Summary
The 1990s was a pivotal decade for the first-person shooter. The genre was rapidly gaining steam during these years, and by the time 2000 rolled around, it had become a dominating force in the industry. Today, the FPS is one of the most popular and highest-selling video game genres in the world across all systems. There’s no more intense multiplayer experience.
Before the FPS reached the heights of the likes ofthe ever-popularCall of DutyandHalo, the games weren’t very deep or complex, but they evolved with the progression of technology. From 1990 to 1999, enormous strides were made on that front. Some of the titles that emerged during those years, in fact, are still remembered as among the best shooters in video game history.
Xenomorphtook heavy inspiration from the blockbusterAlienfilm franchise, which had two films, several novelizations, and a number of video games dating back to the Atari 2600 under its belt by 1990. However,Xenomorph, which debuted on personal computer systems like the Atari ST and Commodore 64, sought to take theAlienhorrors to a more personal level.
This unique and engaging experience features a user interface resembling the likes ofDungeon Master. Though it’s a far cry from everything the FPS genre would eventually become, it shows a glimpse at what early developers were attempting in order to give players a more lifelike horror experience. It also boasts some ahead-of-its-time 3D graphics to boot.
Hovertank 3Dwas a huge step forward for the first-person shooter, as the technical predecessor to many influential games from the genre’s early days. This time around, it took the aspects of first-person and shooter quite literally, as players control a tank navigating through cities, attacking enemy machinery, mutated creatures, and zombified humans.
This was also the first FPS to utilize raycasting technology in its level design. While the sprites and graphics were all 2D pixels, they were raycasted in a 3D environment to allow players a full range of freedom to navigate. The game itself might not be the most revolutionary premise, but technologically, it set the bar high for future FPS games in the ’90s.The sophisticated and highly-replayable FPS games of todayowe a lot to this one.
The true start of the first-person shooter genre is often considered to be this 1992 MS-DOS classic,Wolfenstein 3D. This time, the shooting comes with a complex story; players control a U.S. soldier escaping from the titular prison during World War II, undergoing a series of missions to brutally fight their way out. Emphasis on the word “brutal.”
Wolfenstein 3Dwas highly-regarded by video game critics upon its release, commending its violence and revolutionary FPS gameplay. Even retrospective reviews have been kind to the game’s legacy, with many considering it to be the forerunner of the entire FPS genre. Sadly, future games in theWolfensteinfranchise have yet to escape the first game’s shadow, but that just demonstrates how influential this title was (and remains).
Doom,another id Software release, followed in the footsteps ofWolfenstein 3Dto produce an incredibly violent demon-fighting sci-fi journey. It was as popular as it was controversial, and no-one can deny its influence even to this day.
WhileWolfenstein 3Dpioneered many ofDoom’s features,Doomis the more beloved of the two FPS games. The only downside to the experience is its notorious difficulty, forcing players to endure horrors indeed in order to complete it. WhileDoomis not for the feint of heart, fans around the world will continue to honor its legacy. With its satisfying and varied arsenal of weapons, wide assortment of ghastly beasts into which to unload them and secrets-laden levels, just about every element of the original game was tuned to perfection. It would spawn several sequels and reboots to underscore that, withDoom Eternal remaining as gruesome as ever.
By 1994, the popularity ofWolfenstein 3DandDoomfrom id Software made many other game developers leap at the opportunity to release their own FPS games. LookingGlass Technologies was one such company. In 1994, it releasedSystem Shockfor PC, which sought to make the FPS genre more immersive than predecessors had.
As a result,System Shockmade more use of wireframe 3D, dropping players into an empty steampunk environment with the mission of dispelling robots as their adventure is continuously impeded by a rogue A.I. Not only didSystem Shockmove the FPS genre forward technically, but it can be considered to have inspired many future espionage games likeMetal Gear Solidas well.
There’s been no shortage ofStar Warsvideo game adaptations, butStar Wars: Dark Forces, released in 1995, was one of the earliest first-person shooters in the franchise. Players control a Rebel mercenary tasked with destroying the Empire’s Dark Trooper project, pitting them against forces much stronger than those encountered in the original films.
For a first-person shooter,Dark Forcesadded a lot of new elements to the genre, such as the ability to look up and down, as well as more intricate level designs to accommodate the Empire’s complex bases. Though its performance on PCs was questioned upon initial release, its technological advances made it a worthy addition to the FPS canon at the time. An underappreciated entry inthe wide world ofStar Warsvideo game adaptations.
By the timeQuakerolled around, the first-person shooter had transitioned from a burgeoning genre to something eager fans would gather around their systems to play. This game also had the benefit of being available on numerous platforms, including PC, Nintendo 64, and Sega Saturn, and even featured a pulse-pounding soundtrack from Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails.
WhatQuaketruly helped popularize, though, was the multiplayer FPS. This entirely new engine, which was vastly different from the norm established byDoom, introduced online multiplayer to video game fans, allowing them to test their skills against other players across the world. It’s even had ports to present-day consoles, and continues to hold up remarkably well.
For the first-person shooter genre in the mid-to-late 90s, it doesn’t get more iconic thanGoldenEye 007. The James Bond tie-in game was originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1997, but it wasn’t the engrossing campaign that really hooked players. The main draw for so many was its multiplayer mode, in which up to four players could face each other in high-stakes deathmatches.
Essentially,GoldenEyeintroduced the FPS to newcomers with home consoles, rather than as a PC exclusive. It’s not a surprise that the game is so polished and holds up well, as it comes from the acclaimed developer behindDonkey Kong CountryandBanjo-Kazooie. As far as the FPS goes,it’s a tough act to follow.
Before Valve revolutionized the PC gaming industry with the Steam marketplace, they were behind some iconic first-person shooter games. It all started with 1998’sHalf-Life, which was a PC exclusive for the remainder of the ’90s.Half-Lifeintroduced the world of Gordon Freeman and Black Mesa to the gaming canon, with a story written by Marc Laidlaw.
BeforeHalf-Life, first-person shooters struggled to integrate storytelling with gameplay. However, Valve didn’t allow the game’s cutscenes or narrative to interrupt players' ability to control their character or navigative the landscapes. It would also become a huge turning point for the modding community, as did later entries in the franchise. Half-Life’s unprecedented level of depth remains its greatest asset.
Before the decade was over, one more iconic first-person shooter would be introduced to the video game world, all thanks to Valve.Team Fortress, known nowadays asTeam Fortress Classic, was originally released in 1999 for the PC, based on a mod forQuake. Its gameplay included a lot of variety for an FPS, from capture the flag missions to various player classes.
While modern-day gamers mightknow the series best from the tricky-with-a-controllerTeam Fortress 2, which was released in 2007 and features more stylized art,Team Fortress Classicis where it all began. Simply put, this game showed that the FPS genre could be a lot more fun and whimsical than others at the time really dared to be, a concept that would soon become the franchise’s lasting legacy.
