Top 10 First Person Shooters of the 90s

time to boot up windows 95 grab a can of

time to boot up windows 95 grab a can of Jolt Cola and fire up the dial-up modem

Jolt Cola and fire up the dial-up modem

Jolt Cola and fire up the dial-up modem welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re kicking off our series of the best

kicking off our series of the best

kicking off our series of the best first-person shooters

first-person shooters

first-person shooters twist the top 10 first-person shooters

twist the top 10 first-person shooters

twist the top 10 first-person shooters of the 1990s before we begin we publish

of the 1990s before we begin we publish

of the 1990s before we begin we publish new videos every day so be sure to

new videos every day so be sure to

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subscribe for more great content just to

subscribe for more great content just to be clear we’re looking at games released

be clear we’re looking at games released

be clear we’re looking at games released between 1990 and 1999 that are

between 1990 and 1999 that are

between 1990 and 1999 that are first-person shooter with an emphasis on

first-person shooter with an emphasis on

first-person shooter with an emphasis on the shooting part so first-person hybrid

the shooting part so first-person hybrid

the shooting part so first-person hybrid games like thief the dark project and

games like thief the dark project and

games like thief the dark project and System Shock 2 Wow outstanding classics

System Shock 2 Wow outstanding classics

System Shock 2 Wow outstanding classics in their own right won’t be included on

in their own right won’t be included on

in their own right won’t be included on the flip number 10

the flip number 10

the flip number 10 Medal of Honor remember when World War 2

Medal of Honor remember when World War 2

Medal of Honor remember when World War 2 shooters were all the rage well that all

shooters were all the rage well that all

shooters were all the rage well that all started in 1999 when a little game

started in 1999 when a little game

started in 1999 when a little game called Medal of Honor was released on

called Medal of Honor was released on

called Medal of Honor was released on the ps1 to much deserved praise

developed by Steven Spielberg’s

developed by Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks interactive Medal of Honor

