A question to FPS experts.

[pyrosaw]

what is the definition of an unsophsticated shooter like DOOM or Painkiller? Because I think Half Life and Resistance could be classified as unsophistaced shooters. In DOOM, you can run up to enemies and kill them with a shotgun. Don't you do the exact same thing with Half Life? Most of you will say the difference is Half Life and Resistance have stories. Painkiller does too. I just want make sure. Because they both look kinda samey gameplay wise.

 

[PHOENIXRIDER57]

I have never heard of "unsophisticated shooter". I've only ever known first person and third.

 

[Serenegoose]

Not all stories are born equal, bluntly.

However, the level design of games like halflife, the characters of games like halflife, and the atmosphere of games like halflife is what puts it and its ilk above things like painkillers, which whilst defining examples of their field are not really paragons of story/atmosphere based plot development. Just because they HAVE a story doesn't mean it's a good, intelligent, worthwhile story - it's just a base for everything that's layered on top.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Well, yes, if you look at it from faraway, a lot of FPSs are just running around kicking ass.

But, FPSs can offer different things that others can't. Puzzles, a good story, good atmosphere, and multiplayer.

In other words: Do most FPSs have same ideas?: Usually, yes.
Does that mean they're all the same?: No.

 

[Delusibeta]

FPSes with a blatant disregard for story would be the definition I would use.

 

[TerranReaper]

First of all, who do you define as a FPS expert?

OT: While yes, most FPS games will look the same on the surface, if you explore a bit deeper (Storyline wise or gameplay wise), you might be able to spot out the differences that they have.

 

[Sacman]

An FPS where the only real goal is to kill everything and completely disregard everything else... Half-Life is a sophisticated shooter because it has a story that does more than guide you to the next set of bad guys to kill and it breaks up the combat with actual puzzle solving to keep it fresh...

 

[subject_87]

'Games that don't take themselves too seriously and are more about fun and spectacle' would probably be a good starting point. However, not doing those things (like Half-Life 2, say) is by no means bad, just different.

 

[Starke]

what is the definition of an unsophsticated shooter like DOOM or Painkiller? Because I think Half Life and Resistance could be classified as unsophistaced shooters. In DOOM, you can run up to enemies and kill them with a shotgun. Don't you do the exact same thing with Half Life? Most of you will say the difference is Half Life and Resistance have stories. Painkiller does too. I just want make sure. Because they both look kinda samey gameplay wise.

A better subcategory would be "arcade shooter". Games like Painkiller or Serious Sam drop a chaingun or rocket launcher in your arms and say "go wild" while games like Half-Life or Far Cry focus on a more plausible world with a lower median of violence.

One good litmus test would be how many rounds does the rocket launcher fire between reloading. Generally speaking games like Half Life and other non-arcade shooters will have a single or sometimes double shot launcher while arcade shooters tend to eject that pesky reloading mechanic anyway.

Now, this isn't hard and fast, the 2009 remake of Wolfenstein for example has a three shot rocket launcher, but its less arcade than that would indicate.

 

[Blanko2]

im not even sure i would classify them as that, but if i did
is the story a big part of the game, basically.

say DOOM3, has a story, yes, but its just... there. it kinda just hangs out in the middle of shooting demons and zombies in the face while looking for the next button to press.

still even then its subjective.

 

[WhatHityou]

The fine details are what set shooters apart. Story and atmosphere are big parts as well as believability and most infamous question is it fun?

 

[Skorpyo]

The difference is story.

Doom's story was "Monsters here, kill they ass", basically.

In Half-life 2, a race of slaving aliens has earth in their clutches, trying to slowly beat the human race into submission while killing it slowly. It's all your fault, and you must stop them.

See the difference?