It seems just recently that developers enjoy competing against each other to win gamers' hearts. Just look at all the Vietnam games we've seen over the past week or so - you'd think these people would have the sense to space these games out, as not everybody can afford to buy half a dozen Vietnam games. But if the flood of Vietnam games wasn't enough, then there's a psychic adventure game out that's going head to head with the main rival of the same genre, namely Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy. Acegamez' very own Christopher Martin insists that there's no other game like Psi-Ops around, but out from the blue comes Second Sight, with a comparable lost identity story and similar psychic powers. But which one of these stunners will brainwash you first?

Second Sight is made by those loveable developers that call themselves Free Radical. Of course, you may have heard of these marvels before, as they made that ever popular game Timesplitters 2. I bet that most of you reading today will own that game and I don't blame you at all - it's fantastic. Free Radical makes sure you know that they are the masterminds behind Timesplitters, because first of all it tells you on the case. "From Free Radical, the creators of the award winning Timesplitters series!" The graphics are similar too, with a unique blend of cartoon and realism, which is one of Timesplitters' strongest selling points. The audio is also very similar and I'm sure that one of the tunes that appears in the game comes straight from Timesplitters 2! The truth is, Free Radical shouldn't have to sell their game by telling people that they've made Timesplitters - this game should sell itself, because it is one of the best stealth / action / adventure games I've ever played!

The first thing you'll notice is the very well written storyline; it's to die for. I'm sure that Psi-Ops doesn't have a storyline as good as this, because that seems more of an action game, whereas Second Sight has clearly been scripted right from the beginning. In fact, Second Sight actually has two storylines running at once and if you want to look at in the light that I do, it has two games in one as well! One storyline sees a bald John Vatic all confused, unsure of what or where he his. This is the story that is about uncovering who you are and using your psychic powers for a very good time. The other sees a more hairy John Vatic a couple of weeks before he's gone bald. Here you are playing as a scientist in a special squad, but I won't say any more, because I don't believe in spoiling stories, especially in this game, because the story one of the finest parts!

What good is a story without gameplay though? None at all, but fortunately the gameplay in Second Sight is equally as superb as the story. First, let's talk about bald Vatic. This is the most enjoyable part of the game and the missions for bald Vatic seem to last longer, with an average mission taking around 30 minutes. The bald Vatic can wield guns, use stealth and utilise a whole force of different powers, most of which are discovered within the first two hours of playing. Second Sight isn't as stealthy as Splinter Cell but I find that this game delivers more fun than Sam Fisher ever could. Stealth isn't the main element in the game but there are a few features included to make the stealth more enjoyable. One example has to be the lockers and boxes you can hide in. Hide in a locker when one of the cameras has spotted you and the alarm has been raised - the Special Forces will run past you and you'll remain undetected. You can even shoot them from your locker and they won't be any wiser to your whereabouts. If you want to be stealthy you can but Second Sight is more than a silent tiptoe affair.

This is not to say that you can't combine fun with small stealth elements. You can turn invisible, which is better than any stealth 'em up out there at the moment. You can even leave your body and walk freely as a ghost, spying around corners with ease. Your ghost can even press buttons, which proves useful if you can't be there in person. Other psychic powers bald Vatic can perform include a Psi Blast, where you can fire balls of energy at people, Telekinesis, with which you can move objects and throw objects onto enemies with the power of your mind and Heal, which heals your wounds, making bald Vatic practically invincible. There are other powers, which will remain a close kept secret; I really don't want to spoil all the surprises, as you really should discover them for yourself! Every power is easy to use and a lot of fun too; when you combine these attacks with gunplay you're in for a real treat.

Hairy Vatic isn't as much fun as his future-based, bald alter-ego. His story is good and the weapons he can use are superb. He also has a team of men to go around with, so you can take large groups of men down with ease. The sniper rifle that hairy Vatic gets hold of works very well with the auto-targeting system that is implemented throughout the game. You hold a button down to auto-target and in the corner of the screen you will see a barrel with a zoomed in picture of the enemy you're targeting. This allows for some fine 'head shot' tuning before you pop a bullet between your unsuspecting foe's eyes. Both psychic and regular John Vatic are a joy to play as and the way the stories eventually merge together is fantastic. The combination of styles offers a really nice mix of gameplay so the player should never get bored.

The visuals are a joy to look at, with all the special psi effects and rag doll physics you could ask for - they are simply beautiful. The cartoon yet realistic looks of the game are significantly improved since Timesplitters 2 and I can only hope that Timesplitters 3 gets the same treatment. The audio is very good too, including some music tracks you may recognize from the Timesplitters series, which is a nice touch. Vatic talks to himself throughout the game too, which is informative and amusing in places. The gun effects are superb and sound just as good as the ones from Timesplitters - it's clear that Free Radical have taken their time with every aspect of the game.

Second Sight gives you a gaming experience that's hard to describe; it's like going to your favourite band's concert, seeing them live and coming out gob-smacked - you know that you've enjoyed it and you loved every minute of it but you're stuck for words on how to convey the experience. And that is Second Sight; every aspect of the game is enjoyable and the story is exceptional for a game of this genre, it's more like something you'd expect from a film or a role-playing game! I'm sure that Second Sight could have been a great multiplayer experience but the single player shines like a crisp twenty pound note lying innocently in the road screaming "pick me up!" That's exactly what you should do with Second Sight - pick it up and play it, you won't be disappointed.

Reviewed by Dexter Pearson for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).