Also strange at this point is the fact that considering so much emphasis is placed on Vattic's psychic prowess, nearly half of the game is set before he had them. These levels take the form of a more standard but fortunately seem to have grasped the intricacies of third person shooting and the controls display the same balance and finesse seen in TimeSplitters. Using cover to your advantage and shooting strategically is the key to success, and it's pulled off very well indeed. Much like Everything or Nothing (only far superior), a lock on system automatically aims your weapon at an enemy's torso whilst you're free to manually tweak the aim, normally in an effort to get that all important headshot. It's easy to hug close to objects, picking off enemies with well-timed shots from a fairly formulaic range of weapons. Players will probably be glad to hear that a heavy emphasis on sniper rifles is predominant and also well executed. Pressing the aim button brings up a reticule in the bottom right corner where you can adjust your shot. Despite more or less ensuring a hit each time, it still works well and is a pleasure to play with.

This fine balancing is also present in the presentation and graphics. If you've played TimeSplitters then you'll instantly recognise the style. Characters have a slightly exaggerated physical form and boast large, expressive faces that allow for emotive interaction. Whilst the initial level in the research facility is quite bland and repetitive, the mental asylum is amazingly atmospheric. It's not so much the wandering loons (after all, Hitman Contracts introduced us to that) but more the audio and the clinical yet pessimistic ambiance. When you near the cell area bustling bodies and cries of despair fill the air and the grimy under-furnished rooms will be quite familiar to anyone that's been in an NHS hospital recently.

Backgrounds themselves may lack a little sparkle, at this point any way, and are occasionally cluttered with generic, well, clutter (how many people-size cupboards fit for hiding in have you seen recently?) but the levels are well-designed and packed with neat touches. The playable arcade Earth Impact cabinet in the Russian compound may have been done before but offers a nice diversion. Accessing computers presents you with an interactive desktop that behaves much like a real PC. There's often more than one course of action open to you and experimenting is really half the fun. For instance, when trying to escape the research facility police surround the lobby and open fire on you. You could possibly psychically hurl a monitor at them, then summon the rifle from a fallen officer and take your chance in a firefight. Better yet, why not hurl that fallen chap at the other officers creating a speedy diversion. If not, then you could pick up a large object and hover it in front of you, creating cover. The controls are good enough to allow you to cross the room successfully keeping any number of things between you and the cops, and it's incredibly satisfying to pull off.

Aside from some minor technical like clipped dialogue and jagged animation that are often present in preview code, it seems that Free Radical have created a well crafted and thoroughly enjoyable title. Some slight niggles do prove annoying in this preview build though. Enemies tend to re-spawn at random whenever an alarm is activated and it can be infuriating not knowing who has reactivated the alarm just as you appeared to reach safety. The limited supply of psychic power can often mean that it's unlikely you'll conquer a swarm of enemies. Whilst the controls are very well mapped, sometimes the act of juggling mental powers, your weapons inventory and ever dwindling energy reserves can prove bewildering, especially in the heat of the moment. Yet even if Second Sight proves every bit as decent as this early glimpse suggests, the biggest obstacle for the game may well be the games market itself. Psychic actioner Psi Ops is already on the shelves and whilst Free Radical are respected by those in the know it's unknown whether they carry enough punch to rival the pre-Christmas big hitters that it will be in direct with. Here's hoping that free Radical deliver on their promises and that Second Sight doesn't prove to be another forgotten classic along the lines of Beyond Good and Evil.

By Ben Parfitt