You mean like the Raven Shield Tom Clancy games? Where there was no radar and you had to basically use realworld tactics because 1-3 shots would kill you and there was no such thing as regenerating health or health pick-ups?
Uh... those games never had a "day". You sound like you're describing the Arma or Stalker series. Suppressing fire, feather the trigger, that has never been a big thing in fps. Maybe in the battlefield series, and only to a very minor degree, and that's it. Otherwise, those "smart" shooters you are talking about continue to live on and are being developed for their niche audiences such as Stalker 2 and Red Orchestra 2.
Ah, games like Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon have indeed fazed out of the industry. Maybe they'll make a comeback someday, who knows. There are other shooters out there that are "smart", though. Again, red orchestra, stalker.
Yes, I really want another Raven Shield. But I know it will never happen, because everybody will cry about it. The fun I had playing Raven Shield multiplayer will never be had again in another FPS.
This thread boggles my mind, people on this site keep complaining about shooters like Call of Duty, but now if somebody asks if we want shooters where you have to actually think and use tactics instead of running and gunning, games like SWAT, or Raven Shield, everybody says no.
If we're looking at new and upcoming games, there's not much in the terms of "smart shooter." Most games have opted for a cover mechanism instead.
Also, nostalgia time. Remember in Half Life, when you'd walk around a corner and there would be a fucking explosive, 3 soldiers, and some asshole on a turret waiting for you?
I actually just found a copy of Raven Shield, in a box and with the disc case and manuals and everything the other day. I never, ever remember getting this game as a gift let alone buying it. Is it that good? Should I stick er in?
But I think I kinda know what you mean. The last one I felt like that with was Metro 2033. Love that game.
I don't think tactical shooters are dead (that's what we're talking about here), just resting. There was a period when Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six were incredibly popular, and then we got Advanced Warfighter 2 and Vegas 2 in a very quick period. Those games are all about tactics, to the point where Vegas 2 often killed you just for sneezing during a breach. People talk about Operation Flashpoint or SWAT like it didn't have ludicrous control issues. Those games will come back if and when they've figured out a way to make their commands intuitive. And no, holding three different keys to bring up a menu just to set up a breach and clear is not intuitive. SWAT 4's controls were an absolute mess.
In short, the reason tactical shooters don't get made as often as regular shooters or fun shooters is because they often have impenetrable control schemes and never bother to teach the player how to play. This problem was mostly corrected in GRAW2 and Vegas 2, but for a "genre revival" like the OP is hoping for, we're going to need some serious retooling of SWAT and Operation Flashpoint.
" I don't remember shooters ever being smart, just faster. Strafing right really fast isn't what I'd call smart. "
SWAT, Ghost Recon, Rainbow 6. "
Pretty sure all those IPs are still alive. "
Pretty sure they are nothing like what they used to be. But wait, you're ryanwho, it's pointless to talk to you. "
Whoa there, wounded puppy. I was just asking for clarification. What obtuse facet of the old Rainbow 6 games did you find was missing in R6 Vegas 2? Be as specific as possible.
yeah I'd say there havent been any tactical shooters released as of late, but I wouldn't say they are dead. I played the crap outta Rainbow Six: Vegas 2.
EDIT: PS> nice poll format, man. I got a poll boner.
" I don't remember shooters ever being smart, just faster. Strafing right really fast isn't what I'd call smart. "
SWAT, Ghost Recon, Rainbow 6. "
Pretty sure all those IPs are still alive. "
Pretty sure they are nothing like what they used to be. But wait, you're ryanwho, it's pointless to talk to you. "
Whoa there, wounded puppy. I was just asking for clarification. What obtuse facet of the old Rainbow 6 games did you find was missing in R6 Vegas 2? Be as specific as possible. "
The old Rainbow 6 games required you to use tactics, they were slow paced, realistic, one shot kills, hit in the leg, you would limp for the rest of the mission, hit in the chest/head, you would die. Vegas took everything the games used to be, and turned it into a fast paced shooter with regenerating health. Same with Ghost Recon.
I want slow paced methodical shooters like those games used to be, not what they have become.
I would say for the large part, shooters are still smart, the tactics have just changed. Other than CoD which is a little cheap, most shooters have their own set of skills (yes, that includes Halo). Also, they still make the games you want, just for niche audiences.
To me, smart shooters were always a niche category in the FPS genre. Never big enough to take on the Doom, Half-Life or Call of Duty's of the world but had a fanbase that appreciated them and kept them going. I enjoyed the smart shooters like Rainbow Six (before Vegas) because it was a refreshing break from blasting demons with shotguns or running around sniping campers. It's both relaxing and tense at the same time to take your time, plan things out and deal with causalities or complications in R6 missions.
Yeah, I agree Vegas ruined the R6 series by turning it into Call of Duty-lite. But the terrorist hunt (or whatever it was called) mode from R6V2 was just an awesome throwback. Just you and some squadmates hunting down terrorists in an area where casualties and planning DO matter.
In conclusion, smart shooters are still around (doesn't ARMA2 have a strong following?) so appreciate them when a good one sticks around.
Not really what you're talking about, but I'd like to see more Halo style shooters, games with actual AI and "sandbox" encounters. Too many games with dudes that pop out only to stand in one place, and occasionally shoot. All scripting, no variation.
@extremeradical: I'm glad someone mentioned Dead Space 2, there seemed to be too much attention upon its release about taking all your weapons into higher modes being a major improvement over the first. it struck me that everyone was assuming the higher modes were broken before even trying a fresh run, which isn't the case at all.
Ah, you mean more sim-ish shooters. They still kick around, with the ArmA 2's, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.'s and Operation Flashpoint's. No, they're not quite as prevalent as they were in the 90's and early '00's which is largely due to the industry becoming more and more corporate, but they still exist.
" Not really what you're talking about, but I'd like to see more Halo style shooters, games with actual AI and "sandbox" encounters. Too many games with dudes that pop out only to stand in one place, and occasionally shoot. All scripting, no variation. "
hopefully if they do that they could make it less boring than halo
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