First or Third-Person?

[Lock n' Stock]

This has always been a thing that's on my mind, which would you say is the best perspective during action and shooter games?

 

Personally, I'd say third-person. While there are first-person games that I adore, I've never really been a big fan of it as a perspective. Third-person works for me so much better because I perfer to see the character I'm playing as in full father than just seeing through their eyes. However, third-person can also be a victim of bad controls or poorly-positioned camera depth (like being too far or too close), whereas first-person always has a basic set-up regardless.

 

Personally, I'd think it would be far better if more games adopted the ability to choose between first and third-person, much like GTA V and the Elder Scrolls games. What do you think?

Edited May 4, 2018 by Lock n' Stock

[The N. Bellic Man]

I used to prefer third person perspective almost exclusively, but now I think that it depends on a game. Many shooters feel more intense when played in first person, but games like GTA on the other hand feel much better on third person.

 

But in the end the best solution is when you can choose. For example in Fallout or TES I like to use first person in combat but when I'm traveling I usually use third person. So, both it is.

[Furry_Monkey]

I personally find first person more immersive, but if a game has the option to toggle modes and you're playing PvP then you simply have to play third person.

 

I recently bought a PSVR and obviously you have to play first person when using that, but there is nothing as creepy as looking down and seeing someone else's body, especially when they move when you move like in the Kitchen demo. Creeeeeeepy!

[Laker23]

Depends on the game for me.

 

For shooters I much prefer first-person. But for action games like Uncharted, GTA, GOW, etc., then it's third.

[Hmmm nice bike]

Like others have said, I think it really depends on the game and a person's playing style. Third person lets you get a better view of everything around you, but first person can be much more immersive. For instance, here's a video someone made showing Vice City's first cutscene in first person.

 

I love how Tommy keeps looking at the crane while walking, probably looking out for a sniper. And then he only gets a very quick glance at the shooters before running off.

 

Overall, I think more developers should let you choose between first person and third person. A first person view for Red Faction Guerrilla would have been cool, too. Besides being a throwback to the original game being an FPS, I feel like playing the game in a first person view would make it almost feel like a different game and add even more replayability.

[ArkhamDeadp00l]

i prefer First person.

[luisniko]

Both are alright. I tend to choose third person because I like seeing my character gets in action, especially when it's customisable.

 

The current technology have reached up to the point where fully switching between two perspective (Fallout 4) and half switchable (Ghost Recon Wildlands; for fine aim) are possible to have. Therefore I would love to have both in one, especially when it's a shooter.

[HaRdSTyLe_83]

something like Ghost recon Wildlands, 3rd person view while walking around and when aiming down the sight it changes to first person

[Algonquin Assassin]

It depends on the type of game. For open world I prefer third person as it just feels more natural. For dedicated shooters and survival horror I prefer first person.

 

They both have their pros and cons, but if I had to just pick one as an absolute it would be third person.

Edited May 8, 2018 by Algonquin Assassin

[Sinner!]

First-Person

 

Looking at a game like GTA V for instance, I personally favoured first-person as the gun combat felt more intense & on-foot exploration felt more immersive & I noticed nice little details that I wouldn't have in third-person.

 

 

[Mister Pink]

I used to prefer third person perspective almost exclusively, but now I think that it depends on a game. Many shooters feel more intense when played in first person, but games like GTA on the other hand feel much better on third person.

 

But in the end the best solution is when you can choose. For example in Fallout or TES I like to use first person in combat but when I'm traveling I usually use third person. So, both it is.

 

This.

 

I love both systems as they both serve a different function and give particular perspective. When playing RDR, the cinematic view of 3rd person is great. You see the horses, man on horseback pointing and shooting. Seeing all the action as a spectator in 3rd person is perfect.

 

Playing first person in Fallout or Skyrim when you are constantly looking for things to acquire such as potions, tools, materials etc, makes more sense. Also, when you are RPGing, using a voiceless character, say in Skyrim, you are the first person and there's a level of immersion there. You are the character as opposed to a puppeteer, controlling the action in a game like GTA.

 

Games like Deus Ex do a great job at blending 3rd person and first person. So, basically, you walk in the first person, interacting with computers, opening doors etc but then when you climb, latch on to a wall for cover or need to interact with a wall for cover or jumping over it, it's 3rd person. It was a little jarring at first for me but it's done really well.

 

3rd person offers a cinematic quality and obviously more rounder view. How about Splinter Cell, hanging from a pipe on the ceiling and scanning a room for enemies? Anyone that ever played with action figures will kind of adapt to the 3rd person model pretty well. First person is great when you need to interact regularly with the environment, opening doors, collecting items, hacking computers, grabbing potions, searching rooms and shelves etc.

Edited May 8, 2018 by Mister Pink

[PaeganLoveSong]

Overall, I prefer first person. You don't have the same scope of view, there's no hiding out of sight but peaking around corners for instance, but I grew up playing Doom and Duke Nukem 3D and Goldeneye so first person feels right. I even do GTA V in first person.

 

My issue with third person usually stems from how "tight" the camera is on your character. A game like the Division, where the camera stays locked tight on you, are just fine, but when the camera is looser (like GTA V) I struggle.

[Mister Pink]

..when the camera is looser (like GTA V) I struggle.

