Alliance of Valiant Arms – PC – Review

A few short
years ago, the term “free game” was associated with simple, casual gameplay
experiences that could be acquired through Flash and quickly tucked away before
your boss swung by your cubicle. Those games will always be in demand, but
things have changed in recent days. In fact, you can’t even sign into your
Facebook page without spotting an ad for the latest free shooter or MMO. Any
reasonable person might ask themselves, “If it’s free, how good could it be?”
Red Duck offers an impressive rebuttal with their free tactical shooter,
Alliance of Valiant Arms.

Peering past
the awkward title, any observer will be quick to notice the game’s graphical
style. Carefully constructed within the brawny Unreal 3 engine, AVA sports a
very modern aesthetic that echoes some of the best – and most expensive –
shooters of this generation. It looks quite similar to other shooters, set in
against a contemporary Eastern European backdrop. Hardcore FPS audiences won’t
stand for mere flashiness of course – a truly great shooter needs to offer depth,
scope, and intense gameplay that requires something a bit more cerebral than
your typical run-and-gun console shooter.

Fortunately,
Alliance of Valiant Arms contains even more brains than beauty. The developers
have wisely taken an accessible arrangement of class-based warfare, with three
distinct yet uniquely upgradable characters to choose from. The pointman
functions as a light infantry reconnaissance specialist. Avoiding the tiresome
“lone wolf” cliché allows him to become a vital team element; he’s excellent in
a rapid ambush, and essential for determining the whereabouts of hostiles. The
rifleman is the balanced class, versatile and capable in most mid-range
conflicts. The sniper needs no introduction. He’ll be your long-range marksman,
but more susceptible to close-quarter assaults.

Like many
similar titles, AVA allows players to swap classes whenever they are killed.
This encourages some interesting tug-of-war scenarios. Fed up with the opposing
team’s snipers, you might decide to switch classes and try some counter-sniping.
Unfortunately, the enemy pointman is expecting this tactic, so he sidles up to
your blindside and unloads his shotgun into you. AVA encourages players to think
on their feet, but the tactical aspect remains very solid. Players can mark
enemy positions, making them a priority for other players who might attempt to
weave around and strike on their vulnerable flank.

With so many
great moments like these, it’s easy to forget that Alliance of Valiant Arms
didn’t cost you a cent. The game actually does offer you a chance to pay money
for certain items. These items aren’t necessary to succeed, but it’s a nice
option for people who can’t put in the same hours to unlock certain upgrades, or
wish to enhance their physical appearance. These purchases are much more
feasible in a free game, as well. There’s still plenty of customization
available up front, particularly with weapon upgrades to improve the various
stats of your firearms.

Alliance of
Valiant Arms is equipped with a fairly standard set of gameplay modes, from the
classic deathmatch to objective-based missions, such as the frantic “tank
escort” mode. While it doesn’t take any great risks on wildly new mechanics, AVA
manages to offer a very strong online shooter experience that could easily
compete with bigger commercial titles. Given enough time and success, games like
AVA could literally give bigger studios a run for their money.

Alliance of Valiant Arms is
currently available for free.

Review Scoring Details for Alliance of Valiant Arms

Gameplay: 8.0
Nicely balanced
classes, upgradable weaponry, and a healthy sprawl of modes and maps.

Graphics: 7.5
AVA isn’t the
best looking thing out there, but you’d never know it was a free title.

Sound: 8.5
Plenty of oomph
in the audio department, and some surprisingly good foley work as well.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard
Even veterans
will drop like flies, but that’s the beauty of a tactical online shooter. It
keeps you on your toes.

Concept: 7.0
There’s nothing
new and exciting, but the game is just smartly executed, and that’s where it
counts.

Multiplayer: 8.0
AVA is a
multiplayer paradise for shooting fans, especially those that are short on cash.
Great mechanics ensure that every scenario is unique and enjoyable.

Overall: 8.0
Alliance of
Valiant arms might have been a small, sleeper hit if it saw widespread
commercial release. For a title that’s free to play, it’s almost unnaturally
good. Save yourself some hard-earned coin and give it a try. AVA will have many
players wondering why they ever paid money for shooters that weren’t nearly this
fun.