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So, have you played Gunz: The Duel, yet? Can I ask why not? Oh, you have a Mac. You are excused. The rest of you kids better have a damn good reason.

Gunz is the flagship (and, currently, only) title from Korean game developer, Maiet Entertainment. You assume the role of a citizen of Astra during the Age of Adventure. Apparently, citizens of Astra during the Age of Adventure enjoy running up walls, leaping through the air and shooting the poo out of each other. These cats are crazy. Also, you get swords. The action is fast paced and frenetic and all the classic modes of arena shooters are there. Death match, capture the flag and team play will feel at home with conventional fps fans, but the third person view the game employs makes it feel more like an action platformer.

There's a bit of a learning curve to the advanced controls, but they are worth mastering. Thankfully, the level system allows for learning. What? Level system? Yes, Johnny Echopants, a level system. You gain experience as well as loot (called "bounty") for every rival player you take out. You'll only battle others in your level bracket, unless you choose to join games with higher leveled characters. If you beat a higher leveled character, the experience and bounty you gain are both, of course, bigger.

Quest mode feels tacked on and the lack of story creates monotonous gameplay, but Gunz is in a constant state of development so anything can change with the next updates. All in all, this game is just damned fun. If you love the ridiculous, over-the-topness of Asian action cinema, Gunz: The Duel should be right up your alley. I don't know why you'd want to put anything up your alley, but I don't judge. To each their own.

Gunz International - www.gunzonline.com

Gunz, North America - www.ijji.com

RANKING: 7 OUT OF 10 The Frugal Gamer will be my weekly review of all the free games available out there on the inter-webs. Some are good. Most are crap. I'll wade through them all for you. Except for Flash games. Screw that. Got a game you want me to check out? Shoot me an e-mail. geist.osyris@gmail.com

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