G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout

 Xbox One
G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout Image
Metascore
56

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 5 Ratings

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  • Summary: YO JOE! G.I. JOE AND COBRA ARE BACK!
    G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout is a team-based third-person shooter where you play as your favorite characters from Team G.I. Joe and Team Cobra. Experience the action from both sides as you help G.I. Joe restore order and lead Cobra to world domination.    YO JOE! G.I. JOE AND COBRA ARE BACK!
    G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout is a team-based third-person shooter where you play as your favorite characters from Team G.I. Joe and Team Cobra. Experience the action from both sides as you help G.I. Joe restore order and lead Cobra to world domination.

    G.I. JOE VS COBRA
    Play with 12 of your favorite characters from both sides across 17 epic campaign story missions.

    CO-OP & PVP MULTIPLAYER
    Play the campaign with a friend in local co-op, or compete in 4-player PvP local matches in 4 Multiplayer Modes: Capture the Flag, Assault, King of The Hill, and Deathmatch Arena.

    COMBAT TOOLS
    18 awesome weapons, 36 weapon skins, 12 alternate character skins and a series of uniquely devastating ultimate abilities.

    A LEGENDARY FRANCHISE
    Play with 12 of your favorite characters from both sides across 17 epic campaign story missions.    … Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 8
  3. Negative: 1 out of 8
  1. Xbox Tavern
    Oct 26, 2020
    73
    I am pleasantly surprised coming out of G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout after playing through the 17 story missions multiple times. Once you gather the controls it’s a simple game with decent visuals and audio that can entertain you for hours. I wish the game offered more than local co-op only but those with friends should be able to enjoy it together cooperatively and competitively.
  2. Critical Hit
    Oct 26, 2020
    65
    There’s a decent game at the very core of G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout , but it’s buried underneath annoying controls, a bizarre focus on co-op play instead of multiplayer, and missions that feel like an endlessly repetitive grind. Still, it’s dedicated to its source material and it has its moments, but it doesn’t do much else to stand out from the pack. And now you know, because knowing is half the battle.
  3. TheXboxHub
    Oct 31, 2020
    60
    G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout on Xbox One has an audience, but I can't imagine it's a very big one. The title is perfectly serviceable but there are so many options that are of higher quality and more worthy of your time that it’s tricky to want to get involved here. However if you are a fan of this franchise, it will be a fun romp through the world of G.I. Joe; something which is perhaps all it was ever trying to be in the first place.
  4. Cultured Vultures
    Oct 20, 2020
    55
    Thanks for keeping an IP I love alive, but please try a little harder next time.
  5. ZTGD
    Oct 20, 2020
    55
    Operation Blackout nails the nostalgia. Everything about this package is incredible for fans of G.I. Joe. The problem is the game play itself. The shooting is not fun and for a game that revolves around that, it is hard to ignore. I kept playing wanting to love this game and simply could not. I hope the developers tweak and fix these issues as this game is begging me to love it. As it stands though it is a disappointing trip down memory lane. Now if you will excuse me I am going to go back to playing it in hopes that I can find enjoyment in nostalgia.
  6. Screen Rant
    Oct 25, 2020
    50
    By default, G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout is top of the pile when it comes to G.I. Joe adaptions, but there's so much untapped potential for a video game tackling one of the finest cartoons of the '80s. The war between Duke and Cobra Commander deserves so much more than room after room of nameless enemies and tepid third-person shooting.
  7. GameSpew
    Oct 20, 2020
    30
    Ultimately, G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout is a team-based third-person shooter with poor aiming, atrocious enemy A.I., and no online multiplayer options. That should tell you all you need to know, basically. It’s not the worst game you can buy right now, so if you’re a huge G.I. Joe fan and pick it up on a whim you might have some fun with it. Anyone with more self-control, however, should either wait for it to be deeply discounted, or simply forget it exists.

See all 8 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 1 out of 3
  1. Frankenculture
    Dec 7, 2020
    8
    Operation Blackout is a over the shoulder 3rd person shooter where you take control of some of your favorite Joes and Cobra characters. ItOperation Blackout is a over the shoulder 3rd person shooter where you take control of some of your favorite Joes and Cobra characters. It starts explaining that the Joes have implemented some technology and instead of a bunch of soldiers running around, we have robots. After a quick tutorial you are given control of either Cobra Commander or Storm Shadow. Cobra is leading an all out assault on the U.S.S Flagg and we're taking over. I picked Cobra Commander because who wouldn't want to be him, and I wasn't sure how the ninja controls would be. Mowing down the GI Joes Bots as well as getting in a fire fight with Duke himself, we finally over took the Flagg and the level was over.

