Shooter Games buying guide

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Shooter Games

Drawing their heritage from the original arcade kiosks with gun controllers affixed, Shooter Games have evolved far past their simplistic roots to some of the most complex and deep games on the market. Perspectives range from first-person, which places you in the eyes of your character, to more detached third-person looks, as well as hybrids. Few games are able to pump you as full of adrenaline as a fast-paced shooter. Take a look at a few of the strongest entries. Gift givers, please bear in mind that shooters are often incredibly violent and are so complex, they're usually for more advanced gamers.

Consoles

Halo 2 : One of the finest games released for the Xbox, or any other system, for that matter, puts you inside the helmet of Master Chief, a destruction-minded warrior equipped with an incredible arsenal and an aim to massacre hostile alien creatures.

Perfect Dark Zero : Crackshot Joanna Dark is a weapons and electronic expert. She helped kick-start the Xbox 360 launch with this sublime shooter, which has you crawling catacombs in order to take down a conspiracy.

Darkwatch : A vampire-themed Western, you play as a desperado charged with shooting up hordes of undead bloodsuckers in order to restore peace to Arizona Territory. Missions alternate between walking and horseback.

From Russia With Love : Sean Connery makes his comeback as James Bond, reprising his trademark role in this adaptation of one of his greatest films. Amid the Cold War, you infiltrate Moscow and protect the free world.

Handhelds

Metroid Prime: Hunters : The DS came of age upon the March 2006 release of this game, which has you play as well-armored intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran. Equipped with an arm cannon and the ability to roll up into a morph ball, you seek out powerful weapons while fighting off rival bounty hunters after the same objects as you.

GoldenEye: Rogue Agent : In something of a throwback to GoldenEye 007, which was perhaps the best Nintendo 64 shooter, you once again travel with a silencer into a world of intrigue and espionage, only this time you play an enemy agent out to seek vengeance against Her Majesty's Secret Service. Bad guys have more fun.

Silent Scope : With a steady hand and an intent gaze, take the perspective of a sniper perched high upon a rooftop, stalking your prey below and squeezing the trigger to pull off headshots and complete missions. The GameBoy Advance graphics work hard to replicate the arcade origins.

Ghost in the Shell : One of the finest anime films makes a successful leap to the Sony PSP. In a futuristic science-fiction setting, the line between humans and artificial intelligence has blurred. The tone and objective are reminiscent of Blade Runner. Blast your way to the truth.

Computer

Doom 3 : Snarling creatures who take up the entire screen dominate this grotesque first-person shooter, which has you descending into the netherworld in order to plug away at hell-spawned monsters. Look out for the BFG -- the baddest freakin' gun (not the genuine acronym, which is a little more vulgar) around.

Return to Castle Wolfenstein : A sequel to the transcendent Wolfenstein 3-D shooter for PCs, Return to Castle Wolfenstein sends you back to castles crawling with Nazis. Sneak around corners, find hidden items and do your part to stamp out the Third Reich.

Serious Sam II : Why is Sam so serious? Because armies of enemies are gunning for his head and all he's got going for him are two arms and two big guns, as well as a belt full of grenades and other artillery. This one improves on the original with better graphics and speed.

Conflict: Global Terror : Fight a faceless enemy in this harrowingly true-to-life war game, pitting American anti-terrorism forces against rogue cells around the globe. The game is a clever mix of stealth and tactical warfare.

Classic

Xevious : Fly a spacecraft over alien worlds, blasting away any enemy that dares confront you. You're equipped with a standard strafe gun, tactical missiles and field-clearing bombs. In addition to the NES, the game also excelled on the Atari 2600, with graphics far ahead of their 1982 time.

House of the Dead : This quarter-gulper dominated the arcades in the 1990s. The premise is the familiar zombies-on-the-rampage motif. Take your gun, make like Warren G and regulate.

Duck Hunt : That darn laughing dog -- he pops up on the screen after you miss one of the ducks onscreen with your NES Light Gun. You long to shoot the mocking K-9, but you hold off because the game doesn't let you fire on him and you need him to scare the next round of ducks from the bushes in this hunting-themed shooter.

