Phoenix Games reviews TimeShift

Back when "bullet time" was just a cool idea in "The Matrix," the original "Max Payne" came along and implemented it perfectly into a solid, last-generation shooter. Since then we’ve played through a variety of time-altering games with mixed results (Blinx anyone?).

"TimeShift," a good game on the brink of being forgotten after its release into a flooded FPS market, gets it right. For a somewhat simple shooter, "TimeShift" takes one gameplay gimmick and hammers it home. The time manipulation works flawlessly and adds just enough variety to make this game a standout despite its high-profile competition from games such as "Halo 3" and "Call of Duty 4."

"TimeShift" allows you to slow down, reverse and stop time briefly enough to gain a variety of advantages on the battlefield and in the game’s many problem-solving elements. Some of these benefits are obvious: Stopping time allows you to walk up to an enemy and take his weapon. Start time again and he’ll be standing there, defenseless. This may take the sport out of the inevitable kill that follows, but it never gets old. Another trick that runs the risk of being too easy after awhile involves stopping or slowing time long enough for you to aim at an enemy with the crossbow and let the exploding bolt find its doomed target. This also rarely gets old and is a blessing when confronted with a swarm of enemies. The game offers you plenty of places to duck and cover so you can pop up and plug your foes one by one.