For those of us that have been with the gaming industries rise throughout the years as avid followers we have seen the rise of some great games in the FPS genre, and quite a few that have crashed and burned. From it's humble beginnings of MIDI Maze, with some of the first true graphics for an FPS in 1987, to one of the first majorly recognized titles for the PC platform Wolfenstein 3D released in 1992, the FPS genre has taken new form and become something that could not likely have even been dreamed of at the time.

But while the industry expands and credit it given to games like Wolfenstein 3D and Doom as pioneers of the trade, there is one in particular I feel has been largely over looked given that the platform it originally came out for has been criticized for decades as being an inferior gaming platform. Yet this game, spawned from the very company that brought us Halo in 2001, has been a huge basis for the way FPS's have been created and designed.

The company: Bungie

The game: Marathon


[Watch On YouTube]


Marathon, released in 1994, was the first of it's sci-fi trilogy with the most well known being the final installment; Marathon Infinity.


With some of the first true Automapping and in-game enemy radar, Marathon gave new light to the possibilities of what could be done with an FPS. It also incorporated a use of more than just a health system as a form of means to death, but an oxygen system as well while either under water or in the vacuum of space. Also, throughout the game, the aliens change their positions, either lending you assistance as an ally, or as an enemy. Keep in mind though that even when acting as an ally, if fired upon an alien will attempt to kill you. This also changes the dynamics of the game quite a bit as friendly fire is not accepted, but retaliated against with prejudice.


A list of the weapons that are in the game:
.44 Magnum
Alien Shotgun
Assault Riffle
Combat Shotgun
Fusion Pistol
Missile Launcher
Napalm Thrower
Submachine Gun
The Invincibility Powerup
Explosive BOBs

In 2005, Bungie made the 3 titles available for free to the general public. Even today after 16 years there is still a large number of players who spend their time making new maps and joining in the online multiplayer action. The hardcore members, Vidmasters, have an oath:


Are you up to the challenge?

The game can be downloaded here: Marathon Trilogy.

ah... that hurt my eyes.

output generated using printer-friendly topic mod. All times are GMT