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Ever since we got back from this year's E3, a lot of us have been bitching about the overwhelming number of first- and third-person on display at the trade show. Do gamers need them all? Absolutely not. But can you find some gems in the pile? Absolutely. But it won't necessarily be easy.
If you're having any trouble sorting through this mess, don't fret -- our quick-n-easy guide is here to help. Below, we give you the basic intel on all the shooters that we got to see, from systems they're on and release dates to a quick sentence or two about what makes that game stand out (if anything).
Got an itch to shoot some stuff up this fall, winter, and into 2011? Read on...and let us know in the comments which games you'd pick if you could only have three of these....
(With additional reporting by Omri Petitte, Rob Savillo, Brett Bates, and Demian Linn.)
Platforms: XB360, PS3, PC
Release date: Summer 2010
In this downloadable first-person shooter, as you earn experience, you start to unlock barrels, stocks, sights, clips, power-ups (via trinkets, like the smiley face you see in the screen above), and more to let you create a completely customize your gun from the inside out.
Platforms: XB360, PS3, PC
Release date: Spring 2011
Brink mixes the free-running abilities of Mirror's Edge with the team-based play mechanics of Team Fortress 2.
Platforms: XB360, PS3, PC
Release date: February 2011
In Bulletstorm, it's not just about killing, but killing with style -- juggles, environmental traps, combos, and more define the over-the-top, testosterone-fueled gameplay here.
Platforms: XB360, PS3, PC
Release date: November 2010
Missions that showcase the (just slightly) stealthier side of Call of Duty take place over different time eras, from the Vietnam War to modern day.
Platforms: Wii
Release date: Fall 2010
A new Team Invasion mode brings Gears of War 2's Horde-style gameplay to the Wii, with four players cooperatively taking on waves of enemies. Conduit 2 also supports 12 players online or four-player splitscreen.
Platforms: XB360, PS3, PC
Release date: Holiday 2010
While the overused New York City backdrop may be ho-hum, the same can't be said for the Nanosuit-fueled, alien-slaying action. The developers call it "choreographed sandbox" -- an exciting mix of predetermined scripted scenes in a somewhat open environment.
Platforms: XB360, PS3, PC
Release date: January 2011
We're getting more of that great Dead Space atmosphere, with wild, set-piece boss battles. Sever a necromorph's spiny claw, then use telekinesis and impale the creature on its own limb -- over-the-top and a bit horror porny...but fun.
Platforms: XB360, PS3, PC
Release date: Q3 2010
The third F.E.A.R. game adds a full-on co-op campaign -- with very different play styles for each character -- to the series' patented mixture of the supernatural and super-smart A.I.
