Summary
Multiplayer gamessuch asCall Of Dutyhave been a staple in the gaming community for over twenty years now, with some remaining successful with packed servers. Meanwhile, some games lost their player base or were even shut down over the years, despite being of strong quality themselves.
While it makes sense for some games to fade away, others deserve to remain just as populated asTeam Fortress 2orLeague Of Legends, which have been active for over a decade. Whether it is a shooter or a racing game, certain multiplayer games deserve the chance to shine again via a resurgence in popularity, a remake, or even a sequel.
Due to the unfair stigma thatBatman: Arkham Originssuffered from, not enough gamers got to experience the truly unique multiplayer mode it featured. It had three teams fighting against each other: Joker’s gang, Bane’s gang, and vigilantes, all going head to head in an attempt to come out on top.
Playing as a criminal on Bane or Joker’s teams was a fun third-person shooter experience, but the addition of Batman and Robin stalking from above or below, able to take anyone out with ease, added more tension to matches.Arkham Originson its ownremains a great prequelto theArkhamseries, but the multiplayer mode was a highlight and should have been brought back inBatman: Arkham Knight,or as a standalone experience.
While many Hero Shooters are trying to capture the same niche style thatOverwatchrevolutionized,Battlebornwas one of the first to try it and was sadly taken down far too soon. Rather thanthe typical Hero Shooter multiplayer game,Battleborntook on a lane-based MOBA style of gameplay akin toLeague of Legendsbut with a first-person perspective.
Sadly,Battlebornwas in direct competition withOverwatchon its release, and not even a year after launch, it was deemed a flop. Gearbox Software and 2K Games, who also madeBorderlandsgames, deserved better since they put a lot of effort into the visually stunning style of the game, unique characters, and thrilling gameplay.
WhenMass Effect 3came out, there was a legitimate complaint that a story-driven RPG likeMass Effectdid not need a multiplayer mode. However, that didn’t makethe third-person shooter gameplayof the multiplayer mode any less enjoyable, and it did have a strong fanbase for some time.
BioWare and EA could take the overall concept of theMass Effect 3multiplayer mode and create a solely multiplayer spin-off of the series. The worlds, weaponry, abilities, and different galactic races ofMass Effectresulted in a visually and audibly stunning third-person shooter that could have rivaledGears Of Warin terms of multiplayer.
Racing games often do little to stand out from the crowd, butSplit/Secondmanaged to do just that. On top of high-octane races that can wipe out a player with ease,Split/Secondfeatured a mechanic that allowed racers to trigger environmental events that were capable of taking out any player, including themselves.
WithSplit/Second, the outcome of a race is rarely certain, which keeps it an absolute blast to play. Even today, the servers are still up for people to play the game, and in a world of remasters and remakes, it is surprising that Disney has not tried bringing it back.
WhenBulletstormcame out, every first-person shooter multiplayer gametried its hardest to copyCall Of Duty, whileBulletstormwas set on being something different. Like in its sweet but short campaign,Bulletstormutilizes a lot of sliding, kicking, freezing, and whipping, all combined with environmental hazards to create flashy yet gory kills for more points.
The gameplay style ofBulletstormhelped keep the online matches feeling frenetic and unlike any other multiplayer FPS at the time. Sadly, even with the remaster ofBulletstorm, the servers remain mostly empty with a small dedicated fanbase holding them down, when it deserves to be on the same level asBattlefieldorHalo.
Whether it is the two original games from the early 2000s or the 2010 reboot,Aliens Versus Predatoris a pioneer in the multiplayer realm since it accomplished what many FPS games still struggle to do today. Fast-paced action and three different teams fighting for dominance, very few games have matched the ferocity and intensity brought onby playing as the Xenomorphs, Predators, and Colonial Marines.
With both theAlienandPredatorfranchises making a resurgence withPreyandAlien: Romulus, it’s shocking that fans haven’t been given a newAliens Versus Predatorgame. Thankfully, there is a small cell of dedicated fans keeping the servers of all three games alive through fanmade mods and patches.
While UbiSoft seems more concerned with copyingCall Of DutywithXDefiant, there was another game set in the same universe,Splinter Cell: Blacklist, that showcased a quality multiplayer mode. It featured familiar and new multiplayer modes, using the familiarSplinter Cellstealth and action gameplaythat the series is known for.
The multiplayer inSplinter Cell: Blacklistfits the secret agents versus mercenaries concept of the game, mixing third-person action with brutal stealth takedowns. Sadly, the online functionality ofSplinter Cell: Blacklistwas disabled and some fans are hoping for UbiSoft to see the multiplayer return in theSplinter Cellremake.
The concept ofGotham City Imposterswas novel enough to sell the game: two teams of wild worshipers of Batman and Joker competing in first-person shooter matches online. It’s bizarre, wacky, andfeels straight out of a zanier comic book, which combined with simple yet effective gameplay that helped it stand out, especially since it was free-to-play.
Monolith Productions were already noted masters of multiplayer with games such asAliens Versus Predator 2under their belt, so their style helped in turningGotham City Impostersinto a beloved title that featured a dedicated player base. However, in recent years, the player count has been barren. Certain players hoped Monolith would update the game or release a sequel of some kind to bring back its popularity, but so far, no luck.
