Blacklight: Retribution

 PlayStation 4
User Score
6.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 198 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 72 out of 198
  2. Mixed: 68 out of 198
  3. Negative: 58 out of 198

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  1. MercenaryofHate
    Jan 5, 2017
    4
    A broken mess and dull shooter. First off the story there is none no explanation to anything instead what we get is a pay-2-win FPS. Blacklight Retribution wants to be the dominant freemium shooter on it's switch to consoles but has almost no different factors from other freemium shooters on the market. Guns sounds are good and music is okay now that we are done with the positives lets getA broken mess and dull shooter. First off the story there is none no explanation to anything instead what we get is a pay-2-win FPS. Blacklight Retribution wants to be the dominant freemium shooter on it's switch to consoles but has almost no different factors from other freemium shooters on the market. Guns sounds are good and music is okay now that we are done with the positives lets get down to the long list of reasons why this game can't compete with other games in it's category.
    *Dull experience all the game has to offer and the premise of it is a future-war scenario where agents fight each other
    *Pay-2-Win expect many of the players at the top of the leaderboard to have bought premium weapons and armor
    * Long unnecessary respond times
    * Frequent lag
    * Poor ai on training mode they will glitch and just stand in place
    *No battle chatter or differing characters in practice mode (bots)
    * Must buy guns with real money to actually keep them and the ability to even rent or keep guns for a week shows the game doesn't have a strong leveling system.
    * Uninspiring death animations which almost look identical and is always in slow-motion.
    * Lazy gun variation many of the weapons look the same and the only difference is the name
    *Bad spawns and map design where one team will be decimated once the other team reaches their location due to the fact they spawn directly behind them instead of the usual front spawn
    And that is the list of issues that break Blacklight: Retribution it is obvious the developers do not care of fixing these problems and the game cannot offer as much immersion as more expensive shooters but cannot even differentiate itself from free-to-play fps's leading to a poorly made experience.    … Expand
  2. Thegodfatherson
    Apr 4, 2015
    3
    Blacklight Retribution will draw in players because of it's huge free-to-play model and because it's a first person shooter. This seems like the perfect idea for gamers on a budget, but if it weren't so generic and mediocre, Retribution could have been a sensation. The free to play model doesn't click, one gun can range from 3 to 5 dollars, and getting Z coins is an endless quest ofBlacklight Retribution will draw in players because of it's huge free-to-play model and because it's a first person shooter. This seems like the perfect idea for gamers on a budget, but if it weren't so generic and mediocre, Retribution could have been a sensation. The free to play model doesn't click, one gun can range from 3 to 5 dollars, and getting Z coins is an endless quest of grinding. I am still stuck on my original Assault Rifle and Light Pistol, and I can't escape from how bad those weapons work. The renting system is good for people who want a taste of the weapons, but it is really stupid. The game isn't half bad, it provides Call Of Duty type shooting mechanics. The customization is stupid. Overall, BLR has okay graphics, it's a fine shooting game, but it's terriblee because of it's free to play model. It isn't worth the free download this time.… Expand
  3. babaganush
    Apr 23, 2014
    3
    this game is fun, played it on the comp also(like it better on the comp)

    I like all the game modes and the levels and the equipment you can win while playing the match, like a suit of amor(big mech thing) the reason this gets a 3 would be after you play for a bit and get to where you can start upgrading and qualifying for new weapons and equipment, you then realize that the longest    this game is fun, played it on the comp also(like it better on the comp)

    I like all the game modes and the levels and the equipment you can win while playing the match, like a suit of amor(big mech thing)

    the reason this gets a 3 would be after you play for a bit and get to where you can start upgrading and qualifying for new weapons and equipment, you then realize that the longest amount of time you can have anything at all is 1 week. you can unlock stuff with money you get from winning matches, but anything and everything is 1,3 and 7 days and can only rent it for that long.

    unless you spend real dollars to buy a different kind of in game currency then you cannot get the weapon or equipment permanently. any other f2p game I have tried lets you buy the weapon(permanently) with money you win or money you pay for. it has never made me rent equipment and weapons if I wanted to use them.

    so unless im fairly awesome and winning thousands daily and playing for hours a day, then there is no way I can win enough from matches to keep all the equipment that I want to use each time I play. so there is no way I can casually play this game.

    try this game out for yourself, it is free and no need to take my word on it, fun to play like any shooter game but loses its fun when you cant keep any equipment without constantly renting it or throwing down lots of real cash to keep it. just to clarify im fine with paying for things but they normally give the option of paying for it with in game currency also, this is the only game I have found that doesn't let you do that.

    to clarify, im not giving it a 3 simply cuz i have to spend money for stuff, graphics are not that great to me for a PS4 game even if its free, the heavy Pay to Keep and/or Win model is annoying, also game is laggy no matter what, PC was like this also. but if im gonna spend money on a Free to play title, i would wait for something worthwhile like Planetside 2 which should come out soon enough for PS4. otherwise try this game out on PC or PS4 and see for yourself.    … Expand
  4. Dannystaples
    Aug 15, 2017
    1
    This game would be well worth the grind if it wasn't for the stupid renting system in place.

