Defiance

 Xbox 360
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 247 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 155 out of 247
  2. Mixed: 46 out of 247
  3. Negative: 46 out of 247
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  1. GamingSince87
    Apr 3, 2013
    6
    Do not read any of the 10 or 0 reviews is my Metacritic philosophy. I have played 2 console MMO's (this really isn't an MMO in my book) but on the first day of launch I expected much worse than what happened yesterday.

    To launch the game on 3 platforms on the same day is pretty impressive. The game itself is fun, the graphics aren't the best you've ever seen but that's because there is    Do not read any of the 10 or 0 reviews is my Metacritic philosophy. I have played 2 console MMO's (this really isn't an MMO in my book) but on the first day of launch I expected much worse than what happened yesterday.

    To launch the game on 3 platforms on the same day is pretty impressive. The game itself is fun, the graphics aren't the best you've ever seen but that's because there is like 100 other people doing on your screen at the same time. If you have never played anything on this huge type of scale before, I say give it a go and don't let us tell you what to think.

    My best experience came during a BETA there was a world boss Arkfall called the Mother of all hellbugs anyway me and like 50 people were fighting this for like 20 minutes with little to no lag, during beta.

    So I'm guessing any server issues are going to stabilize especially once all the whiny little ****es that give out 0's leave the game     … Expand
  2. Brainlicker
    Jun 2, 2013
    7
    I was so excited about the potential for an MMO on the 360, read everything I could and got caught up in the hype. After the sharp learning curve and first month of technical problems it becomes just a game that makes you repeat the same things you have done a million times. Go there and do this or go there and kill that. The world is bland and lifeless compared to games like GTA even ifI was so excited about the potential for an MMO on the 360, read everything I could and got caught up in the hype. After the sharp learning curve and first month of technical problems it becomes just a game that makes you repeat the same things you have done a million times. Go there and do this or go there and kill that. The world is bland and lifeless compared to games like GTA even if they are different worlds. You can drive forever in Defiance without seeing much, not that it's even worth seeing. After you play through a couple of Ark Falls and finish the solo story you just lose interest. There isn't enough meat in the game to keep you coming back. Maybe if the world expanded or your leveling was set up in a different fashion. The level system could use some work and perks could be better but works ok as it is. The whole game is ok but had so much more potential.
    The other thing to consider is how are they going to roll into the new console generation? This is an online game through their servers. With the new generation coming are they going to set you up on the new xbox or are you going to have to buy another game since they just signed on for a second season?    … Expand
  3. JeffKaos
    Apr 7, 2013
    6
    This game is closer to a 6.5. People have been so desperate for a console mmo, especially on the Xbox 360, that this game is causing them to lose their minds; or at least their objectivity which explains all the 9's and 10's. The game is definitely fun and the character development is pretty good, but it's also riddled with a good amount of bugs which require a fair amount of internetThis game is closer to a 6.5. People have been so desperate for a console mmo, especially on the Xbox 360, that this game is causing them to lose their minds; or at least their objectivity which explains all the 9's and 10's. The game is definitely fun and the character development is pretty good, but it's also riddled with a good amount of bugs which require a fair amount of internet searches to find workarounds. At least I'm happy that there ARE workarounds. The game play is fun, if a bit generic, but the graphics are mediocre at best as are the character animations. And the animation of the pre-order bonus car is just awful. I'm willing to overlook the graphics and animations because for this game to work on consoles sacrifices had to be made. There's also a lot of information missing in the early game, such as how code-keys and lock boxes work and how to mod weapons but this stuff can easily be found online during the constant server down time. All in all, if you're looking for a solid mmo experience on the Xbox 360 theirs no other choice but the game is fun none the less. If you're looking for a solid shooter with cutting edge graphics then you're out of luck.… Expand
  4. MOPHR3AK
    Apr 7, 2013
    5
