Summary
In perhaps unsurprising news, the Nintendo Switch is already home to a fair few stellar third-person shooter games, with the likes ofSaints Row,Resident Evil, and even Nintendo’s own ink-covered shooterSplatoongracing players' portable consoles. So why on Earth would players want to add more options? Well, as the saying goes, you can never have too much of a good thing.
That’s exactly the point. There are so many third-person shooters out there that have raised the bar, subverted what the genre means, or just delivered one hell of a good time. Read on to see a collection of games that we feel deserve switch port, whether that be to allow players to experience the joys of playing through them all over again, or reach out to new audiences that may have missed their greatness the first time round.
8Wet
Metascore: 69
Wetwasn’t a game that reinvented the wheel, but it was a game that delivered one hell of a fun grindhouse experience for players to shoot their way through. Sure, the game wasn’t the longest, but it was packed with memorable fights, slick action, and a film-grain effect that made players feel like they were blitzing their way through an action-packed B movie.
That’s without touching on the slow-motion shooting mechanic that the titular character, Rubi, has at her disposal. Any time the player dives, jumps, wall runs or even slides down a ladder, they will be treated to stylized slow-motion moments that’ll allow them to pull off some acrobatic and sleek-looking kills. In short, it’s a straightforward, action-packed shooter that deserves a new lease of life on the Switch.
Binary Domainis one of the few games on this list that flew under the radar on release but deserved to reach a bigger audience, with many fans of the game believing the gameis ripe for a remaster. To any gamer who hasn’t heard aboutBinary Domain,the game was a third-person shooter set in 2080 Japan where hostile robotics threaten humanity, leaving Dan Marshall and the rest of Rust Crew to put a stop to them.
On that note, the game did deliver players a great Sci-Fi shooter, but it also incorporated a relationship system that meant players' on-field actions and dialogue choices would impact how their squad members would react to orders in fire-fights, making the relationship managing as important as dealing with the incoming robot onslaught. With a breakneck-paced story, refined gunplay, and a wide variety of robots to dismantle, this is one game thatneedsa port, rather than just deserves one.
Upon its release,Spec Ops: The Linefelt like it was going to be just another run-of-the-mill modern military shooter for gamers to waste a few hours with. Those who played the game soon discovered thatSpec Ops: The Linewas something special; it was a game that had a story to tell. Just ask anyone who’s played the game, and they’ll almost instantly start to rave about how great the story is, so much so that it’s probably agreat option for a TV series.
That’s not to discredit the gameplay either, asSpec Ops: The Linedoes a great job on that front too. Packed with plenty of challenging combat scenarios and frequent opportunities to utilize the surrounding environment to sway the odds of gunfights back in the players' favour. Many players need to experience it, and those who have will want to experience it all over again, so how could it not be on this list?
5Transformers: Fall Of Cybertron
Metascore: 79
High Moon Studios' first twoTransformersgames were bona fide hits. The two games were a perfect mash-up of excellent third-person shooter design andTransformersat the height of their powers. They even knew to bring back the well-known voice cast with the likes ofPeter Cullen reprising his roleas Optimus Prime.
The games didn’t use transforming as a gimmick either, the act of transforming into vehicle form was crucial to what madeFall of Cybertron’sgameplay so smooth, frantic, and downright addictive. The sequel refined so much of what the first game excelled at, making a memorable campaign that felt fresh chapter after chapter. That’s not even touching on the well-implemented versus multiplayer mode, or the rewarding escalation survival mode.Transformers: Fall of Cybertronwas the complete package upon its release, and remains that to this day. How could it not be worthy of a Switch port?
PlatinumGames and fun gameplay go together like peanut butter & jelly. They’re the perfect match. So it’ll come as no surprise to many gamers that they have an entry on this list.Vanquishwas the first game to release following the much-laudedBayonetta, whose sequels would go on to becomeNintendo exclusives.
So why can’tVanquishmake the same jump too? The game put players in control of DARPA agent Sam Gideon and his Augmented Reaction Suit, which introduced them to the game’s excellent boost sliding mechanic. It kept the action fast-paced and the sheer joy that gamers felt sliding across the map amid huge firefights was unparalleled. It truly elevated the game to a must-play for any third-person shooter fan.
Lara Croft has been around for a long time. Gamers were introduced to her way back in 1996 when the firstTomb Raidergame was released. Since then, she’s gone through a variety of games, but most notable, the excellent reboot/origin tale of the same name that Crystal Dynamics developed back in 2013, which would go on to see a trilogy of its own, and eveninspire the movie reboot.
The game puts players in control of an inexperienced Lara Croft, stranded and alone. As a result, the game is more asurvival gamethan an outright shooter. Championing players who survey the battlefield and make the best use of what resources they have,Tomb Raiderdelivered a truly engrossing narrative, and its survival-like theme only elevated the fear caused by combat encounters. It’s a worthy title that deserves a port.
Rockstar Games have already begun porting over some of their beloved games to Nintendo’s hardware, soMax Payne 3might not be out of the question. The third entry in the series reunited players with the titular Max Payne as he takes a security job in Brazil, only for events to spiral out of control, leading to plenty of slow-motion shootouts and pitch-perfect gunplay.
The game was a true cinematic experience. The well-choreographed action, its twisting plot, and the killer aesthetic gifted by Rockstar, only to be backed up by aneven better soundtrack, were all well ahead of their time. It’s an exceptional game that deserves to grace the Switch console and stand alongside so many other great gaming experiences.
Most gamers would probably prefer that the originalDead Spacetitle made its way over to the Switch first, especially as itnails survival horror so well.The sequel, on the other hand, chose to go down the route of psychological horror, mixed with a huge helping of action. In short,Dead SpaceandDead Space 2are gamers' equivalent toAlienandAliens.
Dead Space 2ramped up everything from the original and improved on the foundation that came before it. The gameplay was tighter, the breed of necromorphs were scarier, and the action was dialed all the way up to 11. It’s a game that probably goes under the radar due to how much love the first entry receives, butDead Space 2does everything right, and delivers an edge-of-your-seat sequel that deserves just as much love, if not more.
