The Suffering: Ties That Bind

 Xbox
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
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  1. GameSpot
    72
    Ties That Bind makes few changes to the formula, stretches a thin story to somewhere near the breaking point, and delivers a bloody, curse-filled action game that might still please fans of the first game, though it's more likely that you'll feel like you played the same game last year.
  2. Extreme Gamer
    70
    Gamers who enjoyed the first game will find something to enjoy about Ties that Bind although it's not as brilliant as the first offering. Ties that Bind is cool, creepy and bloody, but it gets old fast.
  3. PALGN
    70
    A decent survival horror action title, it just simply hasn't evolved much from its predecessor; the environments are a little restrictive and the action can be a bit stop start sometimes.
  5. GamePro
    70
    The whole game comes across as the equivalent of a B-grade horror movie: exciting at times, ultimately unmemorable.
  6. GameSpy
    70
    Although the game doesn't bring a lot of new experiences to the table, it does do a great job of adding to the experience gamers enjoyed the first time around.
  7. Game Revolution
    67
    But take heart, horror-inclined gamers. Any random two minutes of Ties that Bind's blood-soaked gameplay is likely to give your parents, stuffy friends or sensitive authority figures of your choice the dribbling shiznits, and pretty much all the first game's good stuff has remained intact.
  8. Xbox World Australia
    65
    Offers so much potential but ultimately falls short of its ambitions and as such fails to stand out from the crowd (or even its own antecedent).
  9. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    62
    A gory good time. And that's really all that matters.
  10. G4 TV
    60
    The main problem is that Ties That Bind doesn't live up to the once-promising pedigree of "The Suffering." While we got more of some things--more swearing, more gore, and more story--we actually ended up with less: less ammo, less creativity, and fewer thrills to keep you going.
  11. Edge Magazine
    50
    After the interesting and confident debut of The Suffering last year, Ties That Bind remains a straightforward action game, and one with a coherent story that feels well paced, if too full of schlocky cliché for some. But that is, ultimately, all it does: remains. [Dec 2005, p.106]
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Awards & Rankings

71
#71 Best Xbox Game of 2005

User Reviews

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User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. Shrimps
    Sep 26, 2020
    8
    The Suffering: ties that bind is a more polished and tightly designed game than the original, it fixes most of the problems of the first gameThe Suffering: ties that bind is a more polished and tightly designed game than the original, it fixes most of the problems of the first game and has more production value. Very fun and is a must play for people who played the first game. Be warned though, its not without its problems. It brings in a bizarre 2 weapon limit and the pacing is all over the place. Ultimately, TTBs biggest flaw is that it loses the charm the first game had and just feels average, which is sad. If it had better environments and a better story, it could of been much stronger than the first game.… Full Review »
  2. angelmetacritic
    Nov 20, 2015
    10
    simply amazing, the game maintains a constant voltage to an excellent standard, the sound is haughty and graphics comply perfectly, its sequelsimply amazing, the game maintains a constant voltage to an excellent standard, the sound is haughty and graphics comply perfectly, its sequel is good but it is unbeatable an essential Xbox… Full Review »
  3. JuanP.
    Oct 20, 2005
    10
    Excellent spine tingler.
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