Burton's Bytes: Do it in a group - it's so much more fun

TIMESPLITTERS was the first truly next generation game that showed us all what the PS2 was really capable of.

With a couple of years' experience beneath their belt, Free Radical Design (the genius team who had a big hand in Goldeneye for the N64) have come up with a sequel that improves on its predecessor in every conceivable way.

The biggest problem with the first game was the single player mode which felt as though it had been tagged on at the last minute. Timesplitters was a sublime experience if played with a mate but merely an enjoyable one if played alone.

This game offers a more immersive story mode (there's a cast of 100 different characters and nine time periods to explore) and better artificial intelligence to really test your reflexes.

The Timesplitters of the title are malevolent aliens who have discovered the secret of time travel and are bent on altering earth's history in order to subjugate the human race. It's your job to plunge into the space/time vortex and follow them through history to put a stop to their plans.

The way to do this is to capture the nine cystals that together give them their evil power. And to shoot any of the ugly looking critters whenever they appear (which is often).

Yes it's our old friend, the first person perspective shoot 'em up, only done with such style and panache that you can forgive the fact that it's all been done before.

So the single player campaign is fine this time around - what about the multiplayer fun? Free Radical has really pushed the boat out in this respect.

If you know enough well-heeled mates get them round to your house - armed with their PS2 console - for a Friday night of Timesplitter mayhem. Up to eight consoles can be daisy chained together which allows for 16 people to take part at once.

Of course with that amount of PS2 power the lights will probably dim in the street when you all switch on and the wind blast from the CPU fans will surely drown out all but the best TV surround sound systems.

Just sit back and bask in the knowledge that Timesplitters 2 offers the best multi-player hijinks this side of a genuine broadband connection.

Game choices include deathmatch, assault, last man standing and monkey assistant (buy the game then you'll know what I mean). Each level can also be customised so no two games need ever be the same.

Finally, Eidos has thrown in a map-maker so the more techically minded can create their own worlds and story levels giving Timesplitters 2 an infinite lifespan.

KING OF THE ROAD. Publisher: JoWood Productions. Format: PC. Price: £19.99.

Sega got to the market first in the race to complete a game that places the play in the role of a trucker. But 18-Wheeler on Dreamcast and PS2 never gave you a consignment of Kalashnikov rifles or C4 explosive to deliver. It's a racing game with a difference and a sense of humour. As you drive across country to your delivery point the clock ticks down forcing you to make crucial decisions such as whether to risk jumping a red light or streak past a speed camera. This may get you to the next stop on time - and ahead of the equally ruthless competition - but it also attracts the attention of the local police.

If your super truck is packed with unstable explosives the last thing you want is a policeman poking his nose into your cab - or anywhere else.

If you complete a mission you get paid money which enables you to buy in extra driving expertise. Soon you will have a roster of drivers at your disposal.

You can also update your rig with some, ahh, "unusual" options such as bullet proof glass and a police radar detector.

All the trucks are accurately modeled on real life counterparts and there are more than 150km of roads to race - plus a further 50km of short cuts and blind alleys.

King of the Road is a fun game. It feels similar to EA's Need For Speed series, albeit one where you swap a Ferrari for a Volvo 18-wheeler, and, provided you don't take it too seriously, the keen price makes it a good buy.