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The Action FPS Benchmark

by Steve Gibson, Jan 01, 2003 10:04am PST

The first preview of the new year comes from CVG taking a look at Unreal2 which will be in fact a sequel to Unreal. Here's a bit that might make for some interesting discussion for the day.

During a break from the action to down a glass of water, trying to stop my adrenaline-fuelled shakes from spilling it, I asked project director and main designer Glen Dahlgren if he thought Half-Life was still the benchmark for new shooters. "It was a real jump," he concedes. "It added depth when there wasn't any. But if you look at its story, it's paper-thin, and a lot of the games that have come since have gone a lot deeper, adding characters with personalities. That is the expectation now, so I don't think Half-Life is the one to beat anymore - in my mind at least." And he has no doubts that in Unreal II Legend has something that will beat anything currently on the market.
So then, what game IS the benchmark now for a single player FPS action (not rpg) experience?


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92 Threads | 385 Comments*
  • #387
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    By: 4ge x
    Reply
    I don't believe halo counts as it's still a console game,.. therefore the majority of shacknews readers probably haven't even seen it!
    (I only just saw it for the first time about a month ago)


    Half life was fucking great, people who dispute it obviously have a bee in their bonnet - or got all hyped up by other people that it simply had to disapoint them.
    In reality half life was a top notch game - and well well thought out - REAL gameplay to it, and story AND immersion, as for people claiming it had a "paper thin" plotline, well that's definately only opinion, it really didn't NEED a good plotline cause of perfect execution.

    Read this review of it just to see some of the thought that was put into the game
    http://www.shacknews.com/reviews/review.x?r=1&gid=231&id=950

    Also NOLF1 gets a big thumbs up because it's fun fun fun and more fun - fairly well done with only a few repetitive silly "avoid the camera" scenes- but otherwise it's like playing through about 15 bond movies in a 20 hour session, fantastic stuff.

    NOLF2 avoid like the plague, it's ok at best, really a blemish on nolf1 though really.
    Jan 03, 2003 8:38pm PST
  • #375
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    By: Artifex x
    Reply
    I think what set Halflife apart from the other fps's was its facile use of scripted sequences to create game "events". For instance, sneaking around in the air vents while overhearing a conversation between two SpecOps assassins was a circumstance that pulled you out of the shoot/kill/get-more-ammo rhythm and made you pay attention. Sequences like that have been used a lot in AvP2 (another awesome SP experience), Deus Ex, Jedi Knight 2, and others.

    What the single player FPS needs is more of these "events" that give purpose to your actions and to the level/environment/enemies around you. It's only when you understand why you are (or aren't) going to shoot somebody, open a door, or run away that the situation becomes really exciting.
    Jan 02, 2003 8:54am PST
  • #328
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    By: seven x
    Reply
    If you want an FPS with an engaging storyline full of character development, plot twists, excellent motivations and great voice acting, you go straight to NOLF/NOLF2.

    I do like those games a lot, but what makes me think they have what it takes when it comes to story, is how non-gaming friends of mine would just sit and watch it being played, waiting to find out what happened next in the story. I remember sitting in my housemates room with one of our female friends just waiting to see what would happen next, and laughing our asses off at the dialogue.

    NOLF/NOLF2 would be the clear benchmark for storyline.

    Undying was pretty good too, but it was a little more scare/horror than compelling story.

    But I think games like halo, sof, jk, etc etc tended to use story more of a means to an end (motivation and context for the next level/boss) as opposed to weaving a rich intersting and entertaining story.
    Jan 01, 2003 8:52pm PST