    There is some potential here, but the game as it stands 'Right Now', almost unplayable. Very glitchy, it suffers from frame rate issues and connectivity (servers drop out every now and then) There is a TON of stuff to do in game, quests and side quests along with some competitive multiplayer match making as well. Lots of upgrades and purchases in-game for your character are available, asThere is some potential here, but the game as it stands 'Right Now', almost unplayable. Very glitchy, it suffers from frame rate issues and connectivity (servers drop out every now and then) There is a TON of stuff to do in game, quests and side quests along with some competitive multiplayer match making as well. Lots of upgrades and purchases in-game for your character are available, as long as your willing to dish out some MSP. I wouldn't buy to play the game just yet, i'd give it a few more weeks, get TRION to sort things out and make the game a little more functional.… Expand
  5. ChalenChambers
    Apr 16, 2013
    5
    Defiance is not a great game. I went into it skeptically as I found the cover art pathetic. Once I started playing I enjoyed the first hour but it seemed to get pretty repetitive and for an MMO, that can't happen that early. It's not a great game, but it's not horrible either.
  6. jake38
    May 4, 2013
    6
    it is a very interesting idea to have a game effect the effects of a TV show but when the games DOES NOT WORK there is no point in playing the game to begin with
  7. rmklingler
    Apr 3, 2013
    7
    I purchased this game yesterday and waited until this morning to play it. So far I have to say that I enjoy it. I've only completed maybe the first two missions, and they have been enjoyable. This game is very different from what I usually play. I enjoy the typical FPS. I enjoy the Gears of War franchise. I've been playing through the Dragon Age series recently and grinding through aI purchased this game yesterday and waited until this morning to play it. So far I have to say that I enjoy it. I've only completed maybe the first two missions, and they have been enjoyable. This game is very different from what I usually play. I enjoy the typical FPS. I enjoy the Gears of War franchise. I've been playing through the Dragon Age series recently and grinding through a season of NBA 2K13. This game seems to have small doses of those games but for the most part it is completely different. Don't take this the wrong way and assume that it's a combination of all of those great games, so this game is mega-great! This game has a lot of flaws, but seems to have quite a bit of potential too. That is mostly what my score is based on, it's potential. The graphics leave much to be desired, but I wasn't expecting a Crysis 3-type marvel to look at. The gameplay is decent. The guns have a decent feel to them and there seems to be some variety to what you can pick up (loot). If you're expecting a new gun every couple of enemy encounters like Borderlands, you'll be disappointed. On the subject of loot drops, I would like to see this game strike a happy medium between where it's at now, and Borderlands. I also wish this game had a cover system. It seems odd to me that with all of the rubble and vegetation that a cover system fell by the wayside. Hopefully this is something that can be patched later. If not, I may just have to tailor my playing style to account for it. The level system seems pretty intuitive for now. So far, I like the menu system this game has in place. If you're wondering about the story, well, it's a shooter. So the story is: here is a reason to shoot stuff, now shoot stuff, and here's more reasons to shoot other stuff. We've all played this story before. There is nothing new under the sun. However, I like how this game is interconnected to a TV series. It may flesh out this world's canon in a way that's never been done before. Of course, the show could be terrible and it would all be for naught. We'll see. Which seems to be a theme for this game. For right now it's a fun game for me to zone out and shoot some stuff and watch a bunch of other people in my video game world doing the same. This game has a lot of room for improvement, which could be patched in the future. But it may not. We'll see.… Expand
  8. AlloySeven
    Apr 27, 2013
    5
    You can find the full review http://alloyseven.com/channels/game/item/125-defi-review and the video review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SKj9CnrRHk Keep in mind that I don't believe in scoring games and do so here only because metacritic requires it. This '5' is very much subject to change since the developers may add content and fixes that address the issues I point out in the You can find the full review http://alloyseven.com/channels/game/item/125-defi-review and the video review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SKj9CnrRHk Keep in mind that I don't believe in scoring games and do so here only because metacritic requires it. This '5' is very much subject to change since the developers may add content and fixes that address the issues I point out in the review )

    I had a hard time bottom-lining Defiance mostly because I enjoyed and hated the experience almost equally. For every concept I felt Trion Worlds got right, they missed somewhere else. Suffice it to say that Defiance is an average MMO with the potential to be slightly above average if the developers commit to fixing bugs and annoyances and adding better content in the future.

