Topic Index
Poll: Are FPS games becoming unoriginal and bland?


Are FPS Games becoming too unoriginal?
Yes
39% (60)
39% (60)
No
8.4% (13)
8.4% (13)
I dont Care as long as its fun
31.2% (48)
31.2% (48)
Kind of
21.4% (33)
21.4% (33)
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DarqKiller
Paperboy
Posts: 16
Joined: 8 Aug 2008

I personally think yes. The reason being is that if I were to ask anyone or you were to ask me to name off the top of my head an original shooter released in the past year, I wouldnt have an answer, standards have become so low that an FPS has a whoopdie doo weapon customization system for online play and doesnt take place in WW II is considered original, and no, I dont think that COD 4 is original nor as fun as everyone claims, I guess I just like something different from short single player and dressed up multiplayer with everyone screaming n00b every time you kill them. Portal seems to be the only shooter that said "Lets try something different", which is why I loved it so much, not to mention the only FPS games I'm looking forward to are Fallout 3 and Deus Ex 3, though I first of all never played Deus Ex 2 (Although I loved Deus Ex 1) and I never played any of the fallouts. The same kinda goes for Open Worlders but at least people are still making new ideas for Open worlders (Prototype looks awesome) I dunno, I guess I just like originality better.

Oh well, I can still play Deus Ex so Im happy, and if anyone could tell me how to get a System Shock 2 download it would be great, because Its pretty damn hard to find it in stores now.

Milkatron
Beat Writer
Posts: 193
Joined: 18 Jul 2008

The best thing a shooter can do is tinker with the guns to make it original. To this extent I present Painkiller, a game where you have the weirdest guns I have ever seen. This is where the innovation really sets in. Portal did this as well, and proved a massive success. I'm just simply tired of the games with:

Pistol
Machine gun
Sniper
Rockets
Grenades.

Mix it up a bit, ya know.

Decoy Doctorpus
King of the Yetis
Posts: 2103
Joined: 15 Jul 2008

Portal isn't a shooter mate. Comparing it against COD4 is hardly fair on either game.

As for originality I agree, we've kind of been supping from an old cup as of late, but the horizon looks nice. We have Legend, Fallout, Mirrors edge (it has shooting! Shut up!) and a few other notable shooters.

Innovation isn't all it's cracked up to be. Polish and refinement can be just as good.

BBLIZZARD
Beat Writer
Posts: 145
Joined: 19 Jun 2008

Too many shooters are already generic and bland.

weirdaljedifan2
Beat Writer
Posts: 177
Joined: 12 Apr 2008

Yes, most, if not all, FPSs are getting unoriginal, especially when it comes to enemies.

If it's not a Nazi, it's an alien. If it's not an alien, it's a zombie. If it's not a zombie, it's everyone else.

LOOY
Copy Clerk
Posts: 92
Joined: 14 Apr 2008

Well you can't think of original ideas forever, it happens in any industry. From here on in it's all about the design and how they do things, not that they did something wacky.

Look at TF2 or Warcraft, neither are original but there just good!

Amnestic
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3203
Joined: 22 Aug 2008

If it's not an alien, it's a zombie

or a zombie alien ("So...a zombine? Get it? Heh, zombine." *sigh*)

The FPS's with 'innovation', or the ones you described that you like (Specifically Portal and Deus Ex) aren't even traditional FPS's. One's a puzzle game, the other is an FPSRPG.

True, FPS's in general aren't very innovative, but as Decoy Doctorpus said: It's not all it's cracked up to be. Halo 3 didn't innovate much, it was still fun. CoD4 didn't innovate much, as far as I can tell, it was still lots of fun. This touted "innovation" obsession is something the game designers need to get past. There's no shame in revisiting good, old ideas. Just make sure you do it in a fun way.

blunted
Anonymous Source
Posts: 9
Joined: 9 May 2008

Milkatron:

Pistol
Machine gun
Sniper
Rockets
Grenades.

What, no shotgun? A cool shotgun can turn a mediocre game into a..slightly less mediocre game.

nightfish
Press Junketeer
Posts: 377
Joined: 7 Nov 2007

DarqKiller:
not to mention the only FPS games I'm looking forward to are Fallout 3 and Deus Ex

Except both of these aren't FPS. Both are RPG's, albeit slightly different. Remember you don't have to even fire a gun to do most of Deus Ex.

