McCallion
Quest
GunZ The Duel: International Edition
from MAIET Entertainment
By: Jonathan Wei, Editor
Genre: Shooting Game
Overall: **** 4 out of 5
GunZ is a free online game that challenges your shooting game skills. A cross between a FPS (First Person Shooter) and a 3rd person adventure game, the sad aspect is that it not a very realistic shooting game, especially considering players dash at superhuman speeds and run on walls. Quick reactions are needed to stay alive, as well as an understanding of how to “dodge bullets” and avoid “dagger n00bs”. Currently, at the time of writing, the International Edition is in open beta phase. There is a fully completed Korean and Japanese version, but unless you can understand those languages, there isn’t too much point in playing. One of the main points in a game like this is being able to talk to teammates and taunt each other in kills. If you don’t like playing beta versions, you can wait for the full version to be finished, which was supposed to already be out .
Gameplay: *** ½ 3.5 out of 5
Although the creators have tried to make the Gameplay unique, it’s essentially a Matrix clone. Although there is no bullet time in the game, the characters are performing superhuman moves as they would in the Matrix movies. The moves are fairly simple and, as usual in most games, there are very cheap moves to catch people off guard. For example, “dagger n00bs” would be people who charge at people with a dagger (right mouse button when equipped with a dagger) and then when the victim is stunned momentarily, gun them down at close range with twin machine guns. Also, the aiming is also quite “hard” to snipe. Even with the most accurate gun, the assault rifle, even if you shoot an opponent at point-blank range there’s still a possibility it wouldn’t be a headshot. There are also other glitches in the game, but considering that the game is still in open beta phase, it isn’t too bad. Although the actual fighting system was pretty much a clone from other shooting games before it, the game’s item and leveling system are slightly based on RPGs (Role Playing Games). In this game, you earn experience per kill. Killing higher leveled people will earn more experience, and killing lower leveled people will earn less. Eventually, in higher levels, you can also lose experience by killing yourself (falling off a cliff, falling into a bottomless pit, etc.). In this way, it is even possible to downgrade levels! However, earning levels doesn’t make you more powerful, it only allows you to use certain items at certain levels. In addition, your health is also increased by items. In this way, levels only count how much you’ve been playing and display your skill.
Each character starts off with a capacity of 100 “weight”. Each item, being armor, weapons, items…has its own “weight”. Consequently, you can’t go into battle with a rocket launcher, a heavy machine gun and a full set of protective clothing. Also, the game’s money system is measured in “bounty”. In comparison to your own level, you receive a set amount of bounty per kill. You need to earn bounty to buy new weapons, but at the same time you need to watch your level. Certain channels are reserved for certain levels, so you may find that suddenly you do not have weapons as powerful as your opponents, who have budgeted their bounty wisely.
Graphics: **** 4 out of 5
At first glance, the graphics don’t seem too good. However, you have to realize that this game, even when it goes commercial, is still F2P (free to play). It’s only when you buy extra ‘members only’ items do you pay the company over the internet using Paypal or a credit card. Considering that it is also a downloaded game, the graphics are pretty good. The only time when you realize that the in-game sprites are boxy is when they are actually up close, running into you.
Audio: **** 4 out of 5
As with most Asian-made online games, the music is the kind that you either like it, or hate it. To me, I think that the more I listen to it, the more it gets stuck in my head. Eventually, it’ll get annoying but for now it’s fine. =) The sound effects, although they get repetitive, are normal. What do you really expect from a shooting game… random trumpets blasting out everywhere when you shoot someone?
In conclusion, I think that this is definitely a game to try if you are into online shooting games. However, if you want a realistic game, go buy CS or something. Considering this is free, there is really nothing to lose. Just sign up at their website, download the game and you’re set =) Just be warned that if the game is still in beta phase, then all your data (characters, bounty, levels, bought items etc.) will be erased when the commercial version is released. So play it a few times to get used to the feel of the game, and don’t spend too much time on it after that if it’s still in beta unless you really don’t care if you lose your stuff.