Let’s face it, shooting stuff is fun and it’s even more fun when it’s a player. APB, also known as All Points Bulletin has seemed to make a big impact with their cops vs. robber’s genre in the online world. EA and Realtime Worlds have introduced us to online gaming in a whole different way. From customization that is limitless, to the shooter value, which does hold up to par. Even though the controls while handling a car can be frustrating, the rest of the control over your avatar seems pretty smooth.

In this third person shooter, the customization here that APB offers far surpasses the ten on the one to ten scale. This game you really can make your own. You want your avatar to look like you? Go for it. You want to play as Arnold Schwarzenegger? Feel free to compete with and terminate your enemy! Hasta La vista baby! Have you always wanted to make your own custom logo and then throw it on your car or clothes? Yeah, you can do that here too. Sport your colors or art? Talk about a perfect time to show off. Really what this comes down to is your own personal feel, and this is what Realtime Worlds really wanted All Points Bulletin to show over other games out there today.

Did I forget to mention you can customize your own music too? YES! Not only can you make your own music in the game, but play it aloud in your car too! Even upload your own music from your library. So you mean I can do all of this in the game?! Yes, in the game! How epic is that?!

Another great feature that makes APB so unique is the cross voice in game system. Normally, most people do not have this set as push to talk and don’t realize that the opponent can hear you when you are next to them. This feature makes the game even more realistic and making the world a more intriguing place to play in.

So let’s get down to the hardcore. Clans? Weapons? Competing in general? Well you can find tons of that here. You level your character through ranks and reputation in the game. You can pledge to a leader and continually earn more reputation points with that sub faction, of your faction (I.E. Criminals earning reputation with the Blood Roses.) Seeing how you do not gain “armor” in the game, (which your avatar is customized from top to bottom), you do gain vehicle and weapon upgrades, along with buying new weapons. The more expensive the weapon, the stronger it is. For this I would also recommend the Marketplace. Similar to an auction house, it is the players income and the ability to gain new weapons faster. You want to see your opponent fall faster? Pick up an Adeen type gun with three upgrade slots and upgrade it for accuracy and aim! A beautiful combination if I must say so myself. Though sadly, there is not a gun to give you a point blank head shot. Pulling head shots though is not something to ignore! It does scale more damage to your opponent when you are hitting them in the head. I personally have a Star 556 “Mantis” with an accuracy upgrade and a damage enhancer. For some reason I love assault rifles, and this balances out whether I have to be close or far depending on my situation.

I hope this has given you an outlook on a different kind of game from a great company. Either way, I have to bail, just received a call from the Blood Roses. Enforcers are everywhere. I do hope to see you on the streets of San Paro. Smunchy out.

Games: All Points Bulletin, Platforms: PC, Genres: Massively Multiplayer, Role-Playing, Publishers: Electronic Arts, Developers: Electronic Arts