Plays well with others

As someone who has stood in line for my share of launch-day games and gaming consoles, I consider myself a fairly avid gamer. On the go, I love multiplayer competition on my Palm Pre. With first-person shooter 3D games like Gameloft’s Modern Combat: Sandstorm and N.O.V.A. (Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance), you can play with up to four friends in the same room or join a game in progress through online multiplayer mode. Cross-platform play ensures a larger pool of opponents and makes victory that much sweeter. (Of course, since these are online games, your experience may vary depending on carrier and coverage.)

Modern Combat: Sandstorm pits you against other players in a modern Middle Eastern war scenario. You’re outfitted with a wide range of weapons, from rifles to machine guns to explosives, and set loose to battle in cool environments, such as city scenes, hospitals, sewers, and training camps. For a more accurate shot, stop moving and notice the aiming reticule get smaller.

N.O.V.A., on the other hand, takes combat to a heightened fantasy level, where you’re fighting for mankind's survival against aggressive aliens. These are battle environments of a different kind -- jungle, snowy mountains, spaceship, bunker, and an alien city -- and enough weapons to keep it challenging. I prefer the sniper rifle – tap the fire button to zoom in, take the shot and tap again to zoom back out. 

In both games you can go into options to select different control schemes and find the one that works best for you. 

There are even worldwide leaderboards maintained on the Gameloft LIVE! site that let you see how you stack up against other players and in game rankings as well. So if you haven’t tried multiplayer games, try taking it online.

And when I’m feeling like some quick pick-up-and-play action, I can get my Earthworm Jim fix and still rack up Gameloft LIVE! trophies.

Anyone for a deathmatch?

Natalie M., Channel Programs (and gamer)