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

Although local multiplayer games on the PC are a dying art, there a still a few gems that can be found out there, for free. These are the 5 that I had the most fun maxing out my keyboard’s simultaneous-key press limit on with buddy’s when we had time to spare.

05. Battle Painters by JJSoft – DOWNLOAD

Here’s one you can play with your little sister and have a great love-return quotient. The concept is simple, you’ve got a set amount of time to paint more canvas than the other 1-4 players. The brush goes automatically, you just turn it left or right. Simple, but fast paced, competitive, and oddly tactical. There’s some sweet power-ups too.

04. Little Fighter 2 by Marti Wong & Starski Wong – DOWNLOAD

This is a very well put-together sidescroller that is still being updated. Lots of items, characters, and polished combat for 1-4 players. You can battle it out versus style or go on vs CPU campaign.

03. Super Mario War by 72DPIArmy – DOWNLOAD

This is what you get when you splice Super Mario Bros. with Super Smash Bros. Awesome little sprites and surprisingly smooth deathmatch game play make this a quick and casual bout you can play anytime, anywhere. Multiple levels, tons of popular sprited characters, and multiple game modes for 2-4 players. It’s also open source, and features plenty of user-made content.

02. Jetmen Revival by Crew42 – DOWNLOAD

The combat ready capture the flag version of Lunar Lander, Jetmen Revival provides some hardcore lasting competition for 2 players. The particle graphics fit the game like a glove and the gameplay coupled with a slew unlockable weapons and awards make this one last. It’s easy to create user-made ships, flags, and levels. The dev team is working on an online version, although it’s release may not come to light any time soon.

01. TRIUMPH! WAR 2099 by Darksun Games – DOWNLOAD

Considering how small everything is, TRIUMPH is able to simulate a battle of epic proportions. 1-4 friends can control the most adorably vicious squad commanders you’ve ever seen on a campaign to destroy an invasion of alien bugs. This addicting top-down shooter has a very simple yet functional line up of tactical squad control options with which to achieve your goal alongside your CPU army and friends. Each level has a distinct style and mission to accomplish as you very satisfingly slaughter waves of alien bugs with multiple weapons and power-ups.

Web 2.0 has created an influx in flash gaming. Sites like Armor Games and Kongregate, coupled with an increase in corporations viewing flash gaming as a viable medium for advertising has injected flash gaming into the mainstream web. The games themselves have also gotten exponentially larger and more complex. User driven community platforms like Kongregate (and it’s nerd-inspiring achievement system) are a wonderful addition to flash gaming. I just hope this doesn’t drive out the simplicity that was once the epitome of casual gaming.

But right now I’d like to take myself, as well as the reader, on a tour of the best straight up casual flash games I’ve had the honor of playing. We’ll start with number 17, because that’s what Brian Boitano would do.

17. Reverse PLAY

The only thing more mind-bending than watching every Stanley Kubrick film ever made in one night is having your mouse inverted. Reverse does the job in a splendidly simple and addicting way. You’ll feel your brain at work while you play. The sequel: Reverse 2.

16. Bowman 2 PLAY

Bowman is a good example of a game utilizing super casual tactics. It has simple and smooth game play, for one or two players, and epitomizes the “tanks” sort of turn based combat. This is the kind of game that will make you yell unnecessarily loudly in the middle of Personal Economics 104.

15. Avoider PLAY

Commonly mistaken as “Cursor Thief”. I like Avoider better because it has that crazy Japanese-masked edge to it. This is a great example of a game that doesn’t have English menus. The deft flash gamer will simply know to click the play button using inner-guidance.

14. Elf Bowling DL

So there were these guys back in ’99 who called themselves NStorm. At the age of 10, I didn’t really know or care about what this company did, other than the fact that they had a knack for creating flash games involving the hilarious and violent catapulting of various animals, or in this case, elves. Yes, that link is legitimate.

10. YETISPORTS PLAY

Yetisports is a series done by some dude named Chris Hilgert, and people love ‘em. Although there are currently 10 official installments of the series, the first – Pengu Throw and it’s variations are probably the most popular. High score tables can get deliriously competitive. The Official Site w/high scores.

12. City Jumper PLAY

This is one that takes timing skill, and fast tactics, one that you can really get in to. Once you play for a while, you’ll start feeling sympathy for that little stick dude, and hope that he successfully reaches wherever the hell he’s actually going.

08. Escape from Greenville PLAY

Rob Lewis over at Stickdeath.com was a pioneer in many things stick, and this point and click game remains a shiny beacon of old-school mindlessly violent punishingly difficult adventurism at it’s simplest.

11. The Sniper Game…

There are too many of these to count, but each is unique. Tactical Assassin gets props for being one of the first, Clear Vision is quick and smooth, Urban Sniper mimicked Silent Scope’s play style, and Sift Heads presented polished story and artwork. Pick your poison at 2sniper.com.

13. Double Wires PLAY

Sweet Spiderman action in 2D. Looks like it was drawn with a tablet crayon. Kevin Perrera reviewed Double Wires for his “Indie Games” segment on G4. This made it slightly less cool, but Kevin’s an okay guy. I’ll let it slide. There’s a sequel, aptly titled There’s 2 Wires?!.

09. The Classroom PLAY

Have you ever wondered what Solid Snake did in elementary school? The Classroom trilogy is tactical espionage action in it’s purest form. There are three of these, each one more intense than the last, as well as witty and challenging the whole way through.

07. Portal: The Flash Version PLAY

A very nicely done platform/puzzler based on VALVe’s Portal. Not quite old school but close enough. Lengthy sometimes frustrating levels, but the concept is just so… conceptually intriguing. If you can’t get enough Portal, download it’s 3D spiritual predecessor Narbacular Drop here.

06. The Impossible Quiz PLAY

It’s safe to say that I will probably die without having completed this game. It’s fun tho, rly!

05. Acno’s Energizer PLAY

A nicely done Boulderdash clone from Miniclip. Lots of levels, beat a few every day. Sequel: Aqua Energizer *These are technically demos, but I felt you could get enough game play out of them to warrant good standing.

04. Crimson Room PLAY

Subtly disturbing point and click. One of the best, with a unique art style. Although not horribly long or difficult, you’re probably going to need a walkthrough, but don’t make it too easy on yourself! Toshimitsu Takagi only created this one, but you can check out FASCO-CS for more difficult sequels.

03. Mini Putt PLAY

Need I say more? No! You’ll have great fun competing with peers until someone goes online or cheats! Speaking of that, check out my guide here!

02. Helicopter Game PLAY

I personally prefer the infamous SFcave, but that’s technically a Java game. The Helicopter variant still sucks productivity out of you like a sponge, while simultaneously placing you in a trance. The pure simplicity and single-button action of the Helicopter Game make this a dynamic and easily accessed gaming option under almost any, even crisis-level, situation.

01. Madness Interactive PLAY DL

Well, this one doesn’t strictly follow my criteria of old-school simplicity, but it undoubtedly deserves the peak position on any flash games list. And what’s more old-school than monochrome deathmatch? If your computer can handle Madness Interactive, you’ll be treated to a Matrix-esque bullet sandwhich sandbox of joy and laughter. Expirement mode is where it’s at. Like the style? Watch Krinkel’s animations that started it all.