The lab was a genetic stew, mixing and creating monstrosities with single-minded purpose — to destroy. They were supposed to be non-entities, killing machines used to train combat soldiers. But something went wrong. It always does.

A team was sent in to evaluate the situation. But in addition to their brute strength, these things were smart. The landing party was wiped out — with the exception of one member of the party. Now that lone survivor must escape through the scientific complex to the island’s landing pad. Failure means death.

Dark Arena, a Game Boy Advance release from Majesco, is a first-person shooter game that combines arcade-style elements with reflexive action and a fair share of puzzles. You will have to navigate through corridors, cross open areas filled with the beasts, collect weapons and power-ups in order to survive.

Graphically this game is quite solid. The monsters are not like the ravenous, charging creations encountered in Half-Life for PC, but still are brutish, and while capable of ripping you apart with what passes for hands, are also adept at using weapons. The animation is well done, and the game is quite colorful.

The game sound is fairly typical for the platform.

The control elements for this game have been kept simple. L button strafes left, while the R button strafes right. The D-pad controls movement, the A button fires the currently selected weapon and the B button opens or closes doors.

You can only save upon completing a level. Each level ends with a performance evaluation, and you may be prompted to replay a level. Because the game is linear, you should be able to cruise through the level, improving your general rating.

Dark Arena is an intense shooter game that succeeds on several levels. The plot may be a little worn (as in borrowed), but the environments are well done, there is a nice variety of weaponry to be collected, and you really don’t have to think about what to shoot – you just kill anything that moves because you are the only human survivor.

It may only be February, but this could be one of the best GBA shooter games of the year.

This game is rated Teen for violence.

Install: N/A

Gameplay: 7.4
The game covers a lot of ground, and you can access a map to help keep track of where you are, or where you have been. If there is a drawback, it is that you can only shoot what is in front of you. You cannot aim your weapon to take out shooters on a floor above you.

Graphics: 7.8
The animations are very well done, and the game sports a solid look.

Sound: 6.5
Nothing outstanding or innovative here, but the game does give you what you would expect.

Difficulty: 7.5
This game has three difficulty levels, and can be intense at the hard setting.

Concept: 7
This game borrows its storyline from a couple of other games, but that doesn’t diminish the game play.

Multiplayer: N/A
The program allows players to link up GBA units.

Overall: 8
It would have been nice if players could target the enemy regardless of whether they were on different levels. However, Dark Arena overcomes that minor setback by providing good first-person arcade-shooting action. The storyline is a little worn, but provides just enough plot to power this game along.