To many fans of their graphically intensive game experiences on PC and/or consoles, the words “Crytek” and “mobile gaming” are probably not even seen as anything close to a reality, but surprise, surprise. DeNA and Mobage are about to knock many socks off with the developers first project, a phenomenal-looking free to play tactical arcade shooter called The Collectables. Yes, the name more than likely has your eyebrow now hovering way above your head, I’m betting, and you’re not alone. My own eyebrow did a back flip when I heard a few weeks back that Crytek was entering the mobile scene, but when I finally saw the game in action last week demoed by a broadly smiling Barry Dorf, I was not only convinced, but I’d go as far to say that this might be the game some “core” gamers who shun mobile and tablet games run out to buy a device to play it on…

Crytek has taken their versatile CryEngine tech and combined some truly mind-blowing visuals with DeNA’s extensive expertise in bringing out some extremely popular addictive card-based F2P experiences to create a fast-paced team shooter that’s all about action, huge explosions and surprisingly agile touch controls that need to be seen in action.

As Dorf fired up a mission and played, I marveled first at the outstanding graphics, then at the responsiveness of the touchscreen based movement and shooting. In the game, you lead a small squad of four soldiers through assorted missions where taking down enemies quickly is key. You and your men are controlled with simple tapping that has surprisingly complex variety. While you can move your team as a single unit, splitting up to take down baddies from two directions, dodging tossed grenades and other actions are all pulled off with one finger (take that, hotkeys!) and I saw NO input lag or other issues some touch-based games suffer from.

In a way, The Collectables reminded me of a sped up real time version of Red Lynx’ two Pathway to Glory games combined with a dash of Company of Heroes. The missions I saw took place in a lush jungle setting with enemy waves coming in from a few points on each map and attacking fiercely right from the start. The Hollywood action flick aesthetic is high here, with bodies flying and plenty of destructibility. While this may remind some of you of that licensed mobile game based on The Expendables, iPhone, iPad and Android users will certainly have a better looking and more fun to play game than that one was. Additionally, character acquisition (through a card system) and customization will be key in giving every player the opportunity to create their own squads of hell-raisers that can more likely than not compete in matches against other live players once the game launches.

As for when that will be, all I can say is not yet, but soon. Interested gamers can pre-register themselves on the game’s official site and get an exclusive character and weapon when the game finally does drop onto the App Store and Google Play. While the more jaded “PC Master Race” types are probably brushing this one aside for being too “casual”, I say again that reading this and seeing a quick teaser are hugely different than playing it or seeing it played in person.

Generic-sounding name aside, The Collectables has mega-hit stamped all over it in big gold letters and I’m betting DeNA is going to be seeing this one shoot up in popularity once word gets out and the game starts getting some major playtime among mobile gamers who get in early and spread the good word.