Top 11 Single Player FPS on XBOX Part 1

Eleven Best Single Player First Person Shooters on the Xbox

Criteria – Must be a First Person Only Game and cannot have tactical elements (Brothers in Arms or Rainbow 6) or RPG (Deus Ex Invisible War) beyond that I rate each one based on its single player game play and the overall fun factor.

Note - I played and finished EVERY FPS on the Xbox over the last couple of months to do this list. The main reason was to do a complete list and not just go on memory. I know I saved all those games for a reason.

11 – Doom 3

Developer – iD Software
Publisher – Activision
Xbox 360 Backwards Compatible – Yes

One of the original First Person Shooters gets a make over and is released on both the PC and Xbox console. This remake has high production values mixed with the classic game in new settings with a new story and some great lighting effects. But deep down some really annoying aspects of the game slow it down and really make this a good rather then great game.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRsc9qUwa2E[/youtube]

This is a game that is worth renting or buying only at bargain bin price because little replay and the annoying game aspects of the PDA.

10 – Project: Snowblind

Developer – Crystal Dynamics
Publisher – Eidos
Xbox 360 Backwards Compatible – No

Originally Snowblind was going to be Deus Ex 3, but the lack luster sales of Deus Ex Invisible War ended the series and allowed Crystal Dynamics to turn this game into a full first person shooter with some nice augments to your character, from invisibility, EMP, bullet time and more.

The game does have a couple of issues that hurt it, way to many cut scenes and some out of place voice over work that sounds like it came from a bad movie then a game. But these do not take too much away from a solid fun game that is still a solid shooter today.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiIOdzR9c6Y[/youtube]

This game is worth renting but only a purchase at bargain bin prices.

9 – Call of Duty 2 – Big Red 1

Developer – Gray Matter Studios
Publisher – Activision
Xbox 360 Backwards Compatible – No

The last Call of Duty game on the original Xbox and is one of the best in the console series. CoD2-BR1 focuses on the 1st Infantry Division of the US Army and not several different countries like the other CoD games.

Big Red 1 has all the great Call of Duty features, great voice over work with cinematic story telling that pushes you into the game like no other. Hectic action through out the game keeps the action set at maximum and when finishing some of these levels you feel a great sense of accomplishment.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_1LyIDc4SI[/youtube]

Many of the actors from HBO’s Band of Brothers lend their voices and likenesses to the game which adds to the excitement factor making this game a must buy for World War 2 game fans.

8 – Painkiller

Developer – People Can Fly
Publisher – Dreamcatcher
Xbox 360 Backwards Compatible - No

A direct port of the PC game doesn’t take away the sheer fast pace shooting in this great game. Hard hitting action, some insane weapons, good physics and some wicked level design give the players some insane action moments, but this is not a game to turn your back on, because there are always some monsters running at you from all directions.

This game could easily have been in the top 5, but due to constant delays (well over a year of delays) the game saw little fan faire and did not really see sales due to the launch of the 360. A bigger crime is the lack of being Backwards Compatible, something that Dreamcatcher, People Can Fly and Microsoft need to remedy.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBIxf2Yvtwc[/youtube]

This is a must buy for FPS fans if they don’t own the PC version. One of the best Xbox FPS games that is still fun.

7 – Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix

Developer – Gratuitous Games
Publisher – Activision
Xbox 360 Backwards Compatible – No

If Soldier of Fortune was released today every two bit politician would be up in arms at the violence, limbs being blown off, intestines hanging out and the constant gore being thrust onto the screen at all times, and we love the game for every moment.

SoF2 was a solid Xbox Live game with a great single player game, a random mission generator (that I still play today) and some of the hardest levels seen in a game.

You play real life merc err.. contractor John Mullins in a fictional anti-terrorist mission that spans the globe, from jungles, cities, snowy mountains and Asian waterfronts. Each level is unique and doesn’t look like the other ones which really add to the games replay value. This is a game that graphically at times doesn’t stack up to the newer games, but really is fun to play.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVKQxC3lNbo[/youtube]

Recommend to buy it if you can find it cheap, it is really worth playing it over and over if you enjoy single player games.

6 – Far Cry Instincts

Developer – Ubisoft
Publisher – Ubisoft
Xbox 360 Backwards Compatible – No

Not a port of the PC classic game, but based in the same setting with a different story and locations, this Far Cry give great visuals with a fun story and new game play. While the Artificial Intelligence is not on par with the PC version and the roam anywhere aspect is missing (sadly) the game does not disappoint action fans.

One great addition to this game is the predator mode, where you become faster, stronger and a better killing machine. This aspect really adds to the game because you can go predator or all guns or a combo of both. New vehicles and a mix of the PC vehicles add more to the game with the hovercraft and hang glider a real treat to fly.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5XDwDg96AI[/youtube]

If you only have a Xbox console you can pick this up and its expansion FC-Predator for fairly cheap which really is a great set of games and worth the cost. But if you have a 360 the 360 version of the game is really only worth a rent due to controls.