3rd person shooter games aren't as numerous as their first person counterparts, but they remain no less visceral despite the detachment from the character's point of view. If anything, the third person viewpoint lends more familiarity to the characters under your control—by giving you a tangible character with whom to relate.
Released in 1999 on the Sony Playstation, many will tell you that Syphon Filter is their favorite game of all-time. While it is labeled as a stealth game, the actual ‘stealth’ part of it seems to fall to the wayside as the action starts to take over throughout the course of the game.
One of the few launch titles that the Playstation 3 can say it had, Warhawk was a multiplayer-only fragfest. Anyone who tells you they have picked up a controller, played this game with three other people, and not had a marginally good time is lying - right through their teeth.
The first of the series, Extreme Condition did not score that impressively from a critical standpoint; However, that did not stop it from selling a large amount of copies and delivering one of the more visceral experiences on platforms to date. Not only was the combat fast-paced and action-oriented, but the graphics were above par for its time.
Perhaps one of the most innovative games on this list, SOCOM 2 brought use of the headset to single player and in essence – to multiplayer as well. Issuing commands through the headset and not having to interface with the controller created a new level of immersion between gamer and game. While the first game did all of this as well, the second did it all better.
Advanced Warfighter ushered in a new era of video games in and of itself. Raising the bar far above its competitions’ heads, this game was and will always be seen as Tom Clancy’s medal among medals. Since then, the franchise has evolved into one of the largest in the industry.
Another game held in the lineage of John Woo, 2007 saw the return of what we thought was a dying breed: Bullet-time shooters. Endless amounts of enemies, bullet-time power, and gunplay all attribute to why this game is simply too fun to be ignored. Next generation technology plus slow-motion bullets equal an awesome experience.
This game was created by the team at Sucker Punch, the awesome developers behind the Sly Cooper series. It completely changed the way we looked at ‘superhero games’ and it was one of the pioneers of the good and evil karma systems for the new generation of consoles.
Jet Force Gemini was released back in 1999 on the Nintendo 64. With its release the spark igniting third-person shooters into mainstream media was created. While not as popular as Rare’s other games of the era, Jet Force Gemini did just as much for the industry as games like Banjo Kazooie or Goldeneye 007.
While there are two predecessors to this third installment in the series, Chaos Theory was the iteration that pushed the franchise into international acclaim. With an almost unbelievable amount of positive reviews and innovation of the stealth genre in nearly every aspect backing it, this game will go down in history as one of the very best.
If there is any game on this list that screams ‘cool’, this would definitely be the one. Developed by the same team responsible for Resident Evil 4, Vanquish takes place in a futuristic world where you play as Sam Gideon. You are equipped with a suit that makes your reaction time second to none, and it makes you a winner with tiger blood and Adonis DNA.
Resident Evil: Code Veronica went above and beyond what fans came to expect from the RE series. Set after the events of Resident Evil 2, Code Veronica centers on the story of Claire Redfield, who continues her search for her missing brother, Chris. It is arguably one of the best titles in the RE series, thanks to its logical puzzles and polished gameplay.
Code Veronica flew under the radar of many gamers due to its release on the Dreamcast. Thankfully, the game has since been re-released XBLA and PSN.
Released upon the hordes of anime fans, Battlecry gave many what they had been waiting for. Though it is by no means the best third-person shooter on this list, it definitely raised the bar in terms of what the player could expect when buying into a mecha-game. In all honesty, it made the Gundam video game franchise look like a lost puppy.
If you haven’t heard of Gears by now you have probably been living under a rock. Possibly one of the most controversial titles to be released this generation, Cliff Bleszinski and his band of cohorts at Epic Games have made sure to deliver us one of the most gory, primal, and satisfyingly brutal games to ever hit the market.
When Dead Space was first announced, many did not give it a second look; upon its release however, it turned the horror genre on its head and made everybody ask themselves the question, “What is scary in video games?” While it still suffered from the tank controls synonymous with horror games, the problem was to a much lesser degree than other games.
Vegas was considered by many to be a first-person shooter inside a third-person shooter’s body. However, this is not a bad thing; Vegas gave us some of the most engaging third-person gameplay the industry had ever seen. This game is one of the many reasons Tom Clancy still reigns supreme in squad-based military shooters.
While cited for having some minor technical issues, the ways in which this game revolutionized gaming are abundant. In 1996 graphics like this were unheard of, female leads were scarce, and no one had mixed 3D platforming with fun gunplay.