    The game is fun, is quite nice to look at overall and is fast and twitchy which is how I like my first person shooters. Could do with another map or two though. But just thinking about grinding away for your weapons and attachments for days on end gives a terrible feeling when you know you    This game would be well worth the grind if it wasn't for the stupid renting system in place.

    The game is fun, is quite nice to look at overall and is fast and twitchy which is how I like my first person shooters. Could do with another map or two though.

    But just thinking about grinding away for your weapons and attachments for days on end gives a terrible feeling when you know you won't even get to keep the attachments for your efforts. But no you grind for ages getting weapon attachments, only for it to disappear after a few hours.

    So basically what you have to do is find a favourite load out and then keep buying it over and over.

    I have confidence free-to-play games can work but this isn't the way.    … Expand
  5. Nel
    Jan 8, 2017
    4
    Huge free to play game, that offers nothing much but disappointments. Game is played online with others, and it can be a really tedious experience, and involve a lot of frustrated players. Which tends to not lead up to a great experience, and it does not do it this time either.
  6. MacDaddyD123
    Nov 25, 2013
    4
    I was so disappointed with this game. It looks like a lot of fun but it feels so blocky and awkward and it is so hard to get into a match with a friend. Also there is no way to have more than a couple hours of fun without dropping some money into it to get more equipment and weapons. But can you really complain when its a free-to-play? Nah its a decent FTP. And lots of microtransactionsI was so disappointed with this game. It looks like a lot of fun but it feels so blocky and awkward and it is so hard to get into a match with a friend. Also there is no way to have more than a couple hours of fun without dropping some money into it to get more equipment and weapons. But can you really complain when its a free-to-play? Nah its a decent FTP. And lots of microtransactions are to be expected with a FTP. Go ahead and download it but don't expect too much without dropping some cash into it.… Expand
  7. OMGtoasty
    Jan 3, 2014
    3
    All I can really say is HOLY AIM ASSIST!. I figured that out immediately and exploit it to get kills in every match. The maps are OK. I hate that you cant permanently buy stuff with in game currency. oh no you have to pay real cash for permanent stuff. Its too expensive to get all your gear temporarily using in game currency. that and you rarely get more than 150 currency every match whileAll I can really say is HOLY AIM ASSIST!. I figured that out immediately and exploit it to get kills in every match. The maps are OK. I hate that you cant permanently buy stuff with in game currency. oh no you have to pay real cash for permanent stuff. Its too expensive to get all your gear temporarily using in game currency. that and you rarely get more than 150 currency every match while it costs 160 for one weapon add on. This game stinks of PtW. I dont want to say it but for anyone just starting to play thats exactly what it looks like. I also experience alot of lag. It doesn't effect my game play but i hate to look at it. and before you blame my internet, Not a single one of my other games gives me this lag in online games. It is fun, for maybe playing an hour at a time.… Expand
  8. robone1812
    Jan 1, 2014
    2
    the auto aim killed this game on when you use sights its like you have an aim bot.....................................................................
  9. Nerdbasher2000
    Jan 10, 2014
    2
    This game sucks. Expect a lot of micro transactions and long waiting times for a game, then expect choppy frame rates and lagging. A horrible game best forgotten.
  10. mboner1
    Sep 4, 2014
    0
    Runs like absolute crap. If you want the real game, play it on pc. Stutters like crazy, turn into invisible walls when running, warping all over the map, and no, it's not my internet, it's this crappy port of a game. I was excited for this on ps4 as well, but the ps4 can't handle it.
  11. Paladin_Of_Luna
    Nov 18, 2013
    0
    Not what I was expecting. Blacklight: Retribution looked like an amazing free-to-play game on the PS4 launch, and I was very eager to get it, being a long-time fan of multiplayer FPS games. My first day with this game was decent. I messed around for a bit with the training modes, as the servers were so messed up that I could not connect to a game. The AI are probably the dumbest thingsNot what I was expecting. Blacklight: Retribution looked like an amazing free-to-play game on the PS4 launch, and I was very eager to get it, being a long-time fan of multiplayer FPS games. My first day with this game was decent. I messed around for a bit with the training modes, as the servers were so messed up that I could not connect to a game. The AI are probably the dumbest things I have ever seen, until they can see you, at which point your face is greeted with a hail of bullets that shred you into nothingness. Eventually, after getting bored, I tried to find a game once more on my second day. I successfully found one, and played for a couple of hours, racking up points and XP despite being killed by opponents with better gear and equipment, and then afterwards, when I went to go look for new equipment to buy with the hard-earned in-game points, I learned something. You cannot permanently unlock a single thing with in-game "GP"! I thought it was a sick joke, and looked everywhere for proof otherwise! To my astonishment, I was greeted with screens asking me to pay for in game "Premium Currency", otherwise I could only drop a couple thousand hard-earned "GP" to "rent" the gun and equipment for a maximum of one week. Do not be fooled people, this is a straight, 100% PAY-TO-WIN, BETA game. It's similar in purchasing to League of Legends, where they rotate a "Hero" character that is free to play, but you have no access to their abilities or such, and everything is consumable. Even the in-game "depot" shop is similar to League of Legends. I know it's an odd comparison, but it is literally the same pay-to-win mechanic, so do not come and play this game expecting it to be free, it really isn't, and I think Zombie Studios should feel guilty about releasing this poor of a beta to the world, and admit that they lied about this game being free. Companies like this are the worst of the worst as far as money-grubbing goes.… Expand
  12. Mugen
    May 5, 2014
    3
    Picture a game with the same network issues like call of duty ghost: host migrations,random deaths and massive lag in almost every game but you have to pay for everything like guns,armor etc,that is blacklight retribution in a nutshell.
  13. Genji1
    Mar 5, 2019
    1
    Its just another call of duty, time to kill is WAYYYYYY too short, which kills any bit of fun the game may of had. Servers are dead as well, I used quick join function, i ended up in a deathmatch of just me and one other person. On top of that, its also pay to win. The game had promise but failed to deliver.
  14. shootingstars99
    Aug 29, 2019
    2
    Typical shooter we have all played before. Have you played Battlefield, Call of Duty or Medal of Honor? If you answered yes, you've already played this game too more or less. The 'unique' systems it implements to try and make it stand out just feel tedious and out of place.

