Sure, South Korean developer Nexon’s Combat Arms is still host to a number of the fore mentioned problems, but the game has a simple enough nature to not let that get in the way.

It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a game like Counter Strike. Developers seem to think that bigger is better, and the FPS genre has been getting more and more complex with every iteration.

Combat Arms brings back the simple fast tactical/twitchy/arena combat of CS, but mixes it up with arcadey feedback (COD4-esque pop-ups) and a significant if not completely satisfying character customization system and persistent stats.

Tools which allow you or your clan to jump into instant action are also very well implemented, and promised monthly content updates should keep things fresh enough.

A minor complaint pertains to the fact that you can’t actually purchase equipment, you just ‘rent’ it for a certain time. This is a very unsatisfying element that detracts from players who are interested in outfitting a unique character.

The ability to pay for items using real money on the game’s “Black Market” doesn’t directly pose a threat to non-paying players, since each pay item has a cosmetically different counterpart available to all. A certain amount of unsung tension between those who use ‘NX cash’ and those who don’t still exists.

The weapons aren’t necessarily balanced and glitchers/hackers are still apparent – but all in all, the game feels good to play, doesn’t suffer from lag (it seems to handle server load quite well), and provides the first quality free FPS experience we’ve seen from a F2P developer for a long time.

Sign up for a Nexon account if you don’t already have one, download the ~500MB game client and give Combat Arms a try, you might find it oddly satisfying.

http://www.combatarms.nexon.net

Other Free Shooters: Battlefield Heroes, Parabellum the Game

• Modeled After: Heckler & Koch MP5SD3
• Hop-Up: Fixed for .2g 6mm
• Lowest Advertised: 275 FPS / 110ft Range
• Purchased from AirSplat.com for $35 +$13 Shipped

Accuracy Range Customizable Solid rugged design

Awkward when not fully extended Non-ambidextrious grip Small/Explosive Stock Magazine Sites bad for skirmish

A while back, the UHC MP5 SD3 was the crowned prince of spring “rifles”. (A title only prestigious for those airsofters not in competitive CQB, of course.) It’s only competition came in the form of the HFC MP5 A5 v2, which had slightly worse performance, and tended to jam more frequently.

Of course, now that the new kid on the block, UTG, is coming out with a whole bunch of pretty good guns, their spring pump MP5 A4/A5 CQB delivers comparable performance and a hi-cap clip for only $10 more, the UHC may have met it’s match. But, there are still a few factors that make the UHC MP5 a great and unique deal.

The most noticeable characteristic is the bad-ass mock suppressor that can be attached to the gun. Unlike most airsoft silencers, this one actually functions to extend the barrel by more than 6 inches, increasing accuracy and range. The gun itself looks slightly strange without the silencer, but it’s still an option.

The stock of the SD3 is also adjustable, though it only features 2 settings, in and out. Having the stock in and the silencer off makes this a very compact weapon, where as extending both brings you up to rifle-length while retaining pistol weight. This customizability is definitely a perk.

The MP5′s rotary diopter rear site is adjustable for windage and how accurate you want to be. Regardless of it’s cool name, this type of site simply isn’t feasible for skirmishes and are hard to use in certain lighting conditions. If I had to use this gun in a backyard match, I would attach a red-dot to the top dovetail mount. (Which has very little depth and is quite precarious).

Left: Stock magazine with built in funnel-loader. Right: HFC 40 round magazine with the top sanded down slightly.

Other than less than stellar iron-sites, the only other drawback of this gun is the magazine design. The stock UHC MP5 SD3 mag holds 21 rounds topped off and doesn’t have any sort of blockage to keep them from falling out. If you tip it, they will fall. This makes multiple clips hard to deal with unless you’re a pro with duct tape. The cocking system (handle on the left side of the gun) allows for a pretty high rate of fire, and those 20 or so rounds can go fast. This is where the HFC’s 40 round clip comes in handy. Get one of these and sand just the top down a minute amount for almost flawless compatibility. The HFC clip has two rows of 20 rounds, one that releases as you lock it into the gun, and one that you manually release once your first row is exhausted. Doubling the capacity is nice, but frequent jams with this mechanism tempted me to go back to the original mag and speed load it. One other gripe regarding the clip, is that due to it’s lack of any sort of stoppage, releasing a magazine that isn’t empty from the gun without locking down the spring first will result in your ammo spraying up inside the gun and everywhere else. Trust me, friends will do this all the time.

Overall, the accuracy, consistency, customizability and bargain price of this spring gun make it one of the best longer-range spring options available. It’s a great step up from spring pistols and, as always, won’t break your bank. With the silencer, this thing looks awesome as well. Modeled after the iconic SMG, it looks and feels solid. Range is impressive when using the suppressor and the power will definitely draw blood if you’re not careful. How fun!

• Modeled After: Compensated Glock 17L
• Hop-Up: Fixed for .2g 6mm
• Lowest Advertised: 220 FPS / 100ft Range
• Purchased from ShortyUSA.com for $30 +$8 Shipped

Accuracy
Sound
Simplicity
Looks
Light Weight
Low Capacity

This was my first spring pistol after the tragic loss of my generic Wal-Mart Beretta. Compared to the pistols we had all been plinking with, the KWC M17 was a sniper rifle. Of course, the upgrade to a heavier .2G pellet will generally increase accuracy and range, but this gun performs far better regardless of the added weight and punches each round out with a very satisfying thud.

With the M17, KWC delivers the performance of a low level Tokyo Marui gun with a significantly lower price tag. At $30, this Glock keeps it simple but still delivers pure performance. You don’t have a hammer to get caught on anything, like your pocket or shrubs, and although this gun isn’t a pretty piece to look at, it’s simplicity and the ported barrel keep it from being ugly by any means.

One gripe would be a small magazine capacity, at only 13 rounds topped off, you may want an extra. The clips are speed loading, which means you can fill up quickly, but they’ll shoot out just as fast if you’re not careful. This gun is also quite light, but is aided by 2 lead panels inserted behind the pop-offable rubber grips on the handle.

The sites are dead on, easy to use and feature a white dot front and center. The safety switch is located in the middle of the slide, and is accompanied by another safety, the one that looks like a second trigger coming out of the first. (The slide doesn’t actually lock back.)

For it’s price, this is undoubtedly one of the most solid performance-oriented low-level spring pistols. Although I personally prefer shooting this one more, the newer UTG MK23 does manage to beat the M17 in both price and performance. Still, you won’t easily find a pistol with this much sheer can-ripping power.