The last year has been great for gamers of all genres. The next-gen consoles have much better graphic capabilities and unique controls, and PC game graphics have made several large jumps just in the the last 18 months.

With the powerful CPU’s and video cards inside the Microsoft Xbox360 and the Sony PS3, as well as the arrival of multi-core processors and extreme graphic chipsets for PC gamers, video games are certainly reaching direct competition with Hollywood’s digital movie graphics.

The most affected genre within games will be the First-Person Shooter. With all the hype and beautiful, promising screenshots surrounding these mature games with guns, the year 2007 must truly be the Year of the First-Person Shooter.

Turok
For: Xbox360/PS3
Developer: Buena Vista

I am glad to start this list off with one of the first shooters that I have ever played. Ten years ago, when I was young lad, I did not have a very powerful PC, so my Nintendo 64 was pretty much the most powerful rig in my house. This game was an epic beginning for me as I leaped into a genre barely seen by my eyes.

The little dinosaurs startled me, the velociraptors scared me, and the evil punkish humans made me giggle. This game started a love for games that let me defend myself with whatever type of arms I was given. Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and it’s sequel Turok 2: Seeds of Evil are still part of my favorite FPS’s, due to the variety of weapons, like the lovable cerebral bore, and the chance to hunt dinosaurs with a bow and arrow or a simple knife. 2007 marks the ten year anniversary of this game, and hopefully this new rendition of a classic can overtake the stench of the last game, Turok: Evolution, which was a steaming pile of…

Crysis
For: PC
Developer: Crytek

Minimum System Requirements: 3.0Ghz CPU, 1.5 Gb system memory, Nvidia 6600 series or higher, 128Mb Video Card memory. This is essentially my computer, and based on the looks of the screenshots and video clips, I am pretty sure that this is either a movie coming out soon or I need to upgrade my computer. Since I can’t really afford an upgrade, this game will be considered a film, since all that I can do now is watch it.

In high-end PC gamer news, this game will feature real-time physics and particle effects that will surely change gamers perspective on what defines a great First-Person Shooter. With plants that can be chopped down with a flurry of bullets and enemies that can be confused with the many powers given to the player through their magic suit, this game will be the number one reason to upgrade this year.

Unreal Tournament 2007
For: PC/PS3/Xbox360
Developer: Epic Games

Unreal Tournament. I love this series. The first time I played the version for the Dreamcast (R.I.P.), I was speechless. The twitch shooter game Quake would never again be my favorite fast-paced shooter. This game had all sorts of crazy weapons, from the chainsaw, to the ripper and the tele-fragging translocator.

While I was burned when I bought Unreal Tournament 2003 (short story: I was mad at UT2004 coming out with much better features), I still enjoy playing Unreal Tournament up to this very day. You could even call me a “Unreal Engine Fanboy”, because I am. Plus, some of the other games on this list (Bioshock, Turok, and Huxley) will be using the Unreal Engine 3.0, which has already shown great potential in last November’s Gears of War. Either way, I am extremely anxious for this game to come out, although not so anxious to upgrade my PC to be able to play it on higher specs.

Bioshock
For: PC/Xbox360
Developer: Irrational Games

The developers of this game mentioned that they hired a water artist as well as a water programmer, and since the whole game takes place underwater, I think that they are definitely vindicated. In this oceanic paradise gone to hell, the hulking creatures called Big Daddy’s rule the land. Along with these fearsome protectors of the childlike Little Sisters, various other creatures will keep the gamers on their toes to as they use their enemies against each other.

Irrational Games, makers of games like Swat 4, Freedom Force, and Tribes: Vengeance, softly hint at this game being a somewhat spiritual sequel to their smash hit System Shock 2. By the looks of the atmosphere and environments, it is very easy to see that they draw some of their inspiration from the System Shock game, as well as the iconic 50’s utopia vibe. This game looks like it will be a marvelous experience.

The Darkness
For: PS3/Xbox360
Developer: Starbreeze AB

While games based on things like movies, books, comics, television shows, and movies based on games (Street Fighter: The Movie: The Game) aren’t always as spectacular as their original counterparts, there have been quite a few gems in gaming that borrow just the right amount of content from their inspiring source.