DarqKiller:
if anyone could tell me how to get a System Shock 2 download

Don't think its abandonware to be honest and advertising links would be breach of escapist rules.

As for the original question, FPS became unoriginal as soon as they were made. You go round and shoot things...and thats it. The only real variation came with HL but everything has a dystopian story now - yes bland ahoy!

Danny Ocean
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1784
Joined: 28 Jun 2008

Exactly, eventually there just isn't anything more to do that isn't silly and won't be dismissed as casual.

Indigo_Dingo
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 7713
Joined: 30 Jan 2008

I dunno. As it stands, all the major upcoming FPS's seem to have their own claim to originality and brilliance (with the exception of Halo Chronicles), and all of them look like they've done it well.

Milkatron
Beat Writer
Posts: 193
Joined: 18 Jul 2008

blunted:

Milkatron:

Pistol
Machine gun
Sniper
Rockets
Grenades.

What, no shotgun? A cool shotgun can turn a mediocre game into a..slightly less mediocre game.

Oh dang, I knew I forgot one. Also forgot slightly more advanced machine gun.

Khell_Sennet
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3867
Joined: 25 Jan 2008

For both the RTS and FPS genres, I'm pretty easy to please. I don't mind playing the same style of game over and over, just so long as they mix up the weapons/units from time to time, and give me plenty of new maps.

Specific to FPS's, I think today we have a much more varied selection than ever before. Fear, Farcry, and Crysis all went with the "if they can use it, you can use it" approach to weapons, where enemies drop entire firearms, not just ammo. I love this, it takes me back to my DOOM days going "Why the fuck am I using a 9mm pistol when the zombies use a 9mm rifle? Why can't I pick up their rifle?". That guns are also disposable works awesome, I like just ditching the shotgun for the SMG when ammo runs dry. Downside is the limitation, three or four guns really is a bunch to carry, and you tend to lug around at least one "just in case" anti-boss weapon, which could have made life just that much easier if you'd dropped it for that other mainstay gun.

As much as I love the flexibility of the Fear/Cry method, we still have more options than that. There's the Halo "Use it and lose it" method, where you only have two guns. Similar to Fear/Cry, but with Covie arms not reloadable, you HAVE to drop them for another. And the classic Doom3 style, multiple guns, gods only know how you can carry them all.

So long as games keep trying original new things, like Crysis's gun upgrades (or Pariah's, they did it first). New features like Portal's portals, Fear bullet time, Crysis's adjustable superpowers, or Prey's astral walking... Just something to differentiate each game, I'm happy. Gimme the guns, gimme a gimmick, and I don't care if its zombies, aliens, or nazis, I'll play.

Aries_Split
PROBATION
Posts: 2220
Joined: 12 May 2008

I don't think the problem is with a lack of creativity, I think it's with the problem of Over saturation.

Gamer's are simply sick of having the next Halo shoved in their face.

To put it in layman's terms

"No...More...Pie"

User was put on probation for: Unskippable: Eternal Sonata. (7 days)
SecretTacoNinja
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1132
Joined: 8 Jul 2008

Becoming? Unoriginal and bland?

I know! How about a gun that fires Throwing stars and fire and your enemies are rabid bunnies. Yeah, dumb, I know, wanna fight about it?
I want less realism ...

man-man
Copy Clerk
Posts: 58
Joined: 21 Jan 2008

TF2 has a fairly standard weapon-set (pistols, rockets, grenades, machine guns, sniper rifle, flamethrower etc) but it's still different enough from the rest to really distinguish itself.

Mostly down to the very different art direction and compartmentalising the weapons into the different classes, so not every person has every weapon.

Jumplion
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3333
Joined: 10 Mar 2008

After a recent argument with my friend at how I couldn't tell the difference between any fighting game (In this case Brawl vs. Soul Calibur 4, with him saying that "Brawls different because you have to knock people out of the stage, which isn't 'killing'" which is totaly bullshit) which eventually evolved into how he couldn't tell the difference between CoD4 and possibly Killzone 2 (though he did admit that Resistance 2 does look appealing, if only slightly).

I failed miserably at trying to explain to him because A)I havn't played Killzone 2 yet so I don't want to make assumptions and B)I'm so much better at arguing over forums (THANKYOU Edit Button) but it was ironic when he said that "you know the difference between fighting games, you're just denying it" when he was saying that he couldn't tell the difference between FPSs.

