Line #43 Main/HeroShooter


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4	[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/MondayNightCombat https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mncclasses.jpg]]]]
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6	The Hero Shooter, also known as Character FPS, is a SubGenre of FirstPersonShooter and ThirdPersonShooter games, with [[MultiplayerOnlineBattleArena MOBA]] and FightingGame elements.
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8	The roots of the hero shooter genre can be traced back as early as the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis game ''VideoGame/HerzogZwei'' (1989), the first shooter with MOBA elements. It can also be traced back to class-based shooters like the ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}}'' and ''[[VideoGame/TeamFortress1 Team Fortress]]'' series, and several games that are now considered to be hero shooters were originally marketed as class-based shooters. The hero shooter genre also contains elements of [[UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame arcade]] fighting games, such as ''Franchise/StreetFighter'', which are similarly character-centric. The {{Ur Example}}s of the hero shooter genre are ''[[VideoGame/TeamFortress1 Team Fortress]]'' (a 1996 ''VideoGame/{{Quake}}'' mod) and ''VideoGame/{{Outtrigger}}'' (1999), an arcade hero shooter developed by [[https://segaretro.org/Sega_AM2 Sega AM2]] and produced by Creator/YuSuzuki. Other early examples of the genre include ''VideoGame/TheGrid'' (2000), ''VideoGame/UnrealChampionship2TheLiandriConflict'' (2005), ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' (2007), ''VideoGame/CyberDiver'' (2009), and ''VideoGame/GunslingerStratos'' (2012). But the genre wouldn't explode in popularity until the release of Creator/ActivisionBlizzard's ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' in 2016, with its cast of colorful and developed characters, memorable locations and unique gameplay, that the tropes that codified the genre would be set on stone. The success of the game, as is the way of things, [[FollowTheLeader spawned countless of imitators overnight]], with Creator/GearboxSoftware's ''VideoGame/{{Battleborn}}'' in 2016, and Creator/IdSoftware's ''VideoGame/QuakeChampions'' and the Creator/CliffBleszinski-fronted Boss Key Productions's ''VideoGame/LawBreakers'' in 2017 being some of them.
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10	In this type of game, instead of choosing which weapons to use or finding the weapons, the player can choose one out of multiple characters, or heroes, with different weapons and abilities. For example, one character may be able to DoubleJump, while another can [[TheMedic heal teammates]], and another can [[TheTurretMaster build turrets]]. The characters may also have [[LimitBreak Ultimate Abilities]] that can vastly alter the course of battle. This, in turn, makes the characters more unique, and the game defined by the characters rather than the available weapons.
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12	Games of this genre tend to rely on teamwork and a combination of abilities to cover for weaknesses. Some characters have abilities that [[CripplingOverspecialization are only useful in specific situations]] or [[TacticalRockPaperScissors are countered by a specific character]]. Some of these games are heavily focused on the [[MultiplayerOnlineBattleArena MOBA]] aspects, including the ability to level up, learn, and upgrade abilities and buy items during matches, to the point where they are basically First Person [=MOBAs=]. Others are much more focused on the FPS aspects and use different weapons, abilities, and [[LimitBreak ultimates]] to increase the variety of playstyles in the game.
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14	These are all-important because, in games like this, while the shooting ''is'' important, your objective isn't to obliterate your enemy team; [[DeathIsCheap they always respawn]] after a few seconds. The game contains an objective to be contested, usually [[StrategicAssetCaptureMechanic an area to dominate or hold]] or [[EscortMission a payload to escort or stop]]. Therefore, kill counts don't really matter, so long as you manage to hold onto your objective, so the mindset of 'frag-hunting' that is more common in earlier games such as your regular Arena Shooter or ''VideoGame/CounterStrike'' would be [[TooDumbToLive counterproductive]] when playing games in this genre.
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16	Ultimately, the frontier that separates a HeroShooter from your regular FPS with customization is that the weapons and abilities are tied to a character or group of characters, though some (but definitely not all) abilities and weapons being shared between some characters isn't exactly unheard of.
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18	Differentiates itself from the other FPS subgenres in the following ways:
19	* ArenaShooter: due to its emphasis on characters and their stats, as all characters and their loadouts are quite different between each other. Pickups are quite rare, but definitely not unheard of.
20	* TacticalShooter: due to its emphasis on gameplay over realism.
21	* LooterShooter: due to its emphasis on CompetitiveMultiplayer and that all weapons and items don't have stat variations.
22	* BattleRoyaleGame: due to its shortened (usually 5-on-5) player count in comparison to the gigantic numbers found in this genre (between 50-100) and its spawnpoints being predefined rather than the player being able to pick up one in a map.
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24	Compare with AdventureBoardGames, which also have characters with unique abilities.
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26	[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Do not confuse with]] HeroKiller.
