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Aug 15 2005
Coded Arms Review
PSP Game Review | FPS
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| Summary: A hodgepodge of terrible controls, frustrating gameplay, and pretty graphics
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In the future mankind’s technological abilities grow to such a degree that the human mind may interact directly with virtual reality by way of a newly developed neurodigital interface. Out of this technology comes the A.I.D.A., a military training program through which advancing warriors can train for combat simulations. Though the program is terrifically advanced and useful it falls out of regular use and is neglected, eventually becomes a chaotic virtual wasteland. Ignored for years, the A.I.D.A. gains the interest of hackers, who jack into the system searching for digital riches. Most of these hackers, however, frustrated by the terrible control scheme of the A.I.D.A. And repetitive, uninspired level design, eventually give up and go back to playing Lumines. Coded Arms is the first FPS for the PSP and does a terrific job of embodying all of the reasons for why a first person shooter will not work on a portable system.
Worst things first; the controls are abysmal. The game offers four different control setups (A, B, C, and D) and each of these control schemes are customizable, seemingly communicating to the player, "We, the developers, can’t figure out how to create a functional control setup for this game. You figure it out."
Once one finally chooses which control scheme they wish to slog through the next problem to confront is the actual use of the controls. The game utilizes both the X and Y axis for aiming and as a result players will find themselves frustrated by the inability to aim, move, and shoot at a speed similar to that of a first person shooter on a PC. The controls are unresponsive and, ultimately, unintuitive. The game is severely in need of a second analog stick to be at all playable.
As the controls are recognizably difficult to use, let alone master, one would think that the developers would have created an immersive, quality world which would give a player the incentive needed to overcome the obstacle that is the control scheme. Unfortunately this is not the case. The levels are repetitive and boring. While they are randomly generated most people won’t notice it, as the degree to which the levels actually vary is unnoticeable. The entire experience misses the goal of being a nostalgic reminder of games past and is instead tedious, boring, and ultimately a disappointment.
The story is a very mixed bag. While the setting for Coded Arms is interesting the game quickly becomes just another first person shooter. There is no recognizable story to draw players into the game and the level setup is jarring. Players are initially presented with an option of three levels to play at the beginning of the game and are not given instructions for which path to pick. This prevents the player from experiencing any sense of immersion in the game.
Without friendly controls or an inviting story the only thing that could possibly save Coded Arms would be the graphics, and they fail as well. The game is very pretty, but the graphics fail to enhance the game. Instead of harmonizing with the game the graphics are a disconnected, intangible aspect of the game which frustrate rather than enthrall.
The sound effects are the standard stock of gunshots, enemies grunting, and the such. The soundtrack features various techno sounds all of which do nothing to help the overall gaming experience.
There had to be a first FPS for the PSP and unfortunately Coded Arms is what we got. The uninspired gameplay and level design fail to provide an incentive for overcoming the terrible controls while the pretty graphics do little more than showcase the PSP’s ability to generate fairly appealing walls. As the first FPS for the PSP everyone ought to experience this game in some form or another. I suggest borrowing a friends copy, playing for half an hour, and then giving up.
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Comments
08/16/05
6 
MMan111
| Idaho USA
I thought it was good. I guess that's because I don't get to play many FPS games (except Halo). I'm just too much of a handheld gamer. But anyway, I liked the game. The controls were clunky at first, but my natural skill has brought me to be used to the control. I don't know why it seemed so great. I guess my expectations were low because of what I thought it would be (based on the reviews I've seen). I loved the game. There are so many cool weapons, enemies, and even some big boss fights. I guess after Goldeneye on the DS, I didn't expect much, but I got a lot more than I expected. You are right, though. The controls are pretty bad. The game is short and unimmersive. The randomly generated levels do leave you a little dissapointed. That much is true. But with all that aside, I think there's hope for a great PSP FPS yet. Perhaps that one anime FPS (whatever show it was. I don't know. I never usually wach that kind of thing) might be good.
But don't get your hopes up on better controls. I don't think the PSP can do any better.
+
08/17/05
3
jonathantl
| Florida USA
I returned this game for store credit after 2 days of TRYING to play it.
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08/18/05
2
TheBerg
|
Worst game in video game history
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08/18/05
13
digi
| California USA | XBC: diagram | KAI: diagramOSC | SOCOM: soldit
you know, even though the game is short and not very..... um......satisfying when it's over.. I pretty much have to say boo hoo for those that couldn't get used to the controls.. here is what I figured out about it.....
It's not a pc FPS, so don't try to use mouse style controls (that removes B,C and D from the list)..
That was within the first 10-15 minutes of setting options.... Once I just turned off Y inversion and Used Control scheme A... played it with out any issues.. analog moves character forward,back,strafe left and right.. right control buttons aimed. For those people that have played PC FPS', most easy/normal shots don't require 'looking' anywhere, it's all line of sight. strafe strafe shoot.edited: Aug 18 2005
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08/24/05
9
munchies
| New Jersey USA
It plays awsome for me.
But good review anyhow. It was a blueberry muffin of creamy goodness! :D
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08/24/05
14
filthweasel
| UK
I risked buying this despite the negative reaction it recieved, and I managed to get a good deal on ebay. I have to say I am not at all disappointed. First up, you have to be prepared for the fact that it isnt a story driven pc fps! It a fun fps-style shooter, nothing more. The leve's design and randomness woks very well in you consider the context of the actual game. I think it controls very well. For me, pc style controls (C) are easily the best. I do however turn the free look sensitivity and accelleration right down for better control. This game works well for me, and I am happy with it.
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09/14/05
13
nopspyet
| Australia
"We, the developers, can’t figure out how to create a functional control setup for this game. You figure it out."
Funny stuff, you just put me off this game.
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09/19/05
29
sabledrakon
| Maine USA | SOCOM: Sable_Drakon
Being able to configure your controls is a good thing. Just look at all the PC FPS games that give you that option. Are those developers saying that they can't figure it out? No, they're telling you that "Yes, this is what we think is good. But if you want to improve upon this, feel free.". And they're doing the same in Coded Arms. Once I set up my controls, I had a lot of fun with this game. Just because you can't think of a set up that works, just proves that you don't know how a game like this should be run on the PSP. Granted, the PSP is short a thumbstick, but I've gotten around that problem and moved on. Perhaps you should too.
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