Looking of a game of immeasurable plot lines? A milestone of everlasting worlds of untimely virtual habitats for you to explore and conquer? A land of ever-evolving intrigues, complex story lines to rival the best of Tolkien? In that case, look the other way, because you’re in the wrong genre. However, if you’re one to give a try anything new, our school board drug division hates you. But then again, ARC (Attack Retrieve Command) and drugs wouldn’t be too bad of an analogy. They’re both too addictive for your own good. To put it in laymen’s terms, it’s one of those "three seconds to pick up and play, a lifetime to blast away as many enemy saucers" type games. Arc, which was recently bought and combined with TEN entertainment, was, and will continue to be, (much to the relief to many withdrawal-struck ARC fans), free. In the game of Arc, you are given a saucer armed with a small arsenal of bouncing lasers, missiles, bombs, and your own skill. You are thrown in with another band of similarly armed teammates, and depending what map you chose, the object is to either get as many flags as your team needs to win, while simultaneously getting as many kills as you can. Arc, in its design, is elegant in its simplicity, and will have you happily addicted within a few hours of play. However, it has it’s own few drawbacks. For instance, the ease of use and simplicity of running the game was lost when Ten’s engine took over, the graphics could use a shot of steroids, and as Arc is as much a team sport as it is a capture the flag-type game. A better chat client would definitely be a help for the game. All in all, if you are a die-hard Ultima fan, look away, stay away, and never look back again... That is unless you want a change of pace from the endless hours of clicking your mouse button… If this game is for you, it’s for you, but if not… Well, then you’re a lot like me and we can enjoy endless hours of real fun in this wide world of gaming. The worst part of this game is the cheaters, but if you can get past them, it is a game worth playing for short periods of time.

Will Lee

Writer

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