Prior to the originalXbox, most gamers experienced FPS games primarily on PC. The Xbox introduced console players to a range of high-quality FPS titles, supported by graphics that could rival PCs of the time. FPS games on the Xbox also played a crucial role in jumpstarting eSports in the U.S., particularly through Halo’s introduction into Major League Gaming.
Other games on the Xbox focused on ambitious single-player campaigns that were unmatched elsewhere. Innovations in LAN, online play, and high-quality matchmaking, along with Microsoft’s creation of the Halo series and impressive PC ports, positioned the Xbox as the go-to platform for FPS during the sixth generation of gaming.
A sacrifice for a dramatic cinematic experience instead of unique gameplay is one that Medal of Honor: Frontline made. Few FPS games on the Xbox can match the intensity of its opening level, Omaha Beach, where a large number of AI allies and enemies engage in full-scale warfare across a massive map.
Frontline also mixes up its gameplay by transitioning from large battlefields to tighter, more confined bunker-to-bunker combat. The game offers a variety of levels, with some focusing on espionage and stealth, while others feature massive team fights, adding to the overall diversity of the experience.
9Serious Sam 2
When it comes to an FPS with no frills, Serious Sam 2 delivers on the action front. The game focuses entirely on fighting hordes of enemies at once, without wasting time on complex narratives. Despite its emphasis on non-stop combat, Serious Sam 2 has a light, cartoony vibrance that sets it apart from the darker, more brooding FPS games on the Xbox.
Serious Sam 2 encourages creativity during combat, allowing players to manipulate the environment and find unique ways to overcome waves of enemies. The game also includes three vehicles that help maintain its fast tempo, whether by mowing down enemies or quickly traversing the land.
The unique perspective of a clone and stormtrooper during the Clone Wars and Galactic Civil War makes Star Wars: Battlefront 2 a fascinating playthrough. Unlike its predecessor, this entry has a more developed narrative, allowing you to experience major events from Star Wars lore. The game takes you through various iconic battles, offering a fresh perspective on the galaxy’s most pivotal moments.
Star Wars: Battlefront 2 introduces new mechanics, such as sprinting and rolling, which make the gameplay faster-paced. Although the game is primarily played in third person, switching to first person enhances immersion, especially for the engineer class. However, when using the hero class and wielding a lightsaber, third-person view becomes necessary.
No FPS on the Xbox offers as many interesting locations as TimeSplitters 2. Its campaign mode, which can be played in co-op,takes you through different time periods, each with distinct environments and weaponry from that era.
Though the story is a basic alien invasion plot, the ten massive levels make TimeSplitters 2 an exciting game to experience. You can go from using a tommy gun in Al Capone-era Chicago to slinging a bow and arrow in the Aztec Ruins, and later, you’ll find yourself in a futuristic, cyberpunk-inspired NeoTokyo. This variety keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.
The fast-paced Doom series takes a different approach with Doom 3, as it is slower and more methodical. Doom 3 leans heavily on its atmospheric elements, using lighting and claustrophobic level designs to build tension. While it is more action-packed than most horror games, its primary objective is definitely to scare you.
Doom 3 has incredible graphics, at times resembling an early Xbox 360 title. Audio logs, radio messages, and emails are frequently sent to help develop the story, making Doom 3 the most narrative-driven entry in the series.
Perhaps the best example of the Xbox version being clearly superior to the PC version is with Halo. The aiming is optimized for controller-based action, offering impressive feedback from powerful weapons like the magnum, battle rifle, and sniper rifle.
While movement and jumping speed are slower, Halo maintains its pace by allowing players to melee and throw grenades without switching weapons. Whether you’re enjoying its sizeable single-player campaign or engaging in large multiplayer battles, Halo remains equally fun in both modes.
4Black
No FPS matches the carnage and destruction found in Black. While the plot in Black is fairly generic for the genre, the game focuses intensely on action. The environments are nearly fully destructible, allowing you to flank enemies by creating openings in walls to get around them.
Black excels in delivering a satisfying shooting experience. The visual and audio feedback from firing your weapons is exceptional, which explains why you often have clips holding 90 bullets and enemies that require ten to twenty shots to take down. The game encourages you to shoot everything in sight, and despite the chaos, it remarkably avoids significant framerate slowdown.
Along with Doom 3, Half-Life 2 is one of the most impressive ports on the original Xbox. While Half-Life 2 on Xbox suffers from a slower frame rate, it still captures the essence of the game. The well-crafted physics engine retains great movement, precise controls, and enjoyable interactions with weapons like the gravity gun.
Half-Life 2 masterfully tells its story without relying on cutscenes and excessive text. It features some of the best puzzles in the FPS genre, adding variety to the action. The Xbox version is the only way to experience the original version of Half-Life 2, and you’ll notice differences such as darker shading, which adds a more eerie atmosphere.
One of the more intimidating games to play due to its intense setting, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay places you in a hostile prison environment. You’ll find yourself doing everything from acquiring weapons from guards to engaging in combo-oriented boxing matches with fellow inmates.
Much of The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay is spent working in the shadows. Most areas are dimly lit, and it features some of the best stealth gameplay available in a first-person shooter. The immersion in The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay is heightened by its decision to omit a gaming HUD, making it as immersive, if not more so,than the film it is loosely based on.
A massive improvement from Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 added more plot and lore to the story, introduced more weapons and vehicles, and refined the multiplayer experience. Halo 2 innovated the online matchmaking system by pairing players of similar skill levels together, which is one of the many reasons it is consideredthe Halo with the best multiplayer.
Not only does Halo 2 feature a wide variety of weapons, but it also allows for dual wielding, creating unique combinations. The game also includes well-balanced maps for multiplayer and large maps in modes like Capture the Flag, which fosters coordination with teammates when using vehicles and other high-quality items.
