Coded Arms (video game)

***Coded Arms*** is a first-person shooter video game that was developed and published by Konami for the PlayStation Portable in 2005. It is the first game of the *Coded Arms* series.

## Plot

Late in the 21st century, advancements in medical and computer technology allow for linear connectivity of human minds to computer networks, causing an unprecedented boom in computer hackers. The game takes place inside a virtual reality military training simulator named "AIDA" which has since been long-abandoned. However, the program continues to run, generating enemies and levels for the no longer present soldiers-in-training.

The player takes the role of one of the many hackers attempting to break the codes of the simulator and extract the most valuable data possible for fame and profit. To do this, the player must explore several "sectors" that are infested with various kinds of enemies, including soldiers, security bots, giant bugs and other insect and plant-like creatures. The only way to survive and reap the greatest rewards is by reaching the Kernel database, destroying the enemies and the bosses at the end of each sector. The game's intro cutscene informs the hacker/player that hacking too deeply into unknown non-civilian protocols with what seem to be homebrew hacking tools carries the risk of contracting a medical condition called the "Achiba Syndrome", and warns them that upon infection that they 'will not be able to return' - presumably meaning their consciousness will become corrupted or otherwise lost and their minds will not be able to return to their bodies in the real world.

## Gameplay

All of the levels in the game are randomly generated when they are accessed. In single player mode, players progress through the game by completing sectors. Sector 00 consists of one battlefield (Training) with 3 levels that serve to familiarize the user with the game. Sector 01 consists of three battlefields (City, Base and Ruins) and each battlefield has 6 levels. Sector 02 also has three battlefields consisting of 13 levels each with a boss at the 13th level of each battlefield. Sector 03 consists of one battlefield (Infinity) which has an unlimited amount of levels to it.

The difficulty of the game increases as the user progresses through the sectors. Players can also make use of a 3D map graphically similar to a vector display. Coded Arms also has wifi support for 4-player multiplayer with three game modes including 'Deathmatch', 'Keep the Mark' and 'Last Man Standing'. Weapons and armor are obtained throughout the levels and have one of five different attributes, ranging from "physical" to "fire" as well as specific attributes such as "electric" or "viral". Certain attributes are more effective against certain enemies - for instance, mechanical enemies can be overloaded by weapons with the "electrical" attribute while insect-type enemies usually dwell in the dark so "light"-type weapons do the most damage to them. Enemies also use weapons with different attributes and therefore one can get certain types of armor that are resistant to attacks of a certain type.

All of the weapons and grenades can be upgraded by picking up a certain amount of "Opt\_Key" files (the amount varies from weapon to weapon). Because the game takes place in a computer program, the equipment and pickups are named with extensions much like in a conventional computer (for example ".arm" for weapons & armaments, ".dfn" for armor and defense items, ".med" for health pickups etc.).

## Compilation

A compilation *Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops / Coded Arms Double Pack* was released in 2009 for Playstation Portable, which includes *Coded Arms* and *Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops*.