SAVAGE PIXELS #16: Halo 4 and the DNA of the FPS
From 3D Monster Maze, through Wolfenstein 3D and Doom, to the Halo series... the DNA of the first-person shooter, laid out.
- Mount Kimbie - Cold Spring Fault Less Youth
- Baptist Generals - Jackleg Devotional to the Heart
- Tribes - Wish to Scream
- "More bands should split up" - Brett Anderson opens up to DiS about the return of Suede
- CocoRosie - Tales of a GrassWidow
- Laurel Halo - Behind the Green Door
- Frankie & the Heartstrings - The Days Run Away
- Drowned in Manchester #15 – May 2013
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Milton Savage?
Mass Effect's not a first person shooter.
...
"all played from the first-person perspective; all containing more than their fair share of guns-blazing gameplay."
^ Um, Mass Effect (the original, two and three) is totally this ^
I know it's sold as an RPG. And I know there's loads of RPG elements. But the 'action' sequences are pure FPS.
all played from the first-person perspective
ME's 3rd person
Actuallyshityrright...
Oh well.
To think I've put 100 hours+ into these games, too.
(sorry!)
Hard to look beyond Journey as my game of the year
Not so much a traditional game as some sort of vision quest.
Utterly brilliant in every respect and probably the most emotionally engaging game I've played, I'm not sure any game's made me feel as sad as when I've been searching for my annoymous travelling companion only to realise he's gone (or as happy as when he finally comes warbling his way back over the dunes)
XCOM
Is easily the best game I've played this year. It's thematic setting is brilliant and the 'antfarm' style base and research against the clock subgame is compelling, but the real meat lies in the tactical combat. It's all so tight and honed, the tension that underlies each mission is brilliant and really adds to the 'just one more turn' feeling of the whole. I also love how uncompromising it is, and how attatched it makes you feel towards your custom named and decked out squad members. It felt like the game that really briged the gap between console accessibilty and old school PC depth.
i forgive you
+100 PARAGON
:o)
Shame I just right- (or was it left-) triggered your face; + 35 Renegade.
TBF I always played as a Nice Young Man.
Borderlands 2
Why would you want to play anything else? So many guns - the sheer amount of missions/sidequests, injokes, pop culture references, humour, bad guys and NPCs is breathtaking. Plus it looks gorgeous.
Best game of 2012 - XCOM Enemy Unknown
I have to agree with Pharyngeal - fantastic game with a brutal Ironman mode. Having custom-named soldiers makes you that little bit more interested in their fates (and I'd like to apologise to all the friends, co-workers and family members I've inadvertently killed off in-game thanks to a dodgy shot with a plasma rifle). Ho hum.
Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure (3DS)
Did any of you know that this game was directed by the person who made the hugely infamous Sonic (2006) for the Xbox 360, I had no idea after I finished what might possibly be my favourite game of this year.
As you would expect by reading the title, its a rhythm game, but it separates itself apart from other rhythm games by having a decent story, full of likeable characters.
The gameplay is solid as well, as you plough through the story, you play various rhythm sections by either using the buttons or the touch screen, I felt that all the rhythm gam were very fun to play.
It would all fall apart if the game sound sucked but the soundtrack is what makes Rhythm Thief so memorable, its full of Jazz and orchestral moments that stay with you, it's that good.
It's certainly one of the hidden gems of 2012 and with that said, Sonic (2006) director - you have redeemed yourself.
I've heard from numerous sources Halo 4 is crap
certainly the position you've given the series in the FPS constellation is a bit, shall we say, overbearing- they are a bunch of competent to mediocre shooters carried over the line by their decent multiplayer. The effusiveness of your praise wouldn't have anything to do with the prize you're able to give away this month, would it? ;)
Best game of 2012: Probably Skyrim. Solid return to form from Bethesda after the heavy disappointment of Oblivion. Beautiful and surprisingly thoughtful game, the drawbacks of which are as ever easy to mod away.
Skyrim came out in 2011
Tho it IS one of the best games I have played in 2012, too.
Appreciate what yr saying re review/comp - but it's got no bearing on my thoughts re the game. Save for some pretty dodgy flying sections - in particular a Star Wars style trench run - Halo 4 is (IMHO) immensely enjoyable. Really impressed - and I am no series fanboy at all (Halo 2 being the last one I properly really enjoyed/got into).
Shit, you're right
Cast my vote for XCom as well, then.
I’m going to opt for Sine Mora.
A fantastic old school shooter with some of the best visuals in the genre and a storyline that is utterly bonkers, featuring time travel, genocide and a vengeful bison in a wheelchair.
The health system is similar to Crank whereby a timer is always counting down, and the only way to increase it is to shoot more bad guys (getting hit yourself results in a time penalty). You also have a limited but rechargeable ability to slow down time which makes the bullet hell portions of the game a lot easier to deal with.
As such it’s much more accessible to people who are new to the genre or who (like me) are put off by the difficulty of other shooters (e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrPLhATu9pU&feature=related)
It’s a perfect blend of fun, skill and style.
You need new sources.
It is fantastic. The joy of Halo is the flexibility with which you can approach each situation aided primarily by your ability to jump. The praise heaped on Halo 4 is entirely justified, this review is not a one off; have a look on Metacritic.
I just wish FPS games would stop lifting scenes straight from war movies
Though they do seem to have finally got over that whole 'find fixed machine gun then get rushed by loads of bad guys' thing
XCOM
Just because it's thoughtful beautifully-paced, and requires a nice range of skills. It's certainly not just a button-basher.
Journey
Absolutely gorgeous, incredibly immersive considering you're in the middle of the desert. The game flows amazingly well, and the co-operative nature of the game works brilliantly, something that can't be said for most games. Not to mention the stunning soundtrack.