Proof that if you're developing a game that could be described as a Half-Life 2 imitator, adding bullet time is probably one of the best things you could do to distinguish it—sending ragdolls flying in slow motion never gets old. That TimeShift nails this simple pleasure compensates for a lot of its weaknesses, including some annoying trial-and-error puzzle sequences and inconsistent level design (for every interesting arena, there are a dozen bland corridors). The story is also a complete write-off, told largely through sporadic flashbacks that feel reminiscent of Kill.Switch's fractured narrative. At least the explosive crossbow is great fun.

Needless to say, Half-Life 2 and Singularity provide similar experiences with a lot fewer rough edges, but if you've finished both those games and are looking for more, this is an interesting lower-budget alternative.