Alliance of Valiant Arms Editor's Review

Alliance of Valiant Arms (AVA) is a free-to-play MMOFPS set during a fictional war that is raging across modern Europe. With its high quality graphics (powered by the Unreal 3 engine), AVA not only provides a stellar first-person-shooter experience, but is also one of the best looking MMOs out there.

With over nine mission types and 30+ maps, players can fight it out on the side of either the E.U. or the fictional Neo Russian Federation. Choose from over 100 weapons and switch between classes to give yourself the tactical edge, all the while unlocking medals and badges in AVA’s unique achievement system.

Anyone who’s played a first-person-shooter mutliplayer match will know the drill when it comes to gameplay. AVA has the standard set of match types, as well as some interesting extras to keep you entertained. Where it really shines is in core mechanics that offer a satisfyingly solid combat experience. Thanks again to the Unreal 3 engine this is probably the best combat in any free-to-play MMOFPS available.

The class system is also a feature that puts AVA ahead of the pack. Players can switch classes before each re-spawn to adapt to the style and flow of the game; Pointman for up-close stealth combat, Rifleman for basic firefights and Sniper for long-distance damage. For those who want to spend a little real-world cash, the in-game store has enough specialist weapons, mods and extras to give you a slight (but not game-breaking) edge.

Pro's: High quality graphics for MMO, solid gameplay mechanics, wealth of updates.

Con's: Tricky aiming, no surprises for any FPS veterans, not for slower PCs.

Conclusion: Modern Warfare inspired MMOFPSs have flooded the market of late, but Alliance of Valiant Arms remains one of the best. The Unreal 3 engine provides an issue-free gaming experience on any decent desktop, and while it might not rival the graphical power of the latest Call of Duty, AVA really is one of the best looking free-to-play games out there.