Time Rifters

About

Time Rifters is a single player action game. It was developed by Proton Studio Inc and was released on October 21, 2014. It received positive reviews from players.

"Time Rifters" is a unique single-player co-op shooter where you become your own teammates, starting with 4 lives and being joined by ghosts of your previous lives with each new one. The game features 6 upgradable weapons, 3 episodes with 5 arenas each, and highscore boards. You can also play with other players' ghosts through the Let's Replay mode and customize your experience with user-created rooms and arenas from the Steam Workshop.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 596 reviews

gameplay38 positive mentions

story6 negative mentions

Time Rifters offers a unique gameplay experience by allowing players to control multiple versions of themselves, creating a cooperative feel in a single-player setting.
The game features vibrant graphics and an engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, making it visually appealing and fun to play.
With a variety of weapons and upgrades, players can strategize their approach to each level, adding depth and replayability to the game.

The game is relatively short, consisting of only 15 levels, which may leave players wanting more content after completing it.
There is a lack of clear instructions or tutorials, which can lead to confusion for new players trying to understand the mechanics.
Some players have reported issues with the game's interface and controls, particularly regarding weapon switching and menu navigation.

gameplay
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
65%
3%
The gameplay is characterized by its unique mechanics, particularly the self-co-op feature that allows players to control multiple clones in a first-person shooter format, which adds a refreshing twist to traditional gameplay. While some players find the core mechanics straightforward and the overall experience fun, others note a lack of challenge due to minimal enemy threats. Overall, the game is praised for its inventive design, smooth execution, and engaging replayability, especially through community-created levels.
- “The actual game is extremely fun, and a lot of effort has been poured into the game's levels and gameplay.”
- “Incredibly refreshing gameplay!”
- “Time Rifters is a fantastic game, and while the core gameplay is pretty much old school shooting crossed with a wave defense game, it takes the idea of a linchpin gimmick to a whole new level.”
- “Gameplay is lacking but the visuals are there.”
- “This was a lot of fun while it lasted, but it doesn't have much gameplay. I know people are gonna say things like download off the workshop.”
- “Firstly, the aiming mechanics are somewhat ill-considered.”
music
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
38%
3%
The music in the game has received high praise for its fun and engaging quality, with many reviewers highlighting the catchy dubstep and electronic soundtrack that complements the gameplay. While the soundtrack is generally considered fantastic and fitting for the game's theme, some players noted a desire for more variety. Overall, the music enhances the vibrant atmosphere and adds to the enjoyment of the gaming experience.
- “The music is great, and the visuals are fun and futuristic.”
- “Inventive and high-quality gameplay, and one of the best soundtracks I've ever seen in a game.”
- “It's unexpectedly fun and deceptively addictive with a thumpingly good soundtrack.”
- “Why is the music so loud when you first open it?”
- “More music variety would be appreciated.”
- “The soundtrack is mostly dubstep, and even though I'm not exactly a fan of the genre, I found it fitting with the gameplay.”
graphics
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
62%
4%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their vibrant and colorful aesthetic, with many reviewers noting the beautiful art style and diverse environments. While some aspects, like the design of guns and cubes, are considered underwhelming, the overall visual presentation is described as polished and engaging, particularly in VR. However, a few users mentioned that the area design could be improved, and some found the simplistic art style less impressive.
- “Aesthetically, this game is gorgeous.”
- “Beautiful visuals, nice addicting retro style gameplay and all that with no motion sickness.”
- “The graphics really come alive when looking through the rift and the art style is well suited for a VR experience.”
- “The graphics for the actual guns, cubes, etc., aren't anything extremely impressive.”
- “Graphics: visually very vibrant, although somewhat underwhelming in terms of area design.”
- “Gameplay is lacking but the visuals are there.”
replayability
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
43%
7%
The game offers high replayability through various challenges, user-created content, and experimentation with different strategies and loadouts. While the main campaign is relatively short, players can enjoy replaying levels for better times and exploring numerous combinations of weapons and upgrades. Overall, the replay value is enhanced by daily challenges and a vibrant community, though some players feel it may not sustain long-term engagement.
