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First-person shooters are among the most popular of computer games and there are masses to choose from. Here Kyle Ackerman, one of America's most prolific games journalists and a regular contributor to PC Gamer and Computer Games magazine, picks five of the best Click to view Top 5 First Person Shooters.
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Best Sci-Fi FPS (System Shock 2) |
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 Science fiction settings let us plausibly play with futuristic weapons, and slay hideous monsters, free from the bounds of current reality. ProductSifter already has Half-Life 2 covered as the best overall FPS, so here we'll focus on System Shock 2 as the top choice for classic SF action. |
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| Science fiction is such a rich category for games, especially first-person shooters, that there are plenty of great choices for every platform. There's no better setting for a first-person shooter than a dark future in which something has gone hideously wrong. The Halo franchise has captured gamer's imaginations on Microsoft's consoles; Metroid Prime has let Nintendo's fans explore the distant reaches of the galaxy; and games such as The Chronicles of Riddick and Gears of War have explored themes ranging from a high-tech prison escape to a battle against the Locust Horde. But our role at ProductSifter is to help you find the best, richest experience in each category, and not necessarily the latest shiny box that glimmers from the shop shelf. |
Everything a Fan Could Want |
 For a first-person shooter that truly has it all, start with System Shock 2. You awaken on the interstellar vessel Von Braun, a ship ravaged by the battle between a rogue artificial intelligence named Shodan and The Many, a massive biological hive mind that has wrested control, zombie-like, of the few remaining members of the Von Braun's crew. System Shock 2 has futuristic weaponry, monsters, zombies, robots, psychic monkeys and horror to spare. This fuses with role-playing game-style character development and a hacking interface that would make Neal Stephenson proud.
If that sounds trite, it shouldn't. The plot is what makes System Shock 2 a must-play for anyone with access to a PC. The story that underlies System Shock 2 is a masterpiece of gaming that demands you play all the way through its horrifying conclusion, scaring you out of your wits at nearly every turn. Anyone interested in a great tale and a series of good scares should absolutely try a trip on the Von Braun. |
Chamber Your Last Bullet |
| The game harks back to 1999, so while the graphics can't hold a candle to those of more recent games, it's still worth turning off the lights, cranking up the sound and playing System Shock 2 during the dead of night to ensure some of the most memorable nightmares you'll ever experience. Also, while the game is still available, it will cost you less than the latest first-run games. |
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 Certainly, System Shock 2 had its detractors. The game received near-universal critical praise, but everyday gamers looking for a Doom-style experience found System Shock 2's intentionally sparse ammunition and unlimited supply of enemies frustrating. Personally, I prefer the game as it was originally intended. The tension of hiding behind a counter, hoping a zombified crewman would pass me by rather than expending my last bullet was unbelievably exciting. Still, for those who would rather run around with guns blazing, patches and cheats make it easy to customize the System Shock 2 experience to your taste. |
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To buy this product try one of the following retailers. They are competitively priced and reliable:
Amazon.com - The US arm of the giant online retailer
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