An unique blend of retro-fps, metroidvania and adventure. Escape the cyber afterlife you've been trapped into, hop between realities and shoot your way out with the help of your new allies. But are they really your friends? The Arena conspiracy goes deeper than you could possibly imagine...
The game heavily draws inspiration from 1990s arena shooters like Unreal Tournament and Quake, providing fast-paced, skill-based combat with a diverse weapon arsenal. Players praise the smooth, satisfying gunplay, noting how each firearm offers unique quirks and advantages. The movement system also stands out, allowing for advanced techniques like double jumping, wall jumping, and dashing to create a fluid, high-skill combat experience.
While the initial premise sets up arena-style matches, the game blends this frantic combat with more exploratory, adventure-driven gameplay. After completing these brief arena encounters, players can revisit the now-empty and eerie levels to uncover secrets, hidden paths, and lore-filled websites. This creates a distinctive combination of high-octane shooting and slower-paced, atmospheric exploration.
As players progress, they unlock a variety of weapons and special abilities. The arsenal mixes standard shooter fare like assault rifles and shotguns with more unique options, such as a grenade launcher and a Thr33peater that fires three shots at once. Players can also acquire abilities like "Pocket Sand" to stun enemies or a powerful dash move to maneuver the battlefield.
One of the game's more distinctive elements is the ability to revisit the arena levels in a corrupted, deserted state. Without the presence of AI opponents, these levels take on an eerie, unsettling atmosphere, providing a stark contrast to the frantic combat that took place previously. Reviewers describe these exploration segments as highly rewarding, as they uncover hidden secrets and piece together the deeper narrative mysteries.
While the regular arena and exploration gameplay is praised, reviewers highlight the game's boss battles as particularly challenging and satisfying. These encounters require players to master the movement and combat mechanics to overcome formidable foes, providing a sense of accomplishment when victoriously emerging from the fight.