Alternative FPS/WASD games to check out...

CZroe

Edit: Oh, and I'm kinda focusing on 1p experiences, though I know people love their Counterstrike, Enemy Territory, Tribes, and Battlefield games. Focus expanded to WASD shooters/brawlers for their similar single-player experience.

Other than Doom, Quake, Halo, Unreal, and Half-Life series, I'm pretty unaware of what other FPS games are any good due to lack of experience despite owning many of them. I know that there are many, but they get ignored in the shadows of the big boys. I'd like to make a list of suggestions as to what is worth playing. I played a little F.E.A.R, recently completed Resistance Fall of Man, and obtained Prey Collector's Edition cheaply (just checked it out today) so let's just say that my eyes have been opened and I'm ready to bowl through a lot of the backlog.

I know that Deus Ex is good and I'm waiting until I obtain the first one to play my copy of Invisible War. I know that No One Live Forever is good so I'm waiting until I find that to play my copies of NOLF2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.S Way and Contract J.A.C.K (prequel to NOLF2).

So... yay or nay? Which should we play?
Rise of the Triad?
Project Snowblind (kinda-sorta Deus Ex series)?
What about the "Dreamcatcher" games?
Lucas Arts non-Star Wars stuff?
Chasm: The Rift?
Kiss Psycho Circus?
Heavy Metal FAKK2?
Messiah (Interplay)?
Anything from Marathon?
SWAT series?

I assume that these make the "yay" list considering past [edit: and now current] opinions observed here:
Deus Ex series (enough people liked Invisible War)
No One Lives Forever series (Minus Contract JACK)
Resistance Fall of Man (GOD I'd love MKB for this... WASD4LoifYo)
F.E.A.R. + Extraction Point
Condemned Criminal Origins ($15 after Best Buy Gamer's Gift Card coupon)
Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
Prey ($15 after BBGGC coupon... Collector's or standard editions)
Timesplitters series
Return to Castle Wolfenstein (Heh, I still love the original so make that "Wolfenstein series") [Original FPS, never played the original Castle Wolfenstein]
Call of Duty series
Thief series
Soldier of Fortune
Serious Sam
Painkiller + Battle out of Hell
System Shock 2
Aliens vs. Predator series
Iron Storm
Dark Messiah
Oblivion/Morrowind (modern Elder Scrolls)
Jedi Outcast / Knight / Academy (any other SW FPSes to list here?)
Tron 2.0
Undying
Oni
CryTek series (FarCry, Crysis)
Any Monolith game
MDK series
Deep Space 9: The Fallen
SiN Series
Blood
Descent series
Devastation
Chrome
Deadly Dozen series
Project IGI series ("I'm Going In" IIRC)
Joint Operations
Battlezone
Chaser
Operation Flashpoint
Hidden and Dangerous
Wheel of Time
SWAT4

Disputedly recommended:
Shogo
Klingon Honor Guard
Blood 2: The Chosen

Nay:
Breed
Contract J.A.C.K.
Coded Arms
Daikatana
Extreme Paintball
_______ Hunter series
(OK, it seems that there aren't enough bad FPSes getting listed so I had to come up with a couple more)

I know I'm missing a lot. I plan to play a lot of the crappy ones even, but I'm hoping a list that you guys help create could get some others to play something else for a change.

Does Cold Fear count as an FPS? The first few minutes of the PC version impressed me graphically. For some reason, I remember it being 1st and 3rd person (survival horror?).

Mai-Kero

Timesplitters: Future Perfect is the best FPS ever made.

"Time to split."

CZroe

Oh, and does Oblivion fit on the list? The Star Wars games? The James Bond games after Goldeneye? I haven't even opened my 007 Nightfire for PC.

Mai-Kero wrote:

Timesplitters: Future Perfect is the best FPS ever made.

"Time to split."

Awesome!

Tzen

Cronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
Thief: Deadly Shadows
Call of Duty 1/2

Brutletoy

Timesplitters 2 might be better than 3. But I never played 3 with anyone besides myself and I used to have a friend to play 2 with so that opinion might be skewed a little.

cj iwakura

I enjoyed Return To Castle Wolfenstein.

Nothing huge on replay value(really, how many FPSs are), but it was a fun trip.

CZroe

Tzen wrote:

Cronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
Thief: Deadly Shadows
Call of Duty 1/2

I still have yet to play those though I own CoD + United Offensive. :oops: I found Theif III (Deadly Shadows) for dirt cheap and passed it on to LewieP (though he never received it ). I had no idea it was an FPS and it looked like it got bad review scores.

Edit: The list has begun. BTW, I forgot to specify that I'm trying to list good 1p experiences, so no Battlefield, Counterstrike, Enemy Territory, etc

FreddyD

Everyone needs to play Serious Sam co-op at least once.

