Game play
The single player game is quite linear, with say a wall being blown out by a giant mech, or a helicopter crashing into a gate allowing you to move onto the next area. In TimeShifts defense, most fps games are linear, don't expect this game to be like Oblivion. Its hard to get lost with your next objective always being viewable via the radar.

The combat is where the time bending element of the game really shines. Pausing time and pulling the weapons out of your enemies hands so they go "Where'd my gun go".  It's not just for amusement though, there is no way you could clear some of the levels without using it. Often you need to slow time as completely pausing it eats up your power and therefore does not last as long.  Later on in the game you start to fight enemies that have time bending powers themselves. You can use one of your abilities to counter theirs to an extent.

 The puzzle areas are sometimes complicated, for the most part they are fun and you feel quite accomplished overcoming them. The puzzles range from rewinding a train backwards through a tunnel, getting past security cameras without them seeing you, dodging moving lasers that slice you, walking on water, just to name a few.

There is some music here and there a mix between guitar and techno. The actual environmental sound effects are of a good quality and make the experience feel much more realistic. There is Krone yelling at people over microphones as well as natural environmental sounds such as the thunderstorms in the city or blasts of wind up on the high mountain peaks.

Graphics
TimeShift does not feel quite as polished as the unreal 3 engine but it's pretty close. The effects when your bending time are astonishing and the rewinding of time, that plays everything backwards exactly, you can watch an enemies guts go flying back together and the rocket come out of his stomach. There is quite a bit of a gore factor which is what earns the games MA15+ rating. Blood does splatters, peoples body parts do go flying off  and they are identifiable, they're not just chunks. In terms of scenery there is the alternative 1940's city, snowy mountains and grassy plains. You're not stuck looking at the same thing for the entire game.

Multiplayer
The multiplayer offering is decent. Basically you're time bending abilities are directly translated into chronos grenades. Creating an area of effect bubble of whatever time effect you select.  There are 14 multi player levels with many Unreal Tournament style mutators, allowing you to customize the multiplayer experience. In terms of size I'd say the levels are around the same as Halo 3.

Conclusion
A heavily tactical shooter, with a very rare game play element. The storyline is decent. It's not quite a Half Life 2 or Halo 3, but it's damn near close. The graphics are great, the multi player offers future replayability. This game is definitely worth a place on everyone’s shelves, let's just hope it does not get overshadowed by the other super hyped games coming out in November.