2D, 4 on 4 multiplayer action.
Take Arms is the first game from indie developer Discord Games and what a first impression they make. This game looks great, is a lot of fun and offers a true multiplayer experience. Battle it out online, in 2D with up to seven other people in a game that feels so familiar while providing a new type of challenge.
This is where I'm going to stick your flag. Right here.
Take Arms is the type of game that is easy to pick up but hard to master. The action is fast and furious but it doesn’t come with the steep learning curve of a first person shooter. In Take Arms all of the action takes place in highly detailed and intricate 2D maps. You have full control of the directional aiming of your weapons with the right stick, melee attack with B and RB throws grenades. That’s about all you need to know to get started. You will have the choice of three familiar game-types; Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Capture The Flag. Kills net you experience which builds your rank. Take Arms has a lot in common with the multiplayer shooters you’re familiar with but the gameplay is all its own.
There are no lives here, just re-spawns.
You will be given the choice of one of three classes each time you spawn in Take Arms, each will provide a distinct experience. The Striker features a single shot sniper rifle but this class is far more than your traditional sniper. Strikers are also the fastest class on the battlefield, and carry dual SMGs as a secondary weapon, but can take the least damage. Destroyers move more slowly but make up for it in the amount of damage they can absorb and the damage they can deal. The Destroyer carries a light machine gun with a huge clip so he’ll also be reloading far less than other classes. Finally the Grunt is described by Discord as the middle of the road but I disagree. Though the Grunt’s speed and armor are about midway between the other two his weapons set him apart. The burst fire assault rifle packs quite a punch and can fire at a much higher rate than the Striker’s rifle and the secondary pistol is a beast.
Take Arms is not just the mayhem it seems to be, but a number of calculated design choices that come together to make a super fun shooter that has depth you didn’t expect. This isn’t just another “fun because it’s cheap” indie game, this is a truly fun and well made game. I really hope the guys at Discord Games look for publishing support for their next game, I would love to see what they could do with some backing.
Check out Take Arms in action below and go download it on the Xbox Live Marketplace under the Indie section.
