At a first glance combat arms is a basic FPS military commando game. At second Glance combat arms is STILL a basic FPS military commando game. This may be due to the fact that combat arms IS an FPS military commando game. Combat arms is however far from basic. Combat arms starts the new player out with an assault rifle, a pistol, a combat knife and a grenade. This starter gear will never expire and can be used non-stop until you realize that the weapons are crap and are almost completely useless even on the recruit starter server. To start a match the player must first start a lobby and wait for other players to take enough interest to join. Until enough other players join your match cannot start at all forcing you and the other members of your lobby to wait instigating them to leave forcing you to start the process over. Alternatively you can join another players lobby and force your self to deal with their idiotic option choices. After the match ends you get money and exp depending on your performance.
Another interesting design choice for the game is the fact that all the weapons and outfits and armor will expire after a set time. If you pay the starting price you get the item for 1 day, with another fantastically higher price you can get the item for 7, 30 or 90 days. if you spend all your money on the newest item and cant get on the game for awhile due to server maintenance the weapon will not only disappear but you will have to go back to using the crap starters until you can afford the new weapon again. Now if you don't mind i must go back to play it some more because my items all dissapeared