Big Dookie

Soldier of Fortune 1 & 2 were both pretty good. Fairly run of the mill gameplay-wise, but lots of fun nonetheless. And speaking of Raven, Elite Force wasn't too bad either, though it was very short.

Edit - How could I forget Serious Sam? Yes, coop is a blast. Really, even just the single-player is a blast. Definitely get it, both the First and Second Encounters. Serious Sam 2 I haven't tried yet, but I hear it lacks much of what made the original so great.

CZroe

FreddyD wrote:

Everyone needs to play Serious Sam co-op at least once.

Ohh! I've got that one too. So many of these will be so easy to check out. Does the PC version do CoOp?

Now, what about AVP, System Shock 2, Soldier of Fortune series, etc? Where do they fit in? I'm not looking for games that are guaranteed to be rewarding or "worth the money," just games that I and others might like and should check out if given the chance.

Edit: SoF question answered. Thanks BigDookie!

japan

I'd play Invisible War before the first Deus Ex. It's not that IW is bad, it's just disappointing after the first, they're entirely different games.

Crashmo

Timesplitters is good just for the hilarious cutscenes of the main character talking to his future/past self. I didn't care at all for the story, and unlocking all the minigame medals is better than the campaign, but you can't deny the awesomeness of the near-last stage.
[spoiler:d4689100cc] Escorting yourself in the canyon (the first stage of the game) from the cliffs above.[/spoiler:d4689100cc]

Nev

Painkiller was awesome, very underrated game and game engine. Play it!

Silpheed

Tzen wrote:

Cronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
Thief: Deadly Shadows
Call of Duty 1/2

Butcher Bay all the way baby! Best 10 Euro I've ever invested.

CZroe

japan wrote:

I'd play Invisible War before the first Deus Ex. It's not that IW is bad, it's just disappointing after the first, they're entirely different games.

What about someone just ticking it out of his backlog instead of getting all into it and investigating all the endings? As much as I'd imagine that I'd want to, I just think I wouldn't have the time (backlog and all).

Big Dookie wrote:

Soldier of Fortune 1 & 2 were both pretty good. Fairly run of the mill gameplay-wise, but lots of fun nonetheless. And speaking of Raven, Elite Force wasn't too bad either, though it was very short.

Edit - How could I forget Serious Sam? Yes, coop is a blast. Really, even just the single-player is a blast. Definitely get it, both the First and Second Encounters. Serious Sam 2 I haven't tried yet, but I hear it lacks much of what made the original so great.

Oh! Tell me about it. I forgot about Elite Force. I played through it last summer after finding it at EB new for $5. I remember enjoying the demo way-back-when too. Now, Soldier of Fortune: I found the second cheap somewhere but I can't find the first one that came with a sound card so long ago. Is this a game I'd want to play sequentially?

piL

CZroe wrote:

Any other Monolith game

Shogo


Non Monolith: AvP (lol MPlayer ) And I heard good things about AVP2, but I didn't get to play it.

I'll post again if I can think of any others.

Der Waffle Mous

NOLF 1 and 2 wre awesome, hilarious games.

Contract J.A.C.K. was a mediocre game that killed the series.

Target Practice

NOLF 1 and 2 are good, but I've heard nothing but crap about Contract JACK.

Also, list lacks System Shock 2.

CZroe

Target Practice wrote:

NOLF 1 and 2 are good, but I've heard nothing but crap about Contract JACK.

Also, list lacks System Shock 2.

But I did subsequently ask about it... thanks. In the "yay" list it goes!

Edit: I just remembered: Coded Arms belongs in the "nay" list.

Lork

How strict is your definition of FPS? Would a first person action game that is similar in structure to most FPSes, but has dissimilar gameplay be ok?

If you would at any point ever even consider playing a game like this, put Thief Gold and Thief 2 on the list.

CZroe

Lork wrote:

How strict is your definition of FPS? Would a first person action game that is similar in structure to most FPSes, but has dissimilar gameplay be ok?

If you would at any point ever even consider playing a game like this, put Thief Gold and Thief 2 on the list.

Because Theif III was already suggested, I'll change it to Theif series. And yeah, that is kinda more waht I'm getting at considering that it's the 1p experience that I'm looking at here. Thanks! Also, other than Theif III, were any of these on PC?

JihadJesus

piL wrote:

CZroe wrote:

Any other Monolith game

Shogo

That game was fun, but DAMN was the AI horrible. You could pull out the rifle and shoot mechs in the head, and they would just stand there and blink as long as you didn't move forward past a set point.

CZroe

JihadJesus wrote:

piL wrote:

CZroe wrote:

Any other Monolith game

Shogo

That game was fun, but DAMN was the AI horrible. You could pull out the rifle and shoot mechs in the head, and they would just stand there and blink as long as you didn't move forward past a set point.

