Not every first-person shooter can go on to have a lasting legacy like Call of Duty or Battlefield. There are a lot of shooters that come out, get their one chance, or maybe second, and then that’s it. They could be some of the best reviewed games of all time and still not see a life beyond a single experience or two.
Once-Great FPS Game Franchises That Lost Their Identity Over Time
Can these FPS franchises bounce back bigger and better than before, or are they doomed?
The video game industry is a mystery, but thankfully, a good game never dies. It may get harder to play these games because of older systems, but shooter fans will find that these examples are worth looking into. With enough resurgence in the media, maybe they could even return properly.
Killzone: Mercenary
The PS Vita’s Secret Weapon
Killzone: Mercenary was a spinoff for the PS Vita that actually got the shooting mechanics down right for the handheld, unlike Call of Duty: Black Ops: Declassified. One of the coolest mechanics was being able to swipe on the screen for knife-based melee kills during combat. Also, missions were open-ended as players assumed the role of a mercenary trying to buy favor with as many sides as they could to get ahead. Between the controls, visuals, and open-ended gameplay, this made Killzone: Mercenary one of the better entries in the Killzone franchise.
Darkwatch
Vampires And Cowboys
Darkwatch takes place in the Old West, but instead of playing a cowboy, players assume the role of a newly turned vampire. There’s a steampunk aesthetic to the game as players can wield all manner of hybrid weapons to take the undead out, from bladed revolvers to fast-action crossbows. At certain points, players will have to make a choice whether they want to spare NPCs or drain them of their blood, which will result in different vampiric powers. It’s a nice incentive to replay the game at least once.
Singularity
Soviet Time-Bending
Singularity is an underrated sci-fi game wherein players are sent in to investigate a Soviet experimental testing area. Here, players will discover a glove they can use to manipulate time. For example, a staircase may be rusted out of commission, but with the glove, players can restore it to working condition. Between the different time powers, the otherworldly weapons, and the mutated inhabitants of this test sight, Singularity came close to the level of atmospheric horror that BioShock managed to capture.
Immortals Of Aveum
Gifted By Magic
Immortals of Aveum takes place in a fantasy world in the middle of a war. Instead of using guns or swords, soldiers equip magical gauntlets and accessories that allow them to cast spells, which replace normal weaponry.
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As a loot-based game, players can find the equivalents of rocket launchers, sniper rifles, and shotguns, along with other, more versatile spell-based weaponry. Players can use a whip and cast a shield, for example, and while the world itself may be a bit too up itself to realize it all sounds too ridiculous, the gameplay is great, and it’s truly one of the coolest shooters in recent memory.