DreamWorks interactive Medal of Honor

DreamWorks interactive Medal of Honor hits the video game world much like the

hits the video game world much like the

hits the video game world much like the Allies storming Normandy Beach the games

Allies storming Normandy Beach the games

Allies storming Normandy Beach the games attention to detail was second to none

attention to detail was second to none

attention to detail was second to none for the time from the authentic

for the time from the authentic

for the time from the authentic recreation of World War 2 era weapons

recreation of World War 2 era weapons

recreation of World War 2 era weapons the over 1,500 lines of unique dialogue

the over 1,500 lines of unique dialogue

the over 1,500 lines of unique dialogue realistic sound effects to even a full

realistic sound effects to even a full

realistic sound effects to even a full orchestra supplying the game soundtrack

orchestra supplying the game soundtrack

orchestra supplying the game soundtrack Medal of Honor not only boosted the

Medal of Honor not only boosted the

Medal of Honor not only boosted the Playstations fortunes but also helps

Playstations fortunes but also helps

Playstations fortunes but also helps prove that consoles could hold their

prove that consoles could hold their

prove that consoles could hold their ground against pcs when it came to more

ground against pcs when it came to more

ground against pcs when it came to more realistic shooters

nowadays the term tactical shooter might

nowadays the term tactical shooter might ring a bell for many gamers but back in

ring a bell for many gamers but back in

ring a bell for many gamers but back in the late 90s basically didn’t exist that

the late 90s basically didn’t exist that

the late 90s basically didn’t exist that is until Tom Clancy’s Rainbow six came

is until Tom Clancy’s Rainbow six came

is until Tom Clancy’s Rainbow six came along and revolutionized the shooter

along and revolutionized the shooter

along and revolutionized the shooter genre in a market saturated with almost

genre in a market saturated with almost

genre in a market saturated with almost mindless fast-paced action which we’ll

mindless fast-paced action which we’ll

mindless fast-paced action which we’ll get to later

get to later

get to later Rainbow six turns that all on its head

Rainbow six turns that all on its head

Rainbow six turns that all on its head requiring slow and careful planning

requiring slow and careful planning

requiring slow and careful planning instead of diving right into the action

instead of diving right into the action

instead of diving right into the action guns blazing players had to make a

guns blazing players had to make a

guns blazing players had to make a detailed plan of action before the

detailed plan of action before the

detailed plan of action before the missions we began by introducing deadly

missions we began by introducing deadly

missions we began by introducing deadly realism where single bullets kill a

realism where single bullets kill a

realism where single bullets kill a run-and-gun strategy was a surefire way

run-and-gun strategy was a surefire way

run-and-gun strategy was a surefire way to failure why you had instead was a

to failure why you had instead was a

to failure why you had instead was a tense and exhilarating experience that

tense and exhilarating experience that

tense and exhilarating experience that few games have been able to duplicate

few games have been able to duplicate

few games have been able to duplicate since number eight stars each tribe

squad based multiplayer games aren’t

squad based multiplayer games aren’t common enough nowadays but stay for a

common enough nowadays but stay for a

common enough nowadays but stay for a few devout fans most players probably

few devout fans most players probably

few devout fans most players probably would not recognize dynamics and stars

would not recognize dynamics and stars

would not recognize dynamics and stars each tribe that’s a shame because stars

each tribe that’s a shame because stars

each tribe that’s a shame because stars each tribes remains a beloved game for

each tribes remains a beloved game for

each tribes remains a beloved game for many while also laying the groundwork

many while also laying the groundwork

many while also laying the groundwork for a lot of things that multiplayer

for a lot of things that multiplayer

for a lot of things that multiplayer shooters now take for granted instead of

shooters now take for granted instead of

shooters now take for granted instead of fighting in tight corridors layers

fighting in tight corridors layers

fighting in tight corridors layers fought over giant hilly terrain using

fought over giant hilly terrain using

fought over giant hilly terrain using jetpacks in a variety of weapons

jetpacks in a variety of weapons

jetpacks in a variety of weapons whereas before weapons followed a

whereas before weapons followed a

whereas before weapons followed a certain progression starts each time use

certain progression starts each time use

certain progression starts each time use the more rock-paper-scissors formulas

the more rock-paper-scissors formulas

the more rock-paper-scissors formulas where the heaviest armor and biggest gun

where the heaviest armor and biggest gun

where the heaviest armor and biggest gun weren’t necessarily the best and took

weren’t necessarily the best and took

weren’t necessarily the best and took time to master available as a freeware

time to master available as a freeware

time to master available as a freeware now players continue to play the game

now players continue to play the game

now players continue to play the game two decades on which is a testament to

two decades on which is a testament to

two decades on which is a testament to its lasting influence number seven

its lasting influence number seven

its lasting influence number seven Unreal Tournament from squad based

Unreal Tournament from squad based

Unreal Tournament from squad based multiplayer we now move on to arena

multiplayer we now move on to arena

multiplayer we now move on to arena based multiplayer and the rating champs

based multiplayer and the rating champs

based multiplayer and the rating champs Unreal Tournament taking the famous

Unreal Tournament taking the famous

Unreal Tournament taking the famous Unreal Engine and its amazing graphics

Unreal Engine and its amazing graphics

Unreal Engine and its amazing graphics even further it offered a bevy of game

even further it offered a bevy of game

even further it offered a bevy of game options that gave players more variety

options that gave players more variety

options that gave players more variety than usual outstanding bought AI that

than usual outstanding bought AI that

than usual outstanding bought AI that could hold their own against seasoned

could hold their own against seasoned

could hold their own against seasoned human players and brilliant weapon and

human players and brilliant weapon and

human players and brilliant weapon and level design

the game was remarkable for being a

the game was remarkable for being a polished final product offering smooth

polished final product offering smooth

polished final product offering smooth gameplay almost flawless performance and

gameplay almost flawless performance and

gameplay almost flawless performance and functionality and most importantly an

functionality and most importantly an

functionality and most importantly an incredibly exciting and fun experience

incredibly exciting and fun experience

incredibly exciting and fun experience with multiple sequels and community mods

with multiple sequels and community mods

with multiple sequels and community mods following it it’s no surprise that

following it it’s no surprise that

following it it’s no surprise that Unreal Tournament is still going strong

Unreal Tournament is still going strong

Unreal Tournament is still going strong after all this time number 6 Star Wars

after all this time number 6 Star Wars

after all this time number 6 Star Wars Jedi Knight dark forces – the 90s was

Jedi Knight dark forces – the 90s was

Jedi Knight dark forces – the 90s was known for its plethora of Star Wars

known for its plethora of Star Wars

known for its plethora of Star Wars games which cleanly offered gamers the

games which cleanly offered gamers the

games which cleanly offered gamers the chance to relive the Star Wars

chance to relive the Star Wars

chance to relive the Star Wars experience they had fantasized about for

experience they had fantasized about for

experience they had fantasized about for decades as a Star Wars shooter Star Wars

