Pariah

 PC
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 27
  3. Negative: 1 out of 27
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  1. games(TM)
    70
    Digital Extremes should be reasonably proud of Pariah, even though it falls short of being the be all and end all of the genre that the developer claimed it would be. [May 2005, p.90]
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  2. WHAM! Gaming
    70
    Enjoyable, although apart from the upgradeable weapons system and weapon loadouts in the multiplayer, it is not groundbreaking.
  3. Edge Magazine
    70
    With the FPS realm being crushingly overpopulated, and its upper class becoming so terrifyingly demanding and particular, Pariah’s solidity isn’t enough to allow it entry into the genre’s gentry. [June 2005, p.82]
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  5. Boomtown
    70
    There are lots of great elements to the game, but nothing that stands out as being worthy of a purchase alone.
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  6. Gamezilla!
    70
    Unless you’re only into multiplay, Pariah quickly loses it’s appeal. First person storyline has low appeal and almost no replay value, and frankly, there are other titles out there that do it much, much better.
  7. PC Gamer
    68
    Generic Shooter # 7,491, but with some cool weapon upgrades. [July 2005, p.70]
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  8. GameZone
    67
    I wanted to like this game so much, I thought the premise was awesome, but when it was game time, the experience left me wanting to play a better-built game.
  9. Computer Games Online RO
    67
    There's nothing innovative or original about it and even Karina looks pale from all those freezes and unfreezes.
  10. GameSpot
    63
    While the backdrop may still have some life left in it, Pariah's combat, story, and weapons loadout are all positively lifeless, making the game feel like nothing more than an also-ran shooter that barely stands on its own, let alone stands up to the genre's best.
  11. Worth Playing
    62
    I hate to say it, but Pariah is basically bogged down by so many issues that no matter how neat its little quirks are, or how many things it kindly borrows from Halo, it still feels several years behind the pack.
  12. ActionTrip
    60
    The level design is very poor. All the environments look uninspiring in addition to being loaded with invisible walls and being very, very small. You totally feel like you're on rails throughout the game.
  13. GameSpy
    60
    Sadly, a lot of the goodwill generated by Pariah is killed when the bugs come crawling out.
  14. Times Online
    60
    The FPS game definitely needs revitalising by something new and original. This isn’t it.
  15. Pelaaja (Finland)
    50
    Pariah’s biggest problem is that, while it is an okay game, the competition it faces is incredibly strong. On the Xbox it’s beaten to the pulp by "Halo 2" and on the pc "Half-Life 2" is light years beyond. Which leaves Pariah somewhere in the middle. [July 2005, p.60]
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  16. Computer Gaming World
    50
    Honestly, it looks like Digital Extremes spent its entire time perfecting the proprietary map editor (which works fantastically) instead of making the game fun.

Awards & Rankings

76
#76 Most Discussed PC Game of 2005
71
#71 Most Shared PC Game of 2005

User Reviews

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User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 42 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 42
  3. Negative: 12 out of 42
  1. spartan-117
    Oct 2, 2010
    10
    Sugested by a friend to play this.I did not regreted playing this it is not a bad game.Deserves 7 because has some vehicles to and the levelsSugested by a friend to play this.I did not regreted playing this it is not a bad game.Deserves 7 because has some vehicles to and the levels are nice good graphics and some nice visual effects like earth jumping all the screen when a grenade explodes on the ground… Full Review »
  2. Terp
    Feb 6, 2007
    10
    Its harder to rate this for PC, a system with a lot of great shooters already Pariah was like Chronicles of Riddick similarly dark and Its harder to rate this for PC, a system with a lot of great shooters already Pariah was like Chronicles of Riddick similarly dark and nihilistic, while beautiful. This was actually a great game. The AI takes some getting used to and is initially frustrating just because it's so easy to get killed senselessly (ie. running in guns blazing). They exhibit tactics and strategy, especially later in the game. It DEFINITELY exceeded Doom 3 and Quake 4 in every way (graphics, variety, plot, music) and in many ways Unreal II, and Halo 2. The plot was no more confusing than that of Halo 2. It did feel not quite polished in some areas, and I wish there was more exposition, (it was pretty confusing,) but what you are told is both intriguing and refreshingly adult, it reminded me of MG:Solid back in the day. That game didn't have the most high-powered graphics and yet was still impressively beautiful, still is, and still told a powerful story. I payed way less than $50-60, but even if I had, I would have felt I got my money's worth.… Full Review »
  3. Jabba
    Dec 17, 2005
    8
    Bad: lots of minor faults, very unoriginal and boring story good: great weapon-upgrade system, graphics, sound and physics and it's the Bad: lots of minor faults, very unoriginal and boring story good: great weapon-upgrade system, graphics, sound and physics and it's the first time I replayed a game immediately after finishing it!… Full Review »
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