Whether it be the gun-blazing games like Doom and Duke Nukem, the more story-driven romps like Deus Ex and Half-Life, or the console adventures of Goldeneye 64, the '90s was a hotbed for First-Person-Shooters. Though the market is still flooded with them today, many see the final decade of the 1900s as The Golden Age for FPS games.
Because many people first think of their experiences slaughtering demons and aliens, a lot of excellent FPS games from that period are lost in the shuffle. So before pre-ordering the newest Call of Duty game, perhaps gamers should give these games a chance.
Shadow Warrior (1997)
A game that isn't coming to Switch, Shadow Warrior hasn't aged well at all, but it's too notable not to mention. Developed by 3D Realms, the game sees mercenary Lo Wang battle his former employer to stop him from summoning ancient demons in a bid to conquer the world.
Though its portrayal of AAPI cultures leaves a lot to be desired, the gunplay is a lot of fun and some of the game's humor will get a chuckle out of a lot of gamers. Much like Duke Nukem and James Bond, Lo Wang has a charm to him despite being a fairly problematic character.
X-Men: The Ravages Of Apocalypse (1997)
X-Men was a popular brand back in the 1990s, so it makes sense that Marvel would want to fuse The Merry Mutants with the new hotness in gaming, but X-Men: The Ravages of Apocalypse was probably not what most were expecting. When Apocalypse creates malicious clones or The X-Men, Magneto sends in a souped-up assassin to save the day.
A truly weird X-Men arc, Ravages of Apocalypse was a conversion of Quake, which meant a copy of Quake was needed to play it, though it's free to play as shareware nowadays. Despite some fairly harsh reviews, the game is a pretty fun experience, besides, the idea of blowing away iconic heroes like Wolverine, Storm, and Gambit is too ridiculous not to see.
Doom 64 (1997)
Doom is the forefather of FPS games, but the franchise's foray into Nintendo's 64-bit console is very underrated. Doom 64 took elements of the first two games but gave them a makeover that only The Nintendo 64 could offer Id Software.
The environments are darker, the enemies are more terrifying, and its music is more atmospheric. Doom 64 made Doom scary long before Doom 3 hit store shelves. With the game getting a re-release on Switch, Doom 64 is finally getting the attention it deserves.
Aliens Versus Predator (1999)
With the Alien and Predator franchises currently in limbo, many gamers will revisit the game that brought the two franchises together, Aliens Versus Predator. Inspiring many Alien Vs. Predator games, the first game by Rebellion follows a galaxy-spanning battle between Xenomorphs, Predators, and The Colonial Marines.
The player is allowed to pick whichever faction they want, with each providing a unique gameplay style. Whether it be Xenomorph action, Predator stealth, or Marine survival-horror, Aliens Versus Predator will scratch whatever itch a fan could have.
Hexen: Beyond Heretic (1995)
Fantasy is a genre populated by RPGs, but there's a decent chunk of FPS games that reek of swords and sorcery. Though the Elder Scrolls games are first mentioned in this regard, Hexen: Beyond Heretic, developed by Raven Software with help by Id Software's John Romero, deserves to be in the conversation.
A follow-up to the lukewarmly received Heretic, the hero of Cronos must do battle with the Serpent Rider Korax, with many aspects found in fantasy stories across the centuries playing a role in the story. If one is sick of space marines and futuristic settings, Hexen: Beyond Heretic is a breath of fresh air.
Disruptor (1996)
Out of all of these games, Disruptor is easily the most obscure, but its pedigree is something to behold. Developed for the then-new PS1, Disruptor was developed by Insomniac Games of Spyro, Ratchet and Clank, and Spider-Man fame.
Following a battle in the future between The LightStormer Corps and an army of mechs, the game has a surprisingly layered storyline, but its cheesy FMV cutscenes let it down. For an early FPS game on Playstation 1, Disruptor is a hidden gem for the system and any Insomniac fan owes it to themselves to witness the company's humble beginnings.
System Shock II (1999)
With an anticipated remake set for 2021, the original System Shock has re-entered the minds of gamers everywhere, but when people talk about System Shock, they're talking about its sequel. System Shock II, developed by Irrational Games and Looking Glass Studios, maintains the prior game's RPG elements whilst providing a much darker tone.
System Shock II sees a lone military officer make his way through The Von Braun, battling the forces of the evil AI SHODAN who desperately wants their head. Blending FPS action with survival-horror, System Shock II balances entertaining the player and challenging them.
Redneck Rampage (1997)
Developed by Xatrix Entertainment, who would later gain infamy with Kingpin: Life of Crime, Redneck Rampage is the complete 180 degrees from System Shock II's grim feel. Following brothers Leonard and Bubba as they attempt to thwart an alien invasion in Arkansas, Redneck Rampage has its tongue planted firmly in its cheek.
1997 was a good year for FPS games and Redneck Rampage is among them, with the game taking the Build Engine and using it to craft a game with a hillbilly-tinged sense of humor. It's far from high art, but Redneck Rampage is a good time nonetheless.
Star Wars: Dark Forces (1996)
It should come as no surprise that when the FPS genre blew up in the mid-90s, LucasArts would find some way to get an FPS Star Wars game out there. Just before the fall of The Empire, The Rebels employ mercenary Kyle Katarn to end the operations of Darth Vader and his ilk.
Star Wars: Dark Forces has that classic FPS feel and begins fan-favorite Kyle Katarn's journey from mercenary to Luke Skywalker's Jedi apprentice. For those looking for a game with that classic Star Wars flavor, Dark Forces is a game worth giving a go.
Blood (1997)
One of the best "Doom Clones" ever, Monolith Productions Blood is a game that will confuse players, as while they are enacting unspeakable violence upon cultists and monsters, a smile will appear on their faces. Blood follows undead cult leader Caleb as he battles the forces of Tchernobog, the god he once held allegiance to.
Combining pulpy horror with Sam Raimi-style dark humor, Blood is a game that sets itself apart from the competition in a big, bad way. Having been rereleased plenty of times, there's no reason to not give Blood a try.