    With that said, let's jump into the category breakdowns.

    Action Junkies Defiance's best quality is its gunplay. It's fast paced, chaotic and mostly accurate. You'll spend most of your in-game time killing bad guys when you are not fetching items or unlocking terminals, so it's nice that Trion Worlds got this part right.

    However the gunplay is encumbered by grossly repetitive mission structures, the same horrible enemy spawning found in games like Borderlands and Call of Duty and a burdensome interface that makes switching between more than 2 weapons mid-combat a serious pain.

    On top of this, you have to keep in mind that this game is an MMO. MMOs thrive on keeping the game challenging for 100s of hours. So don't plan on finding or being rewarded with any shields, weapons or grenades the are ultimately devistating. This was my biggest point of contention with the action. The weapons I used during the final hours of the game were a rare sniper rifle I got from a friend early in the game and the Rifle that Nolan gave me in the TV Mission. You will not feel like a badass by the end of the main campaign unless you are lucky enough to win the lotto via the rare item drop boxes throughout the game or know some friends that can hook you up with some sweet gear.

    Bookworms If you are primarily a bookworm, don't bother with this game. The story, characters and dialog are supremely corny and uninteresting. To make matters worse, the clumsy narrative also hinders you from feeling any sense of purpose for your actions. This is yet another shooter you can throw on the pile that boils down to mindless killing with no real sense of weight tied to your actions

    Explorers will be treated to a vast open world--one that gives you no incentives to explore it unless you're an action junkie looking for gun fights. How can you have wide-open terrain with nooks, crannies and buildings just begging to be searched and not reward the player for venturing out by allowing us to find rare loot?

    Strategists may love and hate Defiance. I found so many combat situations that were just begging for me to sneak in from the high ground as a sniper and rain down destruction before eventually assaulting across the objective to clean up stragglers. But for as many of these situations as I found, I found at least two other missions that made me deactivate generators while trying to dodge enemy fire from spawning enemies. Not to mention the plethora of missions that make you defend a uplink station while 200 bad guys spawn out of nowhere and descend upon your location. Defiance is truly a mixed bag when it comes to strategy. Sometimes you'll love it, other times you'll hate it. Unfortunately for me, the love sequences were few and far between.

    Builders This was the second area where I felt like Defiance let me down. I bought Defiance hoping that it would scratch the itch I felt like Borderlands 2 couldn't. I'm specifically talking about giving me a more fleshed-out character development and customization system. Defiance did deliver this, but then squelched it with leveling that takes too long and limiting the amount of passive and active skills I could use at any given time.

    But again, this is an MMO. If you enjoy MMOs, you probably won't gripe about this as much as I did because you'll be willing and really used to investing 100s of hours to get your character up-to-par. I'm a bit more impatient than the average MMO player, so take my criticism here with a grain of salt.

    Collaborators As an MMO, expect Defiance to be more fun with friends. But honestly, unless you have a group of friends who are planning to play this game with you, don't expect to link up with too many people while playing online. From my experience, most of the people in-game are focused on the ark fall events that get old after you've done five or so. For an MMO, it feels more like a single-player adventure.

    ....    … Expand
  9. dubz88
    Apr 13, 2013
    6
    Defiance isn't bad neither is it particularly good. This is the best way that I can sum up this game. I wanted to enjoy this game but it just didn't do enough to keep me wanting to stick around.

    To start, the lack of choices when it comes to choosing your race was disappointing. It would seem that the game lore has the potential to have more races be available but you are limited to    Defiance isn't bad neither is it particularly good. This is the best way that I can sum up this game. I wanted to enjoy this game but it just didn't do enough to keep me wanting to stick around.

