Main character of “Halo”, Master Chief. | Image Courtesy of 343 Industries
First Person Shooters (or FPSs) are a main genre of video games, growing and evolving over decades. Since the 1990s, FPSs have remained one of the cornerstones of the gaming industry.
Today, shooters have retained their relevance but face stiff competition from other genres. One of the biggest games of the mid-2000s, “Call of Duty” has been dethroned and now enjoys a humble existence as just another AAA (high-budget) game.
The First Person Shooter genre is huge, with thousands of great titles to choose from, just like gaming as a whole, it can be intimidating to choose.
To help you choose, Hey SoCal has picked some of the best First Person Shooters to play.
Guns and Glory
DOOM (2016)
“DOOM” is the ultimate power fantasy, offering players one simple goal: to kill all demons. From the opening scene where you get the lead role, the “Doom Slayer”, it’s a non-stop war against the ugliest denizens of hell.
Every weapon and tool at your disposal will ease your crusade against the hordes of zombies and demons that want a part of you. If you want to survive the constant onslaught, you have to maneuver across the battlefield and take down enemies all the while.
You have a whole army of weapons that all feel great to fire and all have great sound design as the icing on the cake. If catharsis is what you want out of your games, you couldn’t do worse than the remake of the old king of the FPS genre.
Available on PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X, Nintendo Switch
Titanfall 2
At some point in their childhood, owning a giant robot was the dream of many. Being able to drive around in one is just a fantasy until you get your hands on “Titanfall 2”. You play as Jack Cooper, a member of a militia group that is at war against the IMC (a militarized corporation).
You are paired with a Titan (a controllable robot) called BT and must complete your commander’s mission. While the premise may sound very simplistic, it’s in the gameplay that “Titanfall 2” shines.
Jack can jump, slide and park around enemies to take them out faster. The movement system encourages players to be incredibly mobile. In addition to your incredible mobility, you can hop into your Titan to do some incredibly fun battle scenes.
When you combine the two aspects of gameplay, you have one of the most polished shooting games ever. With an incredibly fun multiplayer component to dive into after the awesome single player campaign, “Titanfall 2” is a must-play for veterans and novices to the genre alike.
Available on PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X
ULTRAKILL
It’s thanks to the original 1993 “DOOM” that Hell is such a popular setting for video games.
“ULTRAKILL” is proof that something old can still be gold. Like its inspiration, “ULTRAKILL” emphasizes diving into groups of demons with reckless abandon as they take them down en masse. This time, instead of a soldier going to hell, you’re a robot called “V1” coming in for reasons revealed so far.
You are encouraged to constantly switch weapons and zip around the battlefield in ‘ULTRAKILL’. The game’s fast-paced, combo-heavy nature not only borrows elements from other shooters, but also from other genres. An obvious source of inspiration is the “Devil May Cry” series of action games; this series emphasizes style and skill, both elements that “ULTRAKILL” take for themselves.
Each level is made to allow for both creativity and lightning-fast reflexes, all with the aim of achieving a high score at the end of each level. If you’re comfortable with the game’s systems, consider increasing the difficulty for a real challenge.
The only caveat to this game is that it is still in active development and currently exists as an “early access” game. This means that the game isn’t quite complete yet, but it will be soon. As of now, you can play two of the three suggested “Acts” that the game will have.
Available on PC
For Hey SoCal video gaming coverage, click here.
Halo (Bungie Era)
“Halo” has shaped online gaming into what it is today. The original series of games developed by Bungie are known as some of Xbox’s system vendors. Starting with “Combat Evolved” and ending with “Reach”, the Bungie era of the “Halo” series are some of the best FPS to ever exist.
You play as ‘Master Chief’, a super soldier sent on missions that seem impossible. Turning the tide in a decades-long war and preventing an apocalyptic event are just two of the many feats you’ll achieve in this epic series of games.
The gameplay is elegant and encourages aggressive yet strategic gameplay. Enemies will rush you with their numbers but will perform various maneuvers to outflank and outsmart you. On higher difficulties, it can feel like you’re fighting a real army.
Besides the fantastic single player campaigns, “Halo” is known for its much loved multiplayer modes. The second title, “Halo 2”, was the first game to use Xbox’s online feature known as “Xbox Live” for its multiplayer. These and the other titles in the series are widely played to this day, especially with the series’ release on PC.
Available on PC and Xbox One/Series X
SUPER HOT
The best shooters out there are usually fast. But “SUPERHOT” entered the industry with one simple change: slower gameplay. This may raise an eyebrow if you’ve only played fast shooters, but know that “SUPERHOT” is a must-play for anyone interested in FPS.
The core of “SUPERHOT” lies in taking the time to plan your attack. When you start a level, time goes extremely slow and only speeds up when you move. Firing a weapon, running, throwing objects, all these actions make time move at a normal pace.
This not only ensures player expression, but also really exciting set-piece combat that looks like a kung fu movie. The level can start with you surrounded by enemies who all have guns; you can disarm them, lure them to shoot at each other, or throw random objects at them in the area.
All the while dodging bullets and making decisions that will finish the level or send you back to the beginning. But when you get to the end of a level, your actions played in slow motion will replay at full speed, creating a great action scene.
With a simplistic yet captivating art style, “SUPERHOT” is without a doubt one of the most memorable FPSs to ever grace the gaming industry.
Available on PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X, Nintendo Switch
You can see games coming out in September here.
you can reach Eloin Barahona-Garcia at eloin@beaconmedianews.com
0 Comments