Sci-fi FPS recommendations

[York_Beckett]

Since modern-day military shooters never were that appealing to me, I've been searching around for a first-person shooter within the sci-fi genre. I could use some help here though...

While I've never been into Halo or Crysis, I could use a good old science fiction game, whether it be futuristic, post-apocalyptic, cyberpunk, dystopian, space or whatever.

I'm going to be honest; it doesn't matter whether or not the game is considered "good." I'm pretty much looking for anything playable, and I'm sure I'll manage to pick up on it.

So feel free to mention good or bad stuff; any game you've enjoyed, or even despised.

 

[Zorak the Mantis]

Shattered Horizon and Battlefield 2142 are a lot of fun.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

Since modern-day military shooters never were that appealing to me, I've been searching around for a first-person shooter within the sci-fi genre. I could use some help here though...

While I've never been into Halo or Crysis, I could use a good old science fiction game, whether it be futuristic, post-apocalyptic, cyberpunk, dystopian, space or whatever.

I'm going to be honest; it doesn't matter whether or not the game is considered "good." I'm pretty much looking for anything playable, and I'm sure I'll manage to pick up on it.

So feel free to mention good or bad stuff; any game you've enjoyed, or even despised.

Fallout 3 and Mass Effect are ones I would recomend. Fallout 3 has more conservative ammo (You don't spray it) but Mass Effect has a more "Run-n-gun" (at least the way I played it) approach. I enjoy both.

 

[IBlackKiteI]

Mass Effect has really crappy combat. Think of any boring shooter with little variation in enemies, areas and just fights in general and stretch the length out massively. However it does make up for this somewhat with (what is widely seen as) great story and characters, but at it's core I strongly think that Mass Effect is just not at all a great game actual gameplay wise.

Stay away from Halo if you aren't going to play the multiplayer. Although CE did have a great campaign.

I quite liked Crysis 2. It's pretty much the opposite of most shooters, having an awesome campaign but somewhat flawed multiplayer.

While I couldn't really get into Fallout 3 (mainly because of 15fps even on low settings on my PC) theres no dening that its a great game. It's combat is not exactly breathtakingly stellar but the game overall is excellent in every respect, except for maybe the voice acting and a couple game mechanics here and there.
Strongly suggest that you check it out if you haven't already.

Metro 2033 is not real heavy sci-fi wise but it is there to some degree. I really enjoyed it and it's one of the few recent shooters where I've genuniely given a fuck about the setting, characters and story, which is pretty well done and integral to the game's progression rather than just being stuck on the sidelines like most FPS's.

Deus Ex is a total gem. I can't promise you'll like it but I sure as hell did. Greatest thing about it is that it's like an FPS, a stealth game, an RPG and an adventure game all rolled into one, whenever you choose it to be. Theres a ton of replay value to be had too.

 

[Catchy Slogan]

How about Area 51? Does that count?

 

[LookingGlass]

Bioshock is a pretty great FPS that would qualify as Sci-Fi. Strong story elements and it's a spiritual successor to System Shock 2 (also awesome).

Deus Ex as mentioned is pretty much the greatest thing (not just game, thing) ever created.

The original Halo was great.

I just played Aliens Vs Predator 2 (the 2001 Monolith game) and really enjoyed it. However, it's a bit short if you only want the FPS part. The marine and predator campaigns would only be about 3 hours each. The Alien campaign is more first person melee.

I've only just bought it so I can't speak for how good it is, but Star Wars: Republic Commando received decent reviews and stands as a 78 on Metacritic... might be worth checking out.

 

[Gaiseric]

If you can find it Project Snowblind is cool.

Red Faction 1+2(2 is barely related to the first game)

 

[Ronan117]

Freelancer,
Its not technically an FPS, you fly a space ship around in 3rd or first person. Fun game.
And like LookingGlass said, Star Wars Republic Commando is a great game.

 

[DannyJBeckett]

The TimeSplitters series

End of discussion.

 

[Taham]

Mass Effect 1 and 2 are excellent Sci-Fi shooters, though they're third person. Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas are Post-Apocalyptic, and have a strong RPG element. Both are excellent games.

 

[Thamian]

Half-Life 2 (and all it's runty children) is a very good game, though whether or not it can be considered Sci-Fi I've never been totally sure (I lean towards hell yes on the grounds of transhuman enemies and aliens running around, but most of the weapons and the eastern bloc setting still engenders a nagging little doubt). Yes, I did just replay it this past weekend and yes, the story and characters are really are very well realised right up to that cock-slap of a cliffhanger ending for episode 2, and no, there is no two-weapon rule or similar consolification stupidity in sight.

Halo 1 was quite nicely done I always thought.

If you really don't mind if the game is any good, then Section 8, but be warned, it's terrible (got on amazon for £1, only just worth it).

Borderlands is very good, though it's hard to play it singleplayer without constantly remembering that it's supposed to be played co-op. That being said, I really liked it once I'd gotten out of the Arid Badlands and especially once I'd fought my way through to the DLCs (General Knoxx especially)

Mass Effect series is amazing, and hence is being reccommended by bloody everyone.

Fallout 3 is great, just buggy as all hell (so may not quite meet your functionality requirements).

Quake 4 was awesome. Even if the Medbay section of the game (i.e. from waking up in the medbay until you finally reach the evac site) was visually terrible. (The rest of the game was really cool to my mind)

 

[Tharwen]

Borderlands is technically Sci-Fi, but its setting is practically indistinguishable from Fallout (not the tone though), and I felt that it got very samey about halfway through. The gameplay is a bit hit-and miss since it relies almost entirely on what guns you've found randomly, and the aesthetics are all the same, everywhere you go. Although... looking back to see that you didn't like Halo or Crysis much, you might not be too fond of the jumpy-shooty gameplay it offers.

(Note to anyone developing a game set on a fictional planet: Please, please, PLEASE don't limit yourself to one environment type. You can literally do anything you want with the world you're creating so don't waste it all on dust and plains)

Other games include...

Doom 3 - People seem to have very mixed opinions of this. I find it's best to just let yourself be drawn into the 'unstoppable space marine killing machine' mindset and shoot the crap out of everything. Don't expect any good horror from it though. Pretty much all it has to offer is cheap jump-scares and extended periods of darkness.

That's all I can think of for now.

 

[Kahunaburger]

Deus Ex as mentioned is pretty much the greatest thing (not just game, thing) ever created.

Seriously. It rocks. Plus what is by all accounts the real sequel to that game is about to come out.

 

[Sn1P3r M98]

If you can find it Project Snowblind is cool.

Project Snowblind is loads of fun, I highly recommend it.