decades as a Star Wars shooter Star Wars

decades as a Star Wars shooter Star Wars dark forces to reign supreme expanding

dark forces to reign supreme expanding

dark forces to reign supreme expanding on dark forces with superior 3d graphics

on dark forces with superior 3d graphics

on dark forces with superior 3d graphics multiplayer support and the ability to

multiplayer support and the ability to

multiplayer support and the ability to use to force dark forces to offer gamers

use to force dark forces to offer gamers

use to force dark forces to offer gamers the ultimate Star Wars experience

the ultimate Star Wars experience

the ultimate Star Wars experience whether they were blasting stormtroopers

whether they were blasting stormtroopers

whether they were blasting stormtroopers wielding their lightsaber or using the

wielding their lightsaber or using the

wielding their lightsaber or using the Force to solve puzzles with vast levels

Force to solve puzzles with vast levels

Force to solve puzzles with vast levels and a compelling story to push the

and a compelling story to push the

and a compelling story to push the action along it’s no wonder that critics

action along it’s no wonder that critics

action along it’s no wonder that critics at the time considered dark forces

at the time considered dark forces

at the time considered dark forces choose the best single player shooter

choose the best single player shooter

choose the best single player shooter experience since do number five Duke

experience since do number five Duke

experience since do number five Duke Nukem 3d

up until a certain point in the 90s

up until a certain point in the 90s first-person shooters tended to take

first-person shooters tended to take

first-person shooters tended to take themselves a little too seriously all

themselves a little too seriously all

themselves a little too seriously all that changed when a certain duke nukem

that changed when a certain duke nukem

that changed when a certain duke nukem crashed onto the scene in 1996 arms with

crashed onto the scene in 1996 arms with

crashed onto the scene in 1996 arms with a kick-ass attitude in a way of tacky

a kick-ass attitude in a way of tacky

a kick-ass attitude in a way of tacky one-liners and action movie tropes and

one-liners and action movie tropes and

one-liners and action movie tropes and other pop-culture references Duke 3d

other pop-culture references Duke 3d

other pop-culture references Duke 3d took the gaming world by storm with its

took the gaming world by storm with its

took the gaming world by storm with its tongue-in-cheek approach

the levels were huge details nonlinear

the levels were huge details nonlinear and highly interactive thus compelling

and highly interactive thus compelling

and highly interactive thus compelling the user to fully explore to get the

the user to fully explore to get the

the user to fully explore to get the full Duke experience while the humor

full Duke experience while the humor

full Duke experience while the humor might not have aged so well you got to

might not have aged so well you got to

might not have aged so well you got to remember that this is one of the first

remember that this is one of the first

remember that this is one of the first games but had genuine jokes and attitude

games but had genuine jokes and attitude

games but had genuine jokes and attitude plus if Nukem 3d was first and foremost

plus if Nukem 3d was first and foremost

plus if Nukem 3d was first and foremost fun as hell and a blast to play hail to

fun as hell and a blast to play hail to

fun as hell and a blast to play hail to the king baby number four quake 2 quake

the king baby number four quake 2 quake

the king baby number four quake 2 quake was a great first foray into 3d but it

was a great first foray into 3d but it

was a great first foray into 3d but it was quick – that ended up making its

was quick – that ended up making its

was quick – that ended up making its mark on the gaming world for starters

mark on the gaming world for starters

mark on the gaming world for starters wait to simply look better particularly

wait to simply look better particularly

wait to simply look better particularly in terms of colors lighting in

in terms of colors lighting in

in terms of colors lighting in architecture stitching the dark castle

architecture stitching the dark castle

architecture stitching the dark castle theme for a sci-fi military setting on

theme for a sci-fi military setting on

theme for a sci-fi military setting on another planet the game also expanded

another planet the game also expanded

another planet the game also expanded the single-player experience with a more

the single-player experience with a more

the single-player experience with a more story driven focus having multiple

story driven focus having multiple

story driven focus having multiple objectives per level something used in

objectives per level something used in

objectives per level something used in many shooters to this day with a

many shooters to this day with a

many shooters to this day with a rebalancing of weapons well-designed

rebalancing of weapons well-designed

rebalancing of weapons well-designed maps and a fast mod community

maps and a fast mod community

maps and a fast mod community multiplayer death matches were never

multiplayer death matches were never

multiplayer death matches were never more intense 20 years later and the

more intense 20 years later and the

more intense 20 years later and the fragging is still going strong

anyone who grew up around video games in

anyone who grew up around video games in the late 90s will probably tell you that