The Darkness is based on a comic book of the same name, and has some key elements that catch the eyes of gamers. The main character, Jackie Estacado, has supernatural powers that overwhelm his self-control while at the same time allowing him to accomplish feats of violence and destruction far beyond the normal bounds of human viciousness. With environments ready to be ravaged and aggressive creatures ready to kill your character, this game has a lot of potential to wow First-Person Shooter fans as well as survival horror fans.

Half life 2: Episode 2/Team Fortress 2/Portal
For: PC/PS3/Xbox360
Developer: Valve

First comes the obvious fact that Half-Life 2 is an outstanding game. Second, the fact that even though I have never played the first Team Fortress, the sequel that is included with Episode 2 looks very, very fun. Plus, players also get the unique puzzle game called Portal, which features a gun that can create wormholes at the players will.

There are many elements of the story that will be discovered in the next episode of Half Life 2, which improves the physics engine and allows enemies to demolish entire buildings, especially the one you are using.

While Episode 2 will probably be entertaining, I am pretty sure that the multiplayer experience offered in Team Fortress 2 will have a much longer lasting appeal. That being said, I wish this game pack came out last year like it was supposed to, but since it got pushed back, it further strengthens my choice of claiming 2007 the year of the FPS.

Halo 3
For: Xbox360
Developer: Bungie

For those of you that love Halo and all that is involved with it, the third and final chapter is nearly here, rejoice! For those of you that hate Halo and all that is involved with it, the third and final chapter is nearly here, rejoice! Either way, anybody that has a formed opinion about this system-selling, Xbox-saving juggernaut must be eager to see what this game has in store for fans and haters alike.

Whether it be a smash hit in sales and in gameplay, graphics, and quality, or if it is purely just a smash hit because Halo fanboys will buy it anyways, this game has a lot going for it in the gaming market. Based on the screenshots and the videos, the graphics look very nice, and since the first two Halo games controlled comfortably well, I see no reason why this game won’t rock. But there are always going to be games that don’t live up to their hype…**cough**… Doom 3… **cough**… damn Smarch weather. Freakin’ monster closets.

Huxley
For: Xbox360
Developer: Webzen

An MMO for FPSers? Sounds strange and different, can’t wait to try it. The game designers promise up to 200 players in a single game, as well as huge, sprawling maps that could take minutes to traverse. The promise of more realistic numbers in a game of war sounds intriguing, but the only thing that I see as a problem is the truth in a lot of online First-Person Shooters: balanced teams in terms of players, but greatly imbalanced teams in terms of skill.

While most PC games reach around 64 players max, I have played plenty of games on teams that have less accomplished players, therefore creating a boring and frustrating one-sided match. My hopes for this game will be high, as I would like to see how this large amount of players will work out, but I can’t help but wonder how fast the multiplayer mode will get screwed up when people start stacking teams.

Halo 2
For: PC
Developer: Bungie

Somebody, somewhere, has never played this game.

Now they are forced to buy Windows Vista to play it. Oh boy. Nuff said.

Hellgate: London
For: PC
Developer: Flagship Studios

What is with the developer studios taking initiative to crossover FPS’s into other genres? Along with Huxley invading MMO’s we now have Hellgate: London invading RPG’s, even mixing third-person swordplay with the first-person action. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Mixing game genres together is just simply part of experimenting, and without people taking the risk of alienating more than one market at a time, there would be much less innovation in game development. Plus, in a hell-torn London, having a sword and the ability to upgrade should just make the game that much cooler. Personally, this game is shaping up into an exciting leap into a new territory, at least for myself.

Project Offset
For: PC
Developer: Offset

This medieval shooter seems more like a tech demo to me, because it is very hard to tell if this game will ever come out. My theory behind the beautiful trailers for this game is that they need money, so they are simply selling the idea of their company to publishers. Other than that, if this is a real game, on a real engine, it is stunning.

The lighting and shadows, the sound, textures, and animation is just what makes this game catch my attention, not to mention the big, scary dragon. In addition, players can choose their class, skills, and race, allowing players to customize the shooter to their own specifications. I sure hope this game is legit, because I can’t quit it.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
For: PC
Developer: GSC Game World

For a game that should have been released in 2004, and was claimed to be canceled a few times, I am surprised that this game is finally coming out. Since there are no guarantees in life, nobody can be sure whether or not this game will actually come out when it is supposed to. It may be vaporware like the good ‘ole Duke game.

