Top 10 Best FPS Games of the 90s

Remember when World War II shooters were all the rage? Well, that all started in 1999 when a little game called “Medal of Honor” was released for the PS1 with much well-deserved praise. Developed by Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks Interactive, “Medal of Honor” hit the video game world much like the Allies storming Normandy beach. The game's attention to detail is second to none, from the authentic recreation of WWII-era weapons, the over 1,500 lines of unique dialogue, realistic sound effects to even a full orchestra supplying the game's soundtrack. “Medal of Honor” not only boosted the PlayStation's fortunes but also helped prove that consoles could hold their own against PCs when it came to more realistic shooters.

Nowadays, the term “tactical shooter” might ring a bell to many gamers, but back in the late 90's, it simply didn't exist. That is, until Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six came along and revolutionized the shooter genre. In a market saturated with almost-mindless, fast-paced action, Rainbow Six turned it all on it's head, requiring slow and careful planning. Instead of diving right into the action guns blazing, the player had to make a detailed plan of action before the mission even began. By introducing deadly realism where single bullets kill, “run and gun” was a surefire way to failure. What you had was a tense and exhilarating experience that few games have been able to duplicate since.

Squad-based multiplayer games are common enough nowadays, but save for a few devout fans, most players would probably not recognize Dynamix's “Starsiege: Tribes.” That's a shame because “Starsiege: Tribes” remains a much-beloved game for many, while also laying the groundwork for a lot of things multiplayer shooters now take for granted. Instead of fighting in tight corridors, players fought over giant, hilly maps using jetpacks and a variety of weapons. Whereas before weapons followed a certain progression, “Starsiege: Tribes” used a more rock-paper-scissors formula where the heaviest armour and biggest guns weren't necessarily the best and took time to master. Available as freeware now, people continue to play the game two decades on, a testament to it's lasting influence.

From squad-based multiplayer, we now move on to Arena-based multiplayer, and the reigning champ, “Unreal Tournament”. Taking the famous Unreal engine and its amazing graphics even further, it offered a bevy of game options that offered the player more variety than usual, outstanding bot AI that could hold their own against seasoned human players, and brilliant weapon and level design. The game was remarkable for being a polished final product offering smooth gameplay, almost flawless performance and functionality, and, most importantly, offered an incredibly exciting and fun experience. With multiple sequels and community mods following it, it's no surprise that Unreal Tournament is still going strong after all this time.

The 90s was known for its plethora of Star Wars games, which finally offered gamers the chance to relive the Star Wars experience they had fantasized about for decades. As a Star Wars shooter, “Star Wars Dark Forces II” reigned supreme. Expanding on “Dark Forces” with superior 3D graphics, multiplayer support, and the ability to use the Force, Dark Forces II offered gamers the ultimate Star Wars experience, whether it's blasting Stormtroopers, wielding a Lightsaber, or using the Force to solve puzzles. With vast levels and a compelling story to push the action along, it's no wonder that critics at the time considered Dark Forces II the best single-player shooter experience since Doom.

Up until a certain point in the 90s, First-person shooters tended to take themselves a little too seriously. All that changed when a certain Duke Nukem crashed the scene in 1996. Armed with a kick ass attitude, an array of tacky one-liners and action movie tropes and other pop culture references, “Duke Nukem 3D” took the gaming world by storm with its tongue-in-cheek approach. Levels were vast, detailed, non-linear and highly interactive thus compelling the user to fully explore to get the full Duke experience. While the humor might not have aged so well – you gotta remember that this was one of the first games that had genuined jokes and attitude, plus Duke Nukem 3D was first and foremost fun as hell and a blast to play. All hail the king, baby!

Quake was a great first foray into 3D, but it was Quake II that ended up making it's mark in the gaming world. For starters, Quake II simply looked better, particularly in terms of colour, lighting, and architecture. Ditching the dark castle theme for a sci-fi military setting on another planet, the game also expanded the single-player experience with a more story-driven focus with multiple objectives per level, something used in many shooters to this day. With a rebalancing of weapons, well-designed maps and a vast mod community, multiplayer deathmatches were never more intense. 20 years later and the fragging is still going strong!

Anyone who grew up around video games in the late 90s will tell you that Goldeneye 007 is probably their favorite game of all time. Rare made history by trailblazing the first console first-person shooter that gave PC shooters a run for their money. The realistic and atmospheric single-player experience was without equal. Stealth was a big part of the game as well, a first for an FPS of any sort. People will no doubt have fond memories of the endlessly fun and intense split-screen multiplayer matches as well. Goldeneye 007 revolutionized the genre and it's no wonder it's considered one of the greatest games of all time.

It's hard to find any video game that has had more of an impact on popular culture than Doom. The significance of Doom, both as a video game and first-person shooter, cannot be understated. While Wolfenstein 3D may be the “Grandfather” of FPS genre, there's no question that Doom put them on the map and kept them there until this very day. For much of the 90s, the term “Doom clone” would be used until the term “First-person shooter” became solidified, which goes to show how Doom overshadowed everyone else in the market. From movies to comic books and to real world controversy, Doom's impact was felt well beyond the world of video games and shooters wouldn't be the same without it.

Before we get to our number one pick, here are some honourable mentions.

“Heretic” (1994)

“Blood” (1997)

“Turok: Dinosaur Hunter” (1997)

“Shogo: Mobile Armor Division” (1998)

One of the greatest video games of all time with over 50 Game of the Year awards, Half-Life changed everything and redefined what a shooter could be. Half-Life took the essential elements of an FPS, the first person perspective of a voiceless, faceless protagonist, and weaved a seamless narrative all in-game uninterrupted by cutscenes, telling the story of the events at Black Mesa through Gordon Freeman's eyes. The result was truly phenomenal. A wide range of highly cunning AI enemies requiring different tactics, remarkable level design, puzzle-solving, intense firefights, boss encounters and so much more, all gave an unforgettable experience like no other. While Doom popularized First-person shooters, it's Half-Life that turned them into an artform.

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