    To start, the lack of choices when it comes to choosing your race was disappointing. It would seem that the game lore has the potential to have more races be available but you are limited to only two when you create your character. Furthermore, your origin story that you choose means absolutely nothing beyond the outfit and gun type that you start with. During cutscenes, characters show the bare minimum of emotion and lip syncing is poor at best. I also experiencing a fair amount of screen tearing during cutscenes but nothing overly intrusive. The game world from a graphical standpoint looks generic and underwhelming and low resolution textures are everywhere. I don't want to say that graphics are the highest priority, but coming off of recent releases that push the Xbox 360 to its limits, Defiance is severely lacking in this department. I understand that given the scale and amount of rendering that is needed, this becomes difficult to achieve but I personally felt it took me out of the experience. Technical issues become more apparent the more you play. On several occasions I noticed large amounts of lag even doing something as simple as opening up my character's inventory. In some cases, other player's armor would render properly from a distance but up close the game would make all surrounding characters look the same. Sound will also cut out frequently during large engagements such as the events known as "Arkfalls".

    Arkfalls are usually multi-stage events within the game world that players can participate in to gain loot and currency. However, as a result of the game scaling the difficulty as a result of more players being around, these Arkfall events end up turning into 50+ players holding down the trigger devoid of any real skill. The AI is also very unsupportive during missions and will typically leave you bleeding out waiting to be revived or end up crawling around the environment themselves after contributing nothing to the battle at hand. Side missions typically fall under the fetch quest motif and add nothing substantial to the story while growing increasingly repetitive. The world itself also fairly uninteresting to explore due in my part to the poor graphics but the game does insist on placing audio logs in the rubble of random buildings should you wish to learn more about the lore of the game.

    Overall, my opinion of the game is generally negative but at the same time I can't at least give some credit to the Trion for attempting to take on the task of bringing an MMO to the consoles. Defiance had so much potential but falls short of solid execution. I also haven't mentioned the other aspects of the game such as co-op missions and PvP. The former are similar to the co-op style missions in Red Dead Redemption and the latter are Team Deathmatch style similar to what you might see in Gears of War/Tomb Raider etc.    … Expand
  10. ThatAngryGuy
    May 8, 2013
    5
    There is potential here but overall the game is simply average. Although the gameplay can be fun, and most of the time it is, the game is just filled with to many problems for it to be rated higher. The main story to begin with is TERRIBLE, I don't even think it can be called a main story as it is that lacklustre and lazy. There is almost no character development and it becomes hard toThere is potential here but overall the game is simply average. Although the gameplay can be fun, and most of the time it is, the game is just filled with to many problems for it to be rated higher. The main story to begin with is TERRIBLE, I don't even think it can be called a main story as it is that lacklustre and lazy. There is almost no character development and it becomes hard to understand which characters are actually the important ones. There are no plot twists in the story and you will quickly find yourself not caring at all about what is happening to these characters and the world around you and them (especially with the awful voice acting that has been done in this game). The side missions, like the main story have been rushed and have had little effort put into them. You will find yourself repeating the same types of side mission over and over again until you want to snap the game in half. You will even find yourself in the same areas fro these side missions with the developers copying and pasting certain bases around the map to save some time when making the game. PURE LAZINESS! You will find yourself a few hours in not caring at all about these side missions and will likely start skipping them entirely.

    The reason this game does not drop to the depths of a 1 or 2 is because it does have some positives that push back a little on the negatives. Gameplay for one is solid and works brilliantly, the controls are fluent and menu navigation is quick and simple. The wide array of guns, loot, and weapon customisation available to you also gives you a 'Borderlands' like feeling (and that's a good feeling). You will quickly find yourself wanting to find that next weapon that will blow your enemies away even more and your current one. The final positive I am going to mention and perhaps Defiance's strongest point is its multiplayer. Like almost every competitive multiplayer game, Defiance introduces a 6v6 and 8v8 versus mode, however this is not want I want to focus on and neither will you if you buy the game. It is instead Defiance's 'Shadow War's' that will make you want to play this game online. This is a 32 vs. 32 battleground mode that has hours of fun embedded into it with 64 people battling it out to capture points and shoot the living hell out of each other with guns that they have picked up from the open world. Defiance also offers co-op missions for 2-4 players but really this just feels like padding with levels pretty boring and having some cool bosses at the end of them.