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    The level design is pretty great, as you run through the Flagg or Cobra headquarters, you feel like you're running through the comic book or cartoon. Hiss Tanks, Joe Ghost Strikers and MOBATS scattered around as you run through corridors and garages, seal the deal as well. The voice acting, while not tapping anyone from the original cartoon, stay true to the character design. While going through the levels, you will here repeated lines (I hear Lady Jaye say "I could use this" in my sleep). As you go through you play as more and more characters including: Lady Jaye, Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Duke, Roadblock, Storm Shadow, Destro, Baroness, Cobra Commander, and Zartan. Once given the option to play as Snake Eyes came up I took it. Unfortunately, they regulated him down to guns as well, I would have loved running through the levels cutting robots down left and right. Each character does have a super as well, and Snake Eyes has probably one of the more devastating ones (smoke cloud somersault with grenades into a slash of his sword).

    

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    G.I. Joe Operation Blackout is absolutely beautiful, from the level design to the character design, expanding to the graphical cut scenes that feel ripped from the comics, I love it's look. The trouble starts with the gameplay and controls. Most missions find you doing the same thing, albeit in new stunning locations. Find and destroy, find and hack, find and defend and so on. There are some vehicle levels scattered about, but the control issues plague those as well. The over the shoulder run and gun style isn't bad, but when the aiming is overly touchy, or non existent in this case, it starts to sour the expierence. Multiple times I'm taking cover and a small piece of the level completely blocks my shot or even more infuriating the computer controlled partner steps directly in the way.

    

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    The control coupled with the lack of variety in the missions is what brings the game down. The game itself is a great love letter to the children of the 80s. Yet that love letter is signed with a doodle pen, leaving most people confused and irritated at what they've gone through. In terms of extras and collectibles, levels are filled with hidden skins and comic book covers. The weapons skins and character skins are worth the hunt, especially Snake Eyes.

    

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    Gameplay: 6.5/10 Frustratingly repetitive missions and no online multiplayer, but playing as some of my favorite characters was very fun.

    Sound Design: 9.5/10 Laser blasts, music and voice overs are awesome.

    Graphics: 10/10 Feels like you're playing the cartoon, complete with comic book cut scenes.

    Control: 6/10 Touchy inept aiming system.

    VERDICT

    Overall: 8.0

    G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout isn't a terrible game, but its shortcomings over (storm) shadow the rest of the expierence, including digital art book and bios of the characters.

        … Expand
  2. Xbox_Alive
    Oct 22, 2020
    7
    G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout is a Third-Person Run-N-Gun Shooter based on the Hasbro Toy Line and 80's Cartoon. You play along 17 story levelsG.I. Joe: Operation Blackout is a Third-Person Run-N-Gun Shooter based on the Hasbro Toy Line and 80's Cartoon. You play along 17 story levels from both the G.I.Joe and Cobra teams. You get to play as 12 Classic Characters, six members of each side! As far as story goes, this is another episode from the 80's with playable gun battles between story elements. The story is presented to you with moving comics that feel reminiscent of the cartoon. Fans of the series will recognize a host of characters and locations. As far as game play, G.I. Joe didn't bring anything really new to the table. Each of the dozen characters have their own starting weapon, and special skill, but anyone can use any weapon, and the skills aren't game-changing. Likewise the levels fell like they're right out of the show, but some get used repeatedly, the levels that stood out were the longer tank runs, though either side you were on you drove the same tank with a Joe or Cobra paint-job, and the series has dozens of different vehicles to chose from. The sound effects felt like they were plucked from the show. Overall unless you're a fan of the franchise, and already invested in the universe, this title may not impress you, and fans will love it for it's nostalgia.… Expand
  4. racplayboy
    Jan 14, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is awful. Don’t bother with the other reviews this is the only one you need. There’s nothing positive that can be said for it. The controls are junk, they make the game clunky and take away from gameplay while simultaneously making the game more difficult. If you play the campaign by yourself settle in for a massive amount of frustration at the AI that will accompany you on missions. Not only will the be of no help or usefulness what do ever but they’ll also get in your way. There are aspects that just make no sense as well such as the ridiculous reload times. It takes Snake Eyes actual seconds to reload his “uzi” instead of the split second practically immediate time that it should. Don’t waste your money on this, I’m a die hard Joe fan, how die hard? I spent eight years in the USMC, my first enlistment was for regular infantry and my second was special operations all rooted in the fact that there was a Gung Ho figure in his dress blues. I love the new classified line as well but this games is just horrible and the people who made it owe me an apology.… Expand