Second Sight is the first non-Timesplitters game from Free Radical, a developer founded by members of Rare's Goldeneye team. Where the Timesplitters series feels completely comfortable and predictable to Goldeneye fans, Second Sight branches off significantly, while retaining the overall style that can now be claimed, with great confidence, by Free Radical's craftsmen.

The changes are immediately apparent, as the game opens with an elaborate, atmospheric cut-scene, using some great lighting effects and camera positions in tandem with excellent voice acting. (Click here to download the intro movie.) In these two or three minutes, Second Sight has already established a stronger narrative presence than either of the Timesplitters games ever did. John Vattic wakes up in a hospital with no memory of how he got there or even who he is, but as he encounters increasingly dangerous situations during his escape, his latent psionic powers begin to manifest, each one just exactly fitting his present conundrum. Soon, Vattic begins to experience lengthy (playable) flashbacks which reveal part of his past.

The game is separated into two main styles. In the present, you must use Vattic's psi powers to sneak around enemies, only fighting when absolutely necessary. During the flashbacks, Vattic does not have any psi powers, but due to the military setting, he has access to far greater firepower. Weapons include pistols, machine guns, and sniper rifles. The game is played from a third-person perspective, so the lock-on feature is essential when using firearms. When you draw the gun, you will automatically acquire a target, but you can move the reticle manually and even fine tune your aim with the C-stick, which lets you try for head shots or simply change targets. There is also a first-person view to help with aiming, but you can only look around and lean in this mode; you can't play the whole game in first-person. In that respect and others, Second Sight feels similar to the Metal Gear Solid series (Sons of Liberty and The Twin Snakes). The controls allow for both advanced stealth maneuvers and fancy shooting. Second Sight improves the setup with more camera options, however. In addition to the fixed angle and first-person views, there is also a behind-the-back view that allows for manual camera operation. Skilled players will learn to use all three views to their advantage, switching back and forth with the Z trigger.

Of course, the game's biggest draw is Vattic's psionic powers, which can be used in a number of creative ways to help him sneak around. Telekinesis can activate switches from afar and move objects (even people). Healing is self-explanatory and invaluable. Psi blast is a powerful attack which can be useful if you're out of ammo. Charm makes Vattic invisible to enemies (but not security cameras). Projection lets Vattic send out an invisible, invincible psychic image, which can activate certain machines and pass through laser barriers and other obstacles. As the game progresses, Vattic discovers even more abilities, and some of his older ones will become more powerful. Use of these powers is governed by a meter under the lifebar, which refills rather quickly, so you are encouraged to make liberal use of Vattic's psychic faculties. However, if Vattic is spotted while sneaking around, his shock will empty the psychic meter and force him to escape and hide (or, in some cases, stand and fight) the old fashioned way.

Second Sight's open ended gameplay gives you multiple tools in order to complete each area, and there are usually multiple routes to the goal as well. With sharp graphics and a strong emphasis on story, the mix of stealth and shooting should appeal to both MGS/Splinter Cell fans and Free Radical devotees who can't wait for Timesplitters: Future Perfect.