Quite a year for FPS yet to come ...

[txa1265]

OK, while Half-Life never really grabbed me ... the HL2 announcement triggers some thoughts - we FPS players have had a fairly lousy first half, but have quite a second half to look forward to.

 

First half:

- Unreal 2: disappointing game, nice graphics. Not terrible, just mediocre.

- Postal 2: wild swings in reviews, generally reviewed as fair to poor.

- MoHAA: spearhead - not terrible, but too little game for too much $$

- RtCW Enemy Territory - so much for Co-Op ...

 

But in the second half ...

- Elite Force II - should be fun, not likely to be GOTY material

- Deus Ex 2 - serious possibilities for an awesome game

- Half Life 2 - I'm about split if this will be GOTY material or beat out Unreal 2 for the 'over-hyped, under-delivering game of the year'

- Doom 3 ... see HL2

- MoHAA: Breakthrough - probably like spearhead from above

- MoH Pacific Assault - likely to be solid, top-shelf game like MoHAA, but may get lost in the shuffle, especially if HL2/Doom3 live up to the hype.

and ... (you didn't think I forgot, did you )

- Jedi Academy: take a game that was consistently ranked in the top 3 FPS last year, address the criticisms and user wishes, and what do you get ... something really cool, I suspect.

 

I am most looking forward to Jedi Academy (given that 3 of my top 5 all-time games are DF, JK1/MotS and JKII it isn't a surprise), but don't expect it to be 'GoTY' this year. Not that I don't expect it to be awesome, but the other games will likely eclipse it either by being better or by what I call 'The Star Wars Syndrome' that has popped up everywhere since Episode I ... embuing a cynical view of all things star wars to many people.

 

What do you all think? What am I missing?

 

Mike

[taekwondo joe]

delta force black hawk down. but i do agree, but about half-life 2, dude, over hyped, no my friend, its HL!!!!!!!!!!!!! nothen has ever beaten the orgiinal, now a game comes with the best graphics yet, and says hl2, yeah baby, this is nothen short of amazing.

[txa1265]

Originally posted by taekwondo joe

delta force black hawk down. but i do agree, but about half-life 2, dude, over hyped, no my friend, its HL!!!!!!!!!!!!! nothen has ever beaten the orgiinal, now a game comes with the best graphics yet, and says hl2, yeah baby, this is nothen short of amazing.

 

What about 'delta force black hawk down'? Is it good / bad / new?

 

When I say over-hyped for HL2, all I am saying is that we have *just* seen mag covers, no real info, and already people are bowing before the HL2 alter. HL was innovative, and I believe it deserves many accolades, I just never got hooked into it ... I certainly hope that HL2 is also a great game ... I don't ever wish poorly of a game.

 

Mike

[C'jais]

Don't forget Duke Nukem Forever, my friend. That game is gonna kick arse and chew bubblegum like it's nobody's business (I hope )

 

Elite Force II: Will probably be a solid game, but nothing fancy from what I've heard (no physics engine or mindblowing graphics). But the gameplay will hopefully make up for it.

 

Doom3: This is the over-hyped title of the year. Expect serious graphics and suckable gameplay - it's gonna be so linear it's going to make serious sam envious and its gameplay will probably be likewise. And yes, I'm cynical.

 

Farcry: Gameplay that Doom3 wished it had, and an engine that could kill it, to boot.

 

Jedi Academy: Probably not going to make many new fans, but if they please the remaining ones with a killer saber system, it's a keeper, for me.

 

Halflife 2: It's gonna f*cking rAWK. All I can say. Txa, you have to remember that this is from the guys that gave us HL1. They know what they're doing, and if they can just put that engine to good use (which shouldn't be a major feat, considering they've used an inferior engine to make a great game before), it's gonna friggin' own anything in sight.

 

Deus Ex 2: Looks hot indeed. Never played the prequel, so I'm not really qualified to say for sure whether it'll be a blast or not for me.