Coming in off an already strong fan base, Resident Evil 4 pleased its then current following and gained popularity with others. While it was criticized by some for the ‘tank controls’, as they have come to be known, the review consensus for the fourth iteration was largely positive.
This game was the first out of few to nail the stealth-action category in third-person shooters. Beautifully animated with a great story, this game deserves all the praise it can get. Plus, ‘47’ was a cool change of pace from the bashing of James Bond we were receiving in 2002.
While many would argue that Vice City should be in this spot, the third installment of the series is where it really began to take off. Being the first 3D iteration of the franchise, groundbreaking new sandbox tools, and its breaking of the mold in terms of what is and what isn’t right in video games all contribute to its high status on this list.
Perhaps the strongest example of classic storyboard work, Red Dead tells the story of John Marston, a man on the hunt for his wife. With plenty of plot twists, and gameplay that is simply astounding, there is no reason this game should not have won Spike’s annual Game of the Year award for 2010.
The second entry to the wildly popular Mass Effect franchise, this game scooped up Game of the Year awards across the board and scored perfectly at a majority of media outlets. Most often cited for bringing action-packed shooting mechanics to the RPG realm, Mass Effect 2 is a true revolutionary in the gaming world.
The end to Hideo Kojima’s masterpiece, MGS4 tied up all the loose ends of the series as well as giving us the strongest iteration of the series to date. While the game received some flak for its focus on cinematics, the amount of gameplay still amounted to a good eight hours – eight hours anyone who has played the game will never forget.
Why is this game at the top of the list? Because Nathan Drake and his adventures have given the industry more than just an all-star gameplay experience; He’s given it the definitive cinematic experience as well. From battles held on mobile trains to trekking the Himalayan Mountains, Uncharted 2 never fails to amaze the player.
25. Syphon Filter
Released in 1999 on the Sony Playstation, many will tell you that Syphon Filter is their favorite game of all-time. While it is labeled as a stealth game, the actual ‘stealth’ part of it seems to fall to the wayside as the action starts to take over throughout the course of the game.
24. Red Faction: Guerilla
Guerilla is on this list for two reasons: Bringing destructibility and absolute fun to consoles. ‘Strategic destruction’ is what sets this game apart; Being able to put explosives in one part of a building and watch it crumble because of your expert placement is more fun than you know. Oh – The story is good too. Hah.23. Warhawk (PS3)
One of the few launch titles that the Playstation 3 can say it had, Warhawk was a multiplayer-only fragfest. Anyone who tells you they have picked up a controller, played this game with three other people, and not had a marginally good time is lying - right through their teeth.
22. Lost Planet: Extreme Condition
The first of the series, Extreme Condition did not score that impressively from a critical standpoint; However, that did not stop it from selling a large amount of copies and delivering one of the more visceral experiences on platforms to date. Not only was the combat fast-paced and action-oriented, but the graphics were above par for its time.
21. SOCOM: 2 U.S. Navy Seals
Perhaps one of the most innovative games on this list, SOCOM 2 brought use of the headset to single player and in essence – to multiplayer as well. Issuing commands through the headset and not having to interface with the controller created a new level of immersion between gamer and game. While the first game did all of this as well, the second did it all better.
20. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter
Advanced Warfighter ushered in a new era of video games in and of itself. Raising the bar far above its competitions’ heads, this game was and will always be seen as Tom Clancy’s medal among medals. Since then, the franchise has evolved into one of the largest in the industry.
19. Stranglehold
Another game held in the lineage of John Woo, 2007 saw the return of what we thought was a dying breed: Bullet-time shooters. Endless amounts of enemies, bullet-time power, and gunplay all attribute to why this game is simply too fun to be ignored. Next generation technology plus slow-motion bullets equal an awesome experience.
18. Infamous
This game was created by the team at Sucker Punch, the awesome developers behind the Sly Cooper series. It completely changed the way we looked at ‘superhero games’ and it was one of the pioneers of the good and evil karma systems for the new generation of consoles.
17. Jet Force Gemini
Jet Force Gemini was released back in 1999 on the Nintendo 64. With its release the spark igniting third-person shooters into mainstream media was created. While not as popular as Rare’s other games of the era, Jet Force Gemini did just as much for the industry as games like Banjo Kazooie or Goldeneye 007.
16. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
While there are two predecessors to this third installment in the series, Chaos Theory was the iteration that pushed the franchise into international acclaim. With an almost unbelievable amount of positive reviews and innovation of the stealth genre in nearly every aspect backing it, this game will go down in history as one of the very best.