    Although the game did have potential, especially being one of the few MMO's on the Xbox360, it unfortunately falls short of my expectations and has to many things holding it back from being a great MMO. Although there are positives that have been mentioned above, the negatives far outweigh these (and those were just the main negatives not mentioning how buggy and laggy the game can be at times). I hope that Defiance shows game developers that MMO's can be made on the Xbox and that better ones will be produced for the new upcoming Xbox Infinity. Unfortunately though, Defiance is just an average game.    … Expand
  11. acausal
    Apr 3, 2013
    6
    I can't really "review" the game yet as I have only spent a few hours playing.

    It isn't really that interesting. The world looks pretty much the same throughout. I wonder if this could be to leave it a blank slate in some ways, to have a canvas to add to when the show takes off. I see still potential... And can forgive things like lips not moving right. Some things just look rushed    I can't really "review" the game yet as I have only spent a few hours playing.

    It isn't really that interesting. The world looks pretty much the same throughout. I wonder if this could be to leave it a blank slate in some ways, to have a canvas to add to when the show takes off.

    I see still potential... And can forgive things like lips not moving right. Some things just look rushed though... Not necessary reduction in detail to handle the game and massive multiplayer environment... but Rushed. Cheap. No offense to those who worked on it.

    I still have hopes, but I was already wanting to take it back when I woke up today.

    I guess it is still enjoyable in an arcade way. I chose it over Halo 4 when the servers went down, playing Halo 4 while I waited... But wanted to go back to "new experience". I am not sure that that is all it was, yet.

    Gunning is pretty solid, but sometimes choppy/jumpy when around lots of people... Sometimes normally. Men. Okay.

    It is just Sort of uninteresting. Why? My guy is looking at the ground as he drives the ATV, all arched over.

    Hacking bug-mounds? Same animation as hacking computers/Etc.

    Concept... Awesome. More could be done. More, maybe, can.

    Still enjoyable... And have not explored everything, nor do I fully understand the perks system.

    This is a preliminary review only. 6 or 7. 10 for entertainment concept. Don't know about story. Being "with" the stars of the show is interestingly done. Good ideas. I will give it a 7 even though I also want to give it a 6 overall, with some elements being a 5, 4, 3...    … Expand
  12. matadorred
    Apr 12, 2013
    6
    Will be a hit or miss. The PC version is much better than the console versions with much less hiccups or lag. Either you're one of the unfortunate few who buy a $60 game only to be unable to download it, have the patcher work properly, be disconnected frequently, download up to 90% only to have a patcher error continuously. OR you're part of the group that have played it seamlessly withoutWill be a hit or miss. The PC version is much better than the console versions with much less hiccups or lag. Either you're one of the unfortunate few who buy a $60 game only to be unable to download it, have the patcher work properly, be disconnected frequently, download up to 90% only to have a patcher error continuously. OR you're part of the group that have played it seamlessly without any errors. It's a roll of the dice to be honest, and I dont think this average shooter and outdated graphic-wise game deserves that gamble.… Expand
  13. BabuYagu
    Apr 5, 2013
    7
    The MMO elements to this game have failed to convert me. However the overall gameplay is fantastic and I'm hooked. I love leveling up and getting loot and there's lots of this in Defiance. The gun play is solid and graphics are great for an MMO. Love it.
  14. cettywise
    Jun 17, 2013
    7
    Hopefully this review will give you a good idea about what you'll be getting into if you decide to play Defiance. This game is a third-person shooter MMO in the same spirit of Borderlands. Lots of run and gun gameplay with plenty of loot. While the game itself is decent, its far from perfect. Many people may not be able to tolerate the glaring downsides that go along with the fun.Hopefully this review will give you a good idea about what you'll be getting into if you decide to play Defiance. This game is a third-person shooter MMO in the same spirit of Borderlands. Lots of run and gun gameplay with plenty of loot. While the game itself is decent, its far from perfect. Many people may not be able to tolerate the glaring downsides that go along with the fun.

    *Story*
    The game ties into a series on Syfy (check your local listings) by the same name. You play as an ark hunter, wandering mercenaries whose lives revolve around salvaging advanced technology falling from space. Since both the game and the show are fairly new the story is still unfolding. While the world is interesting hopefully more significant events will take place as time goes on.