Resistance FoM was guilty of this in a few places. Also guilty of the room full of enemies that are aware of you the moment your foot comes into view and the room full of enemies that are aware of you though one or two have no idea despite the carnage around them.

Edit: But, Insomniac isn't known for FPS games so I let it slide. The same Monolith's "F.E.A.R." impressed me... enemies will not just pop back up after a set time if you were waiting to shoot them. That's one of the AI norms that always bugs me. Way to go Monolith!

Lork

CZroe wrote:

Lork wrote:

How strict is your definition of FPS? Would a first person action game that is similar in structure to most FPSes, but has dissimilar gameplay be ok?

If you would at any point ever even consider playing a game like this, put Thief Gold and Thief 2 on the list.

Because Theif III was already suggested, I'll change it to Theif series. And yeah, that is kinda more waht I'm getting at considering that it's the 1p experience that I'm looking at here. Thanks! Also, other than Theif III, were any of these on PC?

Thief 1 and 2 were PC only.

JihadJesus wrote:

piL wrote:

CZroe wrote:

Any other Monolith game

Shogo

That game was fun, but DAMN was the AI horrible. You could pull out the rifle and shoot mechs in the head, and they would just stand there and blink as long as you didn't move forward past a set point.

Man, I played that game a few months ago and I couldn't find a single thing to like about it. I'd have posted about it in the "I don't get it" thread if I'd thought anybody would care. Maybe it's just a "You had to be there" thing. All those early full 3d shooters that came out right after Quake make me want to throw up.

CZroe

Was "Klingon Honor Guard" an FPS? All I remember was that it was an Unreal engine game and it had hardware marketing tie-ins and two-page spreads in the PC mags. If so, yay or nay?

Der Waffle Mous

Lork wrote:

JihadJesus wrote:

piL wrote:

CZroe wrote:

Any other Monolith game

Shogo

That game was fun, but DAMN was the AI horrible. You could pull out the rifle and shoot mechs in the head, and they would just stand there and blink as long as you didn't move forward past a set point.

Man, I played that game a few months ago and I couldn't find a single thing to like about it. I'd have posted about it in the "I don't get it" thread if I'd thought anybody would care. Maybe it's just a "You had to be there" thing. All those early full 3d shooters that came out right after Quake make me want to throw up.

Bullgut, Cap'n Claw doll, themesong, various 80s mecha anime references, the kitty mission, and the ending sequence.

Inquisitor

CZroe wrote:

Edit: But, Insomniac isn't known for FPS games so I let it slide. The same Monolith's "F.E.A.R." impressed me... enemies will not just pop back up after a set time if you were waiting to shoot them. That's one of the AI norms that always bugs me. Way to go Monolith!

Yeah, that was really cool in FEAR. Though it is a mistake alot of players make playing paintball that make for some easy gog-shots.

piL

WHY wrote:

Lork wrote:

JihadJesus wrote:

piL wrote:

CZroe wrote:

Any other Monolith game

Shogo

That game was fun, but DAMN was the AI horrible. You could pull out the rifle and shoot mechs in the head, and they would just stand there and blink as long as you didn't move forward past a set point.

Man, I played that game a few months ago and I couldn't find a single thing to like about it. I'd have posted about it in the "I don't get it" thread if I'd thought anybody would care. Maybe it's just a "You had to be there" thing. All those early full 3d shooters that came out right after Quake make me want to throw up.

Bullgut, Cap'n Claw doll, themesong, various 80s mecha anime references, the kitty mission, and the ending sequence.

Bullgut was so cool to shoot. The fact that it was pretty different from all the other RPGs made me kind of like it too. Everything was happier and cheerier than Quake and Unreal and Doom and all of that, what with that Anime theme being thrown about. There was even characterization (even though that kind of sucked). FPSs aren't known for their story, but back then there didn't tend to be much of any at all, and that was cool.

Also, the AI was kind of dumb, but because of the critical system, there were some parts that were mindumbingly hard on the higher difficulties (points where you'll walk into a room, get shot by 10 guys, and two will crit or something). Wasn't a big fan of that, but I think it was a pretty fun game all the same.

Wait, are you praising it or defaming it for those reasons, I can't tell :P

cj iwakura

Inquisitor wrote:

CZroe wrote:

Edit: But, Insomniac isn't known for FPS games so I let it slide. The same Monolith's "F.E.A.R." impressed me... enemies will not just pop back up after a set time if you were waiting to shoot them. That's one of the AI norms that always bugs me. Way to go Monolith!

Yeah, that was really cool in FEAR. Though it is a mistake alot of players make playing paintball that make for some easy gog-shots.

I still haven't seen an FPS with AI as clever as F.E.A.R.'s. Even Half Life 2's enemies fell prey to me just waiting for them to come around the corner from time to time.

Also, F.E.A.R. wins on atmosphere, easy. Entirely different kind of theme, sure, but still.

