Crimson Alliance

 Xbox 360
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 39 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 39
  3. Negative: 6 out of 39

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  1. trachy
    Sep 10, 2011
    5
    When I saw that this game said "Free", I was ecstatic. I should have known that I would've had to do something to play the game fully. For those of you who get this game thinking that it is for free, you have to pay $10 (800 Microsoft points) to be able to fully play the game with one of the three character classes, or you can pay $15 (1200 Microsoft points) to play the game in full. Also,When I saw that this game said "Free", I was ecstatic. I should have known that I would've had to do something to play the game fully. For those of you who get this game thinking that it is for free, you have to pay $10 (800 Microsoft points) to be able to fully play the game with one of the three character classes, or you can pay $15 (1200 Microsoft points) to play the game in full. Also, people who bought all five games in the Summer of Arcade get a code to get the game for free. This is nice as the SoA games themselves are good games (although you need a Kinect for Fruit Ninja). If you get it for free, the game is worth playing. The game follows a very basic hack-and-slash play style. There is nothing really unique about the gameplay elements in this game. However, what is interesting is that it supports 4 player co-op. While the game doesn't make great use of co-op, it does give you a game you can beat in one 2-3 hour sitting with your friends. The story is worthless, and the voice-acting is among the worst I've heard in a video game. The art style is not impressive when compared to some of the beautiful games offered on X-Box Live Arcade, such as Braid, Bastion, and Limbo. However, it isn't an eyesore, so it continues the Arcade tradition of looking better than an actual X-Box 360 game. The music is nothing that stands out, but it also isn't horrible. The game is very replayable however, especially if you spent the extra $5 to get all the character classes. There are plenty of goodies to find, although most can be found while going through your first playthrough. The replayability mainly comes in in trying to improve your high score. I would say get this game if you have some friends coming over for a few hours and you want a not overly complicated game to play, or if you have other friends who have this game, so you can compete over getting the best score. And if you bought the Summer of Arcade titles, you just got a decent enough free game.… Expand
  2. jdogginess
    Sep 8, 2011
    5
    Every time I see a dungeon crawler (Sacred 2, Torchlight, D&D Daggerfall)...and now Crimson Alliance come out for the 360, I do back flips like a 5 year old with excitement hoping that I get something in the mold of Diablo 2 (PC) or Baldur's Gates and Champions of Norrath (PS2 titles). Unfortunately there is something wrong with all of the 360 dungeon crawler games, each one different.Every time I see a dungeon crawler (Sacred 2, Torchlight, D&D Daggerfall)...and now Crimson Alliance come out for the 360, I do back flips like a 5 year old with excitement hoping that I get something in the mold of Diablo 2 (PC) or Baldur's Gates and Champions of Norrath (PS2 titles). Unfortunately there is something wrong with all of the 360 dungeon crawler games, each one different. Here goes in Chronological order...

    SACRED 2 has everything you'd want except its gameplay, pacing, sounds, and visuals are lackluster and it despite its huge world, Plethora of drops, socketing, and customizable skill/stat system, and Co-op, without any polish, it just never delivers excitement as much as a long boring chore...

    TORCHLIGHT is completely awesome in every regard save for one minor one MAJOR issue. Only Three Classes? this is forgivable and could be overlooked if not for the lack of CO-OP!!! Shame on them for making a dungeon crawler this awesome and robbing it of life by not allowing co-op play. Thousands of people would still be playing this game everyday had they included this simple and necessary aspect for the genre...

    D&D DAGGERFALL is littered with bugs. This game has co-op and 'm a huge fan of the official D&D universe, but it can't save this game. The world is infinitely smaller than Sacred 2 in both area and content. The gameplay, sights, and sounds are similarly uninspiring. Random abilities of your characters will permanently disappear at times (This may or may not have been patched since I played but its not as if that makes this game worth anything anyway). Of them all I would say this is the worst of them, unless you knock Torchlight down even further for lack of Co-op...

    Crimson Alliance finally falls in our lap and (drum roll)...Its another missed opportunity. Visually its awesome and the playabilty is fantastic, almost like an action or arcade game. Unfortunately its a little to much like a stand up arcade game. No loot and no character customization? What the F*ck is a dungeon crawler without being able mold your dude and send creatures bursting open like pinatas leaving plenty of treasures or crap for us to sift through. This is little more than an 80's beat-em-up in a dungeon crawler mask. Its more like Double Dragon, Streets of Rage, Knights of the round, Golden Axe...you get my point. Don't get me wrong, I had a ton of fun with those games, but I can play them if I want beat-em-up co-op.

    For now, its best to dust off and fire up Diablo 2 (PC) or Baldur's gates/Champions of Norrath (PS2)...or even the inferior D&D Heroes for original XBOX. You will have a much better time than with any of the 360 titles so far. While playing them, continue to pray that one day we will get a good dungeon crawler for current generation consoles or that they will port Diablo 3. Neither seems likely at this rate...(Let a whisper of Torchlight 2 accompany your dreams.)    … Expand
  3. aspentitan
    Mar 20, 2012
    7
    I as well just played the free version of the game. It is worth the download. To fully unlock though you have to pay xbox live points to unlock the full versions of characters. It is up to you but for me this game is good enough just playing with the basic trial characters. Let's face it there are better games for the same money if you have to pay. It's a gimmick that they try to hook youI as well just played the free version of the game. It is worth the download. To fully unlock though you have to pay xbox live points to unlock the full versions of characters. It is up to you but for me this game is good enough just playing with the basic trial characters. Let's face it there are better games for the same money if you have to pay. It's a gimmick that they try to hook you with a free trail then hopefully you pay to play this game that you otherwise would turn your nose up at. That said I fully recommend the trial version everyone should download this since it is finishable with the trial characters and the cost is right at nothing more than taking up some of your hard drive space. The game had pretty decent graphics and sound, the story lets just say they threw one in for good measure and is pretty generic. The game reminds me quite a bit of an updated guantlet meets diablo although the diablo side is more so to do with the dungeon design, not the creatures. Overall pretty easy to learn and hack and slash. You can do episodes 15 to 20 minutes or so and of course replay and try again. Its quite fun for casual entertainment. I guess if you finish with the trial characters you probably could justify paying for the full unlocks as by then you've probably already spent 10-20 hrs in the game. A pretty decent offering I'd say.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 51 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 51
  3. Negative: 2 out of 51
  1. Armchair Empire
    Dec 6, 2011
    85
    There are plenty of hidden secrets and scoring/upgrading incentives to replay levels, especially on Xbox Live with a few fellow dungeon crawlers. That combines with satisfying old-school hack & slash RPG action in a dark, dank and deeply buried dungeon realm that's visually appealing along with a not entirely original but certainly captivating story for a completely entertaining XBLA adventure.
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  2. XboxAddict
    Oct 26, 2011
    83
    Is it worth 1200 MS Points? When you and your friends join up to discover the treasure and mystery that abounds in these lands, then it is a steal.
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  3. games(TM)
    Oct 18, 2011
    50
    It's initially compelling, but starts to feel shallow as combat becomes a grind, and a nagging wish for more of RPG elements creeps in. [Nov 2011, p.110]
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