    *Gameplay*
    Defiance plays like a typical TPS, but without a good cover system. This game will undoubtedly be compared to borderlands because of the shoot, loot, repeat play-style but the guns don't seem as impressive or varied as borderlands which is a real disappointment. However having hundreds of other players in the world with you does add a new level to the experience. There are also random skirmishes that break out on the map in real time that players can choose to participate in for better loot and co-op missions that put an emphasis on teamwork. Unfortunately once the main story is done that's all there really is to do. There isn't enough content in the game to keep it interesting for very long, and you'll be playing the storyline over and over hoping to get better loot. The community definitely sees the potential for expansion though and keep coming back for more.

    *Presentation*
    I am someone who puts gameplay over graphics, however I realize not everyone is as kind as me. If you're looking for HD eye-candy then Defiance will disappoint the hell out of you. And while the game world is huge much of it seems empty. One could say its because of the post-apocalyptic setting but deep down the game isn't all that great looking. I've also had many disconnects since buying this game as well as noticed some massive audio glitches when lots of action and characters get on screen. I'm able to look passed some of these issues but I can see how this would be a deal breaker for some.

    *Summary*
    Defiance is a fresh new face in the MMO world with a different take on the experience. The potential seems limitless for excitement but from what I can see its a bit of a slow start. Hopefully they'll start adding more varied missions, more PVP options, and more gun types. Defiance deserves a chance since its going about things in a way that has never been done before, but only time will tell if the potential is fully realized.    … Expand
  15. FatalDeathSG45
    Aug 25, 2013
    7
    I'm actually a bit surprised as to how this game turned out. An MMO on consoles (and PC) with a tie-tin TV show? How can you go wrong? Well, Trion Worlds figured that out. The game is pretty good when it works: multiple players taking on missions and Arkfalls, lots of weapons and loot to collect (kind of like Borderlands), leveling up and unlocking different skills, and a persistent worldI'm actually a bit surprised as to how this game turned out. An MMO on consoles (and PC) with a tie-tin TV show? How can you go wrong? Well, Trion Worlds figured that out. The game is pretty good when it works: multiple players taking on missions and Arkfalls, lots of weapons and loot to collect (kind of like Borderlands), leveling up and unlocking different skills, and a persistent world whose events are influenced by the show and vice versa. You can choose between four EGO powers wit hdifferent upgrades, and you can complete challenges to get access to exclusive gear. However, since this is an MMO, you can expect a lot of slowdown (especially on consoles) and some weird bugs. The game's constantly being updated to add stuff and fix bugs which would be pretty good... if the updates didn't take forever to download. And as with any MMO, there are microtransactions which range from XP boosts to cosmetic gear. All in all, this game is proof that MMOs CAN work on consoles... it's just that some more polish is needed if this game is going to contend with the likes of World of Warcraft.… Expand
  16. jasleerol
    Jul 8, 2013
    7
    Great game has its problems tho small enemy can randomly kick your arse, some pursuits are nearly impossible like killing the boss of major arkfalls. no player choose
  17. GlassHalfFull
    Apr 17, 2013
    6
    I believe this has potential. Everyone seems to be placing the fate of this in the hands of the developers but it will live or die by how the players interact together. This is the same with any MMO. My experience is that I neither dislike nor greatly enjoy this game. Somehow I get sucked down the rabbit hole and can't stop playing once I start but when I am finished I am not compelled toI believe this has potential. Everyone seems to be placing the fate of this in the hands of the developers but it will live or die by how the players interact together. This is the same with any MMO. My experience is that I neither dislike nor greatly enjoy this game. Somehow I get sucked down the rabbit hole and can't stop playing once I start but when I am finished I am not compelled to get back to it anytime soon. For a CO-OP game, there seems to be just individuals that neither help nor hinder what you are doing and no one talks, only emotes the few audio sounds that your character can say. For future quests you will have to pay for downloads. The quests, so far, are repetative and the enemy/NPCfriendlies will leave you wishing that they were smarter. There are aspects to your character and weapons that I have absolutely no clue to what they do or how they work. It seems that if you have any questions or problems that you have to go to the forums.… Expand
  18. mistahnuff
    May 9, 2013
    7
    After about an hour of Defiance I can say that it's a relatively solid game. Takes a while to install and update. If you're a PC gamer you know this pain all too well. The combat is pretty standard for a 3rd person shooter and the RPG elements seem like they'll help diversify your character enough that you could call him/her your own. I did have some framerate issues and the graphics tookAfter about an hour of Defiance I can say that it's a relatively solid game. Takes a while to install and update. If you're a PC gamer you know this pain all too well. The combat is pretty standard for a 3rd person shooter and the RPG elements seem like they'll help diversify your character enough that you could call him/her your own. I did have some framerate issues and the graphics took a hit because of the scope and size of the game. If you're looking for a action based console MMO, you definitely could get your fix with Defiance. All in all so far its a 7/10.… Expand
  19. twos
    Jan 25, 2014
    6
    I was one of the individuals who was watching defiance the tv show as I was playing this game and as much us I like the concept and hope it works well in upcoming games (quantum break) I just felt this like many other things I expected from the game did not quite deliver.

