Online-FPS games, whilst not considered true MMORPG titles, are still highly popular in the online gaming community. Previous titles of note within the genre have included Counter-Strike, Tribes, Planet Side and the online modes attributed to popular FPS games such as Quake, Unreal and to a lesser extent, more recent Mech-Warrior games. In an attempt to provide gamers with more RPG content, recent titles, such as those features here on MMOsite, have included Exteel, Manga Fighter, Soldier Front and Wolf Soldier, which provide players various options in customising their characters, gaining experience, game currency and attributes or special abilities.

Joining these titles is Combat Arms, a game which has just now started its Close Beta phase of testing. Developed by Nexon, the company that brought you titles such as Maple Story and Audition, casts off the bright, colourful graphics often affiliated with its games and instead, takes on a raw urban setting similar to that seen in similar games such as AA online and Soldier Front. At the time of testing, due to being in CB, the map choices were limited and concentrated towards industrial factories, warehouse districts and chemical treatment plants. However, it is planned that other maps will be implemented when the game is ready for OB publication.

The player is first given an option of several characters from which they can choose and then once a sever is chosen is then moved into the waiting room from which several options are available. Firstly, players are able to enter the games shop where in-game currency, gained through combat, can be spent upon a variety of weapons which are categorised into primary, secondary, melee and thrown. Both primary and secondary weapons relate to fire arms; for primary this includes your automatics, howitzers, sniper-rifles and rocket-launchers, whereas secondary is comprised of hand-guns and pump action shotguns. Melee is the field-knife and thrown indicates various grenades including motion-sensitive land-mines, chemical and explosive. Players are able to hold one weapon from each main category, giving access to 4 weapons to be utilized whilst in combat. However, both first and secondary weapons can also be modified with various applications including telescopic-lenses, silencers and larger magazines, giving players the chance to select and equip the weapons and modifications with which they feel most comfortable. For instance, though the AK-49 is an automatic rifle, Combat Arts allows players to also implement a scope. Although the rifle will be lacking the accuracy, range and damage as what is reflected by the sniper-rifle, potential for various strategies and tactics become available.

At the time of this preview, only two styles of game play were available – search and destroy and elimination, both of which are team-based and can accommodate matches ranging from as few as 2v2 to 8x8.

Like many FPS games, the controls are set to WASD for movement and LMB for primary fire. Ctrl is for the crouch position, space for jumping, e for action, such as opening doors and weapons are accessed through keys 1-4. Whilst moving, holding down shift will cause the character to sprint and whilst holding a firearm equipped with a scope, the RMB is used for zooming in and out. However, through the options menu, players are able to change these settings to suite their individual preference.

Depending on the skill of the player, both money and experience are earned throughout each match and then distributed at the end. Currency can be used for upgrading weapons or buying new ones and details regarding the purpose of experience is limited at this stage. However, from what a few have said in game, it determines the Rank of each player and with each Rank new options and game-play modes become available.

Despite having a relatively small download requirement, one of the first things players will notice about this game, is the graphics and effective visuals, which both give rise to a rather realistic interface. Essentially, these visuals complement the arenas in which combat takes place, giving players the sensation of taking part in real combat. However, in this the visuals are not alone, as the game also features some great sound effects which, if I am not mistaken, are actually recorded from real-world sounds. That is to say, the AK-47 in the game actually sounds like a real AK-47 and this is also true for other effects such as the sound of boots moving across stone floors, grenade explosions and other such elements. Although the game does feature its own soundtrack, if your anything like me and want to get the most from the gaming experience, you will either turn this off so as to give you a more reality-based experience. Or, if you just need to chill out and get rid of some anger, you will play the game to your own pre-loaded sound track which can simply be left playing in the back ground with minimal interference.

The requirements for this game are fairly basic and thus can be played on most computers. However, as with all 3-D accelerated games, there is a foundation required. Nevertheless, you can always head on over to the Nexon website to check out this details for yourself.

For me Combat Arms, though not overly complicated or filled with weighty RPG elements is just a bit of good old fun and can be enjoyed with friends or even at a more competitive level. Although the game does include status such as rank and gives players something to work towards achieving, the true strength of this game remains in its simplicity. The game play is fast and furious with only a couple of hits being required to take someone out and thus will be familiar to most FPS fans. Having played other games such as AO, Exteel, Gunz and Combat Act, I really must say this one is a lot of fun and allows players the feel of realistic combat without being bogged down by other un-needed elements. All in all, I am giving this one 8 out of 10.