Hardcore Gamer's Scores

  • Games
For 4,330 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:
4333 game reviews
    • 78 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    EA Sports UFC 4 is a fun albeit bland fighting game. For something in a biennial release cycle, we would have hoped to have seen more evolution to the formula than what we’ve gotten...There’s a lot to like with EA Sports UFC 4 as it’s still an entertaining fighter, but it just doesn’t go beyond what we’ve come to expect from it.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    For those who give into the temptation to buy this release, it’s thankfully a marked improvement over its predecessor. The songs are well-curated and of good quality, there’s a new (albeit throwaway) mode and the visuals and dance moves are more refined. It’s just a shame that Ubisoft is forcing consumers to buy both a physical release and subscribe to Just Dance Unlimited when they need to focus entirely on the latter.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    As a whole, Mars: War Logs is a game well worth checking out for RPG fans and, at only twenty dollars, there’s no reason not to. Although frustrating at times, the developers’ ambition puts it above other indie RPGs which seem happy to settle for less considering their price.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Tropico 5 managed to disappoint more than it excited.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    This episode is a step up from the previous one, starting up the halfway point of the Adventure Pass on a much higher note, but it falls short in longevity, proving that a character can be developed and well liked if focused on and given more tie as opposed to adding several characters that don’t necessarily add to the story.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    While fans of 2D platformers will enjoy it, Concursion has rough edges when it comes to its slightly-unresponsive controls and overall gameplay smoothness.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    There are nice customization options and the game has some personality, but even still, these concepts don’t feel fully realized. That’s the main and final problem with The Showdown Effect: it tries hard to be something folks want, but it comes up short, and needed to try a little harder.
    • 48 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    You’d think two games packed into one bundle would hold your attention for quite some time, but the Prototype Biohazard Bundle will find a way to burn you out before you even transition to the second game.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    F1 Race Stars isn't the worst choice for those desperate for a kart racing fix, but it's truly a title reserved for Formula 1 fans and their offspring. While the racing is enjoyable, its lack of polish and unique features make it play second fiddle to Mario Kart.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Dear RED – Extended is an interesting but very short visual novel.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Double Dragon Revive doesn't quite hit the mark, but does do some things right. The combat gives glimpses of greatness, but there's a lot going on with that combat. Limited space and room within levels mixed with random platforming/puzzle sessions is part of the reason the genre moved on to greater things. These elements didn't necessarily need to be revisited especially when other recent Double Dragon titles didn't try to do this. Yuke's seemed to go for a more serious tone with this release, and while Streets of Rage 4 was able to get away with a serious tone, it doesn't completely work here. It may be due to the fact that it feels more like a modern anime rather than a ninja gang story from the late 1980s. Revive may have also stuck out more if there hadn't been so many chances at reviving the series in recent years.
    • 55 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Go in just wanting a good time and Grease can be fun.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Go in just wanting a good time and Grease can be fun.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Rock Band Blitz is a conflicting experience for hardcore fans. The game has its moments, but the most entertaining part of Rock Band has been effectively stripped from the game.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Taito didn’t add anything new to the formula, but Arkanoid Plus! will provide straightforward arcade entertainment in short bursts, as long as you don’t go in expecting a revolutionary experience.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    These types of games are, sadly, what we’re relegated to in a post-Guitar Hero world, but they’re not bad for what they are. The singing is pretty useless, since you could just sing along with any song in a similar game if you really wanted to, and the dancing is middle-of-the-road.
    • 56 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    While it can be enjoyable, Jump Force’s power level is nowhere near 9000. This is unfortunate, as the concept for Jump Force is a good idea at its basic level and it’s clear the developers are passionate about the source material but the title ultimately does not live up to the idea’s potential. The story fails to really explain what’s going on and who all these characters are, but also is able to do so in a way where you don’t really care that you’re missing out on what should be pertinent information. The gameplay itself is enjoyable though not groundbreaking, and while there’s a fair amount of fun to be had here, there are more worthwhile options out there.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Sadame isn’t a terrible game by any stretch. Obvious attention was paid to get all the action/RPG trappings in place to create a deep experience. Everywhere, that is, except where it really counts.
    • 57 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    It’s far from bad and that’s frustrating because you can see it achieve great heights — it just doesn’t do it as often as it could if they fine-tuned the concept instead of trying to throw everything into the stew at once.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Despite all of the complaints, there is some inherit value to Dragon Ball Fusions. The battle system, while not great, is creative and captures the feel of an anime. The plethora of heroes means that fans can create a team with nothing but their favorites and journey through the tale. The length and breadth of things to do will give anyone who enjoys this an incredible amount of value. Taken only on its merits as a game, though, and there are some noisome elements.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    tar Fox Zero is a good game to play and it’s one many will get stuck into through some frantic attempt to rack up an even greater high score. Just don’t be surprised if that franticness ceases short of what you may have initially come to expect.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    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.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    For everyone who has become jaded about tower defense, however, The Castle Game will just be another example of the category’s marketplace over-saturation.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Unbalanced, chaotic and a mess, Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny pushes the franchise in the wrong direction. There are glimmers of excellence, but it all comes together in such a disheartening package.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    While SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy has the potential to be a fun hunk of cheese and fanservice, ultimately it relies too much on the game’s premise to carry things. The core tag team gameplay isn’t anything bad – rather fun and unique, even – but extremely short matches, a lack of variety and uneven AI means that said gameplay never achieves its full potential. Only the most diehard SNK fans may want to pick this one up, and even then, odds are you’ve seen these femme fatales done better in both gameplay and sex appeal in previous fighters.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Teslapunk simply cannot be recommended in any form. While it has a fantastic idea for a scoring system, everything else about it is simply unappealing.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Star Wars Battlefront is a solid proof-of-concept that should be fully realized in an inevitable sequel. Like Evolve, Titanfall and The Order: 1886 before it, Battlefront chooses style over substance. It’s absolutely beautiful and captures what it’s like to be in a Star Wars film, but style can only take a game so far.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Just Dance 2017 on Nintendo Switch is the definition of a port as besides allowing for new control options, there’s nothing to distinguish it from other consoles. That’s not a slight at Ubisoft, as there’s not much that could have been done to enhance this re-release besides updating the controls and they were successful in that. Using JoyCons is a fine way to experience the game, with similar functionality to that of a Wii Remote or smartphone (which are also compatible with the game) and makes it easy to rope in multiple players for those with a ton of them on hand.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    But despite having the same solid mechanics as its big brother, Man of Medan starts the anthology off on a thoroughly “meh” note, thanks its unimpressive, poorly-constructed story.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Knee Deep is unique, but in the end fails to capture its potential into a truly memorable experience.

Top Trailers