I came to the conclusion (sortof) that based on what I saw, Killzone 2 is extremely aestetic and cinematic compared to some of the other FPSs I've seen. Of course, I just told him that he had to find out for himself, like I have to find out what's the difference between fighting games, but NoOoOoOoO he kept on bitching about how I knew that fighting games were different but I didn't want to admit it.

I want to say "no, there are some original ones" but after that fight, I'm just not sure that anything is setting itself apart anymore.

EDIT: How I love you...

crazy-j
Muckraker
Posts: 275
Joined: 15 Sep 2008

i have to say i am not disappointed with the current fps's, halo, cod 4, unreal tournament ect

but yes they are getting unoriginal

airsoftmanic
Paperboy
Posts: 15
Joined: 6 Aug 2008

i think its less about originality and more about realism issues. devs seem to think that realism sells. for me COD4 was a disaster. it was like they copy/pasted COD2 and made it modern. i just could'nt like it.
polish and extensive beta-testing also have gone out the window as of late. mercs 2 could have been a great game, if they had fixed those bugs and added a few more polygons.
too human could have been a great game if, as yhatzee said, they had actually played the game and looked at its faults.
i think in the broad overview, devs should say "jog on" to constrained release dates if they cant properly finish the game on time.

Woe Is You
Infamous Scribbler
Posts: 689
Joined: 5 Jul 2008

SecretTacoNinja:

I know! How about a gun that fires Throwing stars and fire and your enemies are rabid bunnies. Yeah, dumb, I know, wanna fight about it?

Well, we already have a game where you have a gun that shoots shurikens and lightning. What else do you need?

Indigo_Dingo
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 7713
Joined: 30 Jan 2008

Woe Is You:

SecretTacoNinja:

I know! How about a gun that fires Throwing stars and fire and your enemies are rabid bunnies. Yeah, dumb, I know, wanna fight about it?

Well, we already have a game where you have a gun that shoots shurikens and lightning. What else do you need?

Actually, we have two, but the others in a TPS/platformer.

Aries_Split
PROBATION
Posts: 2220
Joined: 12 May 2008

Indigo_Dingo:

Woe Is You:

SecretTacoNinja:

I know! How about a gun that fires Throwing stars and fire and your enemies are rabid bunnies. Yeah, dumb, I know, wanna fight about it?

Well, we already have a game where you have a gun that shoots shurikens and lightning. What else do you need?

Actually, we have two, but the others in a TPS/platformer.

How about a gun that fires Sawblades? That was my favorite part of Half Life 2.

User was put on probation for: Unskippable: Eternal Sonata. (7 days)
Cousin_IT
Pulitzer Laureate
Posts: 771
Joined: 6 Feb 2008

Amnestic:
[quote]

or a zombie alien ("So...a zombine? Get it? Heh, zombine." *sigh*)

woooo Zombinies \o/

As for orginionality: FPS' havent been origional since the orgional Doom & Wolfenstien. "3d" + guns + bad guys is all there is too them & all there needs to be. Presentation not innovation is the key to this genre (unless u count mixing it up with other genres like RPG etc)

Amnestic
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3203
Joined: 22 Aug 2008

Aries_Split:

Indigo_Dingo:

Woe Is You:

SecretTacoNinja:

I know! How about a gun that fires Throwing stars and fire and your enemies are rabid bunnies. Yeah, dumb, I know, wanna fight about it?

Well, we already have a game where you have a gun that shoots shurikens and lightning. What else do you need?

Actually, we have two, but the others in a TPS/platformer.

How about a gun that fires Sawblades? That was my favorite part of Half Life 2.

Not really original if we already have it, now is it?

_Serendipity_
Copy Clerk
Posts: 85
Joined: 15 Jun 2008

Whilst you're restricting yourself to a singly genre, obviously it's pretty goddam impossible to be 'original'. I mean, how much has really changed between Doom and Crysis?

I'm trying to be optimistic though, really. Incresingly powerful physics engines are letting Devs do things that would have been impossible a few years ago, and these are starting to have real gameplay effects...

So, whilst in many ways we're being unoriginal, we're getting really really good at it.

I hope.

