The Ten Most Breakthrough FPS Games of all time

Gamersmint: The FPS is undoubtedly the most dominant genre in gaming today. From the first attempts at breaking down the 2D barrier to the massive polygons and extensive multiplayer suites offered by games today , it’s mind boggling how much the genre has leaped ahead with the release of a new game every year or two.

[smurfz]

Is that Deus Ex in the pic? That game sure was a breakthrough. I can't wait for Human Revolution.

[RedDead]

Just started playing it yesterday, it's fu**ing epic

[NukaCola]

I would have to make a couple of remarks.

First of all why have both Doom and the Wolf? They are basically similar games.

And I think this list lacks a few great titles that revolutionized gaming. Like Metroid Prime and Bioshock which really was more of an exploration/adventure from first person perspective than just a FPS.

Or something like Portal, which had a great story but created the puzzle shooter.

[MaxXAttaxX]

Half-Life 1
Golden Eye
Quake
Counter Strike
Half Life 2 *
Bioshock *
Portal *
Duke Nukem 3D *
Metroid Prime *
Doom *

(* personal favorites)

[RadicalDreamer]

@NukaCola Bioshock wouldn't really belong on this list. The potential spot for that went to Deus Ex. Before Bioshock there was also the System Shock series, which would also take precedence over Bioshock.

[frostypants]

Saying Wolf3D and Doom were the same would be like saying Quake and Half-Life are the same.

Doom was a HUGE leap forward graphically. It's hard to see in screenshots and hard to appreciate today. But I would say the leap in FPS graphical quality ushered in by Doom was one of the greatest single leaps in the history of gaming. That game sent shockwaves throughout the gaming world. People couldn't believe how awesome it was.

And Wolf3D was the first great FPS. Doom never would have happened without it.

Both COMPLETELY deserve to be on there. In fact any list of all-time FPS or even all-time PC games in general that doesn't have both of them on it is, in my opinion, worthless.

You either don't understand what those games did for the industry, or you have forgotten! Let me put it this way: nothing released in the last several years has even come close to the impact those 2 games had.

[ATiElite]

I just finished off Half Life, Opposing Force, and Blue Shift the other day.

Gonna play some HL2 for the 100th time and then Deus Ex, it's Retro gaming month for me.

Put Stalker Shadow of Chernobyl on that DAM list. It's the best Open world FPS/Rpg ever.

[HornyHaggis]

Half Life 2 is a classic, but it's hardly retro...

[FinalSpartan]

Halo CE

Half Life 2

^^ Master Class FPS

Forerunner Legendary FPS

DOOM!

[ian72]

Yes, that is Deus Ex in the pic. That game is the best I have ever played. I also am ready for the new one, its looking good in what I've seen so far.

[JLeVRT]

Call of Duty 4 is a once in a lifetime game. Yes people. It was THAT good.

[Solidus187-SCMilk]

Dark forces 2: Jedi Knight is pretty awesome too. It is probably one of the first games with a morality scale(dark/light) that effects the game.

FPS are my favorite type of game ever since I saw a 'KILL BARNEY' mod of wolfenstien at my friends house. My favorites are Doom, Half life, Duke 3d, Deus Ex, CS, goldeneye, halo 1, DF2: Jedi Knight, UT. There is probably more too but I forgot.

Edit- Others I already remembered that I loved were TUROK 1: Dinosaur HUNTER, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault(PC), Quake Arena, and SHOGO: Mobile Armor Division.

[Vherostar]

CoD4 over Timesplitters 2... EPIC FAIL...

[tacosRcool]

Counter Strike? Team Fortress? Where they at?!?!

[frostypants]

They're great, but what would you knock off?

I mean, Counter Strike never would have happened without Half-Life, and Team Fortress never would have happened without Quake. And no one can claim that Deus EX, Doom, and Wolf3D shouldn't be there.

GoldenEye brought viable FPS gaming to consoles.

Half Life 2 is Half Life 2. I didn't like it but let's face it, it's hyper successful.

