Dead to Rights

 Xbox
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 39
  3. Negative: 2 out of 39
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  1. Gamezilla!
    71
    Beyond the disarms and shot dodging, it's not worth much more than a rental.
  2. GamerWeb Xbox
    70
    Namco threw in everything except the kitchen sink in terms of gameplay, and DTR suffers for it.
  3. GamePro
    70
    It's worthwhile to trudge through the occasional dull punch-fight and inane spat of dialogue to get to the next wicked little gunfight.
  5. All Game Guide
    70
    One of the few tough-as-nails games with the power to keep drawing you back to it, long after you've screamed enough words at the television screen to make a sailor blush.
  6. Xbox Evolved
    69
    You can tell this is a PS2 port, which doesn't make it a bad game, but it doesn't let it shine as it could have.
  7. Entertainment Weekly
    67
    DTR is weighted down with too many bad minigames, most of which seem designed with the sole intent of inducing repetitive-stress injuries. [6 Sept 2002, p.89]
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  8. Eurogamer
    60
    Despite throwing in a canine companion, button-tapping mini-games and retweaking difficulty levels and so on between NTSC and PAL, Dead to Rights is fundamentally underwhelming to look at, repetitive to play and riddled with more flaws than bullet holes, and this'll stick like rigour mortis after your fiftieth fistfight.
  9. Gamestyle
    60
    Strictly a single player event and with no additional modes outside that of the repeating chapters or limited mini games there is no reason to return.
  10. Play Magazine
    60
    An outrageous display of frenetic excess, pulled off with enough grimy flair to plunge us into its pestilent world, Dead to Rights is a satisfying jolt of adult gaming. [Aug 2002, p.64]
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  11. Game Revolution
    58
    Someone had a good idea and great reference material, but the end product is repetitive and lackluster.
  12. GameNow
    58
    Each level starts out as fun, but with the gameplay so frustrating and immensely difficult throughout, what starts out as entertaining often becomes mere work in no time. [Sept 2002, p.42]
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  13. Into Liquid Sky
    58
    Even though the graphics are weak, the gunplay is nice and the various mini-games help break up most levels.
  14. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    55
    But where DTR falls flat is in the execution. Why learn the subtleties of the fighting controls when the most effective attack is "punch, punch, punch"? [Sept 2002, p.156]
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  15. GameCritics
    50
    It is a mere sheep in wolves clothing that uses only the most socially timid and comfortable clichés like cigarettes-for-trade and prison escape maps to paint a PG-rated teen-friendly novelty amusement park interpretation of prison life.

Awards & Rankings

71
#71 Best Xbox Game of 2002
26
#26 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2002
5
#5 Most Shared Xbox Game of 2002

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 19
  3. Negative: 3 out of 19
  1. Alex_Pilgrim008
    Feb 13, 2022
    8
    Dead to Rights is a terrific guilty pleasure. If it was a film, it would be a straight-to-video movie. While the game's main inspiration isDead to Rights is a terrific guilty pleasure. If it was a film, it would be a straight-to-video movie. While the game's main inspiration is Max Payne, it features more than just stylish shooting. The protagonist Jack Slate manages to do it all. He can brawl, disarm bombs, extinguish fires, and more. Even Jack's loyal dog Shadow gets in on the action. DTR is goofy to the extreme, but it's a lot of fun. I would rate it with an 8.3 out of 10.… Full Review »
  2. LunarD3ATH
    Aug 15, 2017
    4
    The gameplay is alright, but not all that enjoyable. I found myself pushing forward to see what would happen in the story, but by the time IThe gameplay is alright, but not all that enjoyable. I found myself pushing forward to see what would happen in the story, but by the time I got to the prison sequence, I started to realize this game's many flaws. First of all, there are way too many pointless minigames. They're not fun and some of them take a little longer than is necessary. Second, the hand-to-hand combat you are required to do in the prison is atrociously bad. Now, I get this isn't a modern game, but being able to counter would have made it passable. As it stands, you have to spend more time exploiting the invisible barriers that enemies stop being hostile past, tossing them into that are and then wailing on them as they walk back calmly to their patrol area. It's a mishmash of bad minigames, poor combat and frustrating fights. Like Sickle, who has too much health, does too much damage and you have to exploit him by grabbing him and punching when he breaks free, as he's vulnerable... or Tattoo, who has two invulnerable (yes you heard me, invulnerable) companions who will interrupt your fight with him. Your adrenaline recharges too slow, your hits don't do enough damage and are usually blocked or dodged and your enemies outclass you. The entire purpose of the game is to frustrate you. Screw this game, I'd rather play Retribution. I remember it being annoying, too, but at least it was fun. I'd rather toss this back in the $1 overstock room that I found it in. No wonder no one wanted it.… Full Review »
  3. iamevilhomer
    Mar 18, 2017
    8
    Not a very good game but there are two really good things about it that might interest you.

    1... Very challenging. Once you play enough you    Not a very good game but there are two really good things about it that might interest you.

    1... Very challenging. Once you play enough you get a good grasp on the learning curve. Good luck getting out of prison lol.

    2... It's story is very pleasing in that action movie die hard sort of a way.    … Full Review »
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