P.s: On a random aside, I actually bought Painkiller the other day (mmmmmmm!!! Bargin bins!!!). So. Much. Insane. Fun.

PersianLlama
Infamous Scribbler
Posts: 691
Joined: 31 Aug 2008

Yes, that's why the only fps I buy now are Valve games, Valve games, and Bioshock.

merc hunter
Paperboy
Posts: 25
Joined: 3 Jul 2008

I recon FAr Cry 2 looks good and fairly original kinda

Indigo_Dingo
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 7713
Joined: 30 Jan 2008

Amnestic:

Aries_Split:

Indigo_Dingo:

Woe Is You:

SecretTacoNinja:

I know! How about a gun that fires Throwing stars and fire and your enemies are rabid bunnies. Yeah, dumb, I know, wanna fight about it?

Well, we already have a game where you have a gun that shoots shurikens and lightning. What else do you need?

Actually, we have two, but the others in a TPS/platformer.

How about a gun that fires Sawblades? That was my favorite part of Half Life 2.

Not really original if we already have it, now is it?

It is if said Sawblades bounce around, shredding everything surrounding you, or alternatively embed themselves in your opponents body, and keep spinning.

The Splicer is awesome.

Souplex
Infamous Scribbler
Posts: 589
Joined: 29 Jul 2008

Becoming? No.

Also why does everyone seem to casually overlook Metroids additions to the first person market? It brought puzzles blowing stuff up and upgradey fun together.

Flunk
Copy Clerk
Posts: 90
Joined: 17 Feb 2008

They have never been very original, since Wolfenstein that is. Run around and murder things, check. Run around looking for keycards or a switch to open doors, check. Much else... not really.

Indigo_Dingo
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 7713
Joined: 30 Jan 2008

Flunk:
They have never been very original, since Wolfenstein that is. Run around and murder things, check. Run around looking for keycards or a switch to open doors, check. Much else... not really.

Okay, lets look at it in a different perspective. When was the last time you saw a really creative western RPG?

Jumplion
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3333
Joined: 10 Mar 2008

Indigo_Dingo:

Amnestic:

Aries_Split:

Indigo_Dingo:

Woe Is You:

SecretTacoNinja:

I know! How about a gun that fires Throwing stars and fire and your enemies are rabid bunnies. Yeah, dumb, I know, wanna fight about it?

Well, we already have a game where you have a gun that shoots shurikens and lightning. What else do you need?

Actually, we have two, but the others in a TPS/platformer.

How about a gun that fires Sawblades? That was my favorite part of Half Life 2.

Not really original if we already have it, now is it?

It is if said Sawblades bounce around, shredding everything surrounding you, or alternatively embed themselves in your opponents body, and keep spinning.

The Splicer is awesome.

Ratchet and Clank?

:P

Indigo_Dingo
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 7713
Joined: 30 Jan 2008

Jumplion:

Indigo_Dingo:

Amnestic:

Aries_Split:

Indigo_Dingo:

Woe Is You:

SecretTacoNinja:

I know! How about a gun that fires Throwing stars and fire and your enemies are rabid bunnies. Yeah, dumb, I know, wanna fight about it?

Well, we already have a game where you have a gun that shoots shurikens and lightning. What else do you need?

Actually, we have two, but the others in a TPS/platformer.

How about a gun that fires Sawblades? That was my favorite part of Half Life 2.

Not really original if we already have it, now is it?

It is if said Sawblades bounce around, shredding everything surrounding you, or alternatively embed themselves in your opponents body, and keep spinning.

The Splicer is awesome.

Ratchet and Clank?

:P

Would Ratchet and Clank really allow you to embed it in your enemies face ?

Resistance 2.(thinking about how they continue to shoot you when they have a sawblade cutting open their skull is kinda disturbing)

SilentHunter7
Press Junketeer
Posts: 492
Joined: 21 Nov 2007

They're not unoriginal, they're played out. Pretty much every other Xbox title is a shooter. Just stop playing them for a while.

Jumplion
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3333
Joined: 10 Mar 2008

Indigo_Dingo:
Would Ratchet and Clank really allow you to embed it in your enemies face ?

Resistance 2.(thinking about how they continue to shoot you when they have a sawblade cutting open their skull is kinda disturbing)

Close enough. I remember there being a couple of sawblade sortof weapons that bounced off surfaces, though not embedding them.