Which FPS Games Are The "Most Engaging"?

***wraggster*** · December 4th, 2008, 00:06

You'd think that'd be a subjective question! But science, as always, is here to poop the party, presenting "evidence" that shows which FPS games currently on the market draw the biggest "response" from players.

The research, conducted by San Francisco firm Emsense , looked at eight games - Battlefield 2142, Call of Duty 3, F.E.A.R., Gears of War, GRAW 2, Resistance, Halo 2 and Half-Life 2 - in order to measure "engagement and emotional and cognitive responses to content". Or, in other words, how much players got into it.

To determine this, the researchers used "proprietary brain monitoring EEG and bio-sensing technology" while tracking players engaged in the first 90 minutes of each game, and ended up with over 300 hours worth of data/

Their findings? That "the most successful FPS titles encourage close combat, dangling emotions of reward to compel players into high-risk, adrenaline-pumping scenarios". Think Gears' chainsaw duels, placing satchel charges on tanks in CoD, that sort of thing.

This means that, if you buy into the data, you can certainly draw a correlation between our involvement - and subsequent enjoyment of an FPS- and reviews scores/retail success. Gears of War has chainsaws and blood splatters. Halo 2 & 3 have insta-kill plasma swords. Half-Life 2 has the worlds greatest crowbar. Etc etc.

http://kotaku.com/5101194/which-fps-...-most-engaging

**goshogun1** · December 4th, 2008, 01:41

So far the only FPS that has really engaged me has been Halo 3. Those split second moments where you can choose to melee or run or shoot, etc..
Sometimes I feel like I am really in the game! Good times.

**gutbub** · December 4th, 2008, 02:42

I say Half Life 2 was the best on their list. The whole melee thing isn't why I liked it best though. It had the best story line and turn of events. Oh yea, and it's freakin Half Life.

**m-p{3}** · December 4th, 2008, 04:10

My favorite is Half-Life 2, F.E.A.R. was a nice experience.

**Triv1um** · December 4th, 2008, 16:04

Half life 2, no doubt the best FPS of all time and the most engaging.

**Shadowblind** · December 4th, 2008, 17:21

Best imo for engagement and all around shear awesomeness?

F.E.A.R, Half-Life 2, Bioshock, and for me personally the best will always be the original Doom.

**irishwhip** · December 5th, 2008, 09:11

Since when has gears of war been a FPS?
For me, the half life series had the most engaging storyline, and doom 3 was the most trouser soiling.

***Darksaviour69*** · December 5th, 2008, 10:26

Originally Posted by irishwhip

Since when has gears of war been a FPS?

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. BTW I Love getting a "sticky" on someone in halo, good times...

**NeoXCS** · December 5th, 2008, 10:28

Left 4 Dead is one of very few FPS games that has ever gotten me to be on the edge of my seat, and also glued to my monitor at the same time. I can't get enough of the game, it's absolutely addicting and you can lose yourself in the fast paced action. If you haven't played it yet I highly recommend it for FPSers and avid zombie (aka infected) horror movie lovers out there.