27	----
28	!!Examples of this genre:
29	[[index]]
30	* ''VideoGame/AtlasReactor'': A TurnBasedTactics version.
31	* ''VideoGame/ApexLegends'': A BattleRoyaleGame SpinOff of ''VideoGame/{{Titanfall}}'', but without the HumongousMecha and LeParkour. Unlike most hero shooters, each hero doesn't have a specialized weapon loadout (weapons are acquired in-match), and instead each Legend has a passive, active, and ultimate skill. In an unusual twist, several cast members of ''Apex Legends'' are pretty much Tactical abilities from ''Titanfall 2'' developed into entire characters.
32	* ''VideoGame/{{Battleborn}}'' leaned harder into the MOBA inspirations than ''Overwatch'' or ''Paladins'' did, and was notable for having the misfortune of coming out just as Overwatch, then packed with lots of hype, was about to release.
33	* ''VideoGame/{{BattleCry\|VideoGame}}''
34	* ''VideoGame/BleedingEdge''
35	* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsIII'': Combines hero shooter elements with traditional ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' multiplayer. There are 10 specialists, each with unique personalities and special abilities, but Create-a-Class and the standard selection of weapons and attachments, perks, and equipment are still available for all specialists.
36	** ''VideoGame/CallofDutyInfiniteWarfare'': Continues the specialist feature (called Rigs here), however there's only 6 and they lack the personalities of the ''Black Ops III'' specialists.
37	* ''VideoGame/{{Crucible}}''
38	* ''VideoGame/CyberDiver'': Released by Taito in Japanese arcades back in 2009, this was an early example of the genre.
39	* ''VideoGame/DeceiveInc'': Combines the hero shooter with [[StealthBasedGame Stealth-Based Games]].
40	* ''VideoGame/{{Depth}}'' is an asymmetric version — the sharks each have unique appearances, abilities, and health, while the divers can fill out certain roles with certain equipment, but aren't restricted.
41	* ''VideoGame/DirtyBomb''
42	* ''VideoGame/{{Evolve}}'': It's an {{asymmetric\|Multiplayer}} example of this genre. The available characters are different if you are on the hunters side or on the monster side.
43	* ''VideoGame/FinalCombat''
44	* ''VideoGame/{{Foamstars}}''
45	* ''[[VideoGame/GearsOfWar Gears 5]]'' incorporates elements of this into its PvE modes, [[HoldTheLine Horde]] and [[OutrunTheFireball Escape]]. Each character available in these modes now have a predetermined loadout which they spawn with, in addition to both an ultimate and passive ability.
46	* ''VideoGame/GhostInTheShellFirstAssaultOnline''
47	* ''VideoGame/{{Gigantic}}'': Combined with MOBA and a variant of capture-the-flag, wherein your heroes must lead a gigantic creature to the other team's base.
48	* ''VideoGame/TheGrid'': Coming out a year after ''Outtrigger'', this was also an Ur-Example: a third-person shooter focused on multiplayer, where each character had one unique ability, such as digging a hole to teleport elsewhere or charging an opponent to knock out their weapons. It plays like a less jump-focused Unreal Tournament.
49	* ''VideoGame/GundamEvolution'': Released by Creator/BandaiNamco, it's a HeroShooter starring various Mobile Suits and Gundams that roam the various ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' worlds.
50	* ''VideoGame/GunslingerStratos'': Released by Taito and Square Enix in Japanese arcades back in 2012, this was an early example of the genre.
51	* ''VideoGame/LawBreakers'', leaning more towards ''Quake: Champions'' or ''Unreal Tournament'' than the rest of the genre.
52	* ''VideoGame/MarvelRivals'': A third-person game that features a large cast of [[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel]] characters.
53	* ''VideoGame/MegaMan8BitDeathmatch'' isn't this on its own, but there are several {{Game Mod}}s that allows the players to play as different Robot Masters and other characters with their own abilities and weapons instead of just being able to pick up and use weapons on the map.
54	* ''VideoGame/MondayNightCombat'': ThirdPersonShooter example
55	* ''VideoGame/{{Nosgoth}}'': As with ''VideoGame/MondayNightCombat'', it's a third-person shooter, along with asymmetric multiplayer.
56	* ''VideoGame/{{Outtrigger}}'': The UrExample of the genre. It featured four unique characters, each with their own unique class and abilities.
57	* ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}''
58	* ''VideoGame/Overwatch2''
59	* ''VideoGame/{{Paladins}}'': A HighFantasy hero shooter that has a unique cards, items and talents system that makes each Champion have different ways of playing.
60	* ''VideoGame/Paragon2016''
61	* ''VideoGame/PrimalCarnage'': Asymmetrical class-based game, with each human and dinosaur playing a distinct role with sidegrades. For example, the Scientist can tranquilize dinosaurs for a debuff that makes it easier for teammates to kill dinosaurs, or carry an anti-tank rifle instead.
