Doom
id Software’s return to the Doom franchise in May of this year was welcomed with open arms by critics and players alike. Doom’s frantic action focused on you taking down waves upon waves of demons as you fought your way down to the depths of Hell and back. With gore by the bucketload, tight controls, and some clean, polished visuals, Doom was the return to the franchise that fans had always wanted.
Of course, with it being a Bethesda game, there were plenty of little easter eggs hidden in there too. And for those looking for a real challenge, the Ultra Nightmare mode tasks you with going through ridiculously strong versions of the demon waves all without dying. You think you’re good at FPS games’? Doom will put your skills to the test.
Superhot
What made Superhot so darn good when it released on PC earlier this year, and Xbox One later on, was its time manipulation mechanic. In Superhot, time only moves when you do. Or at least it moves incredibly slowly if you stand still. Because of this, Superhot turned the traditional fast-moving mechanics of the FPS genre on its head, and instead forced players into perfectly aiming their shots, and planning out their movements.
One wrong move and Superhot would punish you over its five hour or so campaign. The fun didn’t stop when you finished the main story mode, though. Superhot also has a bunch of challenge modes and an endless mode to see just how long you can survive against the strange red men that seek your demise.
Overwatch
Probably the biggest success of the FPS genre so far this year is Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch. The team-based shooter is one of the most compelling online experiences we’ve had in quite a while, with plenty of reasons to keep playing and level up. Its controls are tight, visuals are clean, and most importantly, the characters are largely balanced.
While Doom offered mindless fun, and Superhot offered a unique approach to the genre, Overwatch succeeded in delivering enjoyable, tactical, online play. Changing your hero to adapt to your opposition’s team and winning the match may take some time to learn the ins and outs of the character roster, but is one satisfying experience. If you start playing, good luck stopping anytime soon.
And that’s our top picks from the first-person shooting genre. What has been your favorite shooter so far this year? Let us know in the comments below.
Published: Jul 2, 2016 11:00 am