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. 40YrOldGamer
    May 25, 2013
    10
    As others have done and stated, this game is not a 10 but I scored it as such to offset childish "reviewers"(term used VERY loosely) that have scored this game a 0 or some other super low score. The simple fact that someone gives the game a 0 takes away ANY credibility they may have had, with me. They are not reviewing honestly. IMHO, the game is a solid 8-8.5.
    Before I write my review,    As others have done and stated, this game is not a 10 but I scored it as such to offset childish "reviewers"(term used VERY loosely) that have scored this game a 0 or some other super low score. The simple fact that someone gives the game a 0 takes away ANY credibility they may have had, with me. They are not reviewing honestly. IMHO, the game is a solid 8-8.5.
    Before I write my review, I will give you a little back ground on myself, as a gamer. As my "tag" clearly states, I am 40 years old. I have quite literally been gaming since Pong, at least 36 years of my life. As a child, I lived at the arcade. When I wasn't gaming at the arcade, I was playing Pong at hone, moved on Atari, Apple II E, Commodore 64, Packard Bell pc100 with 3dfx voodoo video card, the first ever true 3d rendering video card, Had some AMD's a few more PC's, Nintentdo, Nintendo64, Sega CD, Dreamcast, Paystation, X-box, 360. I have literally played thousands of games and enjoy many different genres. I would probably be considered as a long time hardcore gamer, I just consider myself as a lover of the past time.
    Before I bought Defiance, I hopped online, came here to MetaCritic and started reading eviews. I did not pre-order the game. I had considered it but did not know enough about TRION Worlds so waited for release. As I was reading the reviews here, I started to get skeptical about buying this game however, lucky for me, I am no sheep and only read reviews to get an idea of what I might be in for. In the end, I will either rent the game, if I still have doubts or I will decide that the game may warrant a purchase instead of rental. This decision is also based off of a lot of time consuming video footage of any game in question, as well as reading many articles about the game. With Defiance, I was and am absolutely happy that I decided to make the purchase. I had not seen the show prior to purchasing but have since caught every episode.
    There are complaints of the story lacking but these people give no consideration that this game is designed to be played in conjunction with the show. Yes the show is in a different part of the Defiance Earth but still fills in many blanks. I also don't believe that these people put much effort into finding/listening to the data recorders that can be found through out the game. They do quite a good job at answering many questions to the story. The who, what, when, where's and why's. I find the story to be well written and the voice acting was very well done, IMHO.
    There are "episode" missions in the game, from time to time. This is where characters from the show come over to the game world. The same actors/actress' that do the show do the voice acting for their digital likeness'. Just the fact that the game and show crossover, in the manner that they do, is groundbreaking stuff. I, for one, cannot wait to see what else they do with this aspect of the game. So far, I have really enjoyed the episode missions and all other missions in general.
    There are several different mission types in the game. There are Main missions, which are your story line missions, side missions fill in story details, you have "emergencies" which occur all of the time, all through out the world. They usually involve collecting samples, while killing many Hellbugs, rescuing prisoners, while killing many enemies, busting up road blocks and so on. The game is filled with action. You also have time trial missions, hot shots, which are sniper missions and then rampages, where you have to kill as many enemies as possible, before dying. All while staying in a predetermined space in the open world and using a "special" weapon. These are quite fun. Finally, there are the episodic missions and Ark Falls. Episodic missions, as stated above, "star" a character from the show, coming do the game and you run missions for/with them. Ark Falls are the part of the game where you get the huge crowds of players battling various types of enemies, in large numbers.
    Beyond the "story" mode, you have several types of MP modes to choose from. You have Co-op which can be played with 4 players. These are basically the "dungeon" maps of the game. You will fight your way through a more confined area, achieving goals along the way and usually encountering a nice boss fight at the end. I find these to be very fun and a slight change from the vast, open world. As of right now there are 7 Co-op missions to play but they are adding new ones from time to time. You have straight up DM. They only have 3 maps as of now BUT more are coming and they haven't charged for new additions. There is also Shadow Wars which is a HUGE TDM game that is set in the open world of Defiance. There are various missions for the game but mostly control and conquer. This mode is also very fun to play and offers more variety to the world of Defiance.
    Running out of characters so I will sum it up,BUY this game if you want to enjoy a game.    … Expand
  2. dragonfire2832
    May 6, 2013
    10
    I thought about giving this an 8 or 9 but the reviews are so low that it needs a pick up. People are pushing others away from this game because of the bad reviews, yet this is a great game. When it was first released it had quite a few glitches yes, but its an MMO that is going to happen every time. Don't let these other people's bad reviews put you off on a rare experience. This game is aI thought about giving this an 8 or 9 but the reviews are so low that it needs a pick up. People are pushing others away from this game because of the bad reviews, yet this is a great game. When it was first released it had quite a few glitches yes, but its an MMO that is going to happen every time. Don't let these other people's bad reviews put you off on a rare experience. This game is a solid 8-8.5, the only thing that really takes it down is the salvage matrix(its the way you mod your weapons) its a little quirky and could use some adjustments. The great thing is, being an MMO that can be changed because of it being server based. Give this game a chance yourself and don't go in expecting WoW, or Skyrim. The story is really good and the customization are good and plan to get better. Rent it and give it a try. Oh, and there's no monthly fee. Only micro-transactions. And those are stuff thats not necessary or going to make the game bad if you don't spend money. But the micro-transaction are there if you choose to spend some money on your character. Good way of funding the server maintenance without charging a fee.… Expand
  3. 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
  4. cheekygobl1n
    May 12, 2013
    8
    Defiance, the mmo, third person shooter which has been highly anticipated and widely advertised, has finally arrived. At first you create your character and spawn into the vast world of defiance. The game does a great job of getting you used to the controls and everything else. after that, the story really kicks in and you will be able to explore the huge world. From there you will be ableDefiance, the mmo, third person shooter which has been highly anticipated and widely advertised, has finally arrived. At first you create your character and spawn into the vast world of defiance. The game does a great job of getting you used to the controls and everything else. after that, the story really kicks in and you will be able to explore the huge world. From there you will be able to buy weapons, vehicles and much more. You can mod your weapons but i found this system to be a bit shakey, and hard to use. The story isn't all that exciting either with boring and repetitive quests, which involve you holding a button down almost all the time.although the shooting is fluent the hook of you playing isn't. But besides the story, there's mini games you can take part in and multiplayer missions, and of course PVP modes. But one of the biggest additions is the arkfall mode were you and almost everyone else on the map will try to take down huge enemys for Xp and more. In defiance you level up quickly but after your first big weapon and you get past buying your first decent car there isn't much else to do. But thats depending if you like the quests. if you don't its pretty much game over. This can take you up to 15 hours to do. Overall defiance is a good package and you defiantly get your moneys worth. But with so many bugs and issues this game might not be for everybody.… Expand
  5. phoofboy
    Jun 5, 2013
    10
    I ended up purchasing Defiance on a whim with low expectations as pretty much every other MMO that has released in recent memory has been incredible disappointments. I had played Rift previously so I knew a little of Trion going in. I find that the more I play Defiance the more I like it. I've managed to finish the entirety of the missions with the first of the big DLCs just on the cusp ofI ended up purchasing Defiance on a whim with low expectations as pretty much every other MMO that has released in recent memory has been incredible disappointments. I had played Rift previously so I knew a little of Trion going in. I find that the more I play Defiance the more I like it. I've managed to finish the entirety of the missions with the first of the big DLCs just on the cusp of release.