62	* ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombiesBattleForNeighborville''
63	* ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombiesGardenWarfare''
64	* ''VideoGame/QuakeChampions'' is a {{downplayed\|Trope}} example, as a compromise between a Hero Shooter and the traditional "Arena Shooter" of previous installments. All characters have a special ability and up to two (three in a specific case) passive abilities, and their loadout include the standard Gauntlet for close combat, and a selectable weak ranged weapon (Machinegun/Nailgun/Shotgun). The rest of the "heavier" weapons, as well as their ammo and powerups, are scattered across the maps, and the game is otherwise a straight Arena Shooter.
65	** ''VideoGame/QuakeChampionsDoomEdition'' is its equivalent as a GameMod for ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'', but with more, different characters and even includes monster packs.
66	* ''VideoGame/RainbowSixSiege'' is a competitive ''VideoGame/CounterStrike''-styled multiplayer shooter mixed with some hero shooter elements. All of the "Operators" have distinct gadgets and personalities, and teamwork is absolutely vital to success. However, the game downplays the gadgets in combat (most are utility or tactical tools - even the ones that actually take the form of an extra weapon are generally bad for combat), and keeps the general gameplay style of most characters the same, with most only differing by weapon types available to them based on what CTU they hail from (e.g. Spetsnaz Operators get Russian weapons) and what role they play (e.g. a Defender will usually get shorter-ranged submachine guns and shotguns).
67	* ''VideoGame/RogueCompany'': All the [=RoCo=]'s have a special ability and a limited pool of weapons to choose from, but they all have special perks and devices to help in battle.
68	* ''VideoGame/StarWarsBattlefront2015'', specifically in Hero-focused modes like Hero Hunt and Heroes VS Villains.
69	** ''VideoGame/StarWarsBattlefrontII2017'', same as the above.
70	* ''VideoGame/TeamFortressClassic'', a [=GoldSrc=] port of the original mod ''VideoGame/TeamFortress1''
71	* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'': Some, but not all characters have special abilities (such as double-jumping or cloaking) and each character has a distinctive appearance and personality and a unique set of weapons to fulfill their designated roles. The Medic's Übercharge and most Soldier's secondary weapons also count as [[LimitBreak ultimate abilities]]. The Sniper's Hitman's Heatmaker, the Pyro's Phlogistinator, and the Scout's Soda Popper also fall under the theme of being Ultimates, albeit are only single option weapons.
72	* ''VideoGame/Titanfall2'': {{Zigzagged}} - with regards to Pilots, who are generally similarly-shaped and have a wider variety of weapons and customizability with minimal personality to speak of, but each Pilot model is now attached to a certain tactical ability, such as a cloak, grappling hook or the ability to pop in and out of reality. The eponymous [[HumongousMecha Titans]], however, are markedly less customizable than the ones in ''Titanfall'' and have very specific silhouettes to signal who's who, and in turn, have relatively fixed loadouts that give them more personality.
73	* ''VideoGame/UnrealChampionship2TheLiandriConflict'' is an early example which mixes elements of the Arena Shooter and FightingGame genres (it even features [[Franchise/MortalKombat Raiden]] as a GuestFighter) and character-based abilities and stats, predating the popularization of the genre for nearly 10 years. Each character has a loadout composed of a melee weapon, [[EmergencyWeapon a weak ranged weapon]], a selectable Energy weapon (Bio Rifle/Shock Rifle/Sniper Rifle/Stinger), a selectable Projectile weapon (Flak Cannon/Rocket Launcher/Grenade Launcher/Ripjack), and six [[https://unreal.fandom.com/wiki/Adrenaline Adrenaline]] abilities: two that are shared across the roster (Nimble and Speed), three race-specific abilities, and a character-specific ability. ''VideoGame/UnrealChampionship'' and ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament2004'' with the "[[https://unreal.fandom.com/wiki/Species_Statistics Species Statistics]]" mutator are even earlier but more bare-bones examples; characters get various boosts and penalties based on their race (e.g. Juggernauts have massive starting health and better resistance to damage in return for moving slower and jumping lower, Anubans move slower on the ground but have far better jump height and air control, etc.) but with no further differentiation between the individual members of that race, and they all still have access to the same array of weapons depending on what spawns in the current map.
74	* ''VideoGame/{{VALORANT}}'': Like ''VideoGame/RainbowSixSiege'', this one is a mix of hero shooter elements with classic tactical shooter. Each playable "Agent" has a unique model, personality and a set of unique abilities (including an ultimate ability that needs to be charged over few rounds), but only few of them are used directly in combat. Furthermore, weapons have to be bought before every round, and their pool is the same for all Agents, instead of "every hero has a unique weapon" style common in hero shooters.
75	[[/index]]
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Context Main / HeroShooter