There was a time whenRarewas a master of developing stellar titles that pushed the boundaries of console gaming to new heights.GoldenEye 007was a revolutionary title that proved just how ripe consoles were for engaging and atmospheric first-person shooters. However, while this title was pretty great in its own right, it’s the release ofPerfect Darkthat pushed the realm of console shooters to the next level.
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The game lets players get into the shoes of Joanna Dark as she battles against the nefarious corporation dataDyne. The game is a ton of fun to play through to this day, and it’s a shame thatRarehas pretty much faded out of existence after being acquired by Microsoft, killing any hopes of a new game in thePerfect Darkseries. Thankfully, there aremore than enough games that fans can check out if they wish to fill the void left behind by this series.
8No One Lives Forever
It’s amazing just how many parallels can be drawn betweenPerfect DarkandNo One Lives Forever. Both games feature a sassy female protagonist who works as a secret agent and needs to take out enemies while uncovering a massive conspiracy.
Cate Archer is a great character who can take out enemies via either full-blown action sequences or stealth. Regardless of what avenue players pursue, they can rest assured thatthe sprawling levels ofNo One Lives Foreverwill keep them occupied for quite some time indeed.
7Half-Life
Valve burst onto the gaming scene withthe release ofHalf-Life, a groundbreaking first-person shooter that pushed the boundaries of immersive storytelling to new heights. Gordon Freeman used everything from a crowbar to massive RPGs to take out waves upon waves of extraterrestrial enemies who destroyed the Black Mesa research facility.
The game is full to the brim with some of the most iconic set pieces in gaming history. Players who want to jump into this game with a fresh coat of paint can do the same withBlack Mesa, an upgraded version of the game with breathtaking visuals and revamped levels.
6Wolfenstein: The New Order
Wolfensteinis one of the most popular video game franchises of all time, but there was a time when this franchise was completely dormant for an unacceptably long amount of time. WhileReturn to Castle Wolfensteinwas pretty fun in its own right, even its biggest fans couldn’t deny that the game did end up flying under the radar upon release.
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This wasn’t the case when the series was rebooted by MachineGames once again,under the title ofThe New Order. B.J. Blazkowicz was back and better than ever, with both the story and gameplay being absolutely stellar in every way.
5Unreal Tournament: Game Of The Year Edition
Unreal Tournamentis a beloved arena shooter that hasn’t really seen a new entry for quite some time. However, given how addictive the old games really are, most fans don’t mind just booting up theGame of the Year Edition, which is still highly engaging to this day.
The fast-paced action in every game mode is a blast to play through, with Facing Worlds establishing a legacy as one of the greatest multiplayer maps ever made. The gory action and a litany of weaponsmakeUnreal Tournamenta truly amazing titlethat still holds up to this day.
4Deus Ex
Just likePerfect Dark,Deus Exalso allows players to take on the role of a secret agent who has to uncover a conspiracy that could rock the foundation of the world to its very core. JC Denton is an iconic protagonist, with his deadpan delivery becoming an unintentionally hilarious part of the game.
Thesheer amount of freedom players enjoy while tackling every obstacle in the gamemakes it a highly immersive and engaging experience. Even after so many years have passed,Deus Exnever stops being a riveting title that will keep players on the edge of their seats till the very end.
3Alpha Protocol
It’s a shame thatAlpha Protocolwas released in such a broken state, causing many people to dismiss this title without even experiencing its strengths. The combination of a spy espionage thriller with RPG elements was done deftly by Obsidian Entertainment, who have proven time and time again why they’re a master of creating amazing games in this genre with multiple narrative paths and unique character builds.
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Michael Thorton is a fun character, with players being able to channel the energy of the three most popular JBs in the realm of spy thrillers — James Bond, Jason Bourne, and Jack Bauer. While the gameplay can still feel pretty janky,Alpha Protocolis a fun time that more players should definitely check out for themselves.
2Halo: Combat Evolved
The first chapter in the iconicHaloseries is a blast to play through in every way. Despite the level design feeling slightly dated, the music and set pieces ofCombat Evolvedare still a blast to play through in every way.
This game does a great job ofintroducing the wonderful sci-fi world ofHaloalong with the iconic Master Chief. The modern trajectory ofHalohasn’t been all that great, and fans still remember the golden years when Bungie did an impressive job of releasing hit after hit in the series.
1GoldenEye 007
WhilePerfect Darkmay have improved the console shooter formula, props should be given to the title that started this revolution in the first place. To this day,GoldenEye 007is a great titleto play through that fans simply can’t get enough of.
The couch multiplayer of this title was undoubtedly one of the best things about this game, with the frenetic gameplay being a blast to get through over and over again. To this day, players still curse the friend who took Oddjob and frustrated them over and over again with this character’s short height.
