milsiming
Literate
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2015
- Messages
- 22
I really like to concept of Incline and Decline and I think it can apply to a genre that I really love: realistic tactical FPS. And I think we can split it in to 2 periods, 1998 - 2005: where you had shitloads of games to choose from and 2005 - today: where basically we have the ArmA series and that's it. I didn't mention expansions and left out games that are multiplayer only: Red Orchestra 1 & 2, Project Reality, Insurgency etc.
Disclaimer „realistic tactical FPS”
The games presented here are usually described by gamers just as “tactical shooters” without mentioning ”realistic”, but for me a shooter can be tactical without being realistic, like Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri (1996) for example. That’s why you see the term „realistic” being mentioned a lot, I’m only interested here in this certain type of tactical shooter.
1998 – 2005, Genesis & The Great Incline
Great period to be interested in realistic tactical FPS. Every year you had something new to play and, unlike today, we were getting proper PC FPS. Back in the day, the consoles were getting the shitty ports and the games didn't become more and more consolised with each sequel.
[INCLINE] Rainbow Six | August 21, 1998
You coordinate the operations of an elite counter-terrorism unit and by "coordinate" I don't mean you just start a mission and hope for the best. There is a planning stage, where you setup waypoints on the map for your squads, you choose the operatives that participate in the mission, their weapons, armor, grenades, camo etc. The CQC environment and the extremely low time-to-kill make this an unforgiving game, frustrating a lot of times but hugely satisfying when you complete the mission.
[INCLINE] Delta Force | September 30, 1998
Compared to Rainbow Six this is a more simplistic game, there is no planning stage or squads to choose equipment for. Depending on missions, sometimes there are some friendly AIs but theyre really irrelevant, so mostly its just you against dozens of enemy soldiers. Sounds like Rambo a little bit... not a very good start for a realistic tactical FPS, right? Wrong, what makes this game good its the environment that the action takes place in. We are talking about huge areas where, depending on missions, you will encounter occupied villages, enemy bases, enemy patrols etc. Mix that with a low time-to-kill and we have a game that made history in this genre.
This in fact is my 2nd favorite game on this list, because of the impact it had on a 12 year old me. I even remember now, trying the 1st mission on Peru, slowly reaching the top of a hill and seeing before my eyes an enemy base that looked like the ones in Rambo movies. It had guard towers, soldier running alerted by my presence . My jaw dropped.
[INCLINE] Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear | August 31, 1999
The engine had been improved to allow more larger maps and greater detail in their design. In terms of single player, this one is considered to be the best in the series.
[INCLINE] Delta Force 2 | October 31, 1999
They added grass.
[INCLINE] SWAT 3:Close Quarter Combat | November 30, 1999
A realistic tactical shooter called SWAT3: Close Quarter Combat; kind of sums it up what you can expect from this game really. Unlike Rainbow Six there is no planning stage where you setup waypoints, but it makes it up with an interface that lets you issue orders for your team: breaching, covering, moving etc. What makes the SWAT series unique is that when dealing with armed suspects the preferred approach is to convince them to drop their weapon and then arrest them, not shoot on sight. Remember you are not a soldier in this game, you are a police officer.
[INCLINE] Delta Force: Land Warrior | November 7, 2000
The 1st Delta Force with graphics that don’t make your eyes bleed. Why is it “INCLINE”? They didn’t ruin it.
[INCLINE] Operation Flashpont: Cold War Crisis | June 22, 2001
This is so much more than a simple realistic tactical FPS, this can be a considered a battlefield simulator. Almost any military operation that your imagination produces, you can make it happen. You can drive tanks, fly planes, be a simple soldier, be a squad leader, be a gunner in a HMMWV, whatever your war hungry hurt desires this game can provide. Not only is this the 1st ArmA game, but it’s a proper ArmA game, most things you can do in ArmA3 you can do in this game as well and it has the best campaigns in the series.
It doesn’t do CQC well though, but we have Rainbow Six and SWAT for that.
[INCLINE] Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon | November 13, 2001
Although, king of large scale warfare, Operation Flashpoint did not make every other game in this genre irrelevant. Because it could do almost everything, meant it didn't do anything perfect. So games that focus only on a specific part of warfare, will do a better job than Operation Flashpoint when it comes to military scenarios they were designed for.
Like Ghost Recon for example, which specializes in small scale special forces operations. Depending on missions the action takes place in relatively medium size maps, not a bad thing since they are nicely designed (quality vs quantity). It has many similarities with Rainbow Six: you can choose the operatives to participate in the mission, their gear etc, but instead of the planning stage it has a very functional interface for you to issue orders for your squads, so your tactical needs are covered.
Sadly no other Ghost Recon game ever lived up to the this one.
[INCLINE] Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield | March 18, 2003
Many fans of the series say that Rogue Spear is the pinnacle of the series, not this one. Gun balance and map design being the main reasons, although many agree that this one has the best multiplayer. But don’t be fooled this is still a very good Rainbow Six game, all the things that made this series great are still here. The biggest change is the engine, making it look more modern (like gun models in first-person for example).