[txa1265]

Originally posted by C'jais

Don't forget Duke Nukem Forever, my friend. That game is gonna kick arse and chew bubblegum like it's nobody's business (I hope )

 

Elite Force II: Will probably be a solid game, but nothing fancy from what I've heard (no physics engine or mindblowing graphics). But the gameplay will hopefully make up for it.

 

Doom3: This is the over-hyped title of the year. Expect serious graphics and suckable gameplay - it's gonna be so linear it's going to make serious sam envious and its gameplay will probably be likewise. And yes, I'm cynical.

 

Farcry: Gameplay that Doom3 wished it had, and an engine that could kill it, to boot.

 

Jedi Academy: Probably not going to make many new fans, but if they please the remaining ones with a killer saber system, it's a keeper, for me.

 

Halflife 2: It's gonna f*cking rAWK. All I can say. Txa, you have to remember that this is from the guys that gave us HL1. They know what they're doing, and if they can just put that engine to good use (which shouldn't be a major feat, considering they've used an inferior engine to make a great game before), it's gonna friggin' own anything in sight.

 

Deus Ex 2: Looks hot indeed. Never played the prequel, so I'm not really qualified to say for sure whether it'll be a blast or not for me.

 

Duke Nukem 3D is one of my all-time faves - right behind DF in the pre-JK1 era of games. It has been 'coming when it's done' for so long I completely forgot ...

 

FarCry? Not heard much there ... is it 'tactical' or true FPS? There's also Kreed.

 

Deus Ex I only played last month for the first time - I highly recommend it. You can pick it up on eBay for pretty cheap, and it still looks pretty nice on a modern machine. Basically take JK1's RPG-like elements, expand them into skills and 'augmentations', and make the game more of an exploratory than an action game - not that there isn't plenty of action. DX2 looks to expand that further, and I think that it will be excellent.

 

On Doom III ... I agree, but I hope we're both wrong. I see a game coming like Unreal II, typical 75% ratings, everyone talking about how alive the game felt, but how they didn't care ... again, I hope I'm wrong.

 

I'm going to have to buy a new copy of Half-Life and try it again. I had a friend's copy on 'permenant loan' a couple of years ago and eventually gave it back ... just never thought it was all that great. Valve has made 1 game, but they made a correct choice with that game to hold it until it was right. I hope that sensibility is reflected in the new game.

 

Mike

[txa1265]

So how does one determine the 'best game ever' anyway?

 

I've been looking at some game reviews, and some give JKII / Deus Ex / HL scores <75%, and games like Postal2, Unreal II and C&C Renegade scores >95%.

 

Certainly not sales ... that has about as much validity as music or movie sales ...

 

Any thoughts?

 

Mike

[ckcsaber]

Hmmm. For me, I always, ALWAYS, require a good storyline for a game to be "good". Half-Life did this beautifully, and is therefore, the best FPS ever released.

[leXX]

Agreed. It's the storyline for sure. Everything about Half Life is just pure brilliance. Rolling down the rail the first time you load it up, the first time a tentacle grabs you and pulls you up to the ceiling and crunchs on your skull, the first time you get to see the outside and hear the helicopter... endless hours playing multiplayer. So many moments, just an awesome game. Half Life 2 is gonna be THE game.

 

Duke Nukem 3D was the first ever PC FPS game I played and it's just such a great game, I'm definately getting Duke Nukem forever.

[Clem]

for storyline i aint gonna make ne friends by saying this

 

but deus ex .... eclipses half life by a few miles

 

half life was good ... but wasnt that good

 

put it this way

 

deus ex is the only game ive ever been able to play twice all the way thru without getting bored

 

and dont forget people ... Unreal 2 was gonna be "the game" and look what happened to that

 

i fear Half life 2 will fall flat on its face also along with doom 3 and probably deus ex 2 (tho i hope it doesnt)

 

and jais

 

PLAY DEUS EX

 

it is a one off theres nothing like it ...

[Rogue15]

OH MY GOD HOW COULD YOU FORGET HALO 2 BANISHED TO HELL YE SHALL BE!

[C'jais]

Originally posted by Clem

and jais

 

PLAY DEUS EX

 

it is a one off theres nothing like it ...

