Dead to Rights: Retribution

 PlayStation 3
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 44 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 30 out of 44
  3. Negative: 10 out of 44
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  1. PSM3 Magazine UK
    74
    Dumb action shooter elevated by solid man-punching and smart dog-play. [June 2010, p.96]
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  2. PSFocus
    72
    This game is a typical pick up and play game. The game is at no point brilliant,[!] but contains a lot of fun. It's nice to play because of the action and the gameplay with the dog Shadow works well. It could have been better with the graphics and audio, but besides that it is a nice game.
  3. GameDaily
    70
    Yes, it's cheesy and not the most polished shooter on the market, but it's the perfect rental, a game that'll last through the weekend and dish out plenty of rewards.
  5. GameSpot
    70
    While it sometimes feels as rough as a Grant City alley, Dead to Rights: Retribution's vigorous combat system and brutal energy make it an entertaining tale of corruption and vengeance.
  6. XGN
    70
    Dead to Rights: Retribution is a mediocre game. It has good points, it has bad points, but it never comes up with something special. It's a fun game to play, but just for once and never again.
  7. GameFocus
    70
    With a forgettable story, bland characters and a huge sense of déjà-vu, Namco’s re-envisioning of its precious Dead to Rights franchise manages to keep you afloat, but never elevates your level of excitement beyond just treading water.
  8. Cynamite
    70
    The Dead to Rights sequel starts with entertaining ideas and mission variety , but really loses its drive during the second half. Retribution is an average shooter/fighting mix with a cool dog as your partner.
  9. Vandal
    68
    It offers a good challenge for action gamers, but they'll probably miss some features like a multiplayer mode, or some more depth.
  10. GameTrailers
    68
    Dead to Rights: Retribution isn’t the most refined shooter out there. The story is mediocre and it can be rather ugly at times, but if you don’t take it too seriously, the gameplay’s versatility and throat-ripping ferocity is fun while it lasts.
  11. GameZone
    68
    Yes, Dead To Rights: Retribution is violent. It’s also dark, vicious and amoral, with ten levels packed with face painted thugs waiting to get killed in all manner of slow motion, blood splattering ways.
  12. Play UK
    68
    Fun and funny, but lowbrow and unambitious on a creative and technical level. [Issue#192, p.84]
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  13. GamingTrend
    66
    At the end of the day, this feels like a reboot that needed a little antivirus first.
  14. PlayStation Universe
    65
    A pick up, put down, trashy game that has elements of Max Payne and Double Dragon running through its violent veins.
  15. Everyeye.it
    65
    Dead to Rights is an old style hard boiled. A sort of latecomer Max Payne with some stealth sessions trying to rejuvenate a tired formula.
  16. ZTGD
    64
    It is one of those games you can pick up at your local rental place, play for a couple days and completely forget about. It can be fun at times, but can be tedious and frustrating at others.
  17. 3DJuegos
    63
    Dead to Rights: Retribution is an enjoyable game with huge action elements, mixing beat´em up and shoot´em up in some variety of ways. It has easy combat mechanics and amazing takedowns moves, but honestly the game doesn´t offer the same experience than other titles like Batman: Arkham Asylum.
  18. Extreme Gamer
    62
    Dead to Rights: Retribution showed a lot of promise with some innovative side-steps, but fails when it comes down to line.
  19. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    60
    The cinematics, while cobbled together from a ‘90s cop movie handbook, are more polished than most. If you were starving, you could lick this dish clean and be satisfied. But it wouldn’t taste like anything you hadn’t eaten before. [June 2010 p74]
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  20. Edge Magazine
    60
    It's simple, enjoyable, and in wisely steering clear of trying anything grand or complex, is an enjoyable if self-contained success. [May 2010, p.97]
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  21. VideoGamer
    60
    In the last nine months we've had Batman: Arkham Asylum, Bayonetta and God of War 3 – all blockbuster titles that have raised the bar for action gaming. In the shadow of these juggernauts, this is a decidedly tame offering.
  22. Gamereactor Sweden
    60
    Namco delivers violent and old school action that feels just like a Chuck Norris movie. Unfortunately, also in the bad way. That means the story stinks and the dialogue is unbelievably bad. Still, it feels good to just disconnect the brain for some heavy action that really feels like a direct to DVD movie.
  23. IGN
    60
    It’s rough around the edges –- shadows look like crap on people’s faces and the enemies aren’t smart –- but it could be worse.
  24. Giant Bomb
    60
    Perhaps the greatest issue with Dead To Rights: Retribution is that it feels like last generation's ideas and standards reanimated for a new set of consoles.
  25. Eurogamer Portugal
    60
    Far below the best that has been accomplished in this generation.
  26. Cheat Code Central
    60
    A reasonably solid action game with a few good ideas, but definitely a step below the top-tier franchises.
  27. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    60
    What it lacks in imagination, it almost makes up for in accessibility and variety. [June 2010, p.102]
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  28. Gaming Nexus
    58
    Dead to Rights: Retribution doesn't try to reinvent the wheel; instead it's perfectly fine wallowing in the franchise's past successes.
  29. Gamervision
    58
    While there are some glitches from time to time, there's nothing about it that stands out as being broken or unplayable. That said, there's not a single moment worth experiencing.
  30. GameWatcher
    50
    Dead to Rights simply coats the environment in red and its characters in force-fed grime and loathability. What's left is an experience that provides some basic action sustenance, but lacks any real purpose or direction.
  31. Level7.nu
    50
    Stupid story, repetitive gameplay and sub par controls. Some of the action is fun, but Dead to Rights should have been buried long ago.

Awards & Rankings

90
#90 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2010
73
#73 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2010

User Reviews

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User Score
6.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 34 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 34
  3. Negative: 8 out of 34
  1. diogomendes
    Aug 8, 2014
    4
    A feeble minded 3rd person shooter video game that lacks originality and motivation to repeat. The voices are solid and playing with the dogA feeble minded 3rd person shooter video game that lacks originality and motivation to repeat. The voices are solid and playing with the dog is sometimes fun, but the story falls in short of being good.… Full Review »
  2. James
    Apr 27, 2010
    7
    A game that had massive potential and engrosing story lacks what would be called standard for games now a days. The single player is not A game that had massive potential and engrosing story lacks what would be called standard for games now a days. The single player is not enough to hide the lack of bonus extras (specifically costumes etc), and a lack of potential game modes for example: - a Challenge mode for the the dog Shadow (similar to Batman's AA except using Shadow to get the fastest time possible or no kills.) - A co-op where one controls Shadow and one controls Jack going through the story - A surival game where they have to survival round of enemies either PIt fighting style or with guns. As I said there is potential in this game but it was not captialised on its release. This game is by no means bad, the experience is good, unique and fun, but after you've completed the story and finished off the last trophies/achievements there is nothing left for you to do. DLC has been annouced for around June but is it too little too late?… Full Review »
  3. Alex_Pilgrim008
    Jul 1, 2023
    7
    This reboot is not as good as the first "Dead to Rights". The combat can be clunky at times, but it's enjoyable. Jack Slate uses plenty ofThis reboot is not as good as the first "Dead to Rights". The combat can be clunky at times, but it's enjoyable. Jack Slate uses plenty of guns, disarms and melee attacks. A few issues keep the game from being as fun as it could've been. First off, many attack combos are too complex to memorize. Secondly, you can sometimes run out of ammo during a firefight. And third, too many bad guys are bullet sponges. They'll rush you after being shot a few times. Still, this is a guilty pleasure. It's fast-paced and filled with expansive levels and plenty of action. I would rate it with a 7.3 out of 10.… Full Review »
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