When I read reviews about this game I think I'm in the minority when it comes to sentiments about FEAR 3. I really like it! It's a great and fluid shooter. It's not like the original FEAR--that game stands alone--so judging it based on the original is going to get some harsh criticism and disappointment, but as far as shooters are concerned, it's one of my few repeats. I played it again a couple weeks ago and was surprised by how much I liked it. I don't play shooters for the story, and this story is nothing special. It certainly didn't do the FEAR story any favors. With that said, the story doesn't affect gameplay at all, and I think the gameplay is where this shines. Not because it breaks boundaries or sets new standards, but because it's just a solid shooter, and it doesn't need to be anything more than that. The movement is fluid, the action intense, the shooting satisfying, and the locales wide and varied. And the bullet-time never gets old. I don't like upgrade systems in games, but the way they did the challenges in FEAR 3 was a fun and non-intrusive way to do it and gave me a challenge to accomplish while playing (replayability points earned). I appreciate the added effort to include "collectibles" (which seems to me a more modern approach to secrets, and I like any throwback to 90s FPS). I think if this was marketed as its own game and not an installment in the FEAR franchise it would probably have done better. That's my theory at least, because I genuinely like the game. All in all I think FEAR 3 is a good shooter. If you like FPS games and want a solid shooter, you won't be disappointed here.
Perhaps not very common, but I didn't play these when they came out. I played Doom, and then sort of skipped a few years of games (like Quake and Unreal). I picked this up a few years ago and have played it a couple times and in multiplayer and have to say, it is extremely fun and one of the best in its class. I highly recommend it!
I played these games to death when they came out. I was addicted. I think they are the best Medal of Honor games and some of the best WWII games I have played. While I have a bit of nostalgia-bias, playing them more recently does show some signs of age and I must admit that. They're not as fun as they used to be for me, and maybe that's because I mostly played them online. Single player now seems a little slower and more laid back than I like, with less action and pace. Hence why I docked a star and set this at a very solid 4. I really like these games, nonetheless, and highly recommend them.
Amid Evil is fast, visceral, and fun. It does the retro shooter right, keeping close to the spirit of the style while unabashedly looking flashy at the same time. All of the weapons are fun to use and have impact, the enemies are well done, and the level design is fabulous. All around great and fun game that I highly recommend!
This is the first video game I ever played. It holds a special place in my heart. But I will be honest, it's not my favorite game, nor do I think it is the best (FPS) game. I legitimately enjoy playing through the first episode or two, but then kind of lose interest with the monotony. For sheer gameplay value, I think an honest review for me would float somewhere around a 3 or 4, but I give it a solid 4 stars for its value as a precursor to the games that followed, namely Doom. I think it's worth playing, it's fun, but you shouldn't really pay more than a buck or a buck-fifty on it. If you're not already in the know, I think the best way to get this up and running is to download the free source port ECWolf. It will make running this quick and easy.
I'm not shy about my bias and love for Doom. I played it when it first came out and have played it ever since. While I prefer Doom 1 over Doom 2 for the levels, Doom 2 is where it's at for the modding. And let me be honest, I have a nostalgic love for Doom, but the reason the game is still relevant today is because of the active modding community. You can find anything you want and tweak the game just how you want, and the options are nearly endless. And there are some downright excellent level designers and asset artists out there, all contributing for free. If that's not your jam, that's OK, because the game is great in its vanilla form with what I think is the gold standard of gameplay and level design for the FPS genre. If you're not already in the know, I recommend downloading the source port GZDoom to run the game (there are others, but this is my favorite, and supports the widest array of mods). It is free and utilizes modern GPU features. Snag a copy of Doom 2 and a source port, and then rip and tear!
I played Doom when it first came out and I've been playing it ever since. It gets better with age, but more honestly, it gets better because of the very active modding community. Classic Doom is still one of my favorite games, but modded for modern systems and with some spicy additions, it is my all-time favorite game and a gold standard for the FPS genre. It set the standard for weapon loadouts and has the best level design found in games. I prefer Doom 1 over Doom 2 for the levels, but you really need both for the full experience (particularly because all the mods are going to favor Doom 2). If you're not already in the know, I recommend downloading the source port GZDoom to run the game (there are others, but this is my favorite, and supports the widest array of mods). It is free and utilizes modern GPU features. Snag a copy of Doom and a source port, and then rip and tear!
I played Wolfenstein 3D and Doom before Quake. I've been addicted to Doom ever since it came out and still play it. Quake never quite did it for me as far as gameplay and enemies are concerned. I think it's a great game and I like the ambiance, theme, and level design, but I don't enjoy the weapons and I dislike most of the enemies. I recommend playing Quake, both for its importance in the FPS genre and because it's a good game, but it doesn't rank up there on my top games list for me.
I didn't play this when it came out, so my review is based solely on a more modern (read: recent) experience. I played Wolfenstein 3D and Doom when they came out and Doom has dominated my interest ever since. I never really got into the Quake realm. I played and enjoyed the first Quake, but not nearly as much as Doom. And Quake II just never did it for me. I wouldn't consider it a bad shooter, but for me, it's just straight middle of the road average. Probably better than its competitors at the time, but inferior to some of its predecessors and unable to compete with subsequent games since. It's an ok game. I don't recommend it, as I didn't enjoy it. But I also know it has a very ardent following, so there's obviously something to be loved in Quake II. Maybe you'll find it. Or maybe you'll be like me.
Wolf 3D was the first game I ever played, so Wolfenstein has always held a special place in my heart. I haven't played all of the new games, but that's because I played The New Order and couldn't get into it and still can't get past it. I'm not nostalgic enough about Wolfenstein that story would hurt the series for me in that regard; I don't care about story in a game--I just want to play the game. TNO was just not a fun shooter. RTCW, on the other hand, is a solid, classic shooter. I love WWII games and the WWII theme. Maybe that is a bit of nostalgia, as it was the main theme of many of my first games, and RTCW does the theme great. I'm not really into the supernatural aspects. I mostly tolerate it. But the gunplay and the level design are what make RTCW shine. If you're looking for a classic shooter, this is it; if you want the best Wolfenstein game, this is it. It's frequently an unbeatable price, and the prevalence of several mods to increase replayability, make this an easy choice. Buy it and enjoy!
