AVA: Dog Tag
- May 2, 2019
- Red Duck, Inc.
- 7h median play time
Get on SteamA.V.A: Dog Tag is a, military-themed, team-based tactical First Person Shooter based on class-distinctive weaponry and strategy. Choose your fight in close quarter combat, hold down key engagement points, or zone out enemy team as a sniper and pick them apart.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has nostalgic value for long-time fans of the original AVA.
- It offers a free-to-play model without pay-to-win mechanics, allowing all players access to the same weapons from the start.
- The graphics and gunplay have seen some improvements compared to previous versions, making it enjoyable for casual play.
- The game suffers from poor server performance, frequent disconnections, and a lack of content compared to the original AVA.
- Many players report issues with hit registration, weapon balance, and the overall mechanics feeling outdated.
- The absence of popular game modes from the original AVA, such as Escort and PvE content, has disappointed many fans.
- gameplay44 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant changes to gun mechanics and overall balance compared to the original version, which may alienate long-time fans. While some appreciate the nostalgic elements and solid core mechanics, others criticize the outdated engine, presence of hackers, and the introduction of pay-to-win elements. New players might find the gameplay enjoyable and unique, but veterans may feel disappointed by the lack of depth and the need for further improvements.
“The game shares many of the maps and weapons from the original game, as well as most of the mechanics being similar.”
“To a fresh player, I'm sure they will find the gun mechanics unique enough from other shooters, yet stable enough that one gun or another doesn't completely outgun everything else no questions asked.”
“Great gameplay, could use a few quality of life updates and more content.”
“I have over 7 hours of gameplay in the loading screen.”
“Worse mechanics than the old A.V.A., not much content, and a lot of tweaks to be done with pretty broken netcode and hitbox.”
“Shooting mechanics feel awfully outdated, so new players most likely won't come or won't stay for long.”
- graphics34 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over outdated visuals that fail to meet modern standards. While some appreciate the graphical updates and find them decent, others criticize the game for lacking significant improvements and retaining a dated aesthetic reminiscent of earlier releases. Overall, there is a strong desire among players for a return to the graphics of the original game, enhanced with contemporary upgrades.
“I like the lower player health and the feeling every fight could be your last. I also like the adrenaline-inducing fast-paced combat. The game is graphically stunning even on lower-end PCs, which I have, but the game still manages to run at 60 FPS at all times on high, and the models and everything are wonderful.”
“Although there are a few graphical changes and notable differences to some weapons, I really enjoy the way this game has moved on from the original and look forward to playing and understanding the game much more.”
“The new graphics look amazing, and I have a lot of trust in Redduck making this game as amazing as it once was.”
“Very disappointed, all we want is the old Ava, with upgraded graphics, anti-cheat, UI, and fixed bugs, but Redduck decided to make a stripped-down version of old Ava that hardly lasted, and is now being shut down.”
“Not even worth giving it a single more try at this point, where all you get is a crap re-edition of a 2007 game with near worse graphics and even way worse playability.”
“Graphics are below average (actually really bad in some cases).”
- optimization7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 57 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting poor performance, stuttering, and crashes, particularly in the first few days after release. While some players experience smooth gameplay at high frame rates, others struggle with significant drops in performance and graphical issues, leading to frustration and a lack of enjoyment. The game's optimization appears to be inconsistent, with some players noting improvements in certain areas but still feeling that it falls short overall.
“The game runs smoothly at 60 fps, but when I turn on v-sync with my specs, it drops to 30.”
“The performance is smooth, maintaining 150+ fps at all times.”
“Performance is terrible. The graphics are poor, yet the FPS drops to 40-50 even though the visuals aren't impressive. You have to restart the game to fix it. This game is incredibly boring.”
“I would not recommend this one. It's very bare bones and confusing, it runs very poorly and doesn't have any reason to justify the poor performance in the slightest. The gunplay is primitive and the weapons are not balanced. The time to kill in this game is low, so it rewards camping and ambushes.”
“The game had received upgrades in both the graphical and audio departments, but optimization seemed to be lacking.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is marred by frustrating gameplay experiences, as players report issues with mission completion and rewards not being granted, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction and broken mechanics.
- monetization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is completely free with no microtransactions, DLC, or any purchases required, which is a significant positive for players. However, while it offers a solid experience akin to CS:GO, some users express concerns about gameplay balance and mechanics rather than monetization issues.
“Completely free games, no microtransactions, no DLC, no purchases of any sort!”
“The monetization in this game is frustrating, as it feels like a constant push to spend money on attachments that don't significantly improve gameplay.”
“It's disappointing that the game relies on microtransactions for basic features, making it feel less like a free-to-play experience and more like a cash grab.”
“While the game is free to play, the monetization strategy is heavily focused on encouraging players to spend money, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, noting that earning money and gaining experience is slow, which detracts from the overall experience. The lack of items available for purchase further exacerbates the grind, especially compared to the original game where grinding for currency was a key feature.
“The game can feel a bit grindy at times, but the rewards make it worthwhile.”
“Grinding is a necessary part of the experience, and it adds depth to character progression.”
“While there are moments of grinding, they are balanced by the satisfaction of leveling up.”
“No items in the shop to buy (besides, earning money is tediously slow) and gaining experience is also very slow.”
“No more grinding euros to buy a primary, a key feature of the original game.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, players report that the game runs smoothly with improved gun mechanics, though some express frustration with the gameplay dynamics, particularly in modes like TDM where snipers dominate. While stability is generally praised, preferences for the old recoil system vary among users.
“The game runs smoothly, and the improvements to the gun mechanics are a significant upgrade from before.”
“The stability of the game has greatly enhanced my overall experience, making it more enjoyable to play.”
“I appreciate how stable the game feels now; it allows for a more immersive and engaging gameplay experience.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experience constant lag and server issues, which ruin the overall experience.”
“There are too many bugs that disrupt gameplay, leading to frustrating moments.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express deep emotional responses to the closure of beloved games, highlighting feelings of heartbreak and loss.
“It was heartbreaking, yet again, to see one of my favorite games getting closed down.”
