Until recently, console games have undoubtedly been superior to the ones offered for the PC. However, with the advent of more titles expanding to the computer and greatly increased processing power at lower costs, the focus is shifting from the Xbox, Wii, and PS3 to the workstations found in the vast majority of homes. Lately, there has been a focus on first-person shooters because of the ease of movement and aim with the keyboard and mouse. In addition, in-game physics engines are growing to be more and more sophisticated. However, it has not always been this way. Here’s a look back at the best FPS engines developed on the PC.
The Quake series, first released by id Software in 1996, introduced the idea of multiplayer first-person shooters on the PC. At the time, it was a revolutionary, new, fast-paced style that eventually inspired dozens of other titles. Though its main feature was its single-player campaign, what made it exciting was its fast-paced multiplayer that featured a variety of weapons and styles of play. With the Quake physics engine, players found truly inventive ways to be competitive, such as bunny hopping and rocket jumping. Much faster than games such as Halo or Call of Duty, Quake placed emphasis on movement and aim as well as individual deathmatch skills. From its precision railgun to the fast-flying rockets, Quake provided a basis for modern first person shooters.
The CryEngine 2, by Crytek, features stunning photorealism that also has realistic physics. Used in Far Cry 2 and Crysis, the CryEngine 2, based off the original, was made possible by developments in computer technology because of the sheer processing power it eats up. However, the end result is able to immerse the player into the game with its intense scenery and audio-just be sure your computer can run it.
Anvil Engine, as seen in Assassin’s Creed titles and Prince of Persia, is incredible in how it allows the player to interact with the environment. It also incorporates decent AI, which is a key feature in its games. Its real-time environment blends seamlessly into the concept of the games, enhancing their appeal and adding new elements to gameplay.
Valve’s unforgettable Source engine, with its numerous games (Counter-Strike, Half-Life 2, etc.), has been in development ever since its debut. Since 2004, it has provided the basis for almost all Valve games, and a modified version of it is used for games such as Team Fortress 2. Of course, it is the engine used in the critically-acclaimed physics-puzzle Portal and its sequel. As a bonus, Valve has even given out the Source SDK, enabling gamers around the world to design their own games based on the engine.