Either way, the best thing this game has going for it is it’s single player mode, due to the fact that the story surrounding the fallout of the Russian Chernobyl plant is a refreshing idea when compared to some FPS plots. Based on the trailers and screenshots, this game looks like it could be an awesome single-player experience.

But, based on the multiplayer beta that can be “acquired”, the engine and gameplay seem slightly outdated. If this game comes out, the best thing it has going for it is it’s story, and in a genre where lighting effects and textures reign supreme, I sure hope that the tale of nuclear disaster outshines the lack of detail.

Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
For: PC
Developer: Splash Damage

Quake games rule. I enjoyed the first Quake thoroughly, and Quake III: Arena nearly burnt out my Dreamcast, and I even have it installed on my computer right now. Quake 4 looked good, and I enjoyed it enough to the point where I would defend it. While it was by no means outstanding, it was still a solid Quake title that was true to the series.

Now comes the obvious complaint: I am already sick of games that run on the Doom 3 engine. I liked the way it looked when it was used for Prey, but I don’t know if I can stand to play through the darkness and corridor-treks anymore. Luckily, the good thing about Enemy Territory is that it takes place in outdoor situations filled with explosions, dirt, and armies.

Recently, this game has been demoed with the gigantorsome 8800GTX, which is kind of bad for me, since I could play Prey, Quake 4, and Doom 3 on high settings. Since this game isn’t as great looking as UT2007 or Crysis, I am rather confused as to why they need this ridiculous chipset to enable the best graphics. My only conclusions are because the game is outdoors or the Strogg are too awesome to render with a 6 series Nvidia card. Since this game uses the Enemy Territory formula and takes some tips from the Battlefield series, this game should offer a satisfying multiplayer fragfest.

Some of you may be thinking “What about the other FPS titles coming out this year?”- don’t worry, I am aware that there are plenty of other games being released within this genre. The only other games that I think are even worth mentioning are Blacksite: Area 51, Timeshift, Cellfactor: Revolution, and Shadowrun.

Blacksite: Area 51
For: Xbox360/PS3
Developer: Midway

While I did enjoy the arcade light gun game and even got through the recent PS2 game of the same name, I am still unsure of this one. Area 51 for the PS2/Xbox/PC platforms was a mixed assortment of fun for me. I did enjoy the lighting effects and close quarters combat, as well as the alien enemies that showed up for a little while.

There was also some fairly good voice acting, what with David Duchovny playing the player’s character and Marilyn Manson voicing one of the aliens. The action was pretty entertaining, although the overused super soldiers at the end were kind of overdone, as most FPS’s love to just stick these people in their games.

This game does feature more aliens and better weapons than the last installment, as well as squad-based tactics. We’ll have to see if this supports or destroys my decision of 2007’s shooterability.

Timeshift
For: PC/Xbox360
Developer: Saber Interactive

The demo that came out for this game looked pretty nice graphically, and the gameplay was pretty interesting as well. Since this game tries to mix a little bit of Prince of Persia’s sands of time magic, the wow factor of this shooter has already increased. The game has been delayed quite a bit though, so who knows what has happened to this time-bending FPS.

Cellfactor: Revolution
For: PC
Developer: Artificial Studios

Wait… so I have to spend $200 hundred dollars on another card in order to play this game? And I could just simply get a better graphics card, use a workaround, and still be able to play this game on max settings? While this game has some cool ideas, I suspect that part of the development of this game is to justify the purchase of a physics card, which can be easily rivaled with an SLI or Crossfire setup, or just simply a big boss of a card. Still, at least they let you play with crates and stuff.

Shadowrun
For: Xbox360/PC
Developer: Microsoft
I am gonna just say it: I do not like this game. I like shooters on consoles. I like shooters on PCs. I do not like it when a developer has a cross platform game and purposely hinders the mouse and keyboard controls to make the game more balanced. Either have the multiplayer game separate for each platform, or let each side use their choice of gaming gear as intended. There is no doubt in my mind that when they release this game, thousands of console-only FPS fans will think that they can beat a keyboard/mouse combo.

This does not make sense. I will not stand by idly as they create a debacle of PC gamers. Microsoft: choose between what will make the game please everybody and what is right. Nobody has the right to cripple my 1800dpi Infrared mouse. Nobody.

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