Overview: One of my favorite things to do when not immersed in an epic strategy or RPG is blow off some steam in an FPS. Mindless entertainment is a refreshing change of pace when you need a break from more intellectually demanding titles. I hope I'm not the only one that was put off by the $60 price tag slapped on the PC version of Modern Warfare 2, but that's another topic. Anyway, it's nice to know there are cheaper alternatives, such as Combat Arms from Nexon.
Combat Arms is just one of countless other free to play games, designed to generate revenue through micro-payment systems. It's an interesting trend, and one that I'm somewhat split on. On the one hand, you can control how much you choose to invest in the game. You can pick up and play Combat Arms for free, and never have to pay a dime. But if you want access to the best weapons, armor, equipment, etc., you can spend as much as you want to have it. And that of course, is the problem. It can make a game painfully unfair for users who don't want to pay to rent a virtual gun.
How much would you pay to pwn some n00bz?Story: Is there a story here? I'm actually not sure. You've got two teams from opposing sides blasting each other into oblivion. Other than that, I don't know what else to say about this one. If there is even a brief intro as to the premise of Combat Arms, I missed it. Maybe someone can let me know what it is.
Gameplay: There are several modes offered in Combat Arms. You've got team deathmatch, free for all, elimination and quarantine. Quarantine seems to be a zombie themed mode, but I confess I haven't yet tried it. But I think it's safe to say it has something to do with shooting the undead. Which begs the question, why was I wasting my time in team death match? O_o
Characters are fully customizable, from weapon modifications to clothing accessories. Unfortunately, if you don't want to look like an anonymous henchmen in a bad action movie, it's going to cost you. The options however, are extensive for those who choose to throw in the cash. You've got various camo patterns, hats, clothes, a slew of weapons including SMGs, rifles, handguns and even knives.
Most of the matches are very arcade like, they're fast and hectic skirmishes. Unless you're playing elimination, this isn't Counter-Strike. You'll have to have some pretty sharp reflexes, good timing and maybe a little bit of cunning to succeed. This is actually one of the few shooters I've played in which it's actually fun to use grenades. In most of my experience, grenading your enemy in an FPS is a real crap shoot. But plan it right in Combat Arms, and you can really make them count. There's no grenade warning indicator like in Modern Warfare.
Graphics: The graphical quality in Combat Arms is serviceable. Its nowhere near that of Modern Warfare's, but for a free game it does the job. The weapons are probably the most detailed of all, and understanably so, since most players who have them paid something to use them. So combatants can look good with the weapons they're shooting that probably costed them their allowance for the week. One of the graphical effects I really love would be the way the space warps around the blast radiance of a grenade, it was an especially nice touch.
Music & Sound: Every gun has a distinctive sound, explosions reverberate, bullets ping off metal, basically what you'd expect. If you've ever sat through an action movie, that's pretty much what you're getting in the sound department. The music is minimal, but fits the theme well enough.
If you play like me you'll be seeing this alot
Gameplay: There are several modes offered in Combat Arms. You've got team deathmatch, free for all, elimination and quarantine. Quarantine seems to be a zombie themed mode, but I confess I haven't yet tried it. But I think it's safe to say it has something to do with shooting the undead. Which begs the question, why was I wasting my time in team death match? O_oCharacters are fully customizable, from weapon modifications to clothing accessories. Unfortunately, if you don't want to look like an anonymous henchmen in a bad action movie, it's going to cost you. The options however, are extensive for those who choose to throw in the cash. You've got various camo patterns, hats, clothes, a slew of weapons including SMGs, rifles, handguns and even knives.
Most of the matches are very arcade like, they're fast and hectic skirmishes. Unless you're playing elimination, this isn't Counter-Strike. You'll have to have some pretty sharp reflexes, good timing and maybe a little bit of cunning to succeed. This is actually one of the few shooters I've played in which it's actually fun to use grenades. In most of my experience, grenading your enemy in an FPS is a real crap shoot. But plan it right in Combat Arms, and you can really make them count. There's no grenade warning indicator like in Modern Warfare.
Graphics: The graphical quality in Combat Arms is serviceable. Its nowhere near that of Modern Warfare's, but for a free game it does the job. The weapons are probably the most detailed of all, and understanably so, since most players who have them paid something to use them. So combatants can look good with the weapons they're shooting that probably costed them their allowance for the week. One of the graphical effects I really love would be the way the space warps around the blast radiance of a grenade, it was an especially nice touch.
Music & Sound: Every gun has a distinctive sound, explosions reverberate, bullets ping off metal, basically what you'd expect. If you've ever sat through an action movie, that's pretty much what you're getting in the sound department. The music is minimal, but fits the theme well enough.
If you play like me you'll be seeing this alotConclusion: If you're on a budget, and you have to have a good FPS to play, I have to recommend Combat Arms. However, it's an acquired taste. The combat isn't exactly realistic, players will be overpowered depending on how much they spend, but there's something endearing about this title. For a free-to-play game, it has an incredibly extensive community. Nexon looks to be incredibly dedicated to it, improving the game, adding maps and modes, item deals, weapons and accessories. Newcomers who plan to dedicate themselves to the title should have no shortage of games to play in, and there are even a lot of clans for it. There's a rank system and a stat tracker for those that are interested in that.
It should be noted that you don't have to spend money to get some weapons. The more games you play, the more points you accumulate called GP, which you can use to rent weapons. However, it's like those point based award programs you get with your credit card. What they offer looks awesome, but it takes a virtual eternity to get the points to have them. It's not worth it in my opinion. And if you have your heart set on that sniper rifle, you're better off just forking over the cash.
Status: Approved, for gamers who like microtransactions, or need a quick and free FPS fix. If you don't care about Modern Warfare's lame $60 price tag, you may just opt to wait for that.
Pros: Quick, easy game to get into if you don't want to make a major commitment to a pricier retail title. Highly customizable characters, perhaps more so than Call of Duty ones. An experience point and ranking system to track your progress.
Cons: Though the game is free, you have to spend if you want to compete with the hardcore players. May not appeal to fans of more realistic, tactical FPS games.
It should be noted that you don't have to spend money to get some weapons. The more games you play, the more points you accumulate called GP, which you can use to rent weapons. However, it's like those point based award programs you get with your credit card. What they offer looks awesome, but it takes a virtual eternity to get the points to have them. It's not worth it in my opinion. And if you have your heart set on that sniper rifle, you're better off just forking over the cash.
Status: Approved, for gamers who like microtransactions, or need a quick and free FPS fix. If you don't care about Modern Warfare's lame $60 price tag, you may just opt to wait for that.
Pros: Quick, easy game to get into if you don't want to make a major commitment to a pricier retail title. Highly customizable characters, perhaps more so than Call of Duty ones. An experience point and ranking system to track your progress.
Cons: Though the game is free, you have to spend if you want to compete with the hardcore players. May not appeal to fans of more realistic, tactical FPS games.
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