    Plus, coming into the game and seeing all of the guns available, and just how much you would have to spend to    Typical shooter we have all played before. Have you played Battlefield, Call of Duty or Medal of Honor? If you answered yes, you've already played this game too more or less. The 'unique' systems it implements to try and make it stand out just feel tedious and out of place.

    Plus, coming into the game and seeing all of the guns available, and just how much you would have to spend to permanently own one is just nutty. Same modes we all have played since the early 2000's and just add the modern day mobile game business model feel to it, Bleh...    … Expand
  15. GeneticcChimera
    Jul 17, 2023
    4
    Coming out during the advent of PlayStation 4 ®, Blacklight: Retribution sought to incorporate every cliché prevalent in other shooter franchises, such as Battlefield and Call of Duty. Therefore, it became a basic, repetitious, and mediocre game with nothing to differentiate it from the competition. The graphics are outdated and compared to that of the PlayStation 3 ®. Hardsuit Labs, theComing out during the advent of PlayStation 4 ®, Blacklight: Retribution sought to incorporate every cliché prevalent in other shooter franchises, such as Battlefield and Call of Duty. Therefore, it became a basic, repetitious, and mediocre game with nothing to differentiate it from the competition. The graphics are outdated and compared to that of the PlayStation 3 ®. Hardsuit Labs, the game creators, force their microtransactions down your throat at every turn because, in their absence, the game is even more forgettable. Either you refuse to pay for microtransactions and be clung for the entirety of the game with the same weaponry from the onset. Or you pay for microtransactions and are granted the capacity to customize, upgrade and rent weaponry. They made the game free-to-play with a caveat -- pay with money to appreciate the experience.

    Story and characters do not play a large part. Frankly, the game probably has an account -- either it was too obscure or did not manage to grab my attention.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

25
#25 Best PS4 Game of 2013
15
#15 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2013
12
#12 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    Mar 3, 2014
    80
    It lacks the bells and whistles, but give Blacklight a chance and you'll be pleasantly surprised. [January 2014, p79]
  2. games(TM)
    Jan 23, 2014
    70
    If you've a passing interest in blasting chumps and don't fancy dropping 50 quid for the privilege, Blacklight: Retribution is a more than serviceable option. [Issue#143, p.105]
  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Jan 21, 2014
    50
    In its defence, Retribution is free to play – so while it can’t compete with Killzone Shadow Fall, that’s an unfair expectation to begin with. But it’s still a PS4 release, and in this regard feels like a grubby stowaway that’s snuck aboard a glitzy cruise liner bound for the golden shores of next-gen.
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