It's quite common to hear someone compare newer first person shooter games to the originals due to the many "innovations" introduced over the years. Truth be told, the FPS genre is one of a fairly simplistic formula: move around and shoot things. That's why any changes - whether they be the switch from health and health pickups to regeneration or the now-common adoption of fine-aiming - are often met with some criticism and reluctance from "veteran" gamers. There's one fading element that I don't think is touched on enough, though: exploration. Secret passages, hidden switches and caches, and alternate pathways all seem to be fleeting sights in "modern" FPS games. In the beginning, however, the element of exploration (and at times, I mean really dicking around) was just as core as your health and ammo counters. I doubt there is one ID Software (the company typically accredited with pioneering the genre) FPS that doesn't feature a heavy emphasis of sticking around to find the goodies. These days - and I try to sound as little jaded as possible - there doesn't seem to be much focus on exploration (or even navigation, for that matter) as there is just going from point A to point B and killing anything in your way.

 

For me, exploration is a big part of why I play, and I'm sad to see it going the way of rocket-jumping and medkits. There's some thrill in hunting and finding cleverly placed secrets and often being rewarded for taking your time rather than rushing to the exit. I find myself going back and playing old games like Doom, Quake, and Duke Nukem just to fill the void newer games are leaving. All hope is not lost, however. There have been a few games released in the last several years that more than show some developers still lovingly handcraft their levels with hidden loot just waiting to be found. Bioshock instantly comes to mind as a game that did everything, especially exploration. I do of course personally hope for a revival of all of the seemingly antiquated FPS mechanics of "the good old days", but I'll settle for the rare gem like Bioshock or Deus Ex: Human Revolution if it means I get to put my dicking around skills to good use.

 

Do you enjoy searching for and finding cheekily hidden caches of weapons and powerups, new routes, or even secret levels? What's the best secret you've ever found?

I get my exploration fill from sandbox games such as TES, GTA, Saints Row, Infamous, Prototype, and so many others. Exploration isn't only limited to FPSs.

It seems you'd like MetroidVania games. Try out Super Metroid, Metroid Prime trilogy, Castlevania Symphhony of the night, aria of sorrow and shado complex. All great games that have exploration as the main focus of the game. SotN is Available on PSN and XBLA, Shadow Complex on XBLA. Super Metroid is available on the Virtual Console and Prime trilogy is still sold in some outlets. Aria of sorrow is sadly on available on GBA for all i know.

My favourite FPS of all times, full of secret areas :thumbup:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmDhN6nBydg

 

I agree, having arrows pointing your way without the chance to get lost makes the game boring. Sad to see it being so common nowadays.

I get my exploration fill from sandbox games such as TES, GTA, Saints Row, Infamous, Prototype, and so many others. Exploration isn't only limited to FPSs.

I'm fully aware of that, and I've actually played every one of those you listed. I was making the point that, amongst other elements, finding secrets and exploring are fading from FPS games, where they used to be core gameplay. However, I'd also say that there's fair amount of difference when you're in much smaller areas and in first person that just can't be replicated by (mostly) third-person sandbox games like the ones you mentioned. I can say from experience that although those open worlds can be breathtaking, the "little" details are rarely important, and secrets are far easier to find than in FPSs, especially when they're giant floating icons on the top of building spires. Series like Fallout and TES are a good blend, though, even if they're still not quite the same...

 

It seems you'd like MetroidVania games. Try out Super Metroid, Metroid Prime trilogy, Castlevania Symphhony of the night, aria of sorrow and shado complex. All great games that have exploration as the main focus of the game. SotN is Available on PSN and XBLA, Shadow Complex on XBLA. Super Metroid is available on the Virtual Console and Prime trilogy is still sold in some outlets. Aria of sorrow is sadly on available on GBA for all i know.

Sadly the look and feel of playing 2D games like [most] of what you listed have put me off of that genre. While I know many enjoy such games, there's a certain amount of linearity (or lack thereof) in games that I consider optimum, and essentially the very nature of a sidescrolling game is too high above that level for me. I have played some of the GCN and Wii incarnate Metroids though. When my Wii wasn't caked under years of dust I did play Metroid Prime Corruption and loved it (other than the controls, but that's just muddying things up :P).

 

My favourite FPS of all times, full of secret areas :thumbup:

 

I agree, having arrows pointing your way without the chance to get lost makes the game boring. Sad to see it being so common nowadays.

Another fine ID product! And one I also quite enjoyed. :)

There is a very fine balance around generally knowing that you moving forward in a level. When level design is at its finest, waypoints aren't needed, and the player can usually figure out where to go without their hand being held. When it's at its poorest, an enclosed map can become incredibly frustrating, with constant returning to visited areas, wondering where to go next. While I don't like the general fazing out of any need for navigational skills, I can understand that it's just part of the overall dumbing-down of FPS games in recent years. I hate how jaded just that sentence sounds, but can also think of a shitton of examples... :mellow: