Coded Arms

PlayStation exclusive

Coded Arms is a visually stunning first-person shooter that places the gamer in the role of a computer hacker who infiltrates an abandoned virtual reality system. Originally created as a combat training simulator to prepare for an alien invasion, the VR system was shut down during development after a major flaw was discovered. Unbeknownst to its creators, the simulation program continued to evolve on its own, turning into a vast and brutal VR world populated with virtual alien invaders, dangerous computer bugs and the VR system's own security bots. Arm yourself with an assortment of weaponry and battle these enemies through the virtual landscape.

Released: 23 June 2005
Platforms: PlayStation Portable
Genres: First-person shooter Science Shooter
Developers: Konami
Publishers: —
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: First person
Themes: Action
Country: Japan
Age ratings: PEGI 12 USK 12 CERO B ESRB T ACB M

About

Coded Arms (コーデッドアームズ, Kōdeddo Āmuzu) is a first-person shooter video game that was developed and published by Konami for the PlayStation Portable handheld in 2005.

›Story

Situated inside a virtual world in the late 21st century, you play an unnamed hacker who infiltrates the AIDA network, an ex-military training simulator where you engage in combat against a gamma of alien bug-like creatures.

This system, despite coming to a halt years ago, keeps on expanding itself due to the way it was built, and recently, has been getting attention for having hackers break into its deeper sectors in search of fame and profit by selling classified data found within the system. However, this is not the hacker's paradise, a rumor has it that those who dare invade go deep into the system can contract the "Achiba Syndrome", which keeps the user's mind trapped inside the simulation for eternity.

Keywords

shooting

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

All of the levels in the game are randomly generated when they are accessed. In single player mode, players progress through the game by completing sectors. Sector 00 consists of one battlefield (Training) with 3 levels that serve to familiarize the user with the game. Sector 01 consists of three battlefields (City, Base and Ruins) and each battlefield has 6 levels.

Sector 02 also has three battlefields consisting of 13 levels each with a boss at the 13th level of each battlefield. Sector 03 consists of one battlefield (Infinity) which has an unlimited amount of levels to it. The difficulty of the game increases as the user progresses through the sectors. Players can also make use of a 3D map graphically similar to a vector display.

Story

Late in the 21st century, advancements in medical and computer technology allow for linear connectivity of human minds to computer networks, causing an unprecedented boom in computer hackers. The game takes place inside a virtual reality military training simulator named "AIDA" which has since been long-abandoned. However, the program continues to run, generating enemies and levels for the no longer present soldiers-in-training. The player takes the role of one of the many hackers attempting to break the codes of the simulator and extract the most valuable data possible for fame and profit.

To do this, the player must explore several "sectors" that are infested with various kinds of enemies, including soldiers, security bots, giant bugs and other insect and plant-like creatures. The only way to survive and reap the greatest rewards is by reaching the Kernel database, destroying the enemies and the bosses at the end of each sector. The game's intro cutscene informs the hacker/player that hacking too deeply into unknown non-civilian protocols with what seem to be homebrew hacking tools carries the risk of contracting a medical condition called the "Achiba Syndrome", and warns them that upon infection that they 'will not be able to return' - presumably meaning their consciousness will become corrupted or otherwise lost and their minds will not be able to return to their bodies in the real world.

Reception

The game received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. In Japan, however, Famitsu gave it a score of two eights and two sevens for a total of 30 out of 40. Maxim gave the game a mixed review over a week before its U.S. release date. GamePro gave the game three out of five for fun factor, calling it "A decent fight that has one arm tied behind its back."