Some of the most successful games ever arefirst-person shooters. For example, series like Call of Duty and Halo regularly produce games that make a lot of money. This is because FPS titles capture the imagination of players. Not only are they often really fun, but they usually aren’t too complicated. So, some of them are great for casual players.
However, just because FPS games can be super successful, that doesn’t mean they always are. There have been a bunch of very impressive first-person shooters that have sadly been commercial failures, whether due to bad marketing or releasing at the wrong time. Here are some notable examples.
8Sin
The timing of a game’s release can be so critical to its success. Sin, unfortunately, was released around the same time as the iconic Half-Life. This has often been the reason people give for Sin’s lack of success. While it isn’t quitea genre-defining gamelike Half-Life, it’s still an excellent FPS. It revolves around a man trying to rid his city of a recreational drug in 2037.
The game gives you a real feeling of freedom, as there are multiple ways to beat levels. There are also some neat gameplay mechanics, such as being able to knock weapons out of enemy hands and interact with the environment. Before this game was released, these things weren’t a common sight in the FPS genre.
The MachineGames Wolfenstein titles are often credited for reigniting the once-popular FPS series. However, the 2009 Wolfenstein game was also a solid title. This one is set in a town called Isenstadt during World War 2. The Nazis are trying to get their hands on some rare crystals that will allow them to access the Black Sun dimension. So, it isn’t exactly the standard World War 2 tale.
The core gameplay is a little more standard, as the shooting mechanics and most of the weapons you use are what you expect from a WW2 FPS. That said, there is a bit of variety added with the inclusion of your veil powers that allow you to enter another dimension, make yourself stronger, increase your durability, and slow down time. Plus, while most of the guns are classic WW2 firearms, there are a few original ones in there, too. Overall, it’s a fun and exciting shooter that deserved more attention when it was released.
6XIII
Upon release, XIII didn’t get overwhelmingly positive reviews, which may have contributed to the game’s low sales. Yet, while critics didn’t initially love it, the title has since built up a cult following. This isn’t a big surprise, as there is a lot to love about this game. For starters, thegame looks like a comic book. This is due to its stunning and creative art style.
XIII isn’t just about looks, though. The core combat is great, too. There is a range of exciting weapons to utilize, and you’re able to even use standard objects to attack people. Not enough games allow you to hit people with bottles and chairs, so it’s a welcome sight in this one. On top of that, the game boasts lock-picking mechanics, the ability to climb walls, and even some stealth elements.
At one time, Resistance was a strong PlayStation-exclusive FPS series. Yet, it never quite matched the success of Xbox’s Halo. This is particularly true for the third game, which really struggled in terms of sales. This is unfortunate, as the game is actually really good. In it, you control former soldier Joseph Capelli, who must fight valiantly against the invading alien force known as the Chimera.
This isn’t really a war. It’s more of a desperate fight for survival as the Chimera are attempting to exterminate the human race. So, it isn’t the happiest of shooters, but the dark tone is really cool. What makes it even better is that the gunplay feels very smooth and satisfying. Plus, the game includes a slew of exciting weapons for you to use.
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It’s debatable whether Bulletstorm sold well or not. BothEA and Epic have claimed it wasn’t a success, but the developer,People Can Fly, was more positive about the sales.Either way, it should have sold more, considering that it is a very creative shooter.
The game incentivizes you to kill enemies in unusual ways by offering points that you can spend on weapons, upgrades, and ammo. To get the most points, you have to make use of your range of unique guns and your leash that can be used to pull people into the air. You can also slide into enemies and kick them into the sky. Use these different actions and weapons together to eliminate people in eye-catching ways. This emphasis on being flashy makes you play this FPS differently than you do other titles.
3Clive Barker’s Undying
For those who don’t know, Clive Barker isn’t a character in Clive Barker’s Undying. Instead, he is a popular horror writer who wrote this game. At launch, his involvement was the main selling point of the title. Sadly, it didn’t really work, as the game had poor sales. That said, it is actually a very good first-person shooter horror game.
It’s set in the 1920s and follows a man named Patrick Galloway as he investigates a mysterious occult. The game offers some fun combat that allows you to use both guns and magic at the same time. Your left hand holds a firearm, while your right hand can cast spells. So, it feels different from what you usually expect to see in an FPS.
There isn’t any clear reason why Singularity sold so poorly. It just never got the attention it deserved. And it deserves a lot of attention, as it’s a wonderful sci-fi FPS. The story is about an uninhabited island named Katorga-12 that used to be owned by the Soviet Union. Your character investigates the place with a bunch of other marines. When you get there, things start going a bit wild, and you gain the ability to move between different times.
Your time-traveling exploits are caused by a special piece of tech you pick up called the Time Manipulation Device (TMD). Not only does this piece of kit play a large role in the narrative, but it also heavily features in the gameplay. With this device, you gain access to different time manipulation powers that you can use on your foes. This adds so much to the already decent combat.
When people discussthe most underrated games in recent memory, Titanfall 2 is almost always mentioned. It’s famous for being an incredible game that didn’t succeed commercially. Releasing around the same time as FPS powerhouses Battlefield 1 and Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare certainly didn’t help.
This is such a shame because Titanfall 2 offers some brilliant, fast-paced shooting action with a heavy focus on mechs. The movement in the game is exceptional, as you can run across walls, double jump, and slide, and it all feels very satisfying to do. What also feels good is the shooting, as even when you’re in a mech, your aiming feels fluid and not clunky. The game really should have been one of the top first-person shooters of its generation.