I could similarly defend the others. I just can't see what you'd could replace.

[psb]

I first think of Half-Life. Truly a masterpiece.

[hennessey86]

half life 1 and 2 are both stunning games but my faviroute fps this gen is cod4 it had an amazing single player and ground breaking multiplayer for consoles its a shame the cod series has gone so wrong these days

[plb]

Agreed. Half life series is just epic. Great all around though you cannot deny Doom really paved the way for all FPS

[awiseman]

Doom 1, Quake, Halo 1

LOL @ inclusion of COD what was revolutionary about it? Halo is far more deserving of that title.

@Delbert below: Thats very funny

[frostypants]

How can you say Modern Warfare brought nothing new, but also say that Halo is deserving? Halo was pretty derivative.

[DelbertGrady]

Killzone 3 should have been on the list imo.

@Pandamobile - Where am I being a fanboy? Killzone 3 is a graphical breakthrough. On consoles.

[Pandamobile]

Hahahahha.

Spoken like a true fanboy.

This list isn't just about graphics.

[Firstkn1ghT]

I LOL @ that too. Killzone is a small franchise.

[hoops]

And explain why KZ3 should have been? Oh I get it. That was sarcasm. Good one Delbert!

Sorry to hurt the sensitive 12 year olds on N4G.COM about the KZ franchise but its not ground breaking in any sense of the word. Best graphics for a console FPS? Yes. Best graphics overall? Not even close.
Best story for a FPS game? Nope. Not even close.
New type of FPS gameplay? Nope.
So whats so ground breaking? 720P@30fps running low precession HDR and last generation AA with low level textures throughout?
If that's ground breaking then put Halo:ODST and Halo: Reach up there as well.
If graphics were the major issue with this list than Metro 2033 and Crysis and Crysis Warhead and Arma 2 should be on that list as well.
This is about game changing FPS games. Graphics are just one part of the equation. A small part to be exact.

[telekineticmantis]

have to be on the list but it has done some ground breaking things nonetheless. Warzone, with consecutive missions is being copied even in your precious halo game's, A real FPS cover system, a new FPS cover CQC system which the had in killzone 1, as well as some more minut ones. I've seen some of the biggest, shooter influenced by it and it desrves that much respect.

If you're a fanboy oh well you are a fanboy, nut Almost every shooter on that list adapted past Video game traits, and brought new ones, including Halo, I could make a list if you want me to.

[kramun]

I'll bite. Go on then, make a list.

[BK-201]

Halo 1 didn't look the best for its time either. As a PC gamer I never really got the Halo hype. To me Killzone 3 has solid mechanics, it isn't innovative but it does all the basics so well. The multiplayer is also a blast.

[telekineticmantis]

Well halo adopted= co-op from "system shock", and other shooters, vehicles from "code name eagle", and previous shooters, Open world type maps and tons of gameplay nuances from Unreal tournament, including the phrase "Double Kill!" Health Regen was in a very popular shooter/ stealth game called Metal Gear solid before Halo. etc. Recently, They've been influenced by killzones "Warzone" in the creation of the gameplay mode invasion, as you may be able to tell by the consecutive game modes and voice command in your head directing you to your next objective and yelling to finish your mission, Assassinations Uncharted, uncharted 2, there's more I just can't remember.

[Firstkn1ghT]

Yeah I never understood why they keep saying KZ3 is the best graphics ever. I guess I'm the only one that sees the low quality textures giving the whole game a blurry look.

BK, I was a PC gamer before Halo came out on the Xbox. I played all of them: Battlefield 1942, Counterstrike, Black Hawk Down, Soldiers of Fortune, and my favorite Unreal 2004 (ranked top 100 in total kills at the time) But when Halo came out, I instantly turn into a console gamer and never looked back.

Battlefield 3 is bringing me back to the PC tho' :)

[BeaArthur]

So you would add a game that's not out and has done nothing to really move the medium forward (fun as it may be) to a list of breakthrough FPS'?

