Hey Poor Player's Scores

  • Games
For 1,734 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 49% higher than the average critic
  • 12% same as the average critic
  • 39% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 0.7 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 74
Highest review score: 100 Hitman: World of Assassination
Lowest review score: 20 The Lord of the Rings - Gollum
Score distribution:
1734 game reviews
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Chances are, if you’re checking out a review for a sequel to the best Hot Wheels game to be released in the past ten years, you know why you’re here. You see tracks in the most normal locations and think about how fun an orange and blue retreading would look, and Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged is right here, ready and willing to fulfill that fantasy, with a massive collection of cars to do it with. Simple mechanics compliment such a smooth racing experience, making for an easy to recommend, pick-up-and-play arcade racer just as tried-and-true as it gets. Seeing your favorite rides come to life in such a carefree and exciting way will probably release all the endorphins you think it will, even with the tunes and engine sounding a bit out of shape. If your diecast childhood dreams ever catch up with you, you can’t do any wrong picking up Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged, along with a few Hot Wheels cars while you’re at it (you know you want to).
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    That’s a real shame because I love so much of the game Galvanic Games have created, but I don’t particularly enjoy the feel of actually playing it. There are enough cool moments and interesting paths that I still had a fairly good time overall, but the actual feel of the game is a crucial element that simply never clicked. However, players who this core gameplay resonates with will absolutely love Wizard With a Gun.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    While Wargroove 2 doesn’t reinvent so much as it refines, my experience with it was far more positive than with the original. Perhaps it was just removing the weight of expectations. The game’s refined stages, absurd variety, and improved story all help. In the end, though, whatever the reasons, I had a blast returning to the world of Wargroove, and I think anyone who enjoys strategy games will find plenty of reasons to spend an awful lot of hours exploring it.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Engaging combat, brilliant boss fights, and top-notch level design that is amplified further by the creative dual-world mechanics introduced by Umbral, all coalesce into a version of Lords of the Fallen that not only leaves its predecessor in the dust but moves the genre forward in meaningful ways. That being said, it’s difficult to ignore the lackluster performance that significantly impacts upon the experience of the opening few hours, resulting in Lords of the Fallen not being the absolute recommendation that it should be.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    PAYDAY 3 isn’t the seismic improvement over PAYDAY 2 many might have been hoping for, but it is a refinement of the formula with a few fun new additions. Though the number of heists is currently at a modest number, they have a decent amount of replayability whether you use meticulous stealth or go in guns blazing. Despite a very troubled opening week, there are firm foundations for lots more heisting content to come here. Chains, Dallas, Wolf and Hoxton have come out of their latest heist with some scars to show for it, but with a few bags full of cash nonetheless.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Wild Card Football is the most fun I’ve had with a football game in the last decade. That says more about the poor state of sports games than it does about the game itself, but fans of the sport will find a fun pick-up-and-play arcade experience here, which is great for casual play, even if the available modes are lacking and the wild card system isn’t as successful as I’d like. Wild Card Football won’t provide a ton of depth or reward careful planning, but if you need something fun to play with casual friends at halftime, you should absolutely give it a look.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    The closest to a negative thing I can say about COCOON is that I wish there were more of it. I wish I could forget everything I know about it so that I could experience it again for the first time. That those moments of jaw-dropping awe could hit as hard as they did my first time through. While I can’t have those moments back, though, you can still experience them. If you haven’t played COCOON yet, they’re still waiting for you to find them.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Ten years ago, I’d have been eager to play a game like Hauma – A Detective Noir Story. With few new options to explore a genre I loved, I was eager for anything that even had a scrap of quality, and while its story and characters aren’t particularly strong and its gameplay has issues, a great art style, and solid voice acting keep things relatively enjoyable. There’s nothing truly wrong with any major aspect of Hauma. The issue is that most aspects of the game don’t do much that’s all that right either. Genre fans will find a game that is perfectly playable but which most will forget as soon as they’re done with it. Hauma – A Detective Noir Story is a prime example of why not every mystery needs to be solved.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Long Gone Days may not be the most engaging RPG in terms of its gameplay, but you’ll struggle to find another RPG this year with as much heart and passion for its subject matter. By focusing less on the huge conflict that serves as the backdrop, and instead focusing on the smaller, more touching tales of people going above and beyond to help one another through awful situations, Long Gone Days truly feels like nothing else I’ve played. Had the combat been a little more engaging, Long Gone Days would absolutely have been a better time, but even as it stands, it’s a title that excels enough in everything else it does and is well worth experiencing.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    If you’ve got a mean streak and have always wanted a safe environment in which to find out what it feels like to have people unquestionably devote themselves to you and your cause, well, firstly, you should be on a watch list somewhere, and secondly, you should absolutely check out The Fabulous Fear Machine.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    DLC can vary wildly in length, and just because the added content is short doesn’t always mean it’s not worth checking out. Cassette Beasts: The Pier of the Unknown is, unfortunately, far closer to the lean side. But beyond its brief runtime and some same-y boss fights, it still managed to tick off most of the boxes of things I was looking for. There are a few interesting new monsters to transform into, Archangels to battle, and some challenging platforming to make this eerie expansion a worthwhile experience for the spookiest month of the year. That said, here’s hoping this is just the first hint of potentially larger DLC to come in the future, because the short length certainly has me wanting more.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    If Ubisoft’s mission with Assassins Creed Mirage was clearly to create something that paid tribute to the series’ roots while acting as an entry point for new fans, and perhaps a re-entry point for lapsed ones, then that mission has been well and truly accomplished. The razor-sharp focus on throwback stealth gameplay, stripping back of RPG systems, and de-emphasizing of melee combat all come together to create the most focused entry in years.