Almost perfectly forgotten FPS games

If there's one thing Microsoft won't let happen, it's that big shooter franchises like Halo and Call of Duty will pass away under their watch. Even if sequels stop being made, fans can at least be sure that the older games will remain available forever, whether it's through a port, remaster, or remake.

Just watch Halo: Combat Evolvedwhich already got an update for its tenth anniversary, and it's getting another one, Halo: Campaign Evolvedfor its 25th anniversary. Halo fans are lucky, but fans of these lesser-remembered shooters aren't as lucky as many are unavailable or just fell out of the consciousness of the wider shooter fanbase.

Bulletstorm

A Kick To The Cactus

Bulletstorm is the kind of shooter where the story doesn't matter, as it's completely a parody of more serious efforts like Call of Dutythrow over-the-top shenanigans and plenty of profanity into the script. The gameplay is the main thing about the game, with two key mechanics that lifted the generally fantastic arrangement of weapons.

Players could use an electronic whip to grab enemies, and they could also kick them back. Environments were littered with hazards, such as red barrels and cacti, and the more creative the killers were, the more points they would earn. It was an arcade-style shooter that may have been misunderstood at the time, but fans have never given up hope of seeing a sequel someday.

The darkness 2

Cel-Shaded gangsters

The darkness 2 changed the art style from something realistic, like in the first game, to a more cel-shaded design to stick to the comic origins. The gameplay was also a little more free-flowing, with a better set of weapons and powers for the gangster hero, Jackie, to unlock. Jackie went from killer to mob boss relatively quickly thanks to his demonic possession.

Players could use tentacles to grab enemies or other demons to attack as players blasted away with guns and other weapons. Both games are worth checking out for the uncanny powers alone, and can still be played and purchased on Xbox systems in terms of home console entertainment.

Star Wars: Republic Commando

Roger Roger!

The original Xbox had some exclusives Star Wars games for consoles, with Star Wars: Republic Commando be one of them. As part of a squadron of four Clone Troopers, players would lead their squad through linear missions, blasting dozens of droids in the process. The look was perfect from the movies, as was the voice acting and sound effects.

It didn't do anything extraordinary for a shooter, but as a first-person experience set during The Clone Wars, it was good enough. Thankfully, this game can now be enjoyed on a plethora of consoles thanks to a remaster, and while it's not Halo: Combat Evolved, Star Wars: Republic Commando is fun from a galaxy far, far away.

Red Steel 2

A hidden Wii gem

The original Red steel was a launch title for the Wii, which was a modern game that involved both ninja katana play and shooting. Early motion controls weren't much fun, but the sequel was better. Red Steel 2 had a cowboy meets samurai theme, and the game supported Wii Motion Plus, meaning the katana and gun controls were more solid.

It's a game that could easily be ported to the Switch or Switch 2, thanks to the Joy-Cons still supporting motion controls, but this is probably a game from Ubisoft that won't be making a comeback anytime soon. The Wii didn't have a ton of first-person shooters or action games, but if someone wanted to collect the best the system had to offer, Red Steel 2 must be in the mix.

Peculiarity

Red dawn

BioShock is widely praised for being an immersive, atmospheric alternate history shooter, and for what it's worth, the game deserves all the accolades and attention it receives. There are other equally good games that didn't quite reach the same heights, and Peculiarity is another example. Beginning in the modern era, players are sent to check out a Russian experimental site where a disaster took place. Once in contact, they are then sent back to the 1950s when the experiment first went berserk.

With a special device, players can switch between realities, sometimes affecting enemies and the environment, such as repairing a rusty staircase to become usable again, thanks to time manipulation. Before Raven Software fully transformed into a Call of Duty support studio for Activision, they made some great original games like Peculiarityand it's important not to forget this one on Steam.

Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood

O brother, where are you?

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood is the second game in the series, and in each level players can decide which of the two brothers they want to play. Ray will have standard Old West weapons, including revolvers and rifles, while Thomas is a more agile and stealthy character.

With Thomas, players can pick off enemies with arrows, knives, and even use his lasso to get around places Ray can't. Some levels are more open, allowing players to purchase new weapons in shops as well. The two-brother system adds some replay value to the missions in this otherwise linear, but solid, cowboy shooter.

Syndicate

A linear cyberpunk

Syndicate is a 2012 reboot of the franchise that started back in 1993. Unlike other cyberpunk games, such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Syndicate is a more linear experience without many RPG elements, beyond upgrading cybernetics. That said, it has by far the best shooting mechanics in a cyberpunk game, with futuristic versions of fan-favorite rifles, pistols and shotguns. So, for shooter fans who also want a cyberpunk framework, Syndicate fits better.

Players can use special vision to highlight enemies and slow down time, along with more sensitive hacking powers to explode heads or turn enemies against each other. At a time when cyberpunk games are really hot again, it's a shame that so many have forgotten the greatness of this reboot, or never even knew it existed, as it has unfortunately been removed from digital platforms.

Cold winter

Frozen In Time

Cold winter was a PS2 exclusive, and has remained ever since. This spy thriller is a doodle adventure that seemed to be a more brutal version of the James Bond games that were popular at the time. The levels are fairly linear and off, but there were some diversions from time to time to fit the spy motif, such as looking for optional targets by picking locks.

The developer, Swordfish Studios, is now long gone, but shooter fans may also know their work from 50 Cent: Blood on the Sandone of the most overrated shooters of all time. So, while Cold winter may no longer be available or as loved as something similar Splinter cell or Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty on PS2 it's still a fun spy thriller.