Hardcore Gamer's Scores

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For 4,331 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 50% higher than the average critic
  • 9% same as the average critic
  • 41% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 1.4 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 73
Highest review score: 100 Assassin's Creed III
Lowest review score: 20 The Quiet Man
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,431 out of 4331
  2. Mixed: 1,658 out of 4331
  3. Negative: 242 out of 4331
4334 game reviews
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    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Concursion
    While fans of 2D platformers will enjoy it, Concursion has rough edges when it comes to its slightly-unresponsive controls and overall gameplay smoothness.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus
    Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2+ is an excellent game that makes the transition to the Vita quite well.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mineko's Night Market
    Despite a few flaws that harm the pacing, Mineko’s Night Market is a truly impressive life sim that stands out among a sea of similar wholesome games thanks to its jaw-dropping visuals, unique emphasis on Japanese culture and arts and crafts, and a cute story at the center of it all filled with wonder. It’s a terrific little game that can be enjoyed by those of all ages, plus, again, you get to pet hundreds of cats. Really, that alone should make it worth it.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX
    As it stands, A.R.E.S Extinction Agenda EX is a highly polished 2D platforming shooter that is able to seamlessly blend influences from three great franchises and turn it into a fun and unique experience in itself. A.R.E.S. doesn’t redefine the genre, but it doesn’t have to because of how well-executed it is.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Citizens of Earth
    It might not resonate as strongly as Earthbound, but Citizens of Earth is arguably more fun to play.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Unepic
    Unepic is an enjoyable retro style action RPG. It has not gotten the attention or acclaim of some more recent retro style 2D platformers such as Axiom Verge or Shovel Knight, but fans of that style of gameplay should give this one a look.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker
    There is fun to be had and there are much worse anime titles out there, but there are also much better ones. Dedicated Naruto fans looking for fast-paced, gravity defying multiplayer beat ’em up action need look no further, but for those looking for a worthwhile single player experience or multiplayer with voice chat can skip this one.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis
    It’s essentially Wii Sports Tennis with a fresh coat of Mario-themed paint, which at this point is just not enough to warrant a purchase.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Stronghold: Crusader II
    FireFly lives up to its promise of producing a better-looking version of its first games, but that’s all they live up to.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Laserlife
    Laserlife had immense potential. Choice Provisions created a game that only they could make, but they did so in a way which doesn’t feel complete.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    NASCAR '14
    NASCAR ’14 offers up a solid racing experience, and should be a satisfying pickup for fans of the sport. Casual fans may want to wait for a price drop, but die-hards will easily get $50 worth out of — especially with DLC coming monthly that updates everything to the current season.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Kirby Fighters 2
    For a title that dropped out of nowhere, Kirby Fighters 2 is filled with all the charm of the average Kirby title but without a world map to explore. The fighting is fun and challenging with a surprising amount of variety in characters. The gameplay can almost start to feel repetitive at times but with fights being so short most of the time it’s easy to switch it up and hop back in feeling refreshed. There’s a lot of value here that gives in to what could be a ridiculous amount of gameplay for people who love completing every challenge. Anyone looking for a Kirby title with faster-paced combat and a focus on fast-paced fights should dive into Kirby Fighters 2.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR
    Despite a short wish list of things that would improve it, Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR is a pleasant surprise. The assumption was that it would trade on the name but be a big standard VR rail shooter with nothing to really add. Instead, newcomer developer Virtuallyz Gaming threaded the needle, making a title that is reverential to the original arcade, while doing new things to amp up the action. It’s not the second coming of a VR rail shooter, but it’s extremely solid and just darn fun. It’s understandable if people see this and think it’s just another VR shooter, but this game is a reminder that, when well made, sometimes simple is better.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Elegy for a Dead World
    Elegy for a Dead World may be a jarring departure from traditions, but unlike the more pretentious attempts at alternative gaming experiences we’ve seen in recent times, this is one idea that should be encouraged.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 55 Critic Score
    Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
    You're given the story setup, the potential of the control system, and a sharp visual style....but it comes with training wheels. [Spring 2008, p.50]
    • Hardcore Gamer
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Armored Core: Verdict Day
    It’s a marginal enhancement over Armored Core V, but it’s enough to keep its core fanbase invested in the game. It’s just a shame the series is so unwilling to expand past it.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
