FPS: A proper discussion

[Iwata]

Alright, first of all, I want this to be a topic proper discussion, so flamers, trolls and fanboys, check your prejudices at the door.

With the recent hub-ub regarding MW2, and what seems to be the overall declining quality of both shooters and their fanbases, I mean to ask you what is your favourite FPS series (or game) and why.

I'll get the ball rolling with the Killzone series. To me, it is my favourite FPS series based on a number of factors:

- It has a very strong cast of villains, with a very impressive voice cast to back it up. The Helghast are visually impressive and intimidating, and as you delve into the universe, their history is fascinating, to the point where you wonder if the ISA are really the good guys in the story after all.

- The visuals of the latest installment are amazing. Many complained that the game felt too drab and grey, and while I do agree that seems to be more the norm than the exception these days, I'll argue that if there's a world suited for such visuals, it is indeed Helghan.

- Likewise, much has been said of the weapon handling. I take a very strong objection to such criticism, and believe it stems from the fact that we have been "spoiled" by most shooters. Having handled firearms, Killzone 2 is the only, I say again, the only game I have ever played that properly transmits what a cumbersome and "heavy" experience it really is to handle such weapons. It felt realistic, whereas in most shooters, the weapona handle as if they are made of balsa wood, and it never feels "just right".

And that's it.

Your choice?

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

I'd probably have to go for Team Fortress 2 back when it was first released, it was fun, easy to learn and had silly cartoon graphics.
Now, I appreciate what Valve have done with the updates to keep it's popularity but I just can't get into it any more.

 

[Pillypill]

I find it hard to pick an overall favourite. But as they were so very brilliant, i will choose the half life games. One thing I really love about Half life is that everything is from Gordons view point, through his eyes. I've not played many games where you drive a car in 1st person.

 

[slimeonline]

Recent Rainbow 6s (Vegas 1&2), I found massively enjoyable. Good weapon selection, nice stealth/strategy aspect, easy controls, the co-op in the same room was a winner none of the have to be on the internet stuff.

 

[comadorcrack]

- Likewise, much has been said of the weapon handling. I take a very strong objection to such criticism, and believe it stems from the fact that we have been "spoiled" by most shooters. Having handled firearms, Killzone 2 is the only, I say again, the only game I have ever played that properly transmits what a cumbersome and "heavy" experience it really is to handle such weapons. It felt realistic, whereas in most shooters, the weapona handle as if they are made of balsa wood, and it never feels "just right".

Having also handled weapons and been on military exercises. I have to agree with you there.

 

[Iwata]

Recent Rainbow 6s (Vegas 1&2), I found massively enjoyable. Good weapon selection, nice stealth/strategy aspect, easy controls, the co-op in the same room was a winner none of the have to be on the internet stuff.

I haven't played Vegas 2 but I did play the first one. It was an ok game, but it made me miss the old R6 games. The series took a turn from tactics to action after Raven Shield, and the change has yet to win me over.

 

[ryai458]

MW2 controls are smooth graphics are nice not all dark and gritty, lvling up is fun and rewarding and it also rewards players who play more, allowing you to get a better challenge against veteran players.

 

[JourneyThroughHell]

Favorite series (probably former): Call Of Duty.
Here's why:
-Excellent gameplay mechanics
-Memorable set-pieces
-Good graphics
-Either it's IW or Treyarch, the campaign is always fast-paced and a real thrill.
But since I have no doubt that CoD won't really be good without West, Zampella, Alderman, Gigliotti... yes, I guess I'm waiting for a game by Respawn guys.

 

[Pingieking]

*snip*

I'll have to vote Killzone as well (as much as I detested the first game), for basically the reason you listed there.

That second point annoys me. I've encountered numerous people who say that the game looked bad because it was too brown and gray, and I've always thought that while it was a valid criticism, it's not something you can take marks off while evaluating. You can say that you didn't like the way it looked, but the game did not look bad. Saying that Helgan looked bad because it was too gray is like saying water sucks because it's too wet.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Favorite FPS is Call of Duty series single player campaigns.

They are fun and fluid to control.

I also really enjoyed the F.E.A.R. games and Halo 1 and 3.

 

[Scobie]

DELETED

 

[darth jacen]

Call of Duty. Has been one of my favorites since the original, CoD2 was good and 3 was amazing. Then once you hit the MW series the game took off, even if it did stumble a little with MW2 it is still the best series I know of for FPS.

 

[-Seraph-]

I do not have a favorite series per say, but I do have some FPSs that i enjoy for their specific traits.

Cryostasis: This is one of the most atmospheric games I have played in a long time. I honestly do feel cold at times when walking down the dark, narrow, and lifeless corridors of the ship. It has this constantly looming presence about it, and although you know when the enemies are about to show up, it still invokes some feeling of bone chilling fear into you.

The gameplay also complimented this aspect very well as you weren't some super soldier or whatever, you were just a regular guy stuck on a frozen ship with ghostly beings looming around whatever corner. Although you can chalk up the gunplay to being "clunky", it in fact helped put tension into firefights and expressed the vulnerability of your character.