 

Aight, aight - I get the message, thank you

 

Problem is, I haven't been able to find it in any game store yet. If I suddenly stumbled over it, I'd buy it in the blink of an eye.

[ShockV1.89]

I have that problem with Postal2. I'd buy it in a second (a friend of mine showed it to me, what a great game), but I cant find it anywhere.

 

It's a pretty gross game, too...

[txa1265]

Originally posted by Rogue15

OH MY GOD HOW COULD YOU FORGET HALO 2 BANISHED TO HELL YE SHALL BE!

 

AFAIK, Halo #1 isn't even a lock for getting out this year.

 

Sorry ... when I think FPS, I think computer, not console.

 

Mike

[Rogue15]

well next time be more specific, my vornskrs are getting hungry.

[txa1265]

Originally posted by Rogue15

well next time be more specific, my vornskrs are getting hungry.

 

Not that I'm likely to buy an XBox, but what is it about Halo that was so good (truly naive question)? Was it good story / gameplay / graphics ? Does it compare well to PC games?

 

Thanks for the info!

 

Also, since more and more games are getting dual releases (PC & PS2 and/or XBox) it was I who was falsely limiting ... I just said that I only *think* PC! Getting too old ...

 

Mike

[Ratmjedi]

Were shall I begin for Halo.

 

Lets get some stuff off the box first shall we.

 

"You are the last of your kind. Bred for combat, built for war, you are the master of any weapon, pilot of any vehicle... and fear no enemy."

 

Bent on the humankind's extermination, a powerfull fellowship of alien races known as the Covenant is wiping out Earth's fledging interstellar empire. You and the other surviving defenders of a devastated colony-world make a desperate attempt to lure the alien fleet away from Earth. Shot down and marooned on a ancient ring-world Halo, you begin a guerilla-war against the Covenant. Fight for humanity against an alien onslaught as you race to uncover the mysterious Halo.

 

There you have some backround. It is a FPSof course but like no other. You have your weapons which are very nice and perform there jobs nicely. If you want to you can grab the weapons off your enemy's. There is melee fighting so lets say your close to a grunt why waste the ammo when you can hit him with the butt of your rifle. Trust me it never get's old. Ask R15 if yo don't believe me. You also can drive vehicles in the game as well. You can fly ships too if you can get to them from behind the Covenant forces. The levels are very large and are the biggest that I have ever seen in any PC or Console game.

 

The replayability is factor is awesome and everything isn't the same as before. The AI is good and isn't easy as in most FPs games. On medium they were challenging so imagine it on hard which is two levels up. You can also play cooperative which I did on Friday and it was very fun and good. Play the whole game or any part with a friends and communicate together to get through the game and actually use tactics. It's like a battlefield and you can do just about anything to take out the Covenant.

 

The story is very good and will keep you wanting to the play the game untill you beat it. There is also humour throughout the game that just makes you laugh and that is not to childish. There are some twist's and make the game intresting as you get further into the game.

 

I haven't even tried the Multiplayer yet cause me and my friend were hooked on the cooperative as soon as we started. But imagine playing against people through XBox live. If you have enough tv's and XBox's you can actually LAN and play against each other with a hub and cables. The Dolby Digital sound is also very nice and just adds to the gaming expierence. The graphics are good and aren't the best in the world but are good enough.

 

Overall the game is a 15/10 and just delivers in every way. Just like Videogames.com says " ..Halo single-player game is worth picking up an Xbox for alone."

 

Now Halo 2 will be same I have seen the trailer and I am just as excited about Halo 2 as much as I am about Reloaded so that ought to tell you something.

 

[BCanr2d2]

Originally posted by txa1265

AFAIK, Halo #1 isn't even a lock for getting out this year.

 

Sorry ... when I think FPS, I think computer, not console.

 

I think it is time to change that opinion, since consoles outsell PC in game software quite handsomely. So, the longer MS keeps itself involved in the console business, the more likely we are to see the cross platform game. Who seriously would've even expected some kind of headline as Doom 3 only for consoles, even if it is only a rumour. After all, Doom 3 is coming to the XBOX, so not even id see that the PC is the be all and end all.

