The 28 Best FPS Games
- October 10, 2008 10:59 AM PST
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From the dystopian corridors of BioShock's subterranean "paradise" to the Strogg-infested space stations found throughout the Quake franchise, First Person Shooters have found countless ways to establish themselves as rich, enjoyable experiences, capturing the hearts and trigger fingers of gamers worldwide.
Even if it's just blasting away wave after wave of demons in Blood, or perhaps saving mankind from itself as you traverse Half-Life 2's City 17, the FPS genre has proven itself time and time again.
We're here today to pick out the best of the best the shooters that made your jaw drop the moment you booted them up. So grab a med-kit, holster your rocket launcher, and join us as we take a look at the Top 28 FPS Games!
#28: Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Why It's Great: Wolfenstein 3D was one of the founding fathers of the first person shooter genre and made it's re-introduction into modern gaming with the extraordinary Return to Castle Wolfenstein. There's not a whole lot more fun to kill than zombie-Nazis, and the game did it well with its wide variety of sieg heiling abominations. On top of the game's interesting foes, it also had one of the longest campaigns you'll come across in the FPS genre.
#27: Blood
Why It's Great: Monolith's classic shooter caused quite the commotion as a group of angry parents campaigned against the "bathtub of blood" marketing campaign. Thank goodness they never played this slaughterfest, because then they'd really have something to whine about. Blood lived up to its name by delivering buckets upon buckets of the titular crimson liquid as our hell-bound protagonist, Caleb, massacred wave after wave of demons in his quest for revenge. While Blood won't win any originality points for its Evil Dead-inspired story, the action was incredibly satisfying. The single-player mode is a modern upgrade on the Doom formula -- monster closets, card keys, and simplistic scenarios -- but the bountiful horror film references and sly humor kept us playing. The real draw was the multiplayer mode, in which players fired flare pistols, Tommy guns, and Tesla rifles at each other in some of the best deathmatch action since, well, Doom.
#26: Tribes 2
Why It's Great: The first two Tribes games practically invented modern online shooters such as Halo 3 and Team Fortress 2. Tribes 2 is a prime example of community gaming done right, with a simply astonishing multiplayer dynamic met with stunning and creative level designs to explore on foot, via jetpack, or while piloting an array of driveable vehicles. From Capture the Flag rounds, a stellar Siege mode, and good old fashioned 50+ player deathmatch, Tribes 2 was a landmark for online gaming, and still remains one of the most inventive (and addictive) shooters out there. A truly innovative game that is still highly regarded among hardcore shooter fans.
#25: Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
Why It's Great: You know you have a winning formula when one of your game's weapons consists of a gun that fires parasitic insects which then proceed to bore into your enemies' skulls before showering your camera with a crimson mist. Turok 2: Seeds of Evil simply took everything that made the original Turok: Dinosaur Hunter such an amazing experience and turned it up to eleven. With behemoth monsters to battle, lush environments to explore, and with easily one of the most inventive selection of weapons and enemies to date, it's no wonder that gamers worldwide have only the fondest memories of Seeds of Evil. But whatever you do, don't play the god-awful sequels (though the new, re-invented Turok on PS3 and Xbox 360 is worth a look).
#24: The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
Why It's Great: It's rare to find a movie-based game that's better than the film itself -- much less a Vin Diesel one (XxX for the GBA, anybody?) Amazingly, Chronicles of Riddick took the gaming world by storm with a genuinely original gaming experience, impressive HD visuals, and smart stealth-based action. Taking place before the Riddick films, Escape from Butcher Bay told the tale of how Riddick came to be the badass you meet in Pitch Black, all the while painting a gritty environment with the "inescapable" prison world of Butcher Bay. Throw in note-perfect voice work by Diesel himself, Ron Perlman and even acclaimed rapper Xzibit, and you have a cinematic experience that's not only unexpected, but simply excellent.
#23: No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way
Why It's Great: No One Lives Forever had all of the elements for a winning FPS formula: a tongue-in-cheek script, fantastic visuals, tight controls, imaginative weapons, and of course, a shag-tastic 60s leading lady. Throw in outlandish situations such as shooting while skydiving or gunning it out in the eye of a tornado and you have the makings of an unforgettable experience. A savage spoof on the James Bond genre of spy films, NOLF2 is a deserved cult classic and is not to be missed.
