Game of the Week [12/01/03]: Armed and Dangerous

"Blow stuff up." -- Armed and Dangerous proves there is beauty in simplicity.

Who would have thought that a game based on the simplistic concept ?blowing stuff up is fun? could be so cool? Obviously Planet Moon did, because it has taken that basic idea and developed it into one of the most visceral (and humorous) experiences to show up on the Xbox this year.

To say that Armed and Dangerous is over-the-top is a bit of an understatement. The game takes everything to the extreme?and then some. Where else are you going to find weapons like the ?World?s Smallest Black Hole? and the ?Land Shark? gun? The former literally throws up a micro-sized black hole that sucks in anything close by, while the latter launches a burrowing shark that tunnels underground until it finds a tasty enemy to snack on.

The humor is sprinkled liberally throughout, with cutscenes that riff on vegetarians, Star Wars, and the French. Some of the subjects may strike a bit close to home, but it is safe to say that the game is an equal opportunity offender. If there is a punchline to be had, Armed and Dangerous goes for it, even if it is a bit off-color.


And you thought the oversized worms from Tremors were scary...

If the game were all flash and no substance it would be easy to dismiss, but buried beneath the layers of laughter is a surprisingly intricate third person shooter that is fun in its own right. Control is tight and the environment is incredibly interactive. You are often given the choice between combating an enemy head-on, or finding an alternate route such as shooting a boulder on a hill that causes an avalanche to come crashing down on top of your opponent?s head.

It isn?t often that we see a developer willing to push the envelope and try something a bit risky, all in the name of fun. Incredibly focused, Armed and Dangerous may not be the deepest game out there, but it is definitely one of the most enjoyable.

Armed and Dangerous review.
Armed and Dangerous hands-on.
Armed and Dangerous first look.

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