There’s something special about first-person shooters.
Regardless of the reason, it is flush the perspective is here to stay.
Even as technology evolves, first-person shooters are adapting.
But the genre didn’t get to where it is today in an instant.
No, it traveled down a long road, continually growing and innovating itself in new, unexpected ways.
To showcase the continuity of the genre, they will be revealed in release order from oldest to newest.
10MIDI Maze - 1987
MIDI Mazetook inspiration fromPac-Man.
Instead of collecting pellets, the player had to shoot down other similarly designed enemies.
The original Atari ST release could also link up to other computers for up to sixteen player death matches.
9Wolfenstein 3D - 1992
Wolfenstein 3Dblew people away with its graphics and violence.
It was more fast-paced than anything else at the time, and established many conventions future games would follow.
Its levels were far more complex, requiring the use of switches and keycards to complete.
On top of that, a greater variety of enemies threatened the player.
7Quake - 1996
Id once again marched forward, introducing numerous new concepts withQuake.
On top of that, its missions featured real objectives other than getting from point A to point B.
The cherry on top was the addictive multiplayer component, featuring four-player, frame rate destroying mayhem.
This level of interaction with the environment was unprecedented at the time of release, especially in an FPS.
3Halo - 2001
WhileGoldenEyewas a unique console experience,Halobrought the PC FPS to the home system.
This Xbox exclusive was a monster upon release, and the main reason to ownMicrosoft’sdebut effort into the market.
True to its subtitle,Haloreally was combat evolved.
With the Gravity Gun, players could pick up almost anything and turn it into a deadly weapon.
Later sandbox shooters would adapt this philosophy of using the game world as a weapon.
For better or for worse, the genre was forever changed after this game’s enormous success.
NEXT:The 10 Best First-Person Shooters On The Xbox One, Ranked