The story was told in a unique way and had interesting characters despite your own character being a Gordon Freeman. Sufficed to say it was my absolute favorite shooter in recent memory, and definitely the best FPS of 09.

Crysis:This game was more than a mere tech demo that so many people scoff it off to be, it was an immensely fun shooter that apparently most people don't play properly. The game was fun plain and simple, the hitch was that you had to tap into that fun, it wasn't just handed to you like in other games. The gemaplay was left entirely up to your imagination and how much you dicked around with the weapons, AI, environment, and suit powers. If you went through half the game stealth sneaking/killing everything, then you just deprived yourself of great fun and did not bother to exploit the potential of the gameplay. The options at your disposal for approaching situation were plenty, and the level design was fantastic.

The game was an absolute blast and looked pretty too. the only two complaints that I have towards the game are the story and the aliens.

The story itself was simple and effective, as a matter of fact it fit the game fine. You are on a classified mission and your objectives are clear: get in, kill koreans, save hostages, get the fuck out. Then shit hits the fan and you are left as confused as the protagonists. And why shouldn't you, you have no fucking clue what's killing people or what these strange things are so why should the characters have any idea. It put me right in their shoes and it couldn't be better. The problem? well the story wasn't all that it was promised to be, a lot of it was changed or cut out for some reason and the original story concepts were far more interesting than what we got.

The aliens unfortunately were not as fun to fight, they were kind of annoying more than anything. The Koreans were great fun to fight because of their reactions, team work, and just overall behavior. You could really fuck with their heads and it provided some great scenarios. The aliens on the other hand were just these hovering turrets and lacked any real personality. There wasn't many fun ways to kill them and they just weren't all that threatening most of the time. Thankfully Warhead fixed that by making them more aggressive and having the aliens work in a pack like mentality that would have them really get in your face. Warheads aliens were real fun but could be even better, and I hope Crysis 2's aliens are the shit.

FEAR (all excluding 2) Man this game was also great fun and was sort of a combination of what I liked from the other 2 games I mentioned. The game had brilliant atmosphere combined with some awesome balls to the wall action. The enemies were really fun to fight and had some personality to them. the gunplay wasn't all that bad and the weapons had "umph" behind them. I had some awesomely fun fire fights in this game and I have not experienced that sort of fun in an FPS in a long time.

The story was interesting and again, told in a unique way that kept me going. The atmosphere carried a lot of tension which kept me on my toes and wanting more, almost the same tension as the original DOOM.

Although the environments felt a tad samey, that claustrophobia pardoned any major complaints I had towards it. FEAR was just FUN, something I have not found in many Single play FPS campaign in a long time.

Well, I'll leave the discussion for now with those three. I've grow quite tired of FPS games as of late, but the few I do like I LOVE. There are other great shooters out there that I have not mentioned, but these 3 are the most recent ones that I have enjoyed in a long long time.

EDIT: Shit I forgot to Mention Metroid Prime series. I'll make it simple to save time. I love it because it's pretty much a culmination of all the great aspects of the 3 games I mentioned into one immensely fun game. Great level design, atmosphere, gameplay ect... Hell i shouldn't have to justify Metroid, they are the best console FPSs I have every played.

 

[Zer_]

As far as FPS games are concerned, I categorize them into two basic categories.
The hardcore "deathmatch" fps such as UT99 and Quake 3.
The "realistic" based FPS where CoD and even CS would fall into.

I play Quake 3 religiously as you could probably guess from my avatar, so really I give a shit about Q3 and competitive gaming, the later category is more of a fun passtime.

 

[kurupt87]

Deus Ex for single player FPS, I know it's a hybrid but there you go, I like a bit of RPG style complexity and foreplanning to my games.

For twitch based excitement, it's gotta be CoD:MW, both in MP and SP.

 

[veloper]

Serious Sam SE

Blasting hordes of baddies is still what I love best ever since Doom.

 

[Psychophante]

Have to go for the Half-Life series. The last significant benchmark in FPS games, and story telling in general IMO.

 

[FinalDream]

My favourite FPS game is System Shock 2, while technically an action RPG it has all the qualities of a great FPS. Great story, not too much ammunition, interesting levels etc.

 

[Beryl77]

The Half-Life series.
-I really like the storytelling. You get thrown into this world and encounter after encouter happens and often you don't even know what it is about, but by putting the pieces together you'll realize how big it is.

-I also like that ever since the beginning of Half-Life 1 you see everything through Gordon Freeman's eyes and never leave him. Every second Gordon has experienced you experince it too through his eyes.

-The atmosphere is just great. The world is really well made and I've never played a game with such well made and realistic characters.

-There are some nice riddles to solve ,especially the ones which involve the physik engine.

 

[Danny Ocean]

Command and Conquer: Renegade.

It's C&C, and you're the commando. You get to drive mammoth tanks, take down obelisks, and outrun a nuke.