Help me pick a new FPS single player game.

[JohnnyWakko]

I just finished STALKER, and loved it. Now I need something to get me by.

I am looking for something atmospheric, & a really good story line.

My favourite single player games include:

1. Dues Ex
2. Stalker
3. Half Life 1 & 2

Other I have played:

Bioshock
Doom3

Some I am thinking of at the moment is:
Crysis
Halflife2 Episode 1
FEAR

I don't want your run of the mill War game or special ops either. It has to be atmospheric. Can anyone suggest anything else, and why it would be a good choice? I might be able to find something good in bargain bin.

[illy]

i'll have to give a thumbs up to the latest Half-Life 2 additions. Great story, cinematic gameplay, and they are must-haves. I'd also say that FEAR is very atmospheric and moody. Tons of eerie sections that sent chills up my spine.

I also thoroughly enjoyed Crysis. Many people complain that it was overhyped and that the game was an utter failure, but I found it to be very exciting. A definite movie-like story unfolds and the action is awesome. I will be going back soon to finish it all over again. Yup.

Also, this may not be a true "FPS" since it is mostly melee oriented from a first person perspective, but try Condemned. That game is guaranteed to scare the crap out of you because it's mood, visuals, atmosphere and sound are truly amazing.

COD4 is short, but it was very enjoyable for me because it was driven by a decently believable storyline, had some very intense game play, and it looks beautiful at the highest settings. Multiplayer is a definite hit.

I also very thoroughly enjoyed Gears of War for PC, even though it is a 3rd person shooter. Gritty, messy, dirty and jam packed with action and beautiful graphics.

I'll shut up now.

[Tanuki]

I don't want your run of the mill War game or special ops either. It has to be atmospheric.

On your list I would say FEAR has the most pizazz.


Ones not on your list.

The meh OK games.
Quake 4
Prey
Prey would have the better story. Quake 4 is more team based at some points.


The Deus Ex sequel is still a good game in its own right. It plays like the first one with a more non-linear gameflow as the story progresses.


The first Painkiller series has a lot of atmosphere but very little story and is pure action.


Dark Messiah of Might and Magic has a decent story. It is not a traditional shooter however.

Vampire Bloodlines has a great story and atmosphere but has equal roleplaying elements so that may not be what you are looking for.


The NOLF series is great if you can find them. The same goes for XIII.

[Frag Maniac]

You might want to consider Far Cry (if new means new to you) and Gears of War too.

[The_cranky_hermit]

System Shock 2 has your name written all over it. It practically wrote the book on atmospheric FPS's (though it owes a LOT to Half-Life), and it plays a lot like Deus Ex and STALKER, with heavy RPG elements and everything.

[BlueMak]

All games mentioned so far are great.

My favourite though FPS for the last few years is by far Rainbow Six Vegas. I highly recommend it

Call of Juarez is quite good if you feel for some "wild west" theme with very good graphics.

Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter has a good reputation for a military good shooter.


If you are looking for very old FPS games, I will add Shogo: Mobile Armor Division.

It's like Robotech only with non flying units.

[JohnnyWakko]

I think System Shock 2 would be the ace, but I tried to get into it about 1 year ago, and couldn't get past the old school graphics. A shame. I hope it gets redone (ala better than BioShock)

I think I will give FEAR a stab.

Thanks boys.

[StingingVelvet]

I loved FEAR and I would say it has atmosphere in spades, though enviornments in that game can get repetitive... they were going for an "action in real life enviornments" vibe and I love it, but lots of people got bored after the tenth warehouse room.

Condemned is also a great choice, very moody atmosphere that really makes you feel like a lone man against a city gone insane. Some of the rooms and set-ups in that game gave me chills, and there's nothing like fighting through a dozen guys with just a lead pipe, only to suddenly spot a guy across the room with a shotgun...

Some no one mentioned:

Call of Juarez nails the western atmosphere in my opinion and has some spiffy graphics. It's completely linear and somewhat short, but you should enjoy every minute of it if you like westerns and that kind of thing.

Lost Planet is not an FPS but close enough, and I for one thought it was a AAA title last year in graphics and cinematic gameplay. It feels very Japanese but at the same time is a blast to play and look at.

