The video game industry continues to change in big ways with each new generation, but there are certain genres that are evergreen and can be dependable sources of entertainment.First-person shootersare a style of games that have only become more popular and they have the ability to foster such a large community through multiplayer and online play.
RELATED:10 FPS Games To Play If You Like GoldenEye 007
There are differentvariations on the shootergenre that have been explored, but it seems like FPS titles continue to dominate.Nintendo and their consolesdon’t necessarily give off an energy that’s supportive of shooters, but there are some fundamental titles that have been released on them.
10Red Steel 2 (Wii)
The originalRed Steelwas aWii launch titleand while it showed promise for what could be accomplished with motion controls in a shooter, it’s a clunky experience.Red Steel 2isn’t perfect, but it’s a tremendous leap forward and it feels like what the first game in the series should have been.Red Steel 2mixes guns with swordplay and it’s a mechanic that’s elegantly handled.Red Steel 2also deeply benefits from the Wii’s newly upgraded motion controls. The series has fallen into obscurity, but there are some really memorable and unique moments inRed Steel 2.
9Jet Force Gemini (Nintendo 64)
Jet Force Geminiis one ofRare’s more obscure properties, but it’s one of the greatest joys on the Nintendo 64. The game puts a young brother, sister, and dog in control of saving a docile species from an alien invasion. It tells a story that feels epic in nature and contains one of the best uses of co-operative play on the console.
RELATED:The 10 Best FPS Games On The N64, Ranked
Jet Force Geminiisn’t higher because it’s designed as a third-person shooter, but the game allows the option to switch to first-person perspective for the entire game, except for when the player needs to jump.
8Turok 2: Seeds of Evil (Nintendo 64)
Turok: Dinosaur Hunteris a first-person shooter franchise that deserves credit for mixing shooter mechanics with a prehistoric environment. The originalTurokfor the Nintendo 64 is a good proof of concept, but it’s a needlessly difficult game that feels like a product of its time. The sequel,Turok 2: Seeds of Evil,improves on the game in every department and creates something with universal appeal.Turok 2incorporates some amazing new weapons, but its greatest asset is that it brings a multiplayer mode to theTurokuniverse. It delivers a tight experience that doesn’t overcomplicate its gameplay.
7Doom 64 (Nintendo 64)
It’s impossible to discuss first-person shooters and not addresstheDoomfranchise, an influential series of games that pushed the genre forward in a major way. Many of the ideas established inDoomand its sequels have become staples of first-person shooters.Doominitially gained acclaimed on PCs, but the series specifically worked together with Nintendo to put togetherDoom 64. Doom 64is still considered to be one of the best distillations of the franchise in its earlier years. It’s a brilliant execution of the series and speaks further to the Nintendo 64’s utility as a multiplayer machine.
6Goldeneye 007 (Nintendo 64)
Movie tie-ins for video games are usually uneventful, but that’s exactly why Rare’s adaptation of Pierce Brosnan’s firstJames Bond film,Goldeneye 007,is such a surprise triumph.Goldeneye 007streamlines the shooter format with easy controls and an enemy AI that’s groundbreaking for the ‘90s.
RELATED:5 FPS Games We Wish Were Ported To Consoles (& 5 That Can’t Be)
The game’s campaign missions are well designed, but it’sGoldeneye 007’smultiplayer where the game ascends to a higher level. It’s fair to say that people’s perceptions ofGoldeneye 007are greatly impaired by nostalgia and warm memories, but it’s still a fantastic first-person shooter that’s a must-have for any Nintendo 64 owner.
5TimeSplitters 2 (Gamecube)
So many shooters can get bogged down in reality that it’s exciting when something wild and with a sense of humor comes around, which is exactly whattheTimeSplittersseriesaccomplishes. The shooter contains eccentric characters and scenarios, but the development team has a bunch ofGoldeneye 007’sstaff with them and it’s obvious with the title’s slick controls and gameplay.TimeSplitters 2delivers a multiplayer experience that’s out of control thanks to the addition of bots and giant maps. All of this FPS chaos helpsTimeSplitters 2become one of the Gamecube’s best multiplayer titles.
4Perfect Dark (Nintendo 64)
Goldeneye 007gets a ton of attention as far as Nintendo 64 first-person shooters are concerned, but it’sPerfect Darkthat’s Rare’s true accomplishment on the console.Perfect Darkperfects uponGoldeneye 007’sideas and delivers an FPS that’s bigger, weirder, and more entertaining. Joanna Dark is also a protagonist that’s even more interesting than James Bond.Perfect Dark’smultiplayer is an absolute marvel for the Nintendo 64 since it features the addition of eight additional AI bots to four-person multiplayer. It pushes the N64 to its absolute limit.
3Metroid Prime: Trilogy (Wii)
Nintendo deserves credit for some of the risks that they’ve taken with their properties.TheMetroidseriesis one of Nintendo’s defining action-adventure games for the NES and Super Nintendo, butMetroid Primedecides to turn the series into a moody first-person shooter. Samus’ transition to 3D and a whole new genre is not just a complete success, but it produces some of the best FPS games to ever be on a Nintendo console. The first game in the series is still the best, but the Wii’s trilogy compilation is hard to deny, since all three titles are exceptional.
2Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (Switch)
TheWolfensteinserieshas been around since the very first of the first-person shooter genre and although it’s disappeared a few times, it’s a property that’s returned in a very big way. The latestWolfensteingames brilliantly reinvent the classics.Wolfensteinwas already an absurd series, butWolfenstein II: The New Colossusgoes even further in the department and brings in a supernatural angle that only improves on the game’s addictive combat. Some modern reboots are soulless grabs for cash, butWolfenstein IIhelps the franchise evolve and it’s easily one of the best FPS games on the Switch.
1BioShock: The Collection (Switch)
There are few video games that create a better sense of world building than what’s accomplished intheBioShockseries.BioShockgrapples with deep philosophies and puts a lot of power in the player’s decisions. The use of supernatural plasmid powers is also endlessly entertaining. All of theBioShocktitles are absolute pieces of art, but the fact that all three are contained in this package means thatBioShock: The Collectionis an essential title that any fan of first-person shooters and mature storytelling needs to pick up on the Switch.