    The game mechanics work well, was solid gameplay all through, the story and voice acting, cutscenes etc were pretty    I was one of the individuals who was watching defiance the tv show as I was playing this game and as much us I like the concept and hope it works well in upcoming games (quantum break) I just felt this like many other things I expected from the game did not quite deliver.

    The game mechanics work well, was solid gameplay all through, the story and voice acting, cutscenes etc were pretty lame but the world to drive around in was decent.

    I did not like the leveling scheme which revolves more around your weapons than your character, and lack of a voice chat was very off putting (I don't know if this was rectified)

    The game certainly wasn't an MMO in the traditional sense as there was little actual interaction or communication between players, you just all happened to be driving around killing things together.

    To me it just played like a b grade third person borderlands.    … Expand
  20. PrometheanSigma
    Jun 19, 2013
    7
    Defiance is a good game, but not chart-topping. It takes on several MMO standards such as a loot system, weapon levels, and enemy variation. However, the fact that it is from a 3rd person view and has a very single player like system makes it much different.

    Defiance is fun and original for while, but is very repetitive after a while. The side quests seem to mimic each other as kill    Defiance is a good game, but not chart-topping. It takes on several MMO standards such as a loot system, weapon levels, and enemy variation. However, the fact that it is from a 3rd person view and has a very single player like system makes it much different.

    Defiance is fun and original for while, but is very repetitive after a while. The side quests seem to mimic each other as kill this or collect that. Servers are laggy and patching is long. I'm going to give this one a 7 and end it here because there isn't much to review.

