Combat
Arms is a multiplayer game, free-to-play modern first-person shooter
developed by the South Korea-based developer Doobic Studios, and
published by Nexon. The game uses the Lithtech game engine to produce
its graphics.
Combat Arms gameplay is
similar to commercial games such as CrossFire, Counter-Strike, Ghost
Recon 2 and Call of Duty. The game offers many different modes of play,
including One Man Army, Elimination, Capture The Flag, multiplayer co-op
(known as Fireteam), Quarantine Regen, Elimination Pro, Search and
Destroy, Seize & Secure, Spy Hunt, Bombing Run, and Hired Guns.
During the 2009 winter season of the game, a special mode known as
Snowball Fight was introduced, but was later removed. Combat Arms uses a
player ranking system based on total experience, using common military
ranks that players can obtain. Completing objectives, killing other
players, and levelling up one's rank gives the player money in the form
of Gear Points (GP), which can be used to purchase new equipment.
Equipment includes weaponry, weapon attachments, and accessories for
one's character. Players can also purchase equipment from the Black
Market (previously known as the Nexon Cash Shop) using NX (Nexon Cash)
that is bought with real-world money. Primarily, the Black Market
equipment is cosmetically different from regular shop items and have no
rank or level requirement that many of the free items require. In
addition, some items may only be obtained through the Black Market. All
items purchased have a time length of anywhere from 1 to 90 days,(some
weapons can be purchased for a permanent duration from the black market
shop), after which the gear is deleted from the player's inventory;
however, players can buy most NX standard items for permanent with NX
and can be extended with the Weapon Renewal Kit, and on the rare
occasion, Gear Points.
Metacritic aggregate
reviews place Combat Arms with an average of 71. Reviewers cite many
bugs and glitches in the earlier versions.
GameZone's Michael
Splechta reviewed the game on March 11, 2010, saying "Combat Arms is
fun. Simple as that. If you can overlook the annoying players, then
anyone looking for a competitive online shooter should look no further.
This is free to play Fun-FPS at its best."
