Mobile Computing News

Photo: Ignition Entertainment

Blacklight Tango Down is a purely downloadable game, coming to the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC this summer, that looks to offer some high quality online FPS action and co-op missions for cheap.

For download only

People have often spoken of download only games as being the wave of the future, with higher broadband speeds, PC sites like Steam and of course, the PlayStation Store and Xbox Live gaining in popularity. Well, the latest proof of this trend comes from Blacklight Tango Down, the futuristic online shooter currently in development by Zombie Studios and Ignition Entertainment, and slated for a summer release via download only.

Photo: Ignition Entertainment

Plenty of content

Though it’s being released as DLC, Blacklight Tango Down is far more than just an expansion with minimal content and gameplay. In addition to a multitude of different maps, the online FPS includes a special weapon customisation system, character growth, as well as a large variety of online game modes, including deathmatch, team deathmatch, retrieval, detonate (a sort of reverse capture the flag) and the crowd favourite, last man standing. If you fancy a little more controlled action, moreover, there’s also a co-op Black Ops mode with multiple specialised missions.

Photo: Ignition Entertainment

All about multiplayer

For many shooter games, the single-player action comes in a distant second to the multiplayer player where people spend the vast majority of their time. Zombie Studios thankfully have their priorities straight and have therefore concentrated on creating a fun, dynamic and balanced online shooter first. This isn’t to say there’s no backstory, but just that the focus is where it should be. Speaking of the setting, you’ll find yourself 25 years in the future in Eastern Europe, either fighting for the good guys, team Blacklight, or the bad people known as ‘The Order’. Pretty standard online shooter stuff. Unlike many team shooters, however, Blacklight Tango Down has no classes. No medics, soldiers or anything of the kind. Instead, players earn experience points through online combat, which they can then translate into all important weapons upgrades.

Photo: Ignition Entertainment

Major weapon customisation

With over 13 possible sniper scopes, different magazines, barrels, stocks, and 100 different so-called weapon tags (unique looking improvements), you’ll find the weapon customisation aspect of the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 FPS game knows no bounds. There aren’t too many restrictions either, leading to some pretty cool hybrid weapons, like a shotgun with an advanced sniper scope, for example. How you decide to upgrade will determine where your character has their strengths and ultimately determine your team’s strategy. In addition to weapons, which fall into the standard sniper, shotgun, pistol, assault rifle categories, there’s also some support weaponry, like the DigiGrenade, which blinds its enemy. So, in short, despite a lack of classes, the combat is still very dynamic and varied.

Fun co-op mode

We mentioned the co-op mode earlier, which is something Ignition Entertainment are definitely proud of. Essentially, the so-called ‘Black Ops’ cooperative mode will feel like an actual mission single player based game, where up to 4 players trek through the ruined streets of Balik and the Blacklight universe. The story unfolds as you progress, but the focus on team play is just as important as ever. You’ll still gain experience, as well as additional weapons tags when playing through the Black Ops mode. Moreover, after completing a mission, your performance will be scored based on a number of factors, including speed and the difficulty setting. The best players will get ranked on an online leader board, just like the other game modes, apparently.

DLC like price

Though Blacklight Tango Down tries hard to distinguish itself as a fully standalone game, there is one advantage that come with its multiplayer focus and DLC status, namely, the price. Priced at a mere €15 ($15 in the US and we expect around £12 here), the online game is cheap, very cheap. With the hours of online fun that it should provide, moreover, if Blacklight Tango Down lives up to the hype then it can definitely be considered one of the cheapest video game deals out there. The game is expected to be available by the summer of 2010, when users can download it to their PC, from Xbox Live for their Xbox 360, or from the PlayStation Store onto their PS3.