Resident Evil 2 : Big surprise -- zombies are your enemy once again! Though suffering from tanklike controls, which make it difficult to maneuver around the territory and defend yourself, the game earns points for inspiring genuine frights.

External Links

GameSpot -- One of the top gaming resources on the net.
IGN -- Covers video games as well as the rest of the entertainment world.
Game Informer -- An excellent video game magazine's home page.
VG Strategies -- Strategies on how to succeed in shooter games.

Consoles

Halo 2 : One of the finest games released for the Xbox, or any other system, for that matter, puts you inside the helmet of Master Chief, a destruction-minded warrior equipped with an incredible arsenal and an aim to massacre hostile alien creatures.	Perfect Dark Zero : Crackshot Joanna Dark is a weapons and electronic expert. She helped kick-start the Xbox 360 launch with this sublime shooter, which has you crawling catacombs in order to take down a conspiracy.	Darkwatch : A vampire-themed Western, you play as a desperado charged with shooting up hordes of undead bloodsuckers in order to restore peace to Arizona Territory. Missions alternate between walking and horseback.	From Russia With Love : Sean Connery makes his comeback as James Bond, reprising his trademark role in this adaptation of one of his greatest films. Amid the Cold War, you infiltrate Moscow and protect the free world.

Handhelds

Metroid Prime: Hunters : The DS came of age upon the March 2006 release of this game, which has you play as well-armored intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran. Equipped with an arm cannon and the ability to roll up into a morph ball, you seek out powerful weapons while fighting off rival bounty hunters after the same objects as you.	GoldenEye: Rogue Agent : In something of a throwback to GoldenEye 007, which was perhaps the best Nintendo 64 shooter, you once again travel with a silencer into a world of intrigue and espionage, only this time you play an enemy agent out to seek vengeance against Her Majesty's Secret Service. Bad guys have more fun.	Silent Scope : With a steady hand and an intent gaze, take the perspective of a sniper perched high upon a rooftop, stalking your prey below and squeezing the trigger to pull off headshots and complete missions. The GameBoy Advance graphics work hard to replicate the arcade origins.	Ghost in the Shell : One of the finest anime films makes a successful leap to the Sony PSP. In a futuristic science-fiction setting, the line between humans and artificial intelligence has blurred. The tone and objective are reminiscent of Blade Runner. Blast your way to the truth.

Computer

Doom 3 : Snarling creatures who take up the entire screen dominate this grotesque first-person shooter, which has you descending into the netherworld in order to plug away at hell-spawned monsters. Look out for the BFG -- the baddest freakin' gun (not the genuine acronym, which is a little more vulgar) around.	Return to Castle Wolfenstein : A sequel to the transcendent Wolfenstein 3-D shooter for PCs, Return to Castle Wolfenstein sends you back to castles crawling with Nazis. Sneak around corners, find hidden items and do your part to stamp out the Third Reich.	Serious Sam II : Why is Sam so serious? Because armies of enemies are gunning for his head and all he's got going for him are two arms and two big guns, as well as a belt full of grenades and other artillery. This one improves on the original with better graphics and speed.	Conflict: Global Terror : Fight a faceless enemy in this harrowingly true-to-life war game, pitting American anti-terrorism forces against rogue cells around the globe. The game is a clever mix of stealth and tactical warfare.

Classic

Xevious : Fly a spacecraft over alien worlds, blasting away any enemy that dares confront you. You're equipped with a standard strafe gun, tactical missiles and field-clearing bombs. In addition to the NES, the game also excelled on the Atari 2600, with graphics far ahead of their 1982 time.	House of the Dead : This quarter-gulper dominated the arcades in the 1990s. The premise is the familiar zombies-on-the-rampage motif. Take your gun, make like Warren G and regulate.	Duck Hunt : That darn laughing dog -- he pops up on the screen after you miss one of the ducks onscreen with your NES Light Gun. You long to shoot the mocking K-9, but you hold off because the game doesn't let you fire on him and you need him to scare the next round of ducks from the bushes in this hunting-themed shooter.	Resident Evil 2 : Big surprise -- zombies are your enemy once again! Though suffering from tanklike controls, which make it difficult to maneuver around the territory and defend yourself, the game earns points for inspiring genuine frights.