[gamingdroid]

Maybe we should add Crysis and host of other "grapichally" fantastic games to the list....

[mayberry]

I agree! and in time, history will show that the killzone fps world will be inthe top 10 of all fps's. imho

[wenaldy]

Even as a PS3 supporter (or fanboy), I whole heartly disagree.. :)) how old are you son?

Time Splitter, Coldwinter, Half Life, System Shock, Return to Castle Wolfenstein are my pick..

[paintsville]

Wherz all da almighty ps3 "Exclusive" groundbreaking, earth shattering, untouchable, shooters? Oh well, maybe next generation.

[ugabugaz]

Wow...
Where is Battlefield 1942, or even Team Fortress (1 or 2).
Seriously, Even Counter Strike deserves a separate mention, even if it started off as a mod.

If you disagree, please post a reply, k?

Edit: Heck, I'd even add Wolfenstein Enemy Territory just because it's totally free and since it has a phenomenal amount of mod support.

[RadicalDreamer]

You're absolutely right about Counter-Strike.

Enemy Territory not so much though.

[cochise313]

Doom, Half life, Killzone 2, Halo, XIII, 007, battlefield, counter strike, COD4, and Black.

*this is in no particular order*

[Pandamobile]

Remove Killzone 2 and you've got a decent list.

[cochise313]

Stop trolling and you'll be less of a douche bag.

[Pandamobile]

Killzone 2 wasn't groundbreaking in any sense of the word.

Wow, slow controls and good graphics. Best game ever!

[Mista T]

cochoise, KZ2 was not a breakthrough fps. The only thing it broke through was onto a list of most disappointing games

[dead_eye]

Killzone 2 had warzone. Never played a FPS shooter online that had changing gamemodes in one match.

[gamingdroid]

I don't think KZ2 deserves to be on the list. We are talking about major breakthroughs.

KZ2 moved the genre forward at best. Fun game? Yes! Graphically awesome on console? Yes. Breakthrough? No, maybe in graphics, but PC still rules the roost.

[ugabugaz]

He's not trolling, you're just delusional if you think Killzone 2 belongs in the same category as something like Half Life.

I'm a very big fan of Killzone 2, I played it a lot, but even I can distinguish between very good games and game changers.

Agree with your first post Panda. I still do think Killzone did a few more things right than just having "Slow controls and good graphics"

Edit: @Cochicse, Graphics aren't everything. A game-changer has to do everything better than whatever came out before it. In short, It needs to be revolutionary. Compare Half Life 2 to the games that came out in its time.

[cochise313]

Name a console fps that looks better than Killzone 2? Killzone 2 brought the best graphics and pushed the ps3 to the limits no one thought possible for console fps. Console wise, Killzone 2 deserves to be in the list. You all can't see the forest for the trees.

[kramun]

I don't see anyone moaning because Crysis isn't on the list. This article's about much more than graphics.

[RedDead]

cochise. Who thought those graphics weren't possible on consoles? And who give's a fu** about the graphics anyway? They're a Massive bonus but Gameplay will always be the deciding factor on if the game is good or bad. Did it do anything for the FPS genre? Anything at all? No. It's just a good game. Nothing more nothing less.

And to everyone saying Warzone is a big a breakthough... How is that a breakthrough? Sure it's fun but all it does is change the gametype for you. Instead of selecting a gametype in any other game. Doing something a little differant doesn't make it a breakthrough.

[Dart89]

Glad to see they included goldeneye by far the best fps of 1990's.

[hoops]

Throw in NOLF2 in that list and even AVP2

"Name a console fps that looks better than Killzone 2? Killzone 2 brought the best graphics and pushed the ps3 to the limits no one thought possible for console fps. Console wise, Killzone 2 deserves to be in the list. You all can't see the forest for the trees."