 

It's one thing I'm actually proud of when it comes to gaming. I'm usually quite good at multi-tasking the camera and shooting while driving. Like shooting cops from behind using the look back option and free aiming.

 

I'm not that great at anything else, really.

[Candy_Licker]

Third person. Feel more comfortable using it. In First Person view, I always feel lost.

 

Also, I like to see the character I'm playing. Especially if it's sth like Skyrim where I sport a badass armor.

 

For horror/survivor/shooter games, First Person may be more atmospheric, but I almost never play those.

Edited May 11, 2018 by Candy_Licker

[The N. Bellic Man]

I'm not that great at anything else, really.

 

"I'm not great at life but I bowl like an angel".

 

Yeah it's off-topic, but I had to say it. But come on Mister Pink, don't underestimate yourself.

[OurJud]

Although it's first-person all the way for me (I play first-person, open world games almost exclusively) it's no real surprise third is winning the vote, and will continue to do so, simply because there's far less 'tunnel vision' when playing a game in third.

 

For me it's all about immersion, and I only get that to any great extent with first-person games, but the vast majority I would imagine get their immersion in other ways.

[OurJud]

Like others have said, I think it really depends on the game and a person's playing style. Third person lets you get a better view of everything around you, but first person can be much more immersive. For instance, here's a video someone made showing Vice City's first cutscene in first person.

 

Don't know how this was done, but why is he walking so weird when he gets out of the car? Does he have an injury in this scene, as it looks like a limp or something?

[Hmmm nice bike]

Don't know how this was done, but why is he walking so weird when he gets out of the car? Does he have an injury in this scene, as it looks like a limp or something?

It probably just has to do with however he attached the camera to Tommy. The clip almost has the feel of Tommy walking around with a camcorder, the way it shakes around.

[Phantomspirit]

I cant play Far Cry at all, due to the nausea I get from their first person set up, there is something radically wrong, I have tried changing sensitivity settings but never really can make it playable for long periods at all.....

[Shadowfennekin]

Third person when possible, and solely third person if MP....

I just like being able to see the character I'm playing, I usually stick to FP in Skyrim/Fallout for the action scenes but in civilized areas I go into third so I can view my character.

 

Games like Saints Row and GTA... should only be in third person. FP being introduced in GTA was pointless, and I do hope they didn't waste their time adding it to Red Dead when another feature could use that time instead.

 

FP in Far Cry though helps you relate to the character you're playing, especially in 5 cause you're.... you basically.

 

FP in MP just sucks.... third person is loads better as you can see behind you and know if somebody is trying to knife you like a coward

[Typhus]

I despise literally everything about first person games. I cannot think of a single one I have enjoyed. And it doesn't help that the entire gaming market, for the last ten years or so, has been absolutely stuffed full of generic, nigh identical FPS games - as genres I actually enjoy are taken behind the woodshed and giving a good seeing to.

So, even if a first person game is good, my residual hatred of the entire FPS genre is such that I couldn't enjoy it.

[Algonquin Assassin]

Third person when possible, and solely third person if MP....

I just like being able to see the character I'm playing, I usually stick to FP in Skyrim/Fallout for the action scenes but in civilized areas I go into third so I can view my character.

 

Games like Saints Row and GTA... should only be in third person. FP being introduced in GTA was pointless, and I do hope they didn't waste their time adding it to Red Dead when another feature could use that time instead.

 

FP in Far Cry though helps you relate to the character you're playing, especially in 5 cause you're.... you basically.

 

FP in MP just sucks.... third person is loads better as you can see behind you and know if somebody is trying to knife you like a coward

 

To be honest I didn't mind first person in GTA V. Infact the only current gen save I've completed was almost done entirely in first person. It made driving feel more enjoyable, but flying was a bit of a pain. It was R*'s first real go at first person in a GTA game and it was alright IMO.

 

If RDR2 has the option it might bring a Call Of Juarez vibe to it and I love those games.

Edited May 14, 2018 by Algonquin Assassin

[Sinner!]

I fail to see how adding an alternative & a new & fresh gameplay perspective/experience is pointless, you yourself might not have liked it, but pointless is quite frankly absurd IMO.

 

The problem with third person open world games is it's harder to admire the beauty & vastness/details of the world IMO.

 

 

 

[OurJud]

 

Games like Saints Row and GTA... should only be in third person. FP being introduced in GTA was pointless, and I do hope they didn't waste their time adding it to Red Dead when another feature could use that time instead.

 

I have to respectfully disagree. If RDR2 doesn't have a first-person option I won't be buying it.

 

That said I may not be buying it anyway, as by all accounts they're going to be shafting offline single-players right up the arris anyway. But that's a topic for another thread.

Edited May 14, 2018 by OurJud

[Cutter De Blanc]

Depends on what I'm doing. If I have the option to switch between the two I take full advantage of it.

[Evil empire]

It depends of what I have to do in a game. For example in Jedi academy and Dark forces 2 I use the first person to make gunshots and the third in the lightsaber fights.

[GTA-Biker]

I like both,usually it depends on what type of game it is.For shooter games like Doom, COD or Battlefield I usually prefer first person (there are some exceptions,such as Max Payne games),and for open world games like GTA, Bully or Mafia I usually prefer third person perspective (there are also some exceptions,such as Far Cry games).

Edited May 16, 2018 by GTA-Biker