 

I think the average Joe is more likely to get a console, and save their money to spend games, rather than the continual upgrades for both software and hardware....

 

As for the original Halo and when it comes to the PC, it is the one game I would seriously considering giving my PC the heart and eye transplant that it needs. It is the still the standout game on the XBOX, and if it is anywhere near as good for PC, it might be what MS hopes to be where people might buy an XBOX to play the original. Give the game time, since I think they want it out BEFORE they release Halo 2 for the XBOX, a bit less confusing for the average punter that way.

If MS are serious, give people a rebate to buy Halo for the XBOX, or for an XBOX with Halo included, and the XBOX sales would rocket.

[StormHammer]

Originally posted by leXX

Agreed. It's the storyline for sure. Everything about Half Life is just pure brilliance. Rolling down the rail the first time you load it up, the first time a tentacle grabs you and pulls you up to the ceiling and crunchs on your skull, the first time you get to see the outside and hear the helicopter...

 

Nah...I don't think it's the story so much as the way the story was told. The story was pretty basic 50's B-movie fare, but they put it across in some different and inventive ways that players hadn't seen before.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed HL's SP game...but looking back on it, it certainly had some problems - like doors you could only open from the other side. I don't think HL deserves it's long-standing status as the game to beat. Deus Ex came along and I think it's a far better game than HL, but that's just me.

 

 

As for what other FPS games I'm looking out for this year...

 

Breed - already being touted as a potential Halo-beater, it's variety of gameplay should make it a good game. Although it's mostly MP-oriented, there should still be a good SP campaign, and the graphics aren't too shabby.

 

Call Of Cthulhu: Dark Corners Of The Earth - this game looks great, and should bring something new into the mix by practically doing away with the traditional HUD, and introducing elements such as sanity levels, and having to check yourself over to see how much damage you've picked up. There is less of an emphasis on shooting everything in sight, but it should be a good game nonetheless.

 

Chaser - okay, so it's a Total Recall wannabe...but the graphics look good, and it looks like the gameplay is shaping up nicely, so I've still got my eye on this one.

 

Chrome - this game has changed quite a bit since the early screenshots, and with vehicular combat and something akin to DX's biomods to enhance your player character's abilities, this FPS could be shaping up into something really enjoyable.

 

Deus Ex 2 - the game I am looking forward to the most this year. Deus Ex was a fantastic game, IMHO, and considering they are aiming to make the sequel even better, I think it's definitely going to be the game to beat in terms of innovation and replayability.

 

DOOM III - although I'm looking forward to it, great graphics do not a great game make. It's already been overhyped, and I expect a thoroughly linear average shooter, along the same lines as Unreal 2. It wouldn't suprise me if it's just a short.

 

Duality - I don't know if it's a first person or third person RPG/Action hybrid, but the graphics in the demo video looked awesome last year, and the gameplay should be very good, so I've slapped it in this list.

 

Duke Nukem Forever - hahaha...yes I'm still waiting. Yes, it is very sad. Yes, they won't live up to the hype now it's been in development so long. Yes, they will probably switch to the DOOM engine and start all over again. Yes, it's a joke.

 

Far Cry - well, what can I say? This is one of the games that I think could start to redefine the genre a bit. With a focus on very good AI, and a kickass graphics and physics engine to boot, this game should be something really special. If they can build in a great SP story, and some inventive ways of telling it, then it should be an excellent FPS.

 

Half-Life 2 - of course I'm looking forward to it. I enjoyed the first one, and if they can recapture the same kind of atmosphere and creativeness, it should be a good game. i'll reserve any further judgement until I've seen some screenies and read about what it's going to contain.

 

Halo:Combat Evolved (PC) - I don't really expect a great deal from this. Gearbox aren't my favourite developer (especially after the execrable Nightfire), and Halo had it's time when it was released on X-Box. It's just old news, now, and I'll be trying a demo before I commit to it.

 

Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy - of course. Nuff said.

