GameSpew's Scores

  • Games
For 3,619 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 51% higher than the average critic
  • 10% same as the average critic
  • 39% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 2.2 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 73
Highest review score: 100 Streets of Rage 4: Mr. X Nightmare
Lowest review score: 10 Planet 2000
Score distribution:
3630 game reviews
    • 61 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    While much of this review may seem negative, there’s a lot to like about Saints Row. Its cast quickly grows on you, it has some entertaining set-pieces, and there’s explosive fun around every corner. Customisation is also a high-point: if you like creating zany characters, you’ll be in your element. But while in many ways this this the best Saints Row game to date, there are also multiple design decisions that pull it down. For a game all about building a crime syndicate, the fact that engaging in such activities feels so optional on the main path is a crime itself. It also won’t come as much surprise to Saints Row fans that this is just as scrappy as ever before. Still, it’s ridiculously enjoyable nonetheless.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    I won’t pretend [Dungeons 2] blew me away, but it did surprise me how addicted I became to playing it.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Into the Stars is a subpar and incomplete product but if you’re the kind of player who has the will to put in a steady investment of time and effort to probe its every nuance and deeper subtlety you might just get that pearl.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The saving grace is Hellbound‘s price. At just £11.39/$14.99, it’s not terrible value for money. But there are better old-school first-person shooters available for not much more. Still, there’s a good few hours of fun to get from Hellbound‘s campaign. Maybe even more if you’re the type that wants to discover every secret and beat every par time. And the game’s survival maps offer yet more hours of gameplay. It’s just a shame that it feels more like a starter than a main course.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Your enjoyment of Filthy Lucre will entirely depend on how much you enjoy pure stealth – sneaking around half an hour into a mission as the music ramps up due to increased heat can be incredibly tense – but some people may just dislike having to start all over if you die. The shooting is bad, the AI isn’t great – and why, oh why can’t I move dead bodies? – but Filthy Lucre still succeeds in being a tense, and most importantly, fun stealth game.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    If you’re up for a challenge, then Double Pug Switch certainly does offer that. It’s nicely presented, too; the short animated story scenes telling the tale of Otis, Whiskers and the scientist, are a welcome touch. As are the purely cosmetic hats you can place on Otis’ little puggy head. It’s short and utterly brutish in its difficulty, but if you like equal amounts of cuteness and cruelty in your games, then look no further. Especially considering its pocket-money price.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    It's quite short and rather rough around the edges, but The Last Case of John Morley has an interesting case for you to crack. Just don't expect anything too ambitious or impressive.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Perhaps in VR, wandering around in zero gravity will be a little more fun, but the combat will probably still disappoint. [Non-VR Version]
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    It may not offer much of a challenge or much in the way of innovation, but Ginger: Beyond the Crystal is a decent way to pass a few hours if you’re hankering for a new old-school platformer.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    I’m sad to admit it, but Dead by Daylight on Nintendo Switch is a huge let-down. I love the game, and while I was excited to get to play it on a handheld format, its lagginess, framerate issues and massive graphical downgrade mean that I just can’t recommend it on Switch. If you’re still tempted to give it a try, perhaps wait a month or two and see if any patches come out to fix some of the current painful and glaring issues. Until then, the price simply isn’t worth what you get. Stick to playing it on another format; trust me, you’ll have a much better experience.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    At the very least, it’s made me think twice about swatting any bee that ends up inside the house from now on. Not wasps, though. They can still go right to hell.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Ultimately, The Walking Dead: Onslaught feels like a VR version of The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct, 2013’s mediocre first person shooter, also a Daryl-centric experience. There’s fun to be had if you experience it in small bites, but it’s so grind-heavy, repetitive and limited in scope that even if you’re a die-hard fan of the show, it’s barely worth sinking your teeth into.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    If it wasn't for Jump Force's highly entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable combat, the game would be a disaster. But Jump Force is a fighting game, and so everything about it that's turgid and unnecessary can largely be avoided or overlooked. It's got a large roster of fighters, plenty of content, and looks great in action. Those are the things to focus on. Could it have been a hell of a lot better? Of course. But that doesn't mean you should write it off. Neither should you write it off for its unusual art style. Just engage in its unique brand of fighting, block out the rest, and enjoy.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    All in all, fans of the long running series should certainly check JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven out as they’ll certainly find it to be a rewarding experience despite its flaws, but those looking for a more involved brawler with a wealth of features should look elsewhere.