#22: Alien vs. Predator 2
Why It's Great: We've already covered the fact that movie-based games aren't usually quality works, but that was the beauty of Alien vs. Predator: the movie hadn't been made yet! Borrowing creatures and imagery from both prestigious film series, Alien vs. Predator 2 paved the way for the films with its steamy, murky environments, authentic audio design, and a choice of three seperate characters: a hapless marine, a vicious Alien, and the tactical Predator, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. This potential was truly explored in the game's online multiplayer, pitting all three classes against one another in one of twelve richly detailed maps. Now, if we can just get a decent Alien vs. Predator movie out there&
#21: TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
Why It's Great: It's not often that you get to bend the space-time continuum on a regular basis, teaming up with versions of yourself from both the past and the future to solve puzzles. For Cortez, the protagonist of the TimeSplitters series, this is day-to-day life. TimeSplitters had a quirky, surreal style that fit right at home with the time-traveling dynamic, allowing players access to a wide array of weapons from both the future, present, and past. One minute you may be dueling it out with six-shooters, the next firing plasma guns at your enemies -- talk about weapon variety! With a rich single-player campaign and addictive multiplayer modes, TimeSplitters 3 is a shooter well worth revisiting.
#20: Counter-Strike: Source
Why It's Great: Before there was Halo, there was Counter-Strike: the game that everyone played, even if they didn't play games. What started out as a Half-Life mod turned into the most popular online shooter ever created. Its simple, round-based, terrorists vs. counter-terrorists gameplay was fueled by a genre-first weapon purchase system, and the elegance and perfection of Dust sealed the deal. CS: Source came along when Half-Life 2 was released, porting the game into a next-generation engine and stopping the rampant cheating. Despite what some critics said, Valve made the right choice with the port; CS is an experience that will stay pure forever.
#19: Thief: The Dark Project
Why It's Great: Thief pioneered the use of stealth in the first-person perspective. Though not truly a "shooter," Thief's innovative use of first-person conventions opened it up to an audience thirsty for a new experience. As Garret, a creature of the night, it was your mission to slip between shadows, sneak around guards, and steal to your heart's content. When trouble popped up, as it often did, you rarely responded with force. Garret packed a hefty bag of tricks, from water arrows to douse torches to a nifty blackjack that could down an enemy guard with one whack. By melding first-person shooter gameplay with a deep stealth component, Thief was truly ahead of its time.- Previous Page Prev
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- Oct 10 2008 at 10:55:20:AM PST
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good call gamepro, half-life 2 is a great game, but i dont know about best first person shooter ever... it really lacked any connection to the main character, silent protagonists just dont do it for me
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Train_of_Thought wrote:
oh my god, halo wasn't #1. GamePro what's wrong with you?
/sarcasm?
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Thank you gamepro for making an intelligent list instead of just putting halo 3 in no. 1
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Unreal Tournament, Turok 2, Aliens vs. Predator 2, aah the memories. Nice list BTW.
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Unreal Tournament, Half Life 2, Quake and Tribes FTW!!!
Why is the Alien vs Predator and Deus Ex screenshots the same?
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CannonFodder wrote:
Thank you gamepro for making an intelligent list instead of just putting halo 3 in no. 1
I think Halo was more revolutionary than Halo 3. Honestly, I didn't expect to see it on the list.
The Halo pistol was awesome. I wish they would have brought it back for the 3rd.
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I totally agree with DK57 on the halo pistol. The halo pistol kicked ass and they made it A LOT weaker in 2 and 3 which was disappointing.
As for the list, some great games on this list. I personally would put Timesplitters 2 instead of future perfect and I'd probably put it in my top 5. Goldeneye, and Perfect Dark of course have to be on this list, I love it :) Call of Duty 4 I honestly expected GP to put at number 1 but Half Life 2 is a great choice as well. Pretty much any one in the top 10 could be number 1, just depends on who you ask.
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Much appreciated Gamepro. IMO your list was dead on. Thank you so much for not listing Halo 3 as the best FPS. With all that Half-Life 2 does right,it's no wonder why it was chosen as top of the line.
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