Shoot First, Ask Questions Later
Welcome to the Hey Poor Player Holiday Gift Guide. From Monday, November 8th through Friday, November 19th, we’ll be bringing you a guide to all the games, accessories, systems, and other hot items players will be looking for this holiday season. With Black Friday and other Holiday sales set to start in the coming weeks, we thought now was the perfect time to help draw attention to just what you players should be looking for in the coming weeks. So whether you’re looking for a gift for someone else, or maybe something for yourself, we’ve got you covered. Please keep in mind that as we move into our individual game lists, we’ve limited each game to one list to help spread the word about more great titles released in 2021. So if a game you love shows up on a genre list but not on one for a system, it doesn’t mean we didn’t love it. It just means that let us showcase more great titles.
Today we’re looking at shooters to fit the needs of all kinds of players. While plenty of great shooters have released in 2021, with a few more still on the way, let’s take a look at five that have stood out.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite
Platforms: PS5 (Our Review), PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Price: $39.99
Going back to a pure shooter with the Aliens license after Colonial Marines was risky, but also probably inevitable. Licenses have value, and no one was going to let the Aliens one sit for too long. A shooter is one of the more obvious ways to go with it, especially if you don’t want to be too directly compared to Alien: Isolation. Thankfully, things turned out way better this time, with interesting squad-based combat that should give shooter fans plenty to enjoy. Here’s what our own Shane Boyle had to say about it:
“Aliens: Fireteam Elite delivers where it counts; in its core gameplay. When you’re in the moment, obliterating hundreds of enemies using iconic weapons against the backdrop of stunning locations that tap into the amazing cinematography the Alien franchise is known for, any shortcomings almost seem irrelevant. And, with the promise of free playable content to come across the next year, the rock-solid foundation which Cold Iron Studios has built could turn into something truly special.”
Battlefield 2042
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S (Our Review), Xbox One, PC
Price: $69.99 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, includes last generation version as well), $59.99 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
A lot of games have tried to be Battlefield over the years. Heck, there’s another game on this very list that clearly draws inspiration from it. Yet none have quite managed to nail that feeling of large-scale battles fought on multiple fronts in the same way. With new features like a dynamic tornado rampaging through multiplayer matches, there’s reason to check this one out.
Here’s what Francis had to say in his review:
“While not all of the features Battlefield 2042 introduces are a hit, and the lack of a single-player component is a little disappointing, the game still manages to deliver the same spectacular skirmishes fans of the series crave with its explosive 128-player conflicts and satisfying selection of near-future weaponry and gadgets. Add to that the impressive Portal Mode, which has the potential to keep a steady stream of community-created content flowing, and Battlefield 2042 could very well keep your itchy trigger finger soothed for the foreseeable future.”
Boomerang X
Platforms: PC (Our Review), Switch
Price: $19.99
Do you shoot a boomerang? I suppose it’s more of a throw, but there’s no mistaking the shooter DNA coursing through Boomerang X. With DNA both old in its arena-based combat, and new in its excellent use of the flick stick, this is a game well worth checking out. Here’s what I had to say about it earlier this year:
“Boomerang X doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it gives an underrated weapon the spotlight it deserves. With tight controls, frantic combat, and plenty of options, I had a fantastic time from beginning to end. Of course, I’d love to see what else DANG! can do with a boomerang, but this is an adventure worth taking.”
Far Cry 6
Platforms: PS5 (Our Review), PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Price: $59.99
Far Cry has been doing pretty much the same thing for four games now, but it does them well enough that we don’t mind too much. Far Cry 6 adds just enough to freshen up the experience. There may be some issues with tone, but rock-solid gunplay and a ton of variety in what you’re doing keep things fresh. Here’s what our own Francis DiPersio had to say about it:
“Far Cry 6 is a must-play experience for fans of Ubisoft’s flagship first-person shooter series. New features, such as the Supremo and various ammo types, do a great job of spicing up a familiar formula. At the same time, the series’ rock-solid gunplay and exciting exploration are more inviting than ever. Even though it sometimes stumbles, both in terms of performance and tone, traversing the island nation of Yara is so fun that you probably won’t care all that much.”
Hell Let Loose
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S (Our Review), PC
Price: $39.99
Speaking of games inspired by Battlefield, its influence is all over Hell Let Loose. Despite this, it finds a ton of its own with added strategy making for a game with a higher learning curve, but also a lot of excitement once you get used to things. Our own Shane Boyle said:
“Whilst intimidating and unwelcoming, Hell Let Loose is an intoxicating experience for those who welcome a battlefield where death has consequences, and communication is key to survival. If you can round up a group of friends all willing to persevere with the steep learning curve, and who don’t mind dedicating entire evenings to a few matches, prepare to be engrossed for hours on end.”
