Top 20: Greatest FPS Games of All Time(Part 1/2)
October 18th, 2009 at 5:58 pm -
First-Person Shooter is the most dominant genre right now in the world of gaming and probably the most beloved too. Day in-day out we see new FPS games coming. Every now and then there comes a game that wows the industry, revitalizes the genre and sets a new benchmark. Competition is tough here and only the fittest survives. That’s why we see so many high budget FPS games every year but only a few manage to catch the eye of all so unforgiving fans of this genre. So here we decided to list down some of those games which did managed to set themselves apart from the crowd and deserved a very well deserved recognition by all of us. Here goes the list! (20-11)
20. Left 4 Dead | Developer: Valve | Released: 2008
Its one of the greatest zombie games and certainly one of the finest co-op games ever made. It perfectly captures the tension of a Hollywood zombie movie. Both critically well acclaimed and graciously received by the fans, left 4 dead was an instant hit when it released last year both on Xbox 360 and PC. Also it just managed to sneak in to our Top 20 mainly due to its true innovation in the genre as far as multiplayer and co-op modes are concerned.
19. F.E.A.R | Developer: Monolith | Released: 2005
Horror movies have frightened us many times with innocent looking but scary kids. Well one of the games that followed the suit was F.E.A.R. Featuring Alma, named after the character ‘Alma Mobley’ in Peter Straub’s novel Ghost Story, a psychic who seeks revenge against Armacham Technology Corporation. F.E.A.R featured amazing graphics, some of the smartest AI ever seen and a fast-paced action packed gameplay, combine all of this in one of the creepiest settings and you have one hell of a experience.
18. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas | Developer: Ubisoft Montreal | Released: 2008
Rainbow Six: Vegas, was the sixth game in the Rainbow Six series. From the very first moment you order your team-mates to rappel into a building, blast through the windows, you know you are into one extra-ordinarily special experience. With an emphasis on teamwork, Vegas was also a blast both offline and online. Rainbow Six: Vegas’s gorgeous visuals, well-executed cover mechanic, amazing presentation, and highly addictive multiplayer gave the series a breath of fresh air it needed and turned it into a top notch shooter. Rainbow Six: Vegas is, till date, one of the finest tactical-first person shooters ever made.
17. Far Cry | Developer: Crytek | Released: 2004
Released back in 2004 on PC, Far Cry boasted jaw-dropping graphics, adaptive AI, open-level design and intense firefights. Even today, Far Cry’s technical abilities are impressive. From a very engaging single-player campaign to the intense multiplayer, Far Cry was an incredible experience. Critically, it was a success and a sleeper hit of 2004. Overall, it offered great fun and is a classic indeed.
16. Wolfenstein 3d | Developer: id Software | Released: 1992
Wolfenstein 3D is a video game that is generally regarded as having popularized the first person shooter genre. It was one of the founding fathers of the genre. Created by id Software, it was original, innovative and fun. What more can you ask from a FPS? And if it wasn’t for Wolfenstein, we might not have witnessed some of the most incredible FPS games that followed after. For this Wolfenstein 3d deserves a lifetime achievement, if there was any.
15. Crysis | Developer: Crytek | Released: 2007
Based in future, where an ancient alien spacecraft has been discovered beneath the ground on an island near the coast of the East Philippines, Crysis is literally one surprise after another. In Crysis, the player fights both North Korean and extraterrestrial enemies in various environments. It offered an open-world gameplay, astonishingly detailed visuals, and overall great production values. It was one of the most complete PC shooters ever created. Although it required a huge amount of investment in PC hardware to experience it in its full glory but its safe to say, it was worth it!
14. Battlefield 1942 | Developer: Digital Illusions | Released: 2002
In Battlefield 1942 you took on the role of one selected unit in the midst of a massive battle. It offered one of the best team multiplayer. Battlefield’s online play was extraordinary for its time, giving the players the experience that they are part of a history in motion. Huge battles, different variety of vehicles, historically accurate maps and team-based gameplay that was unmatched, Battlefield 1942 proved itself as one of the most realistic, accurate and fun World War II experience of its time.
13. Unreal Tournament | Developer: Epic Games | Released: 1999
A first person shooter loaded with amazing maps, diverse game styles, awesome weapons, and one of the best bots in the business, Unreal Tournament was as close to flawless, both in its ability to entertain and in its fine presentation. Everything in the game was utter perfection. Whether you’re in it for the single player quest or the online extravaganza, from its good weapon balance to its great level design Unreal Tournament had everything what you need.Unreal Tournament is now regarded as a modern classic but it was a bold and risky move by Epic Games at that time. Upon its release, Unreal Tournament became an instant classic and a very influential game for future First-Person Shooters.
12. Metroid Prime | Developer: Retro Studios | Released: 2002
Metroid Prime was the most original, diverse and simply awe-inspiring game back on Gamecube. A great example of how a classic videogame series can be vividly reborn. It wasn’t your traditional first-person shooter. Just like its 2D predecessors, Metroid Prime’s main focus was on exploration and adventure rather than actual combat. Developers, Retro Studios, turned Metroid franchise on its head and created a game that was far ahead of its time. From a greatly polished gameplay to the gorgeous visuals and amazing soundtrack, Metroid Prime was undoubtedly a masterpiece. It was simply a remarkable game, and a stunning achievement on all accounts.
