Net Ten: The Best Shooters You Never Played (page2) Subscribe to this RSS feed

#5 Far Cry - [ PC ]

Yes, Far Cry earned some good press, but it got drowned out in last year's Doom 3/Half-Life 2 FPS fiasco. Luckily, Xbox players will get another chance this fall. Crytech's cryENGINE outperforms the high-end technology from id and Valve at almost every step, rendering a wonderfully detailed desert island with realistic physics, amazing water effects, and minimal hardware hiccups. Its open-ended style of play made each time through the game a drastically different experience, and A.I. is second to none. A true FPS classic, and another shooter with a robust fan presence

#5 Far Cry
87% average
critic
score

#4 Starsiege: Tribes - [ PC ]

Another overlooked gem, this was the first true online FPS title, leaving Quake 3 and Unreal Tournament to play serious catch-up. It was also immensely groundbreaking: Tribes was the first shooter to allow players to pilot elaborate vehicles; it featured lush, rolling outdoor terrain; and in an RPG twist, it allowed players to swap between various roles and classes. The sequels never quite reignited this fire, but you can download the whole damn game right here, free of charge. Thanks, Sierra!

#4 Starsiege: Tribes
88% average
critic
score

#3 The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay - [ Xbox ]

Forget about Vin Diesel's crappy action movies for just a moment. Even if this neglected classic starred My Little Pony, it would still be Riddick-ulously entertaining. It features a combination of Splinter Cell-like stealth segments and the sleek, deadly FPS action you know from games like Half-Life 2. It's a visual powerhouse too, rendering ultra-realistic visuals that ultimately surpasses even those of the mighty Doom 3. Definitely the best movie-licensed game ever released, though you wouldn't know it from the lackluster sales. Had the film been a runaway hit, this game would've sold like hotcakes.

#3 The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay
88% average
critic
score

#2 Thief: Deadly Shadows - [ PC ]

Okay, so it's not a first person shooter. More like a first-person sneaker. Still, Deadly Shadows deserves major props for being what is probably the best pure stealth title ever conceived. The writing and character voice-overs are unforgettable, and the action is nail-biting. It takes some patience to master the controls, but once you make the connection, you'll be hooked forever. The real question is: why didn't the game sell like gangbusters? The root cause can probably be traced to the cash-strapped publisher, Eidos, who had more urgent concerns at the time; namely, how to attract additional corporate funding.

#2 Thief: Deadly Shadows
87% average
critic
score

#1 System Shock 2 - [ PC ]

System Shock 2 isn't just any game, it's the ultimate gamer's game. If you haven't played System Shock 2--and depressingly, most folks haven't--know this: you're missing out on one of the most inspired, demented, and amazing games ever made.

You're a cybernetically enhanced soldier who awakens aboard a blood-spattered ghost ship. You quickly find yourself locked into a vicious power struggle between The Many, a vile species of telepathic parasites, and SHODAN, a scheming computer A.I. with delusions of grandeur. When your closest ally is a homicidal program who loathes your "disgusting flesh,... you know you're stuck between a rock and the hardest place ever.

So why did the game fail financially? There are many theories, but we prefer this one: the game was just too smart to succeed. System Shock 2 can be tough to track down, but if you're lucky enough to own it already, be sure to pick up the high-res texture pack and the Rebirth mod, which adds high-poly enemy graphics. And keep an eye (or the sensory organ of your choice) peeled for BioShock, an upcoming next-gen "spiritual successor" to System Shock 2.

#1 System Shock 2
92% average
critic
score