Former employees of the now-defunct Free Radical Design have recently made a bittersweet gift to TimeSplitters fans. Concept art from the assumedly cancelled TimeSplitters reboot has been unveiled online, offering a tantalizing glimpse into what could have been. This collection of artwork not only provides the first and potentially final look at the game, but also sparks a plethora of imagination and regret for fans around the world.
The released concept art, scattered across various platforms like ArtStation, social media, and the Free Radical wiki, showcases different stages and environments envisioned for the game. As we weave through these images, we are met with a diverse range of visual stimuli. Striking rock formations, towering brick architecture, water tankers, and ladders beckon us into a world that will forever remain unrealized. Each glimpse at these unfinished landscapes leaves us yearning for more, knowing that what we see may be all we ever get.
Brutalism and the Wild West
One of the most captivating stages revealed in the concept artwork is aptly named the “Brutalist Level.” Its design features a road carved through a mountain or mine, adorned with edgy brick structures that evoke a sense of both mystery and danger. Moving beyond the main cavern, we are greeted by an outer landscape of ice floes and prison-like structures, offering a peek into the depth and complexity of the envisioned world.
Another enticing level, appropriately titled “Western,” delivers an immersive Wild West experience. A saloon nestled amidst a dusty plain, Western-themed buildings, and hay bales scattered for cover entice players to embrace the TimeSplitters-style of first-person shooter shenanigans. The level’s intricate design reveals an abundance of hiding spots, perfect for stealthy maneuvers and strategic gameplay.
Among the treasure trove of unreleased concept art, we find intriguing glimpses of what might have been the TimeSplitter reboot’s cast of characters. An alien Reaper enemy with elongated claw limbs emerges as a formidable presence, ready to challenge players’ skills and ingenuity. Basic character designs include a Tank Girl-like hero sporting an uncomfortable-looking thong and other characters donning makeshift garbage armor. However, it is Alfred Turner, one of the game’s concept artists, who steals the show with an array of captivating characters. From a little girl in a red pinafore to a morally ambiguous nun, a clown to a ringmaster with massive thighs, each character design unveils a distinct personality, leaving us yearning to see them come alive on our screens.
Lamenting the Lost Legacy
With Free Radical Design’s closure and the cancellation of the TimeSplitters reboot, this stunning collection of concept art serves as a bittersweet reminder of what could have been. As we delve into the intricate details and imaginative visions, we can’t help but ponder the lost potential and brilliance that may never come to fruition. These rendered images, now forever embedded in the depths of the internet, become cherished artefacts of a game that was never brought to life.
In the end, we are left with nothing but possibility and the yearning to step into the beautifully crafted world that was but a dream. The TimeSplitters reboot may forever remain a lost masterpiece, forever preserved in the minds of fans, both tantalizing and haunting.
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