This is not abut "graphics" because every generation a new game pushes graphics. It's about BREAKTHROUGHS. And raising the graphic bar is not a breakthrough. It has to do with gameplay...new features never seen on that Genre before. Story...how it all comes together. And how that effects other games in that Genre and how other games copy those features.
KZ franchise does none of that. HL2 did this and DeusX did this in spades.

[ugabugaz]

Don't think NOLF2 was a breakthrough game. Very good, but not as good as say HL2. Yeah actually, I think you could squeeze it in.

[hoops]

NOLF2 was not on the same level as HL2 but it was a breakthrough for its story and mix of comedy and how it flowed together. It worked that well.

[Ducky]

NOLF was a breakthrough for womens rights.

I'm serious. I think that game made me side with the feminists more than anything else I've heard/read/seen/experienced.

[Ace_Man_6]

I agree with all except CoD 4, it was simply shite

[MarcusFenixITA]

Unreal Tournament, Halo, Half Life, Doom, Quake, COD

[dead_eye]

Timesplitters.

[bananlol]

Id rather have system shock 2 instead of cod 4, otherwise decent list. Havnt played deus ex so i guess i'll have to.

[GamerSciz]

Red faction??
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Soldier of Fortune??
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[Solidus187-SCMilk]

I remember the first SOF was awesome because of how gory it was. I remember shooting off limbs and guys intestines would come out and stuff.

[Firstkn1ghT]

Pretty good list. Unreal 2004 was one my fav games of all time. Would of liked to see Battlefield 1942 there.

LOL @ Killzone being on this list comments.

[elpresador]

So many will try to add kz and the main reaaon is graphics. They just dont understand that graphics are not what a revolution makes.

Of course those people probably have really only played kz and none of the others.

[MarioWarfare]

This is about ten most breakthrough fps of all time, Why are people posting about killzone here?

[Firstkn1ghT]

crazy sony fanboys, that's all. If this was about the best fighting game of all time, they would put down KILLZONE 3 BABY!

[NukaCola]

You are being immature and trollish. And besides everyone know SMASH BROS MELEE is the best fighter of all time.

[xtremegamerage]

Halflife 1&2 tbh.

quakes,dooms,etc.

First call of duty was awesome on pc.

[PandaJenkins]

Pretty much a spot on list I would say. I would perhaps say Halo 2 defined online MP on consoles more so than COD4 but COD4 has shaped the entire genre today, even if we are sick of COD.

[Relientk77]

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 1 is amazing! Glad to see it on the list

Games I would have added to the list:

- Timesplitters
- Max Payne (Bullet time c'mon)
- Medal of Honor (the first MoH game for the PSOne, not the this generation one)
- Syphon Filter

[danielle007]

I'm pretty disappointed System Shock 2 isn't on there. It was one of the redefining FPSs for me. It was terrifying, had RPG elements, told a lot of the story through the audio logs, and was co-op over LAN. It's the game that inspired everything BioShock did, since BioShock was basically a remake of it set under the sea.

[MARKUS_MAX1MUS]

STFU!

I swear this place is corrupted with Sony Fanboys at every angle.

The only innovation killzone has done is the persistent gameplay of warzone and thats it.

It had a unique feel in Killzone 2 but now thats gone because cry babies want to be able to spin around like a hyperactive 13 year old on COD fueled by monster energy.

KZ3 is just like a slower version of COD now except you spawn with your killstreaks which is just retarded.

Dont ever dare compare trashzone to CLASSIC FPS games like

-Dues Ex
-Half Life 1 & 2
-Counterstike
-Unreal Tournament/Championship
-Quake
-Goldeneye
-Doom
-BF 1942, BF2
-OG rainbows & Ghost Recons

Tech wise of course it beats the pants off them, but for creativity, sheer nostalgia, community feel, gameplay, skill level, ability to use your brain killzone can take a seat.

Seriously im a passionate gamer and not afraid to say it.

I feel as though these modern FPS games insult my intelligence, theres nothing to learn about them anymore or any tactics. They are all dumbed down and simplified with hold your hand mechanics in place and the depth of gameplay is all gone.