    Since release they have done a passable job as squashing bugs and putting out new content. I think many console players haven't had any experience with other MMOs at launch because Defiance's was comparatively smooth. I've gotten several friends to play and despite a few slight annoyances, we're all enjoying the game immensely. I trust that with Trion's historical responsiveness to their communities that the game will only get better as time goes on.    … Expand
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. Ninjo
    Nov 19, 2014
    3
    Defiance was a game I picked up for full price due to peer pressure from my friends saying it was going to be game of the year worthy quality, so my expectations were extremely high before I even held the controller. The game is opened world "MMO" I put that quotation because I wouldn't class it an MMO myself due to fact everyone looked the same and there wasn't much else to do but missionDefiance was a game I picked up for full price due to peer pressure from my friends saying it was going to be game of the year worthy quality, so my expectations were extremely high before I even held the controller. The game is opened world "MMO" I put that quotation because I wouldn't class it an MMO myself due to fact everyone looked the same and there wasn't much else to do but mission after mission which then to grind after grind.

    I played this on the 360 while this was a new experience for console gamer's they forgot to take into account that this is a console community and aren't used to MMO's this led to barely anyone using the chat or talking outside of an Xbox live party.

    The amount of time an Arkfall took was ridiculously long, I would be one of the guys dumb another to grind it out and sit back and hold trigger while I check my twitter feed, then the be a bombardment of people who come in at the last segments of the enemies health to get rewarded for absolutely nothing.

    My final review is this game isn't the worst game play is very mundane and expected; but it was very disappointing after all the hype that surrounded it before launch like a middle age man with erectile dysfunction it had the potential to be fun but in the end it flopped and left people crying haha. This game causes me to research any game before purchasing from any friend recommendation as they were the first to sell this game and I was left to play on my own until I found sense.

