Military Madness: Nectaris

 Xbox 360
Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    85
    A very good turn-based strategy game. It's certainly different and in many ways better than Advance Wars. [Jan 2010]
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  2. X-ONE Magazine UK
    80
    It's just grand. [Issue#52, p.105]
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  3. TeamXbox
    74
    It seems as if the developers have done everything they can to make the experience authentic for nostalgia-starved fans of the original. The rest of us just see a dated game, with dated graphics, providing us with a solid, yet un-evolved take on the turn-based strategy genre. It does what it does great. The question is, is that what you want to do?
  5. NZGamer
    70
    If you're at all interested in playing a strategy game on a console, there's not many better options - that realtime guff belongs on the PC, turn-based works so much better on a 360 controller.
  6. IGN
    69
    There is still fun to be had with Military Madness, but the almost 20-year old game definitely feels dated today.
  7. GameFocus
    69
    I believe Military Madness: Nectaris is an excellent example of a niche genre game that will really appeal to diehard fans of turn-based hex-board strategy fans. The rest of us will probably find the basics of the game, its repetitiveness and substandard graphics and audio to be too big of a turn off to give it any real consideration.
  8. ZTGD
    68
    Military Madness: Nectaris is not a bad game, just one that is well behind the times.
  9. Official Xbox Magazine
    65
    Newcomers will find its plodding pace and lifeless visuals tedious, but old-school tacticians will happily breathe vintage moon dust for days. [Holiday 2009, p.81]
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  10. Metro GameCentral
    60
    The old Advance Wars clone gets a remake, but somehow avoids getting a proper 21st-century makeover.
  11. GameWatcher
    60
    It’s essentially an enhanced remake of the original with new 3D graphics applied. There’ll be a certain feeling of monotony when playing through the title, so players shouldn’t expect a fantastical time that revolutionizes the genre.
  12. Gamer Limit
    60
    Gamers who are familiar with previous incarnations may find that Military Madness: Nectaris is a neat little addition to their collection, but for everyone else, there isn’t much to offer here in terms of entertainment.
  13. Game Over Online
    60
    It's unforgiving, user-unfriendly, and the computer routinely cheats. I can't recommend it to modern gamers at all.
  14. GameSpot
    55
    This turn-based strategy game is a dated and shallow blast from the past.
  15. GamePro
    50
    Military Madness: Nectaris needs better graphics. It needs more grab-you-and-suck-you-right-in sounds and background noise. It needs to brush up the controls as well. Everything put together equals a real stinker in the long run.
  16. Gamers' Temple
    38
    There isn't a whole lot else to say about Nectaris. It's an old school strategy title that I'm sure someone will enjoy based on either nostalgia or just a lack of anything else to play.

Awards & Rankings

73
#73 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2009

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 11 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. AnonymousMC
    Oct 11, 2009
    9
    What the reviewers don't get is that this game has excellent level design, which is the reason that it is getting remade for every newWhat the reviewers don't get is that this game has excellent level design, which is the reason that it is getting remade for every new console generation.
    After the first few battles, which serve as a tutorial, every new battle has its own unique approach that has to be discovered to win it.
    Keep up this kind of brilliance for 100 levels (in the original game), and you'll get a genre classic.

    Because you have to like the genre, I'm awarding only 9 points, However, this is one of the very few games that has NEVER been missing from my hard disk.    … Full Review »
  2. MaceMoreland
    Oct 3, 2009
    9
    Original was in the top 5 of my favorite games of all time. I almost prefer the old 2D look at times because it's a little hard to followOriginal was in the top 5 of my favorite games of all time. I almost prefer the old 2D look at times because it's a little hard to follow the perspective. I miss the total # of units display. Multiplayer is well done. Surround and support are very important components of this game and remain.… Full Review »
  3. CharlieMonokeros
    Oct 1, 2009
    10
    Easily the best turn based strategy that I have played, the deceptively simple game-play has a level of depth that is hard to find even in theEasily the best turn based strategy that I have played, the deceptively simple game-play has a level of depth that is hard to find even in the strategy genre. The normal campaign is a fun way to learn the ropes, but the multi-player is where the game really shines. 2v2 can be a lot of fun, especially when you partner with a friend, but 1v1 is the best. The advanced campaign is quite challenging, to the point where the levels start feeling like puzzles that you must solve before you even start playing.… Full Review »
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