They came from nowhere without warning but the tables will soon turn… That's how the trailer of the new
FPS game for the iPhone starts, calling for a massive response from gamers that have already rejoiced with Eliminate, N.O.V.A. Brothers in Arms and the likes.
Archetype [iTunes Link] is the new online multiplayer sci-fi style first person shooter by
Villain, a newcomer in the
AppStore as well.
If you think this is just another bad attempt, wait to hear that the new iPhone4 owners will benefit from its Retina Display 3D graphics and what I liked most, the online co-op mode with up to 10 players on the same maps. There is no story mode here, no customization, no DLC credits and no gimmicks. Archetype is intense and every online deathmatch will leave you wanting more.
Let's go to the nitty-gritty: Controls are the usual suspects to avoid upsetting the crowd. Left thumb to move and right to aim. As many other previous FPS iPhone games, auto aim and auto shoot are included as an option or with some specific weapons, allowing the user to calibrate aim sensibility to your taste. Some of the five maps have boosters, a kind or magnetic propellers that will lift you very fast, but there is no jump or crouch option. One of the novelties included in Archetype is melee against your enemies, hitting them with your weapon directly. The screen layout during the game will be very familiar, allowing you to move the joysticks as we have seen in other games or hide them completely in the game settings to simply drag over the iPhone screem. One of the things you'll notice is the inclusion of a radar that displays the position of the players. When I first saw this, I thought it would kill the fun, but it really makes a lot of sense when you have so many players simultaneously on the same scenario.
The game is based around the online deathmatch mode, although you can challenge your friends as well if you have their combattag (username) because it doesn't have any social network integration so far. Once you enter the lobby, you can choose the continent you're playing in, which will prevent future potential server problems and timezone discrepancies. The game automatically assign players to Blue or Orange team depending on their ranking and experience but also the option to skip maps, called vetoes. During my testing I found many times that Archetype would create battles of two players against one, which is completely unfair if you're alone, but can be really fun if you work together with your teammate to "hunt" together. I played against beta tester and other reviewers before the game was release and got absolutely pwned against the pros. Videos and a huge screenshot gallery after the jump!
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