Timeshift - a unique game

by Nick Haywood on 31 January 2006, 10:50

Tags: TimeShift, Atari (EPA:ATA), Vivendi Universal Interactive (NYSE:VIV), PC, Xbox 360, FPS

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qaeld

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Weapons



One of the coolest things about first person shooters is the weapons. We have, in my opinion, one of the most talented game weapon designers in the world – a brilliant fella named Anton Lomakin. Of course I am biased, but when you see our weapons in the game I think you will agree. One of the advantages of creating a universe from scratch is that we can be as creative as we want in our weapon design. We do not have to model realistic guns or worry about sticking to convention. Thanks to this, we were able to develop weapons that interact in cool and novel ways with the time powers. I will mention a few of these weapons below.

Swarm Grenade: This is a special "grenade" that is actually an intelligent weapon. Once released it unfolds wings and searches out the enemy. When it locates the enemy it hovers around him and fires. Imagine that multiple Swarm Grenades have been released and are surrounding you. Your only defense is to slow or stop time and take out as many as you can. Without time control they would likely lay waste to you very quickly.

Surge Cannon: This is one of the largest and most powerful weapons in the game. It's primary fire works by shooting bolts of electricity that span from the weapon to the target. Imagine that you have been tagged by this weapon and a bolt of electricity is now stuck on you, quickly sapping your health. What could you do? Well you could try to kill the enemy before you die, but your chances of success are minimal. Instead how about stopping time and freezing the electricity in place and seeking cover? What about reversing time to the moment before the enemy targeted you and taking him out?

BloodHound Rocket: The Bloodhound is a guided rocket launcher that works (from the AI's perspective) by allowing the enemy to target you and track you. Imagine that you have been targeted and a rocket is incoming. As you run the opponent guides the rocket to follow you. One direct hit and you are likely a goner. What should you do? Well, let's say you stopped time, the rocket would freeze in the air and you could run and seek cover or shoot it out of the air. What if you slowed time? The enemy would be unable to track you as his movements would be slowed down substantially. By using your time powers you can avoid the rocket and take out the enemy.

Clutch Grenade: Any of you who have played Halo have seen a similar weapon that they call the "sticky grenade". If an opponent throws a grenade and it gets stuck on you in Halo you are pretty much RIP. In TimeShift you have an out – you can reverse time and reverse that grenade right off of you.