Although I can admit with all sincerity that I am not the best gamer on the planet — I doubt I ever will be— I have no problem with my proficiency at consistently playing a good game, putting up a fairly decent fight and only occasionally enduring round after round of senselessly being routed by some very proficient gamers.
Here is how I see it — in my own far from professional view, and here again I may be pointing out the obvious– the game and the resulting outcome of each match come down to some very basic skills that come into play when two opponents encounter each other. The level of skill a player has — and even more importantly the time it takes– when assessing the enemy, the battle environment and developing an appropriate response will inevitably decide the outcome of each encounter.
These are skills that come naturally to many people– some people paint the Sistine Chapel some people never lose at Battlefield 4, what can you say? — Nevertheless, by being aware of these factors that come into play you can beg into critique your own methods, see yourself through the sights of your opponent and use the environment (corners, doorways, windows, high ground and low ground) to your advantage.
So for your consideration 3 points to improve to become a more imposing FPS gamer.
1. Know Your Enemy
The various maps you will play on will all have certain aspects that cause players to repeatedly act in a certain way. This includes passages that must be walked through, dangers to avoid and the nearest cover available.
Read predictable behavior to a grenade threat, fire from the front, fire from behind etc. Trying to make calculations will never work, you have to feel. If you have the Jedi ability to “FEEL” what they will do before they do it, you can quite literally force them into a position they can’t get out of.
By knowing an opponent will run for cover if fired at you may be able to pull off a headshot, because you already know where his or her head will be going.
2. Psych Them Out
Presentation is everything, just like you are trying to predict what your opponents will do remember they are doing the exact same thing. So find ways to psyche them out by bringing the extraordinary.
I would mention for instance the severely overrated ability to pull off a headshot while strafing and jumping, or mastering skills exclusive to a particular game for instance in Halo 3: the ability to deflect projectiles with the gravity hammer or in the Call of Duty Saga: taking full advantage of the many gadgets and gizmos afforded you.
3. Keep it Coming / Press the Attack
When on the hunt, build a solid relationship of fear and terror with the opponent you are stalking. I don’t mean to threaten him verbally over the mic, but consider the way he reacts to an encounter with danger and what he hopes to gain from his actions.
For instance you see the foe approaching at a relative distance– firing range at least– if you don’t make a kill with your initial shot your quarry will undoubtedly move into cover. Ok, so what does he hope he has gained? Safety and the drop on your position.
So he is going to instinctively poke his head up and look in the direction you fired from. But you will not be there; the second it occurs to you he may run for cover you will begin moving into a position to make a head shot when it pops up and you know it will.
Note: Although this tactic was quite effective in the Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter Series; it should be adapted to other FPS games.