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    It’s certainly not for everybody, but those who are keen on driving four-wheeled monstrosities in open environments and flinging them around stadiums will be in their element with Monster Jam Steel Titans 2. It doesn’t really excel in any area, but it is one of the best attempts at bringing the joy of driving monster trucks to the video game world regardless. A nice variety of events and activities are on offer, and it boasts what is perhaps the largest number of Monster Jam vehicles to get behind the wheel of yet. It’s by no means essential, but if you’re after a racing game that’s a little bit different, you can do a lot worse.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    [PaRappa the Rapper is] possibly worth buying if you’re a huge fan wanting a nostalgia trip. Just be prepared to have your fond memories of the title tested somewhat.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Armikrog on the Xbox One isn’t as good an experience as it was on the PC, which still wasn’t perfect by any means. Its puzzles aren’t particularly strong, the control scheme is problematic, and it has the odd technical issue, but yet for fans of the genre it’s still worth a playthrough if only for the beautiful audio and visuals and likeable characters.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Treasure Stack‘s unique twist on a familiar genre makes for addictive and engaging gameplay – but it’s not going to be for everyone. Getting to grips with the game’s quirks takes patience, and becoming good at the game will take a hell of a lot of practice. But once you get into the game’s rhythm, it’s hard to put down.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    It’s a bit simple, so it’s never going to excite in the same way that God of War or Devil May Cry V does, but that doesn’t mean some won’t get a decent amount of enjoyment out of it.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    In numerous ways, Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires is a clear improvement over its ill-received predecessor. Thanks to its shoddy presentation and numerous other issues, however, it’s still far away from being a must-have. All too often you feel like you’re just going through the motions between battles, going on strolls or enacting policies just to meet objectives without any real thought being put into it. And while the combat is somewhat fun, boring map design lets it down. This is one just for ardent fans, then.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Is Mia and the Dragon Princess our favourite FMV game from Wales Interactive and Good Gate Media? Perhaps not, but that’s not to say we didn’t enjoy our time with it. Its story might be ridiculous, but with plenty of action – and a surprising amount of cheesy gore – it kept us highly entertained from start to finish. It’s just a shame that the choices you make can leave you with a half-baked experience that doesn’t truly represent what this story should be.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Despite its originality, Perception is only worth a look for those who can see past its shortcomings in pursuit of a fairly compelling narrative.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    While its visuals have unquestionably been brought up to speed, the gameplay remains deeply mired in the past. At release, Rogue Trooper’s third-person shooter action was no doubt exciting and engaging, but the years have not been kind to it, and no amount of spit and polish can cover up that fact. Dull, repetitive and rough around the edges.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Travelling through Stiles’ mind is a gripping journey. It’s at times emotional, other times horrifying.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    With the Dualshock 4 in my hands and Fast Striker on the screen, what would be a whimsical appeasement of the past instead transforms into a regurgitation of old tropes.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    It’s perhaps understandable that Payday 3 is a step back from Payday 2 in terms of content, given the years of support its predecessor has had, but it’s a shame that it doesn’t have a little more. Still, we can’t help but feel that Payday 3 is an excellent base to work from, with improved moment-to-moment gameplay. With a bit more polish and a steady stream of post-launch content, Payday 3 could ultimately prove to be an essential co-op heisting experience. Right now, however, players are likely to have some frustrations, and may quickly grow tired of playing the same missions on repeat.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    I’d even argue that using the Dragons IP holds back Dawn of New Riders. Film tie-in games are always looked down upon, and the fact that it’s a franchise aimed at kids means most grown-up gamers are not going to take it seriously. But underneath its licensing, Dawn of New Riders is a sweet adventure game.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Overall Cast of the Seven Godsends isn’t a bad game; it’s just an unreasonably challenging one.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Need for Speed Payback is at its best when you’re completing story missions, speeding through thrilling set-pieces and battling against cops and criminals. It’s even highly entertaining when you’re just belting around its open world, completing activities and engaging in events. But when you hit that brick wall and have to put a halt to your fun for hours at a time in order to raise your car’s performance level, your patience will be tested, and many will decide to simply not bother at all.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Charon’s Staircase doesn’t exactly redefine the horror genre. It looks a bit rough, and its tried-and-tested gameplay doesn’t break any moulds. But the majority of its puzzles will keep you hooked, its story is interesting, and it absolutely nails creating a tense, horrifying atmosphere. That alone makes this a spooky adventure worth stepping into.

Top Trailers