- “Replay value is practically infinite with tons of challenges, crazy strategies, and workshop integrated maps which adds a great open feel to the game.”
- “This is a fun little game that has a good amount of replay value due to the daily challenges and user-created content.”
- “It's quite neat to try out different setups, and the resets add a lot to the replay value.”
- “Sure, it has tons of replayability, but it will only last for so long.”
- “For a game where the majority of the replay value is in experimenting with different loadouts and upgrade combinations, this is slightly disappointing.”
- “Still has some replay value.”
story
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
62%
23%
The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal or nonexistent, with many players expressing confusion over any narrative elements that may be present. While some hint at potential for a deeper story, the consensus is that the gameplay is prioritized over storytelling, leading to a lack of engagement with the narrative. Overall, players find the story to be of little importance, focusing instead on the fun of the gameplay itself.
- “A large foreshadowing, or a story untold?”
- “A full FPS campaign, with enemies that shoot back, and a story built around this awesome mechanic, could be one of the best games of all time.”
- “Does anyone have a clue to the story behind this game?”
- “There is barely any story, and while the game eludes to one existing, I barely understood it.”
- “Story: no story at all, not worth reviewing.”
- “There is no story here... so don't expect much that will change you inside... but what matters is that it's fun.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a cohesive blend of techno and dubstep tracks that enhance the mood of each level, with distinct feels that set them apart. Visually, the game is clean and polished, while certain stages, like the cave levels, introduce a more atmospheric and eerie vibe, contributing to a rich and immersive experience. Overall, the atmosphere remains consistent across the "time xxx" series, reinforcing its unique identity.
- “Visually it's clean and polished... and then you get cave stages where it's all atmospheric and creepy.”
- “The atmosphere is just coherent.”
- “Each has its own distinct feel and atmosphere, making them stand out from one another.”
- “Also, it's worth mentioning the entire 'time xxx' series, different games, same atmosphere.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
10%
30%
The game is highly praised for its optimization, particularly for the DK2, with users noting smooth performance, no lag or judder, and effective black smear correction. It provides a seamless experience that enhances gameplay, making it an enjoyable time killer.
- “Incredibly well optimized for the DK2.”
- “Perfectly optimized, no lag or judder, great black smear correction, and does not make me sick.”
- “You stack your performances throughout 4 playthroughs to blast all the cubes that are strategically placed throughout the level.”
- “Graphics, sound, and performance issues severely hinder the overall experience.”
- “The optimization is lacking, making the game feel sluggish and unresponsive.”
- “Frequent frame drops and long loading times detract from the enjoyment of gameplay.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be largely tedious, often inflating the overall difficulty, particularly when having to restart from level 1. However, some users appreciate the challenge of mastering new weapons, which adds a layer of enjoyment to the grinding experience.
- “Most of the 'difficulty' in the game is inflated by this problem, and it is simply tedious, especially when you have to start over from level 1.”
- “While tedious as well, I found them at least somewhat enjoyable because learning how to knock out levels with weapons I wasn't familiar with was an interesting challenge.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly on standard monitors without significant issues. Players appreciate the inclusion of various Steam achievements and features like replay uploads, enhancing the overall experience. However, some users express a desire for a wider field of view.
- “It also looks and runs great on a standard monitor, though I would prefer a wider field of view.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a cash grab, particularly due to its failure to adapt to modern headsets after initial support for the DK2. Users express disappointment over the lack of ongoing investment in the platform.
- “The game worked with DK2 but was never adopted for modern headsets after the cash grab.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by playful teasing among players, often highlighting moments of clumsiness and helplessness, which adds a lighthearted and entertaining dynamic to the gameplay experience.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the game evokes a strong emotional connection, likening the experience to a multiplayer environment where personal interactions are more positive and engaging. The sentiment suggests a sense of camaraderie and enjoyment, contrasting with negative experiences often found in competitive gaming.