Historical FPS’s: An In-Depth Guide For The 1337 History Buff

Gestapwned: Another Nazi tank bites the dust

What’s The Hottest FPS Title Out There Nowadays?  Prepare To Be Surprised

Historical War Games: it’s a subgenre of video games that never seems to, well, grow old.  When we look back on the (barely historical) Castle Wolfenstein and then look at where we are today, it’s clear that historical accuracy has, for better or worse, entwined itself in the latest and greatest to come out of video game studios.

Does this mean that kids would rather relive grandpa’s glory days fighting off the Nazis than blow up marauding monsters/zombies/aliens?  Of course not!  There will always be a niche in the video game industry for those who concoct impossible schemes that occur in fantastical worlds.  And yet, we see game producers being drawn more and more into the real-life events of yesteryear.

And game players are responding.  Medal of Honor and Company of Heroes are—to say the least—solid titles that have sold well in the gaming markets.  And massive online games such as Battlefield 1942 have taken a cue and feature history vehicles and weapons within their platforms.  One has to wonder if The Sims: 1956 is next, complete with girls in hoop skirts and pompadour-sporting guys.

But let’s not stray that far away from the realm of FPS’s.  You, the reader, have seen the beginnings of our list of historic war games mentioned above, and maybe you’re now pondering which game out there makes the most realistic, in-your-face recreation of war; because seriously, how many times can the Battle of the Bulge be recreated and still be a fresh source of entertainment?

Many times, it would appear.  And here is something else that may come as a surprise to you.  In the world of video games—as in the real world—the best things in life are indeed free.  That is, it is in fact possible to have an incredible gaming experience without blowing hundreds of dollars on the latest ‘next-gen’ system.

Now, I mention the word ‘free’ and I know what sort of game instantly pops into your head; the dinky, simplistic flash games that hundreds of tacky sites seem to gravitate towards for advertising.  But now comes the dramatic revelation to counter your train of thoughts; what if I told you that there’s an incredibly badass FPS out there, historically based with a multiplayer option, and it’s completely free?

Holding down the fort: a Marine sniper guards the U.S embassy in Saigon, 1968

It’s called Kuma\War WWII\Vietnam, and it’s available through the Kuma Games Online Client (also free).  Kuma\War WWII\Vietnam Features twelve playable maps that range from the European theater during World War Two to the deadly jungles of the Vietnam War.  Weapons and terrain are extremely accurate to reality; it’s obvious that painstaking research has been applied to this FPS.  And history buffs; does the title of this game look familiar?  That’s because it is actually produced in conjunction with the actual History Channel program, Kuma\War WWII\Vietnam.  How much more historically authentic can you get?

But how does this freebie of an FPS stack up against the heavy hitters mentioned before? Can a free game really compete on level playing ground with studios that throw exorbitant amounts of money at new titles? To start with, let’s look at system specs required. Kuma\War WWII\Vietnam Is more on par with Company of Heroes than Medal of Honor, which—while still fantastic in gameplay—is starting to grow a little dated compared to other titles. Kuma\War WWII\Vietnam milks the Source engine (think Half-Life 2) for all it’s worth as well, which means that your computer is going to need a bit more juice than the average PC. But it’s not impossible to run, by any means. If your machine isn’t up to snuff but you still want a free piece of the gaming pie, don’t give up on Kuma. Some of the other shooter games available through their online client have less rigid system requirements, so you’re bound to find something to you and your computers liking.

Granted, both Medal of Honor and Company of Heroes have a lot more bells and whistles than Kuma\War WWII\Vietnam features. There is no plotted ‘storyline’, so to speak, and each mission is not necessarily connected to the next. But Kuma didn’t design this shooter to play like everybody’s favorite HBO series on World War 2. These are true-to-life snapshots of actual modern warfare (except you’re in control of the situation, of course). And Kuma\War WWII\Vietnam presents the facts in a manner that history and gaming buffs alike can appreciate.

Remember this the next time you’re at an electronics store, moping over the price of that new ‘superconsole’.  The best things in life are free.  Don’t believe us?  Download Kuma\War WWII\Vietnam And find out for yourself.  What do you have to lose?