 

Judge Dredd vs Judge Death - With a visual style that's close to the 2000AD comics where this thing originated, and an emphasis on enforcing the law in Mega-City One, this should be a great game. They're already promising that the city will be buzzing with life, with lots of NPCs...some of whom are commiting crimes for which you'll have to Judge them. Forget Stallone...this should be the real deal.

 

Kreed - I've been watching this one for a while too. The graphics are most impressive, and if they can get the gameplay balanced, and a decent story to gel it all together, it could be a very interesting title indeed.

 

Mace Griffin: Bounty Hunter - heh...I've waited for this for a long time, and I'm pretty excited about it. An FPS/Space combat hybrid with a decent story and very good graphics, it's almost trying to out-Star Wars Star Wars. I can't wait to play it.

 

Painkiller - hmmm. the jury is still out on this one. It may be good...or it may be...erm...well, you know.

 

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Oblivion Lost - definitely on my wanted list. With some RPG elements, using vehicles to get around the massive play areas, coming up against other Stalkers and dealing with some of the nightmarish things in The Zone with a huge arsenal of weapons...well, I think it's going to be an excellent game. Only Far Cry seems to come close to it in terms of graphics - it leaves most of the competition crawling on the floor in those terms.

 

Star Trek: Elite Force II - I enjoyed EF, in spite of it's shortcomings - like finishing it in under 10 hours, and some of the bosses were pretty bad. They've already promised that those sorts of issues have been corrected this time around, and I think I'll probably enjoy it. I don't think it's going to be anything really spectacular, but it should be a good game.

 

TRON 2 - This game just looks better and better. Just going by Monolith's efforts on AvP 2 and the NOLF series, I know I'm probably going to really enjoy this game. They've definitely got the graphics right for the title, and all that remains is some interesting gameplay. I can't wait to take a ride in a light-cycle.

 

Xenus - more RPG than action-fest, but it looks good, and should offer some interesting gameplay. It will be interesting to see how the different factions will react to you when you start taking sides in your quest to find your lost relative...

 

XIII - I like the cel-shaded visual style of this title, and I suspect there is going to be a fair bit of dark humour in some of the comic-book style visual 'sounds', etc. The plot sounds a bit generic (don't they all), but if they can balance the gameplay and not rely solely on the graphics, it should be a good game.

 

I think I'm going to be pretty busy this year.

[Reborn Outcast]

Originally posted by StormHammer

Halo:Combat Evolved (PC) - I don't really expect a great deal from this. Gearbox aren't my favourite developer (especially after the execrable Nightfire), and Halo had it's time when it was released on X-Box. It's just old news, now, and I'll be trying a demo before I commit to it.

 

I'm assuming that you never played this game on XBOX. It is a VERY good game and for those who don't have consoles like their friends (like me) it is gonna be awesome.

[StormHammer]

Originally posted by Reborn Outcast

I'm assuming that you never played this game on XBOX. It is a VERY good game and for those who don't have consoles like their friends (like me) it is gonna be awesome.

 

Yeah, you're right, I've never played it. I just think it's long overdue for PC (considering it was originally intended for this platform), and a lot of other games in development look graphically superior, and will probably offer more in terms of gameplay. Halo was innovative at the time of release. I'm not saying it will be a bad game...I'll probably enjoy it, which is why it's listed among those other titles.

 

However, I have a lot of reservations because Gearbox is in charge of the port...and as far as I'm concerned they really messed up the port of Nightfire. That's why I'm not expecting much...

[txa1265]

Originally posted by Reborn Outcast

I'm assuming that you never played this game on XBOX. It is a VERY good game and for those who don't have consoles like their friends (like me) it is gonna be awesome.

 

To add on what StormHammer said, Console ports tend to lack something in the translation - in most cases. Look at all of the Gamespy reviews lately - you have console games that scored 90% on XBox getting 75% on PC.

 

To an earlier comment about switching my thinking ... if I weren't spoiled by good computers from work, I might already have done so ... I am also not too eager to have a console - my kids (5 and 6.5) enjoy the PC games and we can mix education and fun better that way.

 

Mike