With the Titanfall beta having just launched and everyone attempting to get an invite, we thought that we should remember some underrated first-person shooters that didn’t get the attention they deserved. These games threatened to be a big success, but due to a number of different factors, they wound up performing poorly on sales charts.
The following games all had an opportunity to be a big hit, but for one reason or another failed to connect with consumers. Here are 10 underrated first-person shooters that you should’ve played.
10 Most Underrated First-Person Shooters That You Should've Played
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ZombiU
Featuring the best implementation of the Wii U's GamePad to date, ZombiU had all the makings of a horror classic. Its dimly-lit, claustrophic London setting mixed with permadeath gameplay which threatened to rid you of all of your acquired gear upon dying made for a truly terrifying experience, as you navigated your way through the zombie horde whilst being constantly aware that one wrong move could lead you to your demise.
Unfortunately, ZombiU found itself criticised for its supposedly "clunky" controls, despite these controls actually serving to add a layer of terror to the game in the vein of old Resident Evil and Silent Hill games. On top of this, it featured some of the best local multiplayer of this generation, which somehow found itself becoming swiftly ignored. We all asked for another true-blue survival-horror game, and when we get it, we complained.
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Unreal Championship 2
Releasing on the original Xbox, Unreal Championship 2 seemed destined to challenge Halo 2 for its place atop the throne of online console gaming.
Combining the typical Unreal FPS gameplay with some truly nail-biting third-person melee action, Unreal Championship 2 was praised by critics. Unfortunately, long-time fans of the series didn't like the changes that had been made to the series, and it found itself swiftly and unfairly become another FPS crushed beneath Master Chief's big green boot.
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Red Faction 2
When arena shooters are discussed there will typically be much talk of Quake and Unreal Tournament, but no mention of Red Faction 2.
This is a crying shame, because Red Faction 2 was not only made for a good time when playing with friends, but it also introduced destructible environments into the mix, which rather than being included in the game for the sake of another back-of-the-box bullet point, actually changed the gameplay a great deal. Couple that with some ludicrous weapons and developer Volition should've been onto a winner. Unfortunately, Red Faction 2 has largely been forgotten about.
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Bulletstorm
Bulletstorm was marketed as being the antithesis of Call of Duty, with developer Epic Games even going so far as to make a short parody game titled Duty Calls, openly mocking Activision's series.
Unfortunately, despite introducing an array of new ideas into the mix that made its relentless run-'n'-gun campaign a great deal of fun to play through, Bulletstorm failed in its mission to inject a little bit of colour into the drab FPS genre.
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The Darkness II
Despite The Darkness II being positively received by critics, its story-driven gameplay put many off, and as such it was a commercial disaster. 2K Games cancelled the planned DLC for the game, which was going to expand upon the cliffhanger that the game ended on, and anyone who got a chance to experience this underappreciated gem was left sorely disappointed.
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Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
Perhaps the most widely-regarded "best game that no one played", Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay suffered from being an adaptation of a film that nobody liked.
However, Escape from Butcher Bay was actually far superior to the film it was based off of, and to this day it's known as being one of the best movie tie-in games ever.
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Mirror's Edge
While Mirror's Edge was overlooked upon its release, such was the ferocity of the support it received from those who had played it that EA is now working on Mirror's Edge 2.
While Mirror's Edge wasn't an FPS in the traditional sense in that it rewarded players for not using guns at all, it still implemented weaponry for those who weren't skilled enough to traverse through its difficult stages with their free-running talents alone. The one game that can make you feel like an awesome parkour specialist without having to leave your couch.
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Clive Barker's Undying
Great atmosphere, great music, terrible title: Clive Barker's Undying was the brainchild of the titular Hellraiser and Candyman mastermind, and it really showed. Undying was dark, twisted and took place in one of the greatest setting ever featured in a horror game.
It was praised by critics, but Clive Barker's Undying received such poor sales that both a console port of the game and a planned multiplayer patch were scrapped.
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Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath
Oddworld's transition from 2D platformer to a 3D FPS in Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath went above the heads of the majority of gamers which, considering it didn't even feature the series' mascot Abe, wasn't much of a surprise.
The startling departure from the series' roots meant that, despite critics loving the game, very few actually got round to playing it. Packed full with bundles of charm and a unique Western setting, Stranger's Wrath deserved far more attention that it received.
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Star Wars: Republic Commando
There have been so many Star Wars games that it's inevitable that a few would find themselves swept under the carpet, but the excellent Star Wars: Republic Commando should not have received that treatment.
Even the Star Wars license couldn't save this game from plunging into obscurity, as it transpired that not a lot of people wanted to play a Star Wars game that didn't feature any Jedi.