    This is a remaster where the highs of unleashing the Force conflict with the lows of the original product. Quality-of-life improvements like the inclusion of traditional controls and the bump to the resolution help improve the game immensely. At the same time, the gameplay’s clunkiness, glitches and performance issues found on the Wii remain persistent issues in this remaster. For $19.99, there’s a decent amount of content and a chance to explore an old chapter relegated to Legends territory. Unfortunately, many of the more pressing issues were never addressed in this remaster. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is fun in short bursts on Switch, but the further you go, the more contained the Force starts to feel.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sorcery Saga: The Curse of the Great Curry God
    The Vita’s RPG library is gathering steam this year and Compile Heart’s latest is yet another wonderful installment in that collection.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Payday 2: Crimewave Edition
    Payday 2: Crimewave Edition isn’t broken to the point of being unplayable, but it has just enough issues to make it annoying.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    DEXED
    You don't have to be good at or even like on-rails shooters to enjoy it, and because it's such a frustration free experience, maybe it will even act as a great gateway game for the genre.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Phantom Fury
    Shelly Harrison sets out on a cross-country action-FPS trek to find the lost artifact of the Demon Core. Intense firefights are interspersed with slower exploratory segments, making it more a late-90s FPS throwback than prequel game Ion Fury's Build Engine adventure.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Ash of Gods: Redemption
    Ash of Gods is obviously a huge nod to The Banner Saga, but does its own thing enough to hold its own; it just doesn’t carry itself with the confidence that could push it towards greatness.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    007: Quantum of Solace
    With its almost complete lack of Bond flair past the voice acting and character models, the game just comes across as a Bond-themed run and gun shooter that lacks the suave sophistication of a secret agent.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    CRYMACHINA
    Crymachina is a thrilling science fiction adventure that offers fast-paced action in a post-human dystopia.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Madden NFL 24
    Madden NFL 24 feels like the most complete game since jumping to this generation. EA Tiburon continues to build on the core that was established four years ago. The changes for this year’s game are numerous, but results with inconsistencies and ultimately need more polish. Hopefully this will come in the coming months with patches. When everything works, it’s cool to experience it all coming together that can result in a big play. This also ties into the resolution mode which is playable and offers excellent image quality. There could have been more implemented with the Training Camp mini-games, but they’re a fun change of pace that add to the Franchise Mode experience. The games also do not feel as scripted, even though the division games in Franchise Mode aim to level the playing field no matter the difficulty. I have had enjoyable and drama-filled tight games this year and the AI brings more of a natural level of opposition compared to something that’s pre-designed. There are bugs, but the overall experience in Madden NFL 24 is getting closer and closer to properly replicating an NFL broadcast.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    InnerSpace
    While InnerSpace struggles a bit on the technical side of things, the core game is a wonderful flight through worn-out but still beautiful sci-fi landscapes.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Super Dodgeball Brawlers
    Overall, it’s not the most sophisticated title on the block, but it’s worth it for the nostalgia value alone.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra
    G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra brings one of the most popular cartoons of the '80s to life in a retro-inspired beat 'em up. The limited story development and virtually nonexistent dialogue, however, lead to G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra falling short of its potential. What could have been a nostalgic return to real American heroes thwarting Cobra instead feels like just another brawler wearing G.I. Joe cosplay. It's a decent enough beat 'em up that fans of the genre and franchise could find enjoyable, but die-hard fans will likely be disappointed in how bare bones G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra ended up being.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Final Fantasy XIII
    Final Fantasy XIII has its own set of problems, mainly consisting of a mediocre story and incredibly linear progression for the first forty hours, but the poor PC optimization puts it over the top.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
    Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 shouldn't work. Coming a year after the controversial Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, six years of pent-up resentment towards an irksome matchmaking system and years of increasingly abhorrent monetization, Black Ops 7 had a massive hill to climb. Despite all this, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 not only works, but vastly outshines recent Call of Duty releases. Treyarch's focus on refining the mechanics of Black Ops 6, rolling back many of the franchise's controversial systems of years past and building fun spaces to play in has paid dividends. The campaign is a mixed bag thanks to a weak overarching plot and terrible Avalon missions that are offset thanks to strong character moments and the brilliant Endgame mode. Multiplayer launches in the best state it's been in years thanks to movement tweaks that put more emphasis on gunplay skill over sliding, open matchmaking and the best set of launch maps in years. Zombies also gets a glow-up thanks to the brilliant Ashes of the Damned and Dead Ops Arcade 4. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 doesn't break the mold or make meaningful changes to the formula, but it does refine the current formula into the best launch experience a Call of Duty has had in years. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is the win the franchise has been looking for.
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