15. Vanquish
If there is any game on this list that screams ‘cool’, this would definitely be the one. Developed by the same team responsible for Resident Evil 4, Vanquish takes place in a futuristic world where you play as Sam Gideon. You are equipped with a suit that makes your reaction time second to none, and it makes you a winner with tiger blood and Adonis DNA.
14. Resident Evil: Code Veronica
Resident Evil: Code Veronica went above and beyond what fans came to expect from the RE series. Set after the events of Resident Evil 2, Code Veronica centers on the story of Claire Redfield, who continues her search for her missing brother, Chris. It is arguably one of the best titles in the RE series, thanks to its logical puzzles and polished gameplay.
Code Veronica flew under the radar of many gamers due to its release on the Dreamcast. Thankfully, the game has since been re-released XBLA and PSN.
13. Robotech: Battlecry
Released upon the hordes of anime fans, Battlecry gave many what they had been waiting for. Though it is by no means the best third-person shooter on this list, it definitely raised the bar in terms of what the player could expect when buying into a mecha-game. In all honesty, it made the Gundam video game franchise look like a lost puppy.
12. Gears of War
If you haven’t heard of Gears by now you have probably been living under a rock. Possibly one of the most controversial titles to be released this generation, Cliff Bleszinski and his band of cohorts at Epic Games have made sure to deliver us one of the most gory, primal, and satisfyingly brutal games to ever hit the market.
11. Dead Space
When Dead Space was first announced, many did not give it a second look; upon its release however, it turned the horror genre on its head and made everybody ask themselves the question, “What is scary in video games?” While it still suffered from the tank controls synonymous with horror games, the problem was to a much lesser degree than other games.
10. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas
Vegas was considered by many to be a first-person shooter inside a third-person shooter’s body. However, this is not a bad thing; Vegas gave us some of the most engaging third-person gameplay the industry had ever seen. This game is one of the many reasons Tom Clancy still reigns supreme in squad-based military shooters.
9. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
While cited for having some minor technical issues, the ways in which this game revolutionized gaming are abundant. In 1996 graphics like this were unheard of, female leads were scarce, and no one had mixed 3D platforming with fun gunplay.
8. Resident Evil 4
Coming in off an already strong fan base, Resident Evil 4 pleased its then current following and gained popularity with others. While it was criticized by some for the ‘tank controls’, as they have come to be known, the review consensus for the fourth iteration was largely positive.
7. Max Payne
Awesome for a number of reasons, Max Payne could have not been released at a better time. With its emphasis being on bullet-time fighting, the fact that it nailed the formula better than any game to date, and that the Matrix franchise was at an all-time high all contribute to the game’s success.6. Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
This game was the first out of few to nail the stealth-action category in third-person shooters. Beautifully animated with a great story, this game deserves all the praise it can get. Plus, ‘47’ was a cool change of pace from the bashing of James Bond we were receiving in 2002.
5. Grand Theft Auto 3
While many would argue that Vice City should be in this spot, the third installment of the series is where it really began to take off. Being the first 3D iteration of the franchise, groundbreaking new sandbox tools, and its breaking of the mold in terms of what is and what isn’t right in video games all contribute to its high status on this list.
4. Red Dead Redemption
Perhaps the strongest example of classic storyboard work, Red Dead tells the story of John Marston, a man on the hunt for his wife. With plenty of plot twists, and gameplay that is simply astounding, there is no reason this game should not have won Spike’s annual Game of the Year award for 2010.
3. Mass Effect 2
The second entry to the wildly popular Mass Effect franchise, this game scooped up Game of the Year awards across the board and scored perfectly at a majority of media outlets. Most often cited for bringing action-packed shooting mechanics to the RPG realm, Mass Effect 2 is a true revolutionary in the gaming world.
2. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
The end to Hideo Kojima’s masterpiece, MGS4 tied up all the loose ends of the series as well as giving us the strongest iteration of the series to date. While the game received some flak for its focus on cinematics, the amount of gameplay still amounted to a good eight hours – eight hours anyone who has played the game will never forget.
1. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Why is this game at the top of the list? Because Nathan Drake and his adventures have given the industry more than just an all-star gameplay experience; He’s given it the definitive cinematic experience as well. From battles held on mobile trains to trekking the Himalayan Mountains, Uncharted 2 never fails to amaze the player.