11. Perfect Dark | Developer: Rare | Released: 2000
Perfect Dark, originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 2000, developed by Rare, creators of the multimillion-selling GoldenEye 007. In Perfect Dark, players took part in an epic single player mode, engaging in stealthy espionage and epic gunfight sequences. Multiplayer experience was a blast and one of the best at its time. Incredible variety of weapons mixed with beautiful visuals, fantastic soundtrack, loads of in-game options, a cooperative mode and a counter-operative mode, separated it from rest of the pack. Its scope and complexity was light years ahead of the competition. And no wonder, upon release, Perfect Dark received very strong reviews from magazines and websites.
10. Deus Ex | Developer: Ion Storm | Released: 2000
Dues Ex took the FPS world by surprise on its release. It offered a complex, strategic gameplay that truly amazing. Players action directly impacted the storyline. The plot made frequent hairpin turns as friends turn into and everything was dependent on how you played it. Ability to upgrade your skills and bunch of other amazing tricks meant it had the ingredients of a true classic and assured that it touched the greatness in FPS genre.
9. Counter Strike | Developer: Valve Software | Released: 2003
Counter Strike is one game that everyone played, even if they didn’t play games overall. It started out as a Half-Life mod but soon turned into the most popular online shooter ever in the history of gaming. Its appeal lies in its simplicity. Simple, round-based, terrorists vs. counter-terrorists gameplay with a combination of weapon purchase system, and its overall elegance and perfection meant there was no stopping it. Its contribution to online gaming satisfying millions of fans cannot be denied.
8. Duke Nukem | Developer: 3D Realms | Released: 1996
This game, for its time, was revolutionary because it combined its environments with never-before-seen levels of interactivity e.g. functional mirrors, functional toilets, and many more movie references. Gameplay and interactivity that it offered are still unmatched. It was a game in its own league and set the bar real high for the shooters to come. Whenever there is a list made of top revolutionary FPS in gaming history Duke Nukem will always be right up there.
7. Quake | Developer: id Software | Released: 1996
Quake was one of the best-looking games of its time. Quake introduced us to true 3D gaming. Due to 3Dfx used for Quake, games became not only three-dimensional but also textures were improved too. Perspectives looked correct in Quake and the gameplay gave birth to the keyboard-and-mouse gaming combination which required to aim left, and right, up and down while moving your character forwards and backwards. And also the soundtrack inspired the mainstream music in games that came after it. Quake was truly a masterpiece.
6. Bioshock | Developer: 2k Boston | Released: 2007
A collective gasp spread throughout the gaming community when Bioshock was shown for the first time to the public. Bioshock was more of an experience than simply a game. With amazingly innovative RPG style gameplay and a refreshing storyline and presentation, Bioshock marked a significant turning point in the FPS genre. Bioshock gave the players an amazing amount of freedom regarding how they want to approach the game e.g. you could blast the enemies straight away with great variety of weapons or with powerful genetic abilities or may be hacking turrets and security bots and turning them against you enemies, possibilities were endless. Bioshock was without any doubt a true modern classic.
5. Doom 2 | Developer: id Software | Released: 1994
Doom 2 was a revolutionary game for its time, and still an absolute pleasure to play to this day. Doom II undoubtedly set new standards for a shooter. But its main contribution was helping pave the way for the FPS genre among masses. Having a wide range of weapons and enemies meant this game was one hell of a ride. Doom 2 still rules the hearts and minds of hardcore gamers of that generation.
4. Halo: Combat Evolved | Developer: Bungie Software | Released: 2001
Halo: Combat Evolved developed by Bungie was released on November 15, 2001 as a launch title for the Xbox, and was considered the platform’s killer appetite with more than five million copies sold worldwide as of November 9, 2005. Halo soon became a household name and helped establish the Xbox brand. Its contribution, in bringing the console audience towards FPS genre and actually making them realize that a good FPS can be done on a console, is immense. From an engaging story and characters to awesome controls and soundtrack, Halo had everything that console gamers wished for. Many game magazines have praised Halo as one of the best and most important games of all time.
3. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | Developer: Infinity Ward | Released: 2007
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare captured the hearts of gaming community the day it was released and become the biggest phenomenon of this generation. People were first stunned by the single-player campaign it offered but then son realized that the multiplayer part of Modern Warfare is even more fun, in fact more fun than any thing out there. A combination of new RPG-styled Perk abilities, weapon upgrades, and amazing controls meant Call of Duty 4 was onto something big and it shows when you consider its 12 million+ astonishing sales worldwide.
2. GoldenEye 007 | Developer: Rare Ltd. | Released: 1997
GoldenEye 007 released back on Nintendo 64 was a true milestone in FPS games. GoldenEye was a simply an amazing title on all fronts and is till day regarded as one of the most inspirational title in multiplayer gaming. GoldenEye had a winning formula offering an overall package yet to be matched by any other FPS. If it wasn’t for GoldenEye we might have not seen such hits as Halo or Call of Duty yet.
1. Half Life 2 | Developer: Valve Software | Released: 2004
It’s difficult to find a game more spell-binding than Half-Life 2 out in the market especially at the time when it was released. Its one of the most compelling experiences you’ll find in any genre let alone FPS. The moment you find yourself riding that train, gamers knew that they were in for something special. Half Life 2 had some of the most memorable cinematics and an awesome cast made it even better. Half Life 2 tops our list without any hesitation due to the sheer amount of influence it made on the genre at all levels.
http://gamingbolt.com/2009/10/23/top-20-greatest-fps-games-of-all-timepart-22/
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What do you think of this interesting list?
I would REPLACE F.E.A.R. with Killzone 2
The rest seems fine, Half Life wins which is deserved, HALO would be over goldeneye 07 for me most definetely!
Pixel Art can be fun.