COD4 doesnt deserve to be on that list, it effectively made developers realise games dont need to be deep, they just need pretty graphics and cheap hollywood effects like a guitar solo when you level up? what is that bollox.

Ever since the Call of duty train pulled into town most games have suffered and now console gamers as a result are seen as dumb because they get dumbed down games which are sold to masses of sheep out there who I wouldnt even call gamers.

The only games ive played in recent years that I have enthusiasm for and that have had a good feel are

-BF2
-Gears of War 1
-AVP (even though it pales in comparsion to the earlier series, it has deeper mechanics than COD and takes half a brain cell to play)
-Transformers: war for Cybertron

The only two games that look like they will offer some kind of tactics and teamplay this year are Crysis 2 and homefront and possible BF3 if it hasnt gone down the bad company path.....

[LMS]

Battlefield 1942/Battlefield 2-PC

Quake/doom/wolfienstien-PC

Cod 4-multi

System Shock 2/Bioshock 1-PC/Multi

Farcry/Crysis-PC

Deus EX-PC

HL1/HL2-PC
.....all very badass and influential fps's

but I'm sorry
halo...no...sorry
goldeneye...nope...nothing about halo or goldeneye was revolutionary

[NnT3291]

Halo and Goldeneye were the first two proper multi FPS on consoles, they sure were revolutionary

[Serinous]

where's Counter Strike

[DFresh]

Pretty awesome line up however Team Fortress, Counter Strike, Tribes, Wolfenstein, Doom, and Duke Nukem are no where to be found.
Lame.
-__-

[SlaughterMeister]

"Most breakthrough"? WTF...

[mayberry]

killzone 1/2/3 should definitely be on the list imho! I have played all the games on the list several times over! i have been gaming since 1977! (sears magnavox odyssey-pong)!
Since halo ce released, the killzone franchise is right behind it in epic fun, graphics, gameplay physics, bullet hits, animation, lighting, online, modes, story, developer dedication, a.i., and on and on! The killzone world is what adult electronic gaming entertainment is all about! Im 44 years old, and cannot see NOT being excited about killzone 3!

[Trizard]

If you think Killzone should be on that list, then I am sorry for you poor delusional soul. You obviously have not played the games on that list, for if you had, you would understand their significance to gaming. Go back to sucking on the hype for Kz3.

[war340k]

Is anyone else bothered that F.E.A.R. did not make this list? If it wasn't on there it better have been considered highly for a spot. And having played all of those games, I know for a fact that none of them deliver an experience quite like F.E.A.R.

[MARKUS_MAX1MUS]

http://www.computerandvideo...

Killzone Fanboys, allow me to direct you here and look what FPS Guerrilla Games developer of the killzone series is influenced by...shock horror.

[Game0N]

killzone 2 was a breakthrough in graphics, no game on any console had those graphics, none came close. It set a standard for quality FPS in terms of graphics. deal with it bitches.

[elpresador]

....graphics will always improve which eans it is not revolutionary. If all you can pin to KZ2 is graphics and NOTHING else then that, by definition, shows you dont know what breakthrough means.

Notice that the first Crysis is not on the list? It to this day is prob the best looking game ever (even better than kz2) yet is not on the list. Can you guess why? Yup, because GRAPHICS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH BREAKTHROUGH.

[Game0N]

That is not all i can pin to killzone and the graphical achievement of killzone on CONSOLES is a breakthrough, it's never been done before, therefore qualifying for a breakthrough, bitch.

[elpresador]

Crysis was a graphical breakthrough on the pc but it aint listed is it? Notice NO GAME ON THE LIST has any mention about graphics? Think there is a reason for that?

Oh yea, adding "bitch" doesnt really help your argument at all. Just a lil fyi

[MWH]

excellent list.

[turgore]

playing Deus Ex now for the first time. The game is amazing ! A masterpiece. The gameplay puts modern games to shame. Graphics haven't aged that bad too ...well except the character models.