Far Cry (PC, 2004)
Before Crytek’s Crysis became the benchmark for graphical prowess, it made Far Cry. I’d go over to my PC-owning friend’s place after school just to fly the glider all over the game’s lush tropical environments. With its sprawling levels and multiple avenues for tackling missions, Far Cry opened my eyes to the possibility that a shooter could be this wide open. Unfortunately, the game takes a claustrophobic turn in its final levels, funneling you down hallways filled with Trigens, some of the most frustrating-to-fight enemies in FPS history. I’m glad the series ditched them in subsequent titles, and I’ll always remember the beautiful vistas that preceded them. — Eric Schulkin