One thing is certain, this is the last good Rainbow Six game.
[INCLINE] Delta Force: Black Hawk Down | March 23, 2003
Considered most polished Delta Force and one of the best campaigns in the series. After this one, Novalogic went full retard with the series.
[INCLINE] Vietcong, March 26, 2003
One of the very few FPS (or maybe the only one?) that people who are fascinated by the Vietnam conflict could enjoy. Amazing jungle maps, decent AI, nice realism elements translates in to a great Vietnam experience in singleplayer and coop.
[INCLINE] Swat 4 | April 5, 2005
They took a brilliant game and made it better. Sadly this is the last one… or maybe we should be thankful, the series died with some honor and didn’t get turned in to some shitty popamole shooter.
2005 – today , The Great Age of Fuck your favorite series PC Player
[DECLINE] Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown | June 9, 2005
Aka Rainbow Six: FUCK YOUR PC CLASSIC.
Planning phase? Gone. Clever AI? Gone. Nonlinear levels? Gone.
Basically what they did is remove all the features that made this series great and turned Rainbow Six in to a GENERIC LINEAR FUCKING SHOOTER. How awesome is that?
On the next installments Rainbow Six "evolves" from a generic linear shooter to popamole shooter, it's not even worth mentioning them. RIP Rainbow Six.
[LITE DECLINE]Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter | May 3, 2006
The process of consolisation has began. The game got simplified: the number of squads got reduced from 3 to 1, AI misses a lot of shots now, the map is a little bit more linear etc. Funny thing this is not a bad game, a Ghost Recon fan can play it and enjoy a little bit, but its still decline compared to its predecessor. I can actually recommend this game to someone who wants a more relaxed realistic tactical FPS.
[INCLINE] Armed Assault | February 16, 2007
Not the most loved in the series, I give you that, but Bohemia didn’t compromise so that this game could be played on consoles or simplify it so arcade FPS player can enjoy it.
[MILD DECLINE] Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 | July 13, 2007
GRAW 1 was a simplified version of Ghost Recon. This is a simplified version of GRAW 1. So things got worse, but still better than Rainbow Six: Lockdown.
[INCLINE] ArmA2 | 17 June 2009
Rainbow Six, GhostRecon and Operation Flashpoint got violated by executives, SWAT got executed by executives, Delta Forces creator went full retard. Only one series survived the great massacre, the spiritual successor of Operaton Flashpoint: ArmA.
[DECLINE] Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising| October 6, 2009
I never heard of a fan of the original Operation Flashpoint say „Damn, I wish this game was more arcade”. But Codemasters did it anyway.
[DECLINE] Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier | June 26, 2012
Popamole shooter confirmed. RIP Ghost Recon.
Disclaimer „realistic tactical FPS”
The games presented here are usually described by gamers just as “tactical shooters” without mentioning ”realistic”, but for me a shooter can be tactical without being realistic, like Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri (1996) for example. That’s why you see the term „realistic” being mentioned a lot, I’m only interested here in this certain type of tactical shooter.
1998 – 2005, Genesis & The Great Incline
Great period to be interested in realistic tactical FPS. Every year you had something new to play and, unlike today, we were getting proper PC FPS. Back in the day, the consoles were getting the shitty ports and the games didn't become more and more consolised with each sequel.
[INCLINE] Rainbow Six | August 21, 1998
You coordinate the operations of an elite counter-terrorism unit and by "coordinate" I don't mean you just start a mission and hope for the best. There is a planning stage, where you setup waypoints on the map for your squads, you choose the operatives that participate in the mission, their weapons, armor, grenades, camo etc. The CQC environment and the extremely low time-to-kill make this an unforgiving game, frustrating a lot of times but hugely satisfying when you complete the mission.
[INCLINE] Delta Force | September 30, 1998
Compared to Rainbow Six this is a more simplistic game, there is no planning stage or squads to choose equipment for. Depending on missions, sometimes there are some friendly AIs but theyre really irrelevant, so mostly its just you against dozens of enemy soldiers. Sounds like Rambo a little bit... not a very good start for a realistic tactical FPS, right? Wrong, what makes this game good its the environment that the action takes place in. We are talking about huge areas where, depending on missions, you will encounter occupied villages, enemy bases, enemy patrols etc. Mix that with a low time-to-kill and we have a game that made history in this genre.
This in fact is my 2nd favorite game on this list, because of the impact it had on a 12 year old me. I even remember now, trying the 1st mission on Peru, slowly reaching the top of a hill and seeing before my eyes an enemy base that looked like the ones in Rambo movies. It had guard towers, soldier running alerted by my presence . My jaw dropped.
[INCLINE] Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear | August 31, 1999
The engine had been improved to allow more larger maps and greater detail in their design. In terms of single player, this one is considered to be the best in the series.
[INCLINE] Delta Force 2 | October 31, 1999
They added grass.
