TimeShift

TimeShift sat on my wishlist over many sales as Activision did not feel like giving the 10 years old game a discount that would satisfy me. Why I wanted the game in the first place is because it appeared to be like Singularity -- a reasonably entertaining first person shooter with time travel. Unfortunately that was too much to expect from TimeShift.

Generic shooter

The game's story is half-assed at best. A group of scientist has created a suit that allows time travel. One of the scientists decides to go rogue and uses the suit to take over the world in the past with his advanced knowledge and technology. The nameless and mute protagonist gets to go after him.

You fight through levels that lack any kind of secrets, without any kind of skill or gun progression system, to finally reach the distant antagonist. Sometimes there are small puzzles similarly to Singularity that require your suit's abilities.

With time manipulation

You can slow, stop, and rewind time. In addition to being needed in puzzles, the first two modes have combat applications as well. It is quite like F.E.A.R. actually but sadly the gunplay does not feel nearly as rewarding. The assault rifle is also simply inefficient even against the standard enemies.

At least the other weapons kill stuff. My favorite one was the crossbow that shoots exploding arrows due to its accuracy. The shotgun is lethal too, especially close up -- and in enemy hands as well.

I found TimeShift surprisingly challenging on medium difficulty. There were many spots I had to retry multiple times. Stopping time when your health is below some threshold will make it regenerate fast but since the suit's power recharges so slowly, you will often find there is nothing you can do. It is good the game has quicksaving.

There is also an FOV slider, which I did not expect at all from a game this uninspired. I guess I did not expect the lack of sprinting either. With movement being so slow, it was quite the slog to get through TimeShift.