    Overall 7

    Story 7
    Gameplay 7
    Multiplayer 7
    Graphics, Misc 7

    I think you see where I'm going with this.    … Expand
  21. grandbuddha86
    Aug 20, 2013
    7
    Now I see some reviews and wonder if the person actually watched the TV show and gave the game a good chance. The only reason this isn't a 10 is because I just got the game last week after watching the entire season on iTunes after completely spacing forgetting about it for a few months I missed the show and release so I got a late start which is why I'm giving this a 9 instead of a 10.Now I see some reviews and wonder if the person actually watched the TV show and gave the game a good chance. The only reason this isn't a 10 is because I just got the game last week after watching the entire season on iTunes after completely spacing forgetting about it for a few months I missed the show and release so I got a late start which is why I'm giving this a 9 instead of a 10. Because I got a late start I don't get to play any of the Episode Missions that go with the TV Show which I love. I'm now changing this to a 8 as we speak as I remember the response I got after asking why these are only available at certain times they said because it wouldn't work right because the show is over for the season, but if a show is available to buy and was still fresh in my mind why shouldn't I be allowed to play the missions that go with it?? I don't see what it would hurt to have these missions available as the side missions are if you don't wish to do them then you don't have to but if you just got into the show and game then they are there for you to enjoy. I'm a little more upset the more I write ok it's a 7 now. See this is how my experince went over the past few days playing at first it was a 10 then the more and more I was disappointed about the Episode Missions not being there it's like what was the point of buying the entire first season on iTunes and buying th game?? How do they expect to attract new viewers if the only players that get the full experience were the ones there from day one? This is a HUGE oversight as the game doesn't seem to be doing well I seen TONS of used copies and the price is already down to 20 buck for a new copy after 4 months and the like 200 version with all the awesome stuff is now only 60 which if they let me play the episodes I'm totally buying for all the cool stuff the season pass is 40 whats an extra 20 for the back pack statue an art book and some other cool collectibles which as big a fan as I am of the show I am going to cherish. So yes if they fix the Episode Mission thing and fix the clan system this game would be an 12/10 in my book.… Expand
  22. Darkfung
    Jun 12, 2014
    5
    Game completely hampered by the fact every time you want to play you are faced with a loooooong wait for it to install the latest patch - and when you are in the game you'll find it devoid of other player because hardly anyone plays it anymore .... Disappointing to say the least.
  23. jthiel09
    Jul 25, 2013
    6
    If you give this game a 0 you really don't know what you are talking about or you are frustrated with how the servers are responding right now and that's understandable. I myself was in a frustrated state last night when I finally got home at 5pm ET and wasn't able to sign on and play until 8pm ET. Still though, there isn't almost any game that deserves a 0, most have redeeming qualities.If you give this game a 0 you really don't know what you are talking about or you are frustrated with how the servers are responding right now and that's understandable. I myself was in a frustrated state last night when I finally got home at 5pm ET and wasn't able to sign on and play until 8pm ET. Still though, there isn't almost any game that deserves a 0, most have redeeming qualities.

    Let's get to the game itself, it's a fun 3rd person shooter MMO on a console. Is it genre defining? By no means is it, but what it is is a pretty solid console MMO. I had a blast last night joining groups of 30-40 people fighting massive Hellbugs. I also had fun running around doing missions and having assistance come storming in when I thought there wasn't anyone around.

    Bottom line is its fun and it's going to evolve over time and for that I'm excited. They fix the servers within the next few weeks and this game will be getting more and more praise. It's not a 10 and it sure isn't a 0 so don't let those reviews fool you. It's a good game and thanks for letting us finally experience a good console MMO Trion Worlds.    … Expand
  24. Aheavypanda
    Apr 29, 2014
    7
    A fairly decent shooter/looter I should say, pretty fun random events such as arkfalls and shadow wars which include the vast majority of people playing at the time.

    New content is always added, just to freshen things up a bit along the line, however some missions can feel a bit similar, and the land is barren, bleak and lacking character. For an MMO on the console, it's outstanding,    A fairly decent shooter/looter I should say, pretty fun random events such as arkfalls and shadow wars which include the vast majority of people playing at the time.

    New content is always added, just to freshen things up a bit along the line, however some missions can feel a bit similar, and the land is barren, bleak and lacking character.

    For an MMO on the console, it's outstanding, since there is no other MMO on the Xbox or PS3. The graphics are fine but aren't used and pushed to the full potential, and neither is the game.    … Expand
  25. OnlyGaming
    Sep 10, 2016
    5
    I used to love this game, i stopped playing it when i reached level 1000, i learned the game is just the same thing over and over. I love the tv show. Sadly cancelled. But this game was very fun at first.

Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2013
17
#17 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 27
  3. Negative: 3 out of 27
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 7, 2013
    70
    Defiance is essentially a single player shooter, that has been retrofitted to an MMOFPS. The multiplayer component doesn't really add anything to the game, if you don't count some random back-up crews as such. [Aug 2013]
  2. Games.cz
    Jul 3, 2013
    60
    Do you feel like shooting something? Are you enjoying action games? Do you wish to be with other people in a world that's evolving not in the game itself but in its TV series as well? In that case feel free to try Defiance out. Just be expecting nothing more than some solid action that hardly holds your attention for a long period of time.
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  3. Hyper Magazine
    Jun 10, 2013
    60
    With its straight focus, repetitive missions and static world, Defiance shouldn't work as well as it does. There's potential here. [July 2013, p.69]
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