[INCLINE] SWAT 3:Close Quarter Combat | November 30, 1999
A realistic tactical shooter called SWAT3: Close Quarter Combat; kind of sums it up what you can expect from this game really. Unlike Rainbow Six there is no planning stage where you setup waypoints, but it makes it up with an interface that lets you issue orders for your team: breaching, covering, moving etc. What makes the SWAT series unique is that when dealing with armed suspects the preferred approach is to convince them to drop their weapon and then arrest them, not shoot on sight. Remember you are not a soldier in this game, you are a police officer.
[INCLINE] Delta Force: Land Warrior | November 7, 2000
The 1st Delta Force with graphics that don’t make your eyes bleed. Why is it “INCLINE”? They didn’t ruin it.
[INCLINE] Operation Flashpont: Cold War Crisis | June 22, 2001
This is so much more than a simple realistic tactical FPS, this can be a considered a battlefield simulator. Almost any military operation that your imagination produces, you can make it happen. You can drive tanks, fly planes, be a simple soldier, be a squad leader, be a gunner in a HMMWV, whatever your war hungry hurt desires this game can provide. Not only is this the 1st ArmA game, but it’s a proper ArmA game, most things you can do in ArmA3 you can do in this game as well and it has the best campaigns in the series.
It doesn’t do CQC well though, but we have Rainbow Six and SWAT for that.
[INCLINE] Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon | November 13, 2001
Although, king of large scale warfare, Operation Flashpoint did not make every other game in this genre irrelevant. Because it could do almost everything, meant it didn't do anything perfect. So games that focus only on a specific part of warfare, will do a better job than Operation Flashpoint when it comes to military scenarios they were designed for.
Like Ghost Recon for example, which specializes in small scale special forces operations. Depending on missions the action takes place in relatively medium size maps, not a bad thing since they are nicely designed (quality vs quantity). It has many similarities with Rainbow Six: you can choose the operatives to participate in the mission, their gear etc, but instead of the planning stage it has a very functional interface for you to issue orders for your squads, so your tactical needs are covered.
Sadly no other Ghost Recon game ever lived up to the this one.
[INCLINE] Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield | March 18, 2003
Many fans of the series say that Rogue Spear is the pinnacle of the series, not this one. Gun balance and map design being the main reasons, although many agree that this one has the best multiplayer. But don’t be fooled this is still a very good Rainbow Six game, all the things that made this series great are still here. The biggest change is the engine, making it look more modern (like gun models in first-person for example).
One thing is certain, this is the last good Rainbow Six game.
[INCLINE] Delta Force: Black Hawk Down | March 23, 2003
Considered most polished Delta Force and one of the best campaigns in the series. After this one, Novalogic went full retard with the series.
[INCLINE] Vietcong, March 26, 2003
One of the very few FPS (or maybe the only one?) that people who are fascinated by the Vietnam conflict could enjoy. Amazing jungle maps, decent AI, nice realism elements translates in to a great Vietnam experience in singleplayer and coop.
[INCLINE] Swat 4 | April 5, 2005
They took a brilliant game and made it better. Sadly this is the last one… or maybe we should be thankful, the series died with some honor and didn’t get turned in to some shitty popamole shooter.
2005 – today , The Great Age of Fuck your favorite series PC Player
[DECLINE] Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown | June 9, 2005
Aka Rainbow Six: FUCK YOUR PC CLASSIC.
Planning phase? Gone. Clever AI? Gone. Nonlinear levels? Gone.
Basically what they did is remove all the features that made this series great and turned Rainbow Six in to a GENERIC LINEAR FUCKING SHOOTER. How awesome is that?
On the next installments Rainbow Six "evolves" from a generic linear shooter to popamole shooter, it's not even worth mentioning them. RIP Rainbow Six.
[LITE DECLINE]Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter | May 3, 2006
The process of consolisation has began. The game got simplified: the number of squads got reduced from 3 to 1, AI misses a lot of shots now, the map is a little bit more linear etc. Funny thing this is not a bad game, a Ghost Recon fan can play it and enjoy a little bit, but its still decline compared to its predecessor. I can actually recommend this game to someone who wants a more relaxed realistic tactical FPS.
[INCLINE] Armed Assault | February 16, 2007
Not the most loved in the series, I give you that, but Bohemia didn’t compromise so that this game could be played on consoles or simplify it so arcade FPS player can enjoy it.
[MILD DECLINE] Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 | July 13, 2007
GRAW 1 was a simplified version of Ghost Recon. This is a simplified version of GRAW 1. So things got worse, but still better than Rainbow Six: Lockdown.
[INCLINE] ArmA2 | 17 June 2009
Rainbow Six, GhostRecon and Operation Flashpoint got violated by executives, SWAT got executed by executives, Delta Forces creator went full retard. Only one series survived the great massacre, the spiritual successor of Operaton Flashpoint: ArmA.
[DECLINE] Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising| October 6, 2009
I never heard of a fan of the original Operation Flashpoint say „Damn, I wish this game was more arcade”. But Codemasters did it anyway.
[DECLINE] Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier | June 26, 2012
Popamole shooter confirmed. RIP Ghost Recon.
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