doak and Steve Ellis to make a new ''[=TimeSplitters=]'' game. Development will start later in 2021 as Free Radical Design re-staffs.

* WritersCannotDoMath: The developers have admitted to being sloppy with dates assigned to the levels, which is why they tend to be both inaccurate to [[[[IWantMyJetPack real-world history]] and [[ContinuitySnarl previous games]].

* TheUnfought: Female SWAT does not appear in "Chemical Plant", and Female Soldier does not appear in "Docks".

* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: Aside from the titular "Planet X"-level, it is not said where any of the story missions take place. In two of the levels, "Tomb" and "Cyberden", the locations can be extrapolated from enviromental context as being set in the Valley of Kings in Egypt (The hieroglyphs and mummies are clearly Egyptian, and the architecture is based on the tomb of Ramesses II), and San Francisco (player character Chastity Detroit has "SFPD" written on her uniform), respectively. Going by the description in the sequel that Harry Tipper used to be a New York cop, the "Chinese" level is possibly set in New York. The others levels' locations are unknown.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

[-[[caption-width-right:350:[[ASpaceMarineIsYou A]] [[TimeTravel time travelling,]] monkey-shooting [[ASpaceMarineIsYou Timespace Marine is you]]! ]]-]

-->--'''Sgt. Cortez'''

* AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever: The mid-boss of "Something to Crow About" is a 50-60 foot tall Goliath battle robot. Fortunately, it's not quite a DamageSpongeBoss and can be taken out with a reasonable amount of gunfire (although this is partially because you're equipped with very powerful plasma weapons). There's also Princess, the giant meat monster fought at the end of each of the two haunted mansion levels, who's so big you only ever fight its upper torso.

* AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever: The mid-boss of "Something to Crow About" is a 50-60 foot tall Goliath battle robot. Fortunately, it's not quite a DamageSpongeBoss and can be taken out with a reasonable amount of gunfire. There's also Princess, the giant meat monster fought at the end of each of the two haunted mansion levels, who's so big you only ever fight its upper torso.

* NormalFishInATinyPond: The steam-powered Victorian robots in 1924 are much cruder than the futuristic robots from the Machine Wars, but since you're armed with 1924 weaponry and not plasma blasters, they're actually ''much'' tougher to take down and are some of the hardiest enemies in single player.

** The [=TimeSplitters=] themselves, oddly enough, barely feature in this installment at all - the only [=TimeSplitter=] variety that appears are Berserker Splitters, and while the plot concerns [[spoiler:their creator, Jacob Crow]], the [=TimeSplitters=] are never battled outside of Cortez' native time period of the 2400s. This does have a reasonable in-story reason though [[spoiler: Cortez stole the crystals from their time machine at the end of T2. That is one of the reasons they are attacking the base in the first place.]]

* CompositeCharacter: The Berserker Splitter combines the cloaking and electric strikes from the Reaper Splitter and the brutish builds, large health pools, and voice clips from the Drone Splitter.

** The former usually getting a confused or creeped out reaction, the latter once being shouted so loudly that, despite being shouted in the 22nd century could be heard in the 1960s.