Poll: Can the lack of iron sight in an FPS be a deal breaker for you?

[RA92]

While I've been giving certain FPS <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.284431-Poll-Does-this-trend-in-new-FPS-games-annoy-you#11200235>design decisions a thought lately, I came across several people talking about their issues with iron sights. One guy in particular was saying that if Half Life 3 is released, it should add iron sights as otherwise it would feel antiquated and lacking. Which is curious as never have I felt that Half Life or its numerous excellent mods (Counter Strike, The Specialist, Opera, Action Half Life) actually needed iron sights.

I don't mind iron sights, really, and I can jump right into any of the newer iterations of CoD, BF or MoH and feel right at home. But while playing CS 1.6 the other day at a LAN party after a long time, I kind of remembered what I miss in modern military shooters - mobility while shooting. I did a fair share of strafing and bunny hopping while shooting in CS to make myself a harder target to hit, which I almost never do in CoD (unless I'm using a shotgun) or BF because your movement is restricted with your sights up.

While iron sights are a commendable feature for some (mostly tactical) manshoots (it was a welcome addition in New Vegas), I say bring on some FPS titles without it. This is precisely the reason I'm waiting for <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108908-New-Hawken-Trailer-Will-Blow-You-Away>Hawken, which doesn't involve standing around during the shooty bits but a quite a large amount of dodging, running, circle strafing and jumping (let's face it guys, it isn't exactly Mech Warriors). I know I'll be playing UT2k4 for our next party.

From a purely gameplay perspective, what's your view on iron sights?

Dunno whether it has been done before, the search results are giving me a 404 error for some reason...

Edit: Shit, where's my poll? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO IT ESCAPIST? O_O

 

[Kahunaburger]

Iron sights generally make combat less mobile, which is more realistic and helps balance stuff like snipers, but can also be a lot less fun. Honestly, I think there's room for both, but some games (bulletstorm, borderlands) would be better served by something like an alt-fire.

 

[Fooz]

i like iron sights, they are more comfortable to me, i prefer to have them

but i dont mind not having them as i enjoy Counter Strike 1.6

 

[nicholaxxx]

I was talking about this to my friend a while back, saying that iron sights make gameplay more camp-happy as opposed to run-n-gun twitch shooters that I love so much.

I'm not looking at this from a balance standpoint, but more of my personal idea of what a 'fun' FPS is, mind.

 

[josemlopes]

It depends on what type of gameplay the developers are seeking, you have something like COD where you must slow down to be accurate or something like Halo where you can shoot while you run and still be accurate.

Iron sights usually are there to force the player to slow down, although in some other games like Counter-Strike if the player is still not used to the game he will still have to slow down to have better accuracy.

 

[Not-here-anymore]

I started playing Halo:Reach again the other day, and there were people running and jumping and rolling all over the place! Compare this to CoD, where people pop in and out of cover with tiny, tiny movements...
Iron sights aren't needed at all. Not that they're a bad thing. Just depends what sort of game you want to play, really.

 

[razelas]

Yes, because markmanship is a skill worth learning and using. "Pray-and-spray" feels sloppy and amateurish.

 

[MasterOfWorlds]

I love iron sights. Anything that lets me shoot more accurately makes me happy. Hell, I'd put a scope on all my weapons if I could just to help me be more accurate. It's not that I'm inaccurate, it's just that I like sniping things from far away.

 

[BeerTent]

In my opinion, Iron Sights can define the type of shooter your going for. Include them, and your looking for something that's slower paced and more cover based. Keep them out, and your looking to achieve something that's fast paced and more dodge happy. I'm more of a slower paced sort of guy, so I like to include them and leaning.

It's also another reason why I don't like the CoD games. You want something fast paced, WITH iron sights? It really, really doesn't click well with me. (Then again, Generic Shooter #85 is kinda garbage anyway.)

 

[Thaliur]

Considering none of the FPS I actually like has them, I guess it can't.

WHat I DO like is the use of creative, unusual sights, like the scope screen in Battlezone (the Action/RTS game with the Biometal, lots of cold war references and a huge amount of awesomeness).

Area 51's colour-changing laser sight was great too.

 

[linwolf]

Yes I hate Iron sights it's boring together with regen heath and cover mechanic it have destroyed shooters for me. If Half life 3 have any of them I probably won't get it.

 

[redisforever]

If it works well, like in CoD, then yes, I like it. If it would bring nothing, like if it were added to Serious Sam, then no, never do this shit.

 

[hazabaza1]

Nah, they're nice to have, but a lot of the time I don't even use them.

 

[Fenring]

Iron sights are cool, but you don't need them. See Halo, or as you said all Valve games. None of those feel like they need iron sights.

 

[Owlslayer]

Some games are good with iron sights, some aren't. COD is fun with it.
But L4D doesn't have iron sights. Still fun as hell. And well, iron sights lessen your mobility, and in a zombie apocalypse moving slowly is a definite no-no.

 

[Bags159]

I hate iron sights as they promote slower gameplay. Also I don't think they add much except for "realism". I don't like any game currently that has iron sights.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

For uber realistic games like COD or Battlefield, yes, but for unrealistic games like TF2 or Unreal Tournament, no.

 

[Ashcrexl]

i've actually been rebeating half life 2 recently after playing through multiple call of duties and killzone 3 and it does feel a little strange at first, but in the end, i think i vastly prefer valve's way of doing things, with crouching making your shots more accurate, but not by too much.

 

[Bags159]

For uber realistic games like COD or Battlefield, yes, but for unrealistic games like TF2 or Unreal Tournament, no.

>uber realistic
>COD

This is a joke right? You're not serious? Please tell me you don't really think COD is "uber realistic"; maybe it is compared to TF2, but it's not realistic.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

For uber realistic games like COD or Battlefield, yes, but for unrealistic games like TF2 or Unreal Tournament, no.

>uber realistic
>COD

This is a joke right? You're not serious? Please tell me you don't really think COD is "uber realistic"; maybe it is compared to TF2, but it's not realistic.

"Realistic" to me means using actual guns and you die in two shots. Maybe your definition is different.