I remember chatting on a COD forum at one point and someone said something that stuck with me. She was complaining that the latest game (I can’t remember which at this point) didn’t have the same “boom value” as previous games, and I knew exactly what she was talking about.
This has been a complaint I’ve had about shooter games in general over the years. Sleek graphics, well-balanced play, beautiful maps—all of these are important. But oftentimes, there’s something missing in the general “feel” of the game—the way it handles and plays. It’s too fluid, too clean. It’s like firing a gun with no kick.
In fact, I still think one of the shooter games with the best “boom” value is Quake III Arena from way back in 1999. I still easily prefer it over a lot of more modern shooters. Even with its clunky graphics and overall simplicity, playing it just feels awesome, and that’s something I’ve heard a lot of fans mention. It just has more energy and exuberance.
Contrast that with another classic shooter, Unreal Tournament 2004. Don’t get me wrong—it’s a fantastic game. Graphically, it is miles beyond Q3A, and it was a cutting edge title in its time. But it’s got zero in the way of “boom” value. Playing it, you feel more removed from the action. With a game like Q3A, you are right in the middle of it all.
What FPS games do you feel have the most “boom” value, whether new or old? Which have the least? How important a factor is it to you?
