Just a few thoughts

[econ21]

I don't play many shooters - I agree with EA, they are often rather dumb. And maybe I'm useless at them as well.

One or two I've liked though. Max Payne 2 was excellent - subtitled a "film noir love story", it lived up to the billing and had some really good characterisation and story telling. The gameplay - bullet time and all - was fun enough.

I really liked Vietcong - it was rather like living Apocalpyse Now or Platoon, albeit acted by day-time soap opera stars rather than Hollywood A lists. It had really nice varied missions and felt pretty authentic.

But I think what the original poster needs are FPS/RPG hybrids. Deus Ex and System Shock 2 are the two outstanding original classics in the genre, not yet surpassed. Vampire Bloodlines is a recent addition that equals them but is woefully under-rated. These games give you atmosphere, characterisation, story, non-linear gameplay, moral choices ... and the chance to shoot something.

[Geoffrey S]

For the largest part, you get what you pay for. Shooter fans want the same old, and that's pretty much what they get, with minimal innovation.

[Somebody Else]

What about some squad/objective based FPSs - it's a bit old, but Operation Flashpoint for example...