The Fast-FPS that left a mark in the industry
, by Quentin
Among the most influential genres in the video game industry, the FPS is ubdoubtedly the king. It has stood the test of time, constantly reinventing itself to meet the new public expectations. Since its beginnings several decades ago, the many FPS have adopted different approaches to gameplay. Let's not forget the early 90s and even the 2000s here.
Far removed from today's race for realism, with a focus on heavy movement, was what we now call the Fast-FPS. We think it's worth mentioning a few titles from this sub-genre, which every gamer that takes pride on themselves must try at least once.
Doom
It's impossible to talk about this genre without mentioning the most emblematic FPS of them all! The adventures of Doomguy began in 1993, and since then our hero has been given a new lease of life again and again to remain, even today, one of the must cult licenses in the videogame world.
John Romero and John Carmack's creation doesn't rely on a complex story. The thing is quite simple, really: you're on Mars, and you have to repel an alien invasion. The concept is as simple as it is exhilarating, but it's above all the gameplay that has allowed Doom to make it's mark. A veritable Fast-FPS icon, it dabllet the survival horror genre with the third game before going back to the roots with Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal on 2020.
Quake
Here comes another one by John Romero. Quake, much like Doom, is one of the most influential games of its genre, or at least that was the case in the past. Nowadays, the IP isn't doing so hot.
From a resounding start in 1996 to the increible Quake III Arena in 1999, the franchise enjoyed quite a run of uninterrupted success. however, in 2005, things took a turn for the worst with Quake 4. By abandoning its fast gameplay and going for a more common gameplay, it failed to please its fans.
Despite this, wee need to highlight Quake Champion's attempt in 2017 to bbring the franchise back to the forefront. Although critical and player reception was fairly positive, the game failed to make a lasting impression.
Wolfenstein 3D
Born in 1981 on platforms such as the Apple II, Commodore 64 and various Atari 8-bit computers, Castle Wolfenstein marks the first game in the series. At first it was conceived as an infiltration game, and there was a second title in the same in 1984. These first two works were managed by Muse Software, before id Software took up the torch in 1991, propelling the series to the forefront with Wolfenstein 3D. Once again, the project was developed by John Romero, who was on a roll.
The player is plunged right into a Nazi castle at the height of the Second World War. It's mission? Just escape. In the hands of talented creators, this formula has worked just fine, contributing greatly to the franchise's popularity.
Wolfenstein has also stood the test of time. Since 2014, the franchise has been managed by MachineGames, who have developed some great entries.
Serious Sam
Launched in 2001, Serious Sam is anything but... serious. Basing its entire universe and gameplay on pure entertainment, it offers a very different approach to other games. Through this license, we can follow our hero to the four corners of the world to counter an alien invasion. With its cult monsters and distinctive atmosphere, Serious Sam is definitely a game to try out at least once in your life.
With four main entries, the last of which saw the light of the day in 2020, there's no doubt that this IP has many more years ahead of it.
Painkiller
Up until now, all the franchises minus Quake have enjoyed a long life. At this point, we need to mention the excellent Painkiller, though much as Quake, it hasn't enjoyed long-term success.
Launched in 2004, and quickly followed by a solid expansion called Battle out of Hell, things seemed to go great for this IP filled with gore and darkness. Sadly, this was not the case.
Although it got some expansions until 2011, and Painkiller Hell & Damnation in 2012 - a re-release of the original episode and Battle out of Hell with improved graphics and a new 3D engine - it failed to garner a significant fanbase nor convinced the specialist press, and so Painkiller fell into oblivion.
Unreal Tournament
You may know the creators of Unreal Tournament. It's this small company, Epic Games. They used Unreal Engine to develop the game, and it served as a technological showcase for the company and also became a benchmark in the field of multiplayer games, captivating a loyal community for years.
The adventure began in 1998. Each new game aimed to demonstrate the latest technological advances in its engine. Over the course of its existence, the game evolved from the first version of the Unreal Engine to the fourth.
A total of nine games were released. However, Epic Games' flagship competitive game eventually lost steam and ceased development in 2014.
Duke Nukem 3D
We had to mention this title, but we can't highlight the entire franchise because, from our point of view, the only true fast-FPS in the saga is 3D.
In 1996, Duke Nukem 3D made a name for itself among gamers the world over, with its offbeat characterization and violent universe tinged with gritty humor. It was also a technological feat, introducing freer aiming. Thanks to the mouse, you could aim your weapon in any direction - a real revolution for the time.
However, it has to be said that the series failed to maintain its lustre over time, falling almost into oblivion after the catastrophic Duke Nukem Forever.
Today, even if fast-FPS are no longer so hot, the genre lives on thanks to the efforts of a few developers. This is notably the case with Dusk, released in 2018, which wears its inspirations on its sleeves.
As usual, we'd like to point out that it's impossible for us to mention every game. We would like for you to tell us which games in this genre have made a lasting impression.