Summary
Retro shooters, particularly those released in the 90s, follow clear-cut tropes and gameplay structures defined by iconicgames such asQuakeandDoom. These games are notoriously difficult for their labyrinthine level design, fast-paced gameplay, and enemy ambushes (affectionately labeled as “monster closets”).
With the release of games likeDUSKandULTRAKILLin recent years, the “boomer shooter” genre is experiencing a renaissance. Now, there areplenty of retro shootersfor players to get their hands on, both new and old. Many of these experiences can offer a real challenge, especially when turning up the difficulty.
WhileMetal: Hellsingeris somewhat divorced from the boomer shooter genre in a way that other 90s-inspired shooters aren’t, the game is still tremendously old-school in feel, tone, and pace. However,Metal: Hellsingeralso takes a heavy dose of inspiration from 2016’sDOOM.
The challenge ofMetal: Hellsingeris in itsrhythm-game actionand score system, tasking players with keeping up a kill streak and sticking to the beat to hear more layers of theheavy metal soundtrack.
This decidedly old-school FPS featurescrunchy pixel-art graphicsand billboard sprites that hearken to old-school shooters likeDOOM,Wolfenstein, andHexen.Project Warlockis a fairly simple and to-the-point FPS, doing very little to step outside the genre’s boundaries, but its excellent level design and game feel make it a worthwhile experience.
Project Warlockmay be simple on the surface, but its hectic combat encounters often ambush the player and leave them outnumbered. Furthermore, the game limits the player’s lives on the harder difficulties, eventuallydeleting the player’s save fileshould they fail too many times.
WhileCruelty Squadmay immediately turn some players away with its abrasive art “style,” it offers a uniquely challenging experience with its combination of retro low-poly shooter and immersive-sim gameplay. It’s this crunchy, methodical gameplay that’s at the heart ofCruelty Squad, and it’s worth suffering through its visuals to get to it.
Cruelty Squad’sappropriately cruel, hard-hitting enemies often outnumber the player, making every combat encounter a coin-flip between methodical take-downs and frantic shootouts. This back-and-forth gameplay and frequently drastic shifts in pace makeCruelty Squada tactical, fast-paced shooter with a brutal learning curve.
4HROT - A Dark And Satirical Shooter
Hard-Hitting Enemies And Desperate Resource Management
This dark and satirical retro-FPS takes inspiration from games such asQuakeand features a dreary, brown aesthetic that won’t be for everyone. However,HROT’svisuals tie directly into its downtrodden tone and dark gameplay.
HROTcan be quite challenging on harder difficulties, thanks in large part to hard-hitting mobs of enemies and the game’s emphasis on careful resource management. Ammo drops and healing can be few and far between inHROT, and the game is never afraid of outnumbering the player when they’re low on resources.
This well-crafted, stylish shooter pays homage to classic shooters likeBloodwhile simultaneously injecting its own sense of style and personality.CULTICisa blend of action-horrorand boomer shooter, even paying occasional homage to games likeResident Evil 4.
CULTICcan be difficult, especially on harder difficulties, thanks to its combination of large open levels and packs of hard-hitting enemies. These open environments often leave the player exposed, forcing them to act quickly. On the flip side,CULTICoccasionally throws the player into extremely dark and cramped environments, where fast reactions and quick decision-making are the keys to survival.
This iconic BUILD Engine game was released on Steam in 2019 thanks to the restorative work of Nightdive Studios.Bloodfeatures a dark, brooding tone and theme, and gameplay that tasks players with hunting down and defeating endless amounts of undead, cultists, and various Lovecraft-inspired creatures.
Bloodis notoriously difficult thanks to its variety of brutal hitscan enemies, frequent ambushes, and hard-hitting foes. The game’s enemy variety also helps to keep players on their toes, forcing them to adapt frequently in combat and think intelligently about every encounter.