the late 90s will probably tell you that

the late 90s will probably tell you that goldeneye double-oh-seven is one of

goldeneye double-oh-seven is one of

goldeneye double-oh-seven is one of their favorite games of all time

their favorite games of all time

their favorite games of all time rare made history by trailblazing the

rare made history by trailblazing the

rare made history by trailblazing the first console first-person shooter that

first console first-person shooter that

first console first-person shooter that gave PC first-person shooters a run for

gave PC first-person shooters a run for

gave PC first-person shooters a run for their money the realistic and

their money the realistic and

their money the realistic and atmospheric single-player experience was

atmospheric single-player experience was

atmospheric single-player experience was pretty much without equal stuff with a

pretty much without equal stuff with a

pretty much without equal stuff with a big part of the game as well a first for

big part of the game as well a first for

big part of the game as well a first for an FPS of any sort but people will no

an FPS of any sort but people will no

an FPS of any sort but people will no doubt have fond memories of the

doubt have fond memories of the

doubt have fond memories of the endlessly fun and intense split-screen

endlessly fun and intense split-screen

endlessly fun and intense split-screen multiplayer matches as well schooled 9

multiplayer matches as well schooled 9

multiplayer matches as well schooled 9 SS Evan revolutionized the genre and

SS Evan revolutionized the genre and

SS Evan revolutionized the genre and it’s no wonder it’s considered to be one

it’s no wonder it’s considered to be one

it’s no wonder it’s considered to be one of the greatest games of all time number

of the greatest games of all time number

of the greatest games of all time number two jube it’s hard to find any video

two jube it’s hard to find any video

two jube it’s hard to find any video game that’s had more of an impact on

game that’s had more of an impact on

game that’s had more of an impact on popular culture than doomed the

popular culture than doomed the

popular culture than doomed the significance of do both as a video game

significance of do both as a video game

significance of do both as a video game and a first-person shooter

and a first-person shooter

and a first-person shooter cannot be understated while Wolfenstein

cannot be understated while Wolfenstein

cannot be understated while Wolfenstein 3d may be the grandfather of the FPS

3d may be the grandfather of the FPS

3d may be the grandfather of the FPS Yara there’s no question that doom put

Yara there’s no question that doom put

Yara there’s no question that doom put them securely on the map and kept them

them securely on the map and kept them

them securely on the map and kept them where they are until this very day

for much of the 1990s the term doom

for much of the 1990s the term doom clone would be used until the term

clone would be used until the term

clone would be used until the term first-person-shooter became solidified

first-person-shooter became solidified

first-person-shooter became solidified which goes to show how do overshadowed

which goes to show how do overshadowed

which goes to show how do overshadowed everyone else in the market from movies

everyone else in the market from movies

everyone else in the market from movies to comic books to real-world controversy

to comic books to real-world controversy

to comic books to real-world controversy dooms impact was felt well beyond the

dooms impact was felt well beyond the

dooms impact was felt well beyond the world of video games and shooters

world of video games and shooters

world of video games and shooters wouldn’t be the same without before we

wouldn’t be the same without before we

wouldn’t be the same without before we unveil our number one pick here a few

unveil our number one pick here a few

unveil our number one pick here a few honorable mention

number one half-life one of the greatest

number one half-life one of the greatest video games of all time with over 50

video games of all time with over 50

video games of all time with over 50 Game of the Year awards half-life

Game of the Year awards half-life

Game of the Year awards half-life changed everything and redefined what a

changed everything and redefined what a

changed everything and redefined what a shooter could be half lines took the

shooter could be half lines took the

shooter could be half lines took the essential elements of an FPS the

essential elements of an FPS the

essential elements of an FPS the first-person perspective of a voiceless

first-person perspective of a voiceless

first-person perspective of a voiceless space was protagonist and we’ve de’cine

space was protagonist and we’ve de’cine

space was protagonist and we’ve de’cine was narrative all in games uninterrupted

was narrative all in games uninterrupted

was narrative all in games uninterrupted by cutscene telling the story of the

by cutscene telling the story of the

by cutscene telling the story of the events at Black Mesa through Gordon

events at Black Mesa through Gordon

events at Black Mesa through Gordon Freeman’s eyes the results was truly

Freeman’s eyes the results was truly

Freeman’s eyes the results was truly phenomenal a wide range of highly

phenomenal a wide range of highly

phenomenal a wide range of highly cunning AI enemies requiring different

cunning AI enemies requiring different

cunning AI enemies requiring different tactics remarkable level design puzzle

tactics remarkable level design puzzle

tactics remarkable level design puzzle solving intense firefights boss

solving intense firefights boss

solving intense firefights boss encounters and so much more it all gave

encounters and so much more it all gave

encounters and so much more it all gave you an unforgettable experience like no

you an unforgettable experience like no

you an unforgettable experience like no other

other

other while doom popularized first-person

while doom popularized first-person

while doom popularized first-person shooters it’s half-life that turns them

shooters it’s half-life that turns them

shooters it’s half-life that turns them into an art form

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