Summary
TheFPSgenre has always proven to be remarkably popular. Even in the 1990s, various shooters were known all around the world, such asWolfenstein 3D,Goldeneye 007,Quake, andDOOM.Even towards the end of the 90s, the FPS genre was not slowing down, with popular releases such asHalf-Life, Counter-Strike,andMedal of Honor.
The 2000sdidn’t hit the brakes when it came to the FPS either, as the gaming industry saw the release of some of the most well-known and highly regarded games in the genre. Some were continuations of games launched in the previous decade, and others were new series that took the world by storm, with every year releasing a new FPS giant.
The Operative: No One LivesForevernever seems to be talked about as much as its Metascore would have people believe. Ranked quite highly, its popularity would have been contested with other big FPS game released in 2000, such as the originalCounter-Strike.
Those who enjoyed 1997’sGoldenEye 007, and James Bond in general, will most likely also want to giveThe Operative: No One Lives Forevera playthrough. Indulging in the genre of spy-driven stories, the gameplay revolves around stealth and, being an FPS, shooting bad guys. Typical of the spy genre, there are multiple weapons and gadgets for the player to employ in various situations.
The two main juggernauts of the FPS genre in the 2000s were theHaloseries, and theCall of Dutyfranchise. WhileCall of Dutystill remains incredibly popular to this day,Halohas dropped off somewhat. However, the originalHalo: Combat Evolvedexploded in popularity when it released in 2001, with many buying an Xbox just to play the game, allowing theHaloseries to becomeone of the most legendary franchisesin gaming.
Controlling a supersoldier known only as Master Chief, players shoot their way through any opposition - namely the alien Covenant and The Flood - to complete objectives. With numerous weapons and vehicles, and one of thebest starting guns in gaming history, the sandbox of killing aliens can be very diverse, especially with local co-op, due to the game beingone of the best to implement splitscreen.
Despite theCall of Dutyseries becoming the more well-known gaming FPS franchise today, especially when dealing in real-world wars, theMedal of Honorgames were the progenitor to Activision’s golden goose.
As was often popular at the time,Medal of Honor: Allied Assaulttook place during the Second World War, and is regardedas one of the best games to do so. Taking place during the European theatre, the game is spread over various missions, with numerous weapons available, as one would expect of an FPS title. Multiplayer is also an option, with four modes that depend on players gathering the highest score.
Call of Duty,the franchise that exploded the FPS to greater popularity, all began with this original release in 2003. With an appearance similar to theMedal of Honorgames, and with it being called a ‘Medal of HonorKiller’ early in development, the firstCall of Dutytakes place during World War II.
As is the case, multiple different weapons are available for players to use and even aim down the sights with, a feature thatCall of Dutypopularized. The firstCoDgame is also quite different from the later entries, with no regenerating health, and the option to save whenever. The singleplayer story is split up between various WWII campaigns, that of the Americans, Soviets, and British, the last of which would become almost synonymous withCall of Dutystories, especially theModern Warfaregames.
The FPS genre holds some of the most revolutionary video games in existence. Case in point is the originalHalf-Life, which became a household name when it launched in 1998. Its successor,Half-Life 2, only solidified just how popular the FPS genre, theHalf-Lifefranchise, and Valve would become.
Taking place after the firstHalf-Life, Half-Life 2pits the player, controlling protagonist Gordon Freeman, against the Combine, a tyrannical interdimensional empire. In typicalHalf-Lifefashion, the player gets avast amount of weaponryto use against numerous adversaries, the standout of which was the Gravity Gun. Featuring a nuanced and mysterious story,Half-Life 2is also, sadly, the latest mainline entry in the franchise, although several spinoffs and pseudo-expansions have followed it.
The 2000s gave rise to some of the most popular FPS franchises ever, and theBattlefieldgames are no different, with the series now spanningnumerous entries with a vast timeline.
Moving away from the setting of World War II,Battlefield 2takes place during a fictional modern conflict involving the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, and the Middle East. With all these factions, there are different military fronts that the game can be played on. However, this is only in the singleplayer campaign.Battlefieldgames are usually all about grand multiplayer battles, withBattlefield 2featuring 64 players in a match, all of whom can use the various weapons and vehicles available. Players take control of different infantry classes that possess various specialties that will help with winning an online battle.
While most FPS games are connected with action and an in-your-face atmosphere, the firstGhost Recon Advanced Warfighteris a lot more toned-down and tactical, emphasizing caution and strategy.
Missions inGRAWare what players would expect from an FPS game; eliminate enemies, rescue allies, and destroy certain locations. The way in which these objectives are handled is what makes this game different, and players must be careful about what actions they commit to, as only a few bullets can kill them. Various weapons and vehicles can be used, and ally characters can be given commands to help with the completion of objectives.
2007 was a colossal year for the FPS genre, featuring some of the biggest and most popular games to ever be released.BioShockwas the game that managed to come out on top, and is stillone of the best steampunk games ever created.
BioShockfeatures elements of stealth gameplay that can be used in conjunction with the numerous weapons and powers available. The world is littered with items that can be interacted with to provide immersion. Of course, players navigating the world will come in contact with various enemies, with the Big Daddy becoming an incredibly well-known adversary. However,BioShockis most recognized for its narrative, ranked asone of the best story-driven FPS games.
Fallout 3was the firstFalloutgame since Bethesda acquired the series from Interplay Entertainment, with a drastic shift in the tone of the franchise.
Instead of being designed as an isometric game like its predecessors,Fallout 3featured an open-world design typical for Bethesda, and a first-person perspective from which to experience it. With numerous different guns, enemies, and locations, players were able to wander the world of theFallouttimeline in 3D. Diving into elements of an RPG, players were able to create and customize their character and engage invarious different side queststhat could impact their karma, a system that wasn’t brought back forFallout 4.
Call of Dutyhad always been more of an action FPS game, but the secondModern Warfareentry dialed it up to eleven. With more explosions, guns, and overall awesomeness,Modern Warfare 2is where theCall of Dutyseries truly exploded into stardom.
It featured even more guns than the firstModern Warfare, a more involved multiplayer system, an intense singleplayer story, and the introduction of the Spec Ops mode. Many fans considerCall of Duty: Modern Warfare2 to be their favorite in the vast franchise, and it isn’t hard to see why, as it took everything great from the firstModern Warfareand improved upon it while adding more. It isn’t any surprise, then, that thisCall of Duty, along with its predecessor and the first twoBlack Opsgames,are regarded as the best.