It's sad that I can't come up with something recent with the RPG elements of Deus Ex and Stalker, but... those games are just too rare. I agree with the above comments that Deus Ex: Invisible War isn't nearly as bad as some say though, a fine game in its own right, just not nearly as good as the original.

[BlueMak]

Some no one mentioned:

Call of Juarez nails the western atmosphere in my opinion and has some spiffy graphics. It's completely linear and somewhat short, but you should enjoy every minute of it if you like westerns and that kind of thing.

Check the second post above yours.

[JohnnyWakko]

Downloading FEAR Gold edition as we speak. $29.95 for 1st and 2nd editions.

Not sure about the whole slow motion thing, but we shall soon find out.

I can't wait for STALKER: Clear Sky to come out. I like my FPS's with Character Development elements.

[Dem Pyros]

I would suggest to NOT get COD4. The singleplayer is quite short, and the difficulty system is insanely idiotic.

[infernus]

I'm surprised you haven't played the HL2 episodes yet, they're both quite good. D:

[BlueMak]

I would suggest to NOT get COD4. The singleplayer is quite short, and the difficulty system is insanely idiotic.

You found the game difficult? :?

[DaFox]

[quote]I would suggest to NOT get COD4. The singleplayer is quite short, and the difficulty system is insanely idiotic.

You found the game difficult? :?

I played on the second hardest difficulty and i found it rather hard, I was stuck at the end of the sniper level, by the farris wheel took over 15 trys easily.

[JosephJEHancock]

That was the level that gave me the most trouble, too.

I second checking out Painkiller for laughs, and Red Faction games.

[Frag Maniac]

The end of All Ghillied Up is actually very easy even on Veteran if you know where to go and how to set up the claymores. It can actually be done without firing a shot, and that's with no cheats whatsoever.

Highlight to reveal intel info:

If you are aware of the last intel pickup in All Ghillied Up, you will have no trouble finding this spot. Across from the double doors you find that last AGU intel piece in is an inset corner of an apt house where you can hide. If you aren't aware of where those double doors are, go SE from where you lay Mac down. You'll pass through an opening in a wooden fence across from the bumper cars and it's just up ahead on the right.

There is a reason you must focus a bit on those double doors as sometimes troops come out of them, sometimes not, depending on where you are. Thus claymore placement is crucial, so first I'll tell you the claymore trick. First off, don't use ANY claymores until you get to this part of the mission, they're simply not needed elsewhere and you just end up wasting them. The only reason to put a claymore facing the double doors is if you don't have that intel piece, but you must be far enough away from them when the wave of enemy support choppers come (which is when it opens) and get there before the doors close to get it.

My setup spot is SE of where you lay Mac down, past the bumper car area, through a gap in a wooden fence, and across from some double doors. It is a corner inset of the apt building across from those doors.

In placing claymores DO NOT set Mac down on his sniping spot until you have first placed ALL the claymores you already have. This means you have to set him down near where you place each claymore and not stray too far from him or you will fail the mission for leaving him behind. Place a couple claymores behind the house with the inset corner, heading away from the bumper cars and to your left. Then set one just before you round the corner of the house near the corner inset facing away from the bumper cars. If you don't stray from the corner inset until it's time to load Mac in the chopper, you won't need to place one facing the double doors opposite the corner inset. If you stray from the corner inset spot too far after the enemy support choppers start coming, those double doors will open and troops will come out of there.

Place the other claymores between the corner inset and the wooden fence until you have no more. Put Mac on his sniping spot and whalah!, suddenly you have another full set of claymores to use! I don't really consider this a glitch though as Mac tells you earlier to place a claymore before he gives you his. Instead I think it's a bit odd that when he gives you his you are stuck with the amount he has even if you haven't used any of yours yet. Sure it's probably due to a carry limit, but odd just the same. You'll have enough now to easily defend the area between the corner inset and the bumper cars, which is where the majority of enemies come from. If you think you have enough place one more behind the house, or in front of the double doors, or facing away from the bumper cars between the corner inset and the back of the house.