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    With its bite-sized stages and mostly braindead enemies, CrossFire: Sierra Squad might disappoint players hoping to find the closest thing to Call of Duty in VR. However, that doesn’t mean you should write it off completely. If you’re looking for a solid arcade shooter with a wide variety of weapons to wield and lots of replay value, CrossFire: Sierra Squad is a solid addition to your PSVR2 library. And if you can find a friend to enlist with, you’re bound to have some fun ridding the world of terrorists, one bullet at a time.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    While it’s over all too soon, if you grew up in the 16-bit era and love retro games, you owe it to yourself to give Pixel Ripped 1995 a try. And with the PSVR2 version’s improved visual fidelity and superb controls, there’s never been a better time to do so. Pixel Ripped 1995 is escapism at its finest, a nostalgic love letter to classic gaming that will transport you back to a simpler time. If that sounds up your alley, then don’t hesitate to add the game to your PSVR2 library.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    I’ll still stand by the notion that the dialogue could use some fat trimming and the canvas section was just unnecessary, but for all intents and purposes, if you want a blast from the past with a hidden twist all wrapped up in a tidy little package, I Doesn’t Exist is harmless enough that I’d recommend the venture. Just temper your expectations a bit and have some patience set aside for the text-input side of I Doesn’t Exist. After all, who knows when the next time will be that we’ll actually see someone using text-adventure gameplay again.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    I’m not sure I’ve ever played a racing game that feels better than Forza Motorsport. Whether you’re controlling the fastest car in the game or the slowest, it’s compelling to push each vehicle to its limits and keep finding ways to improve your ride. I wish the experience around this core gameplay found more ways to create a compelling journey, but fans of the genre are mainly coming for the racing itself, and they’ll find everything they need in Forza Motorsport.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    So there you have it. Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles is easily the best game I’ve played from Akupara Games thus far. It’s challenging, beautiful, complex, and an utter joy to play. Not only is it an amazing example of the rogue-like genre, but it’s also one of the first dice-builders I’ve ever played. If you’re at all a fan of the genre, do yourself a favor and get a copy.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Ultimately, High on Knife‘s tale of a wayward Knifey was full of fun characterization combined with a brief but satisfying story. The new pinball-themed gun is a hit, and Knifey’s special upgrade needs to be seen and experienced for yourself. With any luck, we’ll see some more DLC down the road, and hopefully then, Harper will be left behind.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Fate/Samurai Remnant is a must-play for fans of the Fate franchise and worth checking out for anyone who loves a good anime-style game. I can’t say it’ll win over all musou fans due to its focus on storytelling slowing the pacing, but I suspect it may convince those who typically shy away from musou games to give it a second look. In the very least, Fate/Samurai Remnant has a cool premise with fun characters that develop and grow as the story progresses, so if you’ve already had your eye on this one, you shouldn’t be disappointed.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dai’s video game debut may not feature the same level of robustness as its core series counterparts, but, as an action-based anime spin-off, it’s an absolute delight. Whether you’ve been following the anime or manga, or just consider yourself to be a Dragon Quest fan, Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure offers an all-around good time.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition is a lovingly made restoration of a cult favourite FPS title that significantly improves the source material. However, it can’t hide how fundamentally dated and limited the core design is. It just doesn’t stand the test of time like Doom or other classic 90’s shooters. Nonetheless, old-school FPS fans, and those looking for a shooter that doesn’t take itself too seriously, will be pleased and punch with this truly definitive version of Rise of the Triad.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    While I do feel its balancing could have used some work, and the overly busy visuals can sometimes make the action indecipherable, Jets'n'Guns 2 is tough to put down once it gets its hooks in you and you learn to look past its occasional shortcomings. With its excellent presentation and an upgrade system that encourages experimentation and careful planning, this one's easy to recommend to shmup junkies looking for a challenge.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    One Military Camp is a solid, if somewhat safe, base builder that makes crafting your own base and developing your own army a genuinely entertaining affair. There’s a real satisfaction to be had in finally landing on the perfect base and developing squads of soldiers that stand the best chance of surviving certain missions. It’s a shame, then, that an overreliance on manually managing your troops and base, and the lack of any interactive missions or battles, leaves it currently feeling like a bit of a missed opportunity, and somewhat half-baked. That being said, with such a solid foundation, there is definitely fun to be had for fans of the genre, and with a few more content updates that would hopefully address some of the quality-of-life issues while fleshing out some of the more passive elements, One Military Camp has the potential to be something special.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails is a fun action RPG whose portable origins shine through for better and worse. While definitely fun, its story and gameplay can feel a tad slight at times, especially as the game goes on. Still, fans of Falcom’s other titles will find a lot of what they love about the developer’s work here and should absolutely give The Legend of Nayuta a shot.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    For a game that’s supposedly Rune Factory-adjacent, I’ve got to say that I feel a little let down here. Between its engaging premise, large cast of playable characters, and emphasis on crafting, Silent Hope offers a lot to players but never really goes anywhere interesting with it. As a fan of both Marvelous and Rune Factory, I know that this developer is capable of creating games with plenty of depth. Ironically, however, the game about literally exploring a near-endless abyss isn’t one of them. The game does have its charms, to be sure, but the sheer amount of potentially cool things that it could have done (and didn’t do) left me feeling more frustrated than anything.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It’s rare for a sequel to be better than the original. It’s even rarer for it to so eclipse it that they feel like completely different species. Nevertheless, that’s the magic trick that Cyber Citizen Shockman 2: A New Menace pulls off. It’s a beautiful retro adventure full of great artwork and amazing music, with lots of accessibility options to make it a bit easier. While the goofy story is nothing to write home about, it’s a great adventure and a tribute to a lost era of Japanese-only videogames. If you’re a fan of game history or just enjoy platformers, be sure to check this one out.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