Blackwater

 Xbox 360
Metascore
37

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 12
  3. Negative: 9 out of 12
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  1. Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
    Dec 28, 2011
    42
    We often found shooting to be off-target. [Feb 2012, p.109]
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  2. Games Master UK
    Jan 12, 2012
    41
    A seed of a good idea prematurely chocked by numerous technical and design shortcomings. [Feb 2012, p.96]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. GameSpot
    Nov 16, 2011
    40
    Awkward controls and a forgettable plot greatly overshadow Blackwater's few bright spots.
  5. Game Chronicles
    Jan 25, 2012
    35
    Blackwater is a definite step in the right direction to providing the motion-based FPS like the one promised when Microsoft announced their Kinect camera peripheral. But between the controversial backstory, the dicey subject matter, the terrible presentation, and the sketchy controls, it is a game that is better left on the shelf. If you want a better Kinect shooter experience, check out Gunstringer.
  6. MondoXbox
    Dec 19, 2011
    35
    A very poorly produced game, with too many problems to be even considered as a possibile buy.
  7. IGN
    Oct 25, 2011
    25
    This is a bad game from top to bottom, and it doesn't deserve a moment of your attention.
  8. Game Informer
    Dec 19, 2011
    20
    Blackwater is an awful game on all fronts. It's a transparent attempt to lure uninformed Kinect owners into purchasing a nearly-broken, tedious, two-hour experience under the guise of being an action-heavy FPS. Play the trailer again and mock it with friends...you'll save $50 and probably have more fun.
  9. Giant Bomb
    Dec 15, 2011
    20
    All of this misery for $50 a pop. An hour and a half of busted-ass light gun shooting that barely masks the deplorable PR message underneath. In effect, buyers of Blackwater are paying for propaganda. They're handing over money to a shady group of alleged killers for the privilege of being told that these guys aren't shady or killers or anything to that effect.
  10. GamesRadar+
    Nov 1, 2011
    10
    Both an insult to gamers and a step backward for the Kinect. We didn't even get to mentioning the recycled dialogue and animations, the horrendous texture popping, or the out-of-sync subtitles. And a $50 asking price? Must... not... smash... keyboard.

User Reviews

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User Score
4.5

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 8 out of 16
  1. weedlord
    Nov 26, 2011
    0
    So some of the most despicable human beings decided to ride the waves of their murdering names straight into a video game? What the hell? InSo some of the most despicable human beings decided to ride the waves of their murdering names straight into a video game? What the hell? In what world does this make any sense at all. In reality, it doesn't. This half assed title is just another jingoistic "shoot brown people in the Middle East" game trying to ride the success of CoD and BF, but with no merits of it's own. This terrible game deserves nothing more than to die a slow, quiet death in the bargain bin, which is much more than the people who share it's namesake deserve.… Full Review »
  2. 360gamer8302
    Nov 6, 2011
    1
    One of the worst examples of a game in existence. Almost everything about this game is done wrong and I nearly threw my Kinect out of theOne of the worst examples of a game in existence. Almost everything about this game is done wrong and I nearly threw my Kinect out of the bedroom window after the first level.… Full Review »
  3. TY7ERDURDEN
    May 5, 2012
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. The concept for gameplay is perfect. The premise of the story line is excellent. The kinect fails to offer the responsiveness or accuracy that the game demands. The graphics are poorly executed but only stand out so much due the lack of ambience or environment. Forget whatever trash you have read about the institution called "Black water" or more recently known as Xe or Academi. Everything they've been accused of would have been disregarded if performed by the department of defense. What really kills this title is the dialogue. The same cheesy lines are repeated whenever you change characters. It was a good idea to swap characters who each have their own weapon systems. It was a good idea to have numerous paths through levels that players choose. It was a good idea to address the plight of African governments failing under pressure from local warlords and the UN being unable to fully address the problem. It was a good idea to use the arcade rail style game play to pair with the kinect.

    It was too ambitious to create an all kinect shooter. It lags and skips meaning that quick and accurate fire us impossible. The controls are lackluster at best and infuriating at worst. The graphics are laugh ably substandard for the year 2011. This is the year of Forza 4 and Battlefield 3. Halo Reach and Sky rim used ancient engines yet produced marvelous visuals. The dialogue is bland and repetitive. Sound effects are awful. The a?chievements require *numerous* playthroughs meaning that cheevo-hunters should look elsewhere.

    Its not worth owning. Its not worth renting. In fact, its not worth playing at all. Its annoying that a chance for a kinect shooter failed. A chance for a black water game failed. A chance for a game to address the civil wars in Africa failed. That this game was such an opportunity is the greatest failure of all.    … Full Review »
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