First-person shooter

A first-person shooter is a type of video game where players see the action through the eyes of their character, with the main focus being combat using guns or other long-range weapons. It belongs to the broader action game category and shares many features with other shooter games. From the start, advanced 3D and pseudo-3D graphics have been essential for creating a convincing sense of being inside the game world, and these games have continually pushed hardware makers to develop new graphics processing technology. Multiplayer has always been a key part of the experience, becoming even more important with the spread of internet access.

History

The genre is defined by allowing players to freely navigate a three-dimensional space, which sets it apart from other first-person shooting games like light gun shooters or rail shooters, where movement is often scripted or restricted. While early games like Wolfenstein 3D and Doom helped establish the modern form, later titles such as Quake, GoldenEye 007, and Halo advanced 3D graphics, multiplayer features, and the genre's popularity on consoles.

Definition

Some games, like Deus Ex or BioShock, blend FPS elements with role-playing mechanics, while others, like Far Cry or Rage, focus more on exploration and story, sometimes being considered adventure games. Even puzzle or platforming games like Portal, which use a first-person view to help players navigate but lack combat, are occasionally grouped with the genre. Some commentators also include combat flight simulators and space battle games when they show the cockpit from a first-person perspective.

Game design

In terms of game design, FPS games typically feature a player character, one or more ranged weapons, and various enemies. Because they take place in 3D environments, they tend to feel more realistic than 2D shooters, with better representations of gravity, lighting, sound, and collisions. On personal computers, the standard control setup is a keyboard and mouse, which many consider superior to the two-analog-stick system used on consoles. The player's hands and weapon are usually visible on screen, along with a heads-up display showing health, ammo, and location, and often a map of the area.

The gameplay is generally fast-paced and action-focused, with dynamic firefights at the core, though some titles emphasize narrative, puzzles, or strategy.