    Thanks for reading my review of Defiance Xbox 360

    Ninjo    … Expand
  10. 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.
  11. 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
  12. JoeTurner
    Apr 22, 2013
    8
    First off: I bought this game about a week after it came out so I think I missed the worst of the server issues. In my time with the game it has run just fine with a little lag here and there but nothing too severe. I bought the game aware of the fact that it had a lot of issues but I was curious about the prospect of a MMO on the 360.
    Since I've started playing I've been continually    First off: I bought this game about a week after it came out so I think I missed the worst of the server issues. In my time with the game it has run just fine with a little lag here and there but nothing too severe. I bought the game aware of the fact that it had a lot of issues but I was curious about the prospect of a MMO on the 360.
    Since I've started playing I've been continually surprised at how much I like the game, in fact it's quickly climbed the ranks to be one of my favorite 360 games. The gameplay mechanics are somewhat similar to Gears of War in that it's a 3rd person shooter that allows you to zoom in and aim with the left trigger, but I actually like the controls better because it ditches the annoying cover system and instead simply allows you to duck by hitting B. Nor does it have the "roadie run" but you sprint by pressing down the left stick. It's very intuitive and controls a lot like a first person shooter such as Black Ops.
    I don't get why people are hating on the graphics, which are not in the league of Rage or Crysis but I would say they aren't much worse than FarCry 3. The world is not nearly as bland as some of these reviews would have you believe. The enemies and loot system are similar to Borderlands in many ways. I've had fun roaming the open world and occasionally cooperating with other players who just happened to be nearby. It good to have some of your friends to play with, as trying to group up with strangers is a little tricky. The plot is not brilliant but it doesn't get in the way either.
    Don't get me wrong, Defiance is far from perfect, but I've had a ton of fun with it and it seems to be getting better and less glitchy every day. If you're looking for a neat open world shooter/RPG that just happens to be an MMO too, I highly recommend it. I feel like I've already gotten my money's worth out of it and I plan to play much, much more.
    -edit: The biggest flaw I've found with this game is that when too much is going on on screen the frame rate can bog down, and also there are some occasional glitches, such as entering an instance where there are no enemies and you get stuck and have to back out. Regardless, I think this is an entertaining game that deserves a chance. I'd also like to point out that I think the reason that a lot of "professional" critics are panning this game is because they have access to high dollar PCs that can run other MMOs, where as the actual Xbox 360 players are willing to cut it some slack for being on console, which is quite rare. If you are a gamer who mainly plays on consoles you wil respect what this game does more than folks who are spoiled by high-end PCs.    … Expand
  13. Hecatone
    Apr 11, 2014
    8
    People keep comparing it to games like WoW. It's not like Wow. This may be both one of the best MMOs as well as 3rd person shooters I've played. Blast away.
  14. 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
  15. Gimpyoman
    Oct 12, 2014
    9
    Before buying this I looked at the critics comments, but I put those in perspective... a critic is exactly that someone that criticizes. Then I looked a the player comments and see what those that actually play and use the game and not review one had to say and I agree for the most part this is a pretty good bang up game for the money and keeps you moving. For those that complain it isBefore buying this I looked at the critics comments, but I put those in perspective... a critic is exactly that someone that criticizes. Then I looked a the player comments and see what those that actually play and use the game and not review one had to say and I agree for the most part this is a pretty good bang up game for the money and keeps you moving. For those that complain it is the same old go here, kill that, do this mission then another, REALITY CHECK! I have fought in 6 different conflicts in 6 different parts of the world and you REALLY WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING? War is exactly that way. You go here, look for that, kill something or a whole lot of someones if you have to, and the next day you go out and you do it again, and again. What did you expect? Lollipops and unicorns ... if so .. I think there are still a few Care Bear Games around you could check out.... Yeah, I am a grandfather of 16 ... with two sons under the age of 12 ... AND I PLAY XBOX ... because my grand kids and kids aren't going to show this old man up too easy if I have anything to say about it ... besides it was your grand-parents generation that invented these things not some young snot-nose college kid and I owned the FIRST ATRIA SOLD ON FT. RILEY, KANSAS two days after it was released... so there!… Expand
  16. Diemario
    Dec 21, 2014
    1
    So it is like this a game ONLY on-line that rips people off if they don't have on-line stuff
    yet and so it be pointless to get as they is no story to the game no 1p game.
    And non of my friends have online too and so I can't really rate this game since I can't play it on-line do your self something and do not I REPEAT DO NOT bother with the game. That is why I hate 360 on-line stuff    So it is like this a game ONLY on-line that rips people off if they don't have on-line stuff
    yet and so it be pointless to get as they is no story to the game no 1p game.

    And non of my friends have online too and so I can't really rate this game since I can't
    play it on-line do your self something and do not I REPEAT DO NOT bother with the game.

    That is why I hate 360 on-line stuff if the game was on wii u then I would pick it up
    since its free on-line, I am just trying to make the biggest flawed problem of the game.

    Good thing I got the game for 1 pound if I pay more I would be completely mugged.    … Expand
  17. 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.
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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.
    Read full review
  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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