Dark Arena

 Game Boy Advance
Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 17
  3. Negative: 2 out of 17
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  1. Game Informer
    70
    Seems to easily fall flat into the clutches of mediocrity. The multiplayer mode is nice, though. [April 2002, p.89]
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  2. GameSpy
    69
    It may be a blatant "DOOM" clone, but Dark Arena still manages to be a generally entertaining and mindless shooter. Solid controls, large levels, and plenty of evil mutants all add up to a fun time out.
  3. Cinescape
    67
    While the game runs well, there is little intensity to push the envelope. So much has changed since these games came out, and it just doesn’t seem nearly as exciting or intense.
  5. GameSpot
    65
    It's technically competent in the end, and many of its little touches are quite impressive, but there are clearly more memorable shooters of its kind already available.
  6. Electric Playground
    60
    Even the level layout and "puzzle" elements--find the key, backtrack to the door--smack of things we've already seen, which makes the game, despite its arguable technical flow, something of a letdown.
  7. GamePro
    60
    Mindless, twitchy, quick-shot FPS fun...but it’s so hyper-generic it seems like a clone of a "Doom" clone.
  8. Play Magazine
    60
    A solid, 20-level romp that should be treated as a quasi-sequel to "Doom." [April 2002, p.67]
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  9. Nintendo Power
    56
    Simply standard when compared to "Ecks vs. ever," Majesco's Dark Arena comes off as Quake Light. [Mar 2002, p.136]
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  10. GamerWeb Nintendo
    53
    Uninspired.
  11. GameCritics
    50
    It never builds on the gameplay or aesthetic qualities of Doom in any meaningful way—it’s merely content to cover the same old ground and hope no one notices.
  12. All Game Guide
    50
    A solid but bland first-person shooter with no in-depth story or sense of fun to elevate it above any other GBA game in the genre.

Awards & Rankings

71
#71 Best Game Boy Advance Game of 2002
89
#89 Most Discussed Game Boy Advance Game of 2002
36
#36 Most Shared Game Boy Advance Game of 2002

User Reviews

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User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. SeriousDuke(GBAFPSexpert)
    Jul 7, 2004
    6
    Dark Arena is the ninth best FPS for the GBA, the first announced, but the fourth released for the system. Dark Arena is pretty much a Doom Dark Arena is the ninth best FPS for the GBA, the first announced, but the fourth released for the system. Dark Arena is pretty much a Doom clone. What's the difference between the two? Well, hmmm . . . Doom is a better game. Dark Arena features enemies with zero intelligence which make them a breeze to kill even on the hardest skill level. The graphics in Dark Arena seem a little more bright and sharper than Doom but Doom looks better all around and is simply more fun to play. Dark Arena does offer a good variety of weapons, some neat looking enemies, and some fun levels but all of this is sub-par to the Doom games. Dark Arena is definitly a fun and welcome entry in the growing library of GBA games under the FPS genre but definitly one of the weakest.… Full Review »
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