9 Ways to Get Better at FPS Games
First Person Shooter games are famously popular, but infamously difficult to master. Those of us that play online know the massive skill divide between those that sit at the top of the scoreboard, and those at the bottom. Although you may never become a pro-player, everybody can be above average! Here is a list of things you can try out in your efforts to become better.
1. Know the map
Knowing the environment that you are playing in is crucial – even a seasoned veteran of a given FPS game will look like a lost puppy if you throw them into an in-game map they have never played. So much of your success will depend on knowing where to position yourself, and where your enemies will likely be – so try to learn the maps. Whether you study through videos or just play the same map often, it will eventually pay dividends.
2. Be patient
Once you have step 1 (knowing the map) down, patience will get your far. You know that your enemy is going to come around a corner, or through a certain door, or pop his head up in a certain position. So, don't rush into buildings or run around blind-spots – pick a spot and wait for them to walk into your sights.
3. Pick the right weapon for you
You might want to use a sniper rifle, because, well, who doesn't? However, sniper rifles require pinpoint precision whereas sub-machine guns and assault rifles tend to be much more forgiving with aim. If you don't trust yourself with one shot, give yourself 30!
4. Pick your weapon based on the map
Like the previous point, weapon selection matters. If you are playing a game with a wide, open environment or long lines of sight, the last thing you want is to be stuck with a weapon suited for indoor close-range combat. The inverse is true – what good is a bolt-action sniper rifle in a crowded, tight space?
5. Aim high
Most FPS games have an inbuilt damage calculator, that decides damage given/taken based on where a shot lands. Almost always, head shots and upper-body shots will drop a player much faster than spraying at their knees. So keep your cross-hair at head height!
6. Play with friends
Playing with friends means that you will have team-mates you can communicate with and rely on. Don't have friends? Just talk in game! You may be surprised how friendly many FPS players are, and you might be lucky enough to become acquainted with somebody who can teach you a few things. And, even if you lose, it's still more fun to lose with friends.
7. Stop checking the scoreboard
Constantly checking the scoreboard is distracting, and when you are having a bad game, demoralising. Try not worrying about your kill/death ratio for a few games and just try to play freely.
8. Play more
Practise makes perfect! The more experience you get using a weapon, the better you will be able to handle its habits and its recoil pattern; playing on the same maps often will let you be able to predict exactly where the enemy is going to be – most of the time.
9. Play less
This point may seem counter-productive. However, playing a game too often can lead to stress and frustration, which will leave you “on tilt” and your gameplay will suffer as a result. Take a break for a while if you find yourself stressed. We game to have fun, after all!
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