Small Arms is a platformer/fighting game mix. Characters, similar to Super Smash Bros, duke out melee-style on a single-screen playing field or forced-scrolling stages filled with ledges, platforms, or dynamic obstacles. The emphasis is on the weapons, which have two separate shooting modes. The characters acquire ammo, health, and power-ups while fighting. Like Geometry Wars, the right analog stick is used for targeting, while the left is used for mobility.
The eight stages are fully 3D but travel in two dimensions. Fights occur in a sewer, a tornado, along a waterfall and a volcano, in a bazaar, an outhouse, or on a speeding train. There are twelve characters accessible, four of which must be unlocked; each has its abilities and weaponry. Single-player modes include Mission, Training, Challenge, and Shooting Range. Multiplayer is accessible for up to four players simultaneously, both offline and online. There are another 12 achievements, and the game has been translated into eight languages.
