 |
| OVERALL RATING |
3.5 |
| Presentation |
 |
4.0 |
| Control |
 |
2.5 |
| Gameplay |
|
4.0 |
| Fun factor |
 |
3.0 |
| User Rating |
 |
4.0 |
 |
Posted: June 18, 2007
Duke Nukem Arena 3D is a new version of the previously released mobile first-person shooter known simply as Duke Nukem 3D. Actually, it’s pretty much the same game with a few notable additions, specifically the ability to play against others online.
Arena’s three main modes are Single Player, Nukem Dead!, and Multiplayer. Single Player has four difficulties and is further divided into two game versions: Mobile 3D is the original game and its 21 levels while Depth of Evil offers 10 entirely new levels to play. Nukem Dead! is a survivor mode where you play until Duke dies, and every kill on your part is counted up to be uploaded to a leaderboard. Multiplayer is exactly what it means and allows up to three players to take part in an online blast fest.
The game is your typical FPS in terms of moving around corridors and streets to waste bad guys looking to do the same to you. Weapons are plentiful and so are enemies but you’ll find that the levels themselves are quite short. On the easiest difficulty setting you can mow through quickly but it’s a different story when you’re playing in Nightmare.
The trickiest part of all is getting used to the controls because, quite frankly, the phone just sucks for this type of game. I found myself trying to get comfortable with the D-pad only to figure out that I also needed to use the keypad to keep the gun aimed at the right height. As usual, the phone only accepts one input at a time so when the chips are down and you need to point and shoot, it’s time consuming, costing you valuable health. You can strafe, but if your weapon is pointed to the ground, what’s the use?
The title does sport some pretty good 3D visuals however and the audio is also slick with gunfire, explosions and other related sound effects. There’s even a nice Duke voiceover but I could have done with or without it.
Arena actually does a pretty good job for being a true FPS on mobile, but too bad that the platform itself can’t do it justice. The controls just slow the game down and kill the fun. Again, it’s not the game but the handset itself. If something better could have been done with the handset, I’d be singing a different song.
