By Anthony Swinnich on December 11th, 2007

Timeshift tries to differentiate its solid but otherwise average first person shooting by bending the fourth dimension. Players can alter the flow of time through the use of a Prince of Persia style functionality, which would have been a nifty feature if the game didn’t constantly tell you what you need to do to progress. For instance, there’s a section where a pool of water is electrified by a power-line; if you jump in, or try to wade across you die. As you come up to the edge of the water, text flashes across the screen telling the player to freeze time and walk on water. The player isn’t given the chance to experiment with the time powers, which is a shame, as it could have created some memorable "Eureka!" moments.

The use of the time powers is suggested throughout the rest of the game in a more subtle way. The game automatically maps what it thinks you should be using to the left bumper. While you can hold the bumper to choose an ability on your own the game has a good sense of knowing what you should be using. This takes the fun out of having powers to select in the first place. Besides, firefights usually degenerate into the same formula: slow time, kill enemies, and move on. Not exactly the most engaging recipe, especially when the enemy AI isn’t particularly formidable. There are nice little touches, however, that help keep things mildly interesting on a purely visceral level. If you freeze time, and grab an enemy’s weapon, they’re comically amazed to find themselves empty handed when time starts back up. Bashing an enemy when time is slowed also creates some impressive deaths. There are few things as amusing as sending a soldier flying 10 feet into the air with a blow to the head.

The puzzles are all mostly obvious, requiring the bare minimum of thought in order to pass them. How will you ever get by the spinning fans in the ventilation shafts? Why, freeze time! Again, the game tells you what power to use anyways, so just turn that beautiful brain off. Multiplayer makes use of the time abilities through "bubbles." If a player uses an ability, time is affected in that way inside a bubble. It can be fun for a little bit, but it’s nothing revolutionary.

Ultimately, Timeshift offers brainless fun instead of fulfilling its true potential as an innovative shooter that encourages creative thinking through a unique set of abilities. It’s not enough for a spot on the main stage, but those looking for something small to tide them over or show off their HD television won’t be disappointed.