PC Gaming Weekly - Nexon's Rocket Arena

I’m intrigued by Rocket Arena, and that surprises the heck out of me.



Rocket Arena is Nexon’s upcoming “family friendly” shooter. You don’t die – characters float up over the battlefield, and when it’s time to come back, they come down. You have rocket launchers instead of rifles, and it has big crosshairs to help you aim. It’s an original game, and that’s something Nexon always looks for.



Nexon just reported its best Q1 earnings since the company opened its doors in 1994. And rumors point to founder Kim Jung-ju wanting out of games because of an uncertain future for free-to-play games as lootboxes and other microtransactions begin falling under regulators’ microscopes.



So, this brings me back to Rocket Arena. Why am I interested in it? With so many shooters on the market, it’s nice to see one trying something different – and courting a different type of player. My kids are just getting interested in shooters, but they’re far too inexperienced and unskilled to face off against others – they’re having a rough time with the bots in Star Wars: Battlefront II’s Arcade mode. I’m excited that someone besides Nintendo (with Splatoon) and EA (with Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare) is looking at shooters fit for children.



And I’m happy that Nexon is trying something a little different. I’m curious to see how it flies.