Publisher: NHN games
Developer: Redduck
System requirements: Windows XP/Vista/Win 7, 2.4 GHz Pentium IV CPU or better, 1 GB RAM, 128 MB Nvidia GeForce 6600 or Radeon X600 graphics card with Shader Model 2.0 support, 1.6 GB hard-drive space
Genre: FPS
Release date: Available now

There’s one thing that comes to mind when I think about computer games: first-person shooters. I’ve come to accept the console controller as an acceptable FPS device, but nothing can compare to a mouse and keyboard. NHN Games’ Alliance of Valiant Arms adds to the vast library of FPSs available for the PC.

The Neo Russia Federation (NRF) comes to power under a new, strong leader. It expands its territories all across the world, gaining power, support, and oil from the Middle East. Europe tries political methods to stop the NRF from gaining more territory and influence. When this fails, Germany, France, England and Northern Europe start a war with the NRF. This sparks a neverending European war, which results in the NRF taking control of more than half of Europe. Then, after a couple of years, the U.S. steps in with the remaining crumbling European nations because of China’s new support for the NRF and its power to control the global oil supply.

Alliance of Valiant Arms is a free-to-play FPS with micro-transactions. You can buy equipment upgrades, new guns and more to help boost your stats. You can choose between three different classes. Rifleman is the all-around soldier, Sniper is best for long-ranged combat, and Point Man is for up-close battles. The game features Escort, Annihilation, Convoy, Demolition, Survival and Domination modes. In Escort, you must get the tank to a specific point on the map, while the other team tries to do the same. Annihilation is AVA’s version of deathmatch. Convoy and Demolition are objective-based modes, Domination is a king-of-the-hill variation, and in Survival you must fight to stay alive in a prison where escaped, drugged-up convicts are running rampant. AVA also has a clan system, and a leveling mechanic that offers you achievements and experience.

Playing AVA is enjoyable at times, partly because it’s free. A fun shooter that mixes in micro-transactions for equipment upgrades works for an FPS. There are many game types for any play style you like. The Survival maps, where insane convicts are running around carrying melee weapons trying to kill you, are my favorites and the ones I played most often. The UI is standard FPS, which makes things simple (this is a good thing at times).

Unfortunately, AVA just feels clunky. It’s not as polished as most FPS games such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. And a few more class types would add a bit more strategy on the battlefield.

Alliance of Valiant Arms offers enough game modes to suit anyone’s taste, and the price is certainly right, but it needs a little bit of polish and it feels clunky in parts. The ability to try it without financial risk is a great selling point, and if you do enjoy it, you can take advantage of the micro-transaction system to enhance your experience.

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