Raslin

If you're computer can run it, get Call of Duty 2. It, and call of duty 1(vanilla, no expansions) are probably the best Single Player FPS's I've played. Yes, I include HL1 and 2, but I wasn't a big fan

(Dont kill me)

Der Waffle Mous

piL wrote:

WHY wrote:

Lork wrote:

JihadJesus wrote:

piL wrote:

CZroe wrote:

Any other Monolith game

Shogo

That game was fun, but DAMN was the AI horrible. You could pull out the rifle and shoot mechs in the head, and they would just stand there and blink as long as you didn't move forward past a set point.

Man, I played that game a few months ago and I couldn't find a single thing to like about it. I'd have posted about it in the "I don't get it" thread if I'd thought anybody would care. Maybe it's just a "You had to be there" thing. All those early full 3d shooters that came out right after Quake make me want to throw up.

Bullgut, Cap'n Claw doll, themesong, various 80s mecha anime references, the kitty mission, and the ending sequence.

Bullgut was so cool to shoot. The fact that it was pretty different from all the other RPGs made me kind of like it too. Everything was happier and cheerier than Quake and Unreal and Doom and all of that, what with that Anime theme being thrown about. There was even characterization (even though that kind of sucked). FPSs aren't known for their story, but back then there didn't tend to be much of any at all, and that was cool.

Also, the AI was kind of dumb, but because of the critical system, there were some parts that were mindumbingly hard on the higher difficulties (points where you'll walk into a room, get shot by 10 guys, and two will crit or something). Wasn't a big fan of that, but I think it was a pretty fun game all the same.

Wait, are you praising it or defaming it for those reasons, I can't tell :P

Lork is, I loved Shogo.

CZroe

Raslin wrote:

If you're computer can run it, get Call of Duty 2. It, and call of duty 1(vanilla, no expansions) are probably the best Single Player FPS's I've played. Yes, I include HL1 and 2, but I wasn't a big fan

(Dont kill me)

The only reason I haven't played CoD and United Offensive is bad prioritization... something you guys are helping correct. I haven't seen a frame of it since Quakecon 2003 despite owning those. :oops: CoD2, I bought and subsequently sold new for XBOX360 ($15 on Black Friday!) just waiting for the PC version to become cheap.
What about the CoD consoles games (Thin Red Line, etc)?

stigweard

If you can find it, Undying is worth a playthrough for the sp experience. Once the scarey went away, there was still plenty of action.

Big Dookie

CZroe wrote:

Was "Klingon Honor Guard" an FPS? All I remember was that it was an Unreal engine game and it had hardware marketing tie-ins and two-page spreads in the PC mags. If so, yay or nay?

It was an FPS, and it sucked, HARD. Trust me, stay away from this one. That is, if you can even find it anymore.

Lork

Before I forget, here's a reason to play Thief:

The classiest intro since class came to classtown.

FreddyD

Does Wheel of Time work on XP? I've heard pretty positive things about it.

Pancake

I'm going to say Iron Storm now. It's a pretty standard shooter for the most part, but its premise is interesting and it's still a fun game.

So you should play it and make it three people that have played it on this forum.

Garthor

Raslin wrote:

If you're computer can run it, get Call of Duty 2. It, and call of duty 1(vanilla, no expansions) are probably the best Single Player FPS's I've played. Yes, I include HL1 and 2, but I wasn't a big fan

(Dont kill me)

Call of Duty 2 pissed me off because it wasn't about killing people. No, they respawned forever. It was about trying to figure out how far forward you have to go before they stopped respawning. Then you can just hide while your infinitely-respawning team kills their infinitely-respawning team, and repeat.

PatboyX

Target Practice wrote:

NOLF 1 and 2 are good, but I've heard nothing but crap about Contract JACK.

Also, list lacks System Shock 2.

JACK removed any fun that series had.
makes me sad forever.

Iroh

If you don't mind a melee-heavy game, Dark Messiah keeps getting better and better as I play through it. Highly recommended, although not really a shooter.

Mai-Kero

I take it back about Timesplitters 2. System Shock 2 is the best game ever made.

Also check out Undying for the scariest game ever(at least until you get the superweapon after you fight ninja demon monks.)

Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind is leaps and bounds ahead of Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion in every way besides graphics and combat. The geographic design, layout of dungeons and towns, theme, story, and characters are generally all way, way better. Morrowind is well worth a playthrough. It might be wise to get a couple of the graphics improving mods like better bodies and the such because while from a distance, the it stands up, but once you get close everything kinda looks like shit besides the buildings and a select few mobs. Better bodies and faces makes the humanoid NPCs look medium-Oblivion quality or so, and there should be a few more out there that revamp armor and some of the monsters.

Trust me, Morrowind is the way to go if you're looking for a FPS fantasy RPG.