This method is so easy I actually played it once without firing a shot until I went to pick up Mac. If you use grenades when you leave to pick up Mac it could be done without shooting at all. One thing I've not experimented much with is placing claymores between the wooden fence and bumper cars. I tend to use them more defensively than offensively though as you can really only count on each one taking out one guy, and obviously there are lots of guys. Thus I proritize the guys that are advancing on my hiding spot.

When the first wave comes a few troops and/or dogs will come from behind the house, the remainder will come in front of the house and go toward Mac or over by the bumper cars, hiding behind the wooden fence to fire and/or lob grenades at you. You can easily stay out of grenade range by tucking into the corner inset and waiting for the grenade indicators to dissapear. The claymores will take care of them if they advance toward you.

To take out the enemy quicker, lean around the corner of your hiding spot and use an assualt rifle, the sniper rifle or grenades. You can shoot them right through the wooden fence. It's one of the best things about this spot as the AI seem to think they can duck down behind it but they get shot right through it. I tend to use the AK mostly, it punches through fences well and there's always plenty ammo to pick up.

When the Big Bird extraction chopper comes, there will be a few lingering enemies on your side of the wooden fence but in front of the house firing at the guys guarding the chopper, these are the ones you can save the grenades for if you wish. It's easy as pie to take them out as they don't see or hear you coming. The rest is just a matter of the route you take to Mac and back to the chopper to avoid fire. If you weave between the ferris wheel and ticket booth it provides great cover.

[BlueMak]

Eh, I don't know why all this preparation. I played the level not on the hardest setting, but the one bellow it and I let the other sniper lie down where he was supposed to and I just moved beyond the ride up the very small hill and I just sniped away the enemy incoming forces. Finished it on my first try, didn't even come close to losing that level.
And I am not bragging, just saying how it happened and why I find it difficult to see the game as a difficult game. :P

[Dem Pyros]

[quote]I would suggest to NOT get COD4. The singleplayer is quite short, and the difficulty system is insanely idiotic.

You found the game difficult? :?I didn't say I found it difficult. I said the difficulty system was idiotic.

On normal the damage system is just about the same, except you don't get hit. It's as if the difficulty system only adjusted the accuracy of your enemies instead of giving you more health. You could run around like an idiot with a pistol and kill everybody on normal, simply because your enemies can't hit you.

That takes all the fun out of it.

On veteran, it's much different. Your teammates are invincible, which leads to a lot of other issues. On the "hunted" level, there is a moment that you have to dash from cover into a basement (early on in the level). During all of this, there's a chopper and hordes of enemies trying to kill you. You have a teammate behind you, watching the door to the cellar and standing idly by. He never gets shot. NEVERTHELESS, the moment that you walk out from cover you get torn to shreds.

Why?

The thing that is most annoying, however, is the AI. It's idiotic. I'm sorry, but it is. The AI takes priority over you. This causes your teammates to be able to push you out of cover, especially in situations when there is little cover to begin with. Most notably is the Silo section of "No fighting in the war room," where you have to pass four silos to get to the control room. At the beginning, there is a slight outcropping which allows you to get cover and throw a grenade into one of the silos, and therefore kill one of the enemies and proceed on your way. But because of the AI system, often times I would get pushed out of that little bit of cover to be blown to bits.

Why?

Most damning of all is the fact that there are some things that are blatantly unrealistic. You are the rookie. You are supposed to be behind your teammates as they push forward, giving commands. Why are YOU the one who is leading everybody? It may be a video game, but if they were taking that type of idea, why not have you be the leader of a squadron instead of a rookie who should have no field experience to begin with.

Then there's the fact that they sent three people into a nuclear launch facility to prevent the apocalypse, but that's another story.....

And for the musings on the the Chernobyl levesl, I thought they were easy. All Ghillied Up I finished on the first try, and One Shot, One Kill I finished with only one retry at the extraction point.

[BlueMak]

Dude, I don't even like the game, don't worry. :lol:

[The_cranky_hermit]

I tried to get into it about 1 year ago, and couldn't get past the old school graphics. A shame.

You could try this:
http://www.fileshack.com/file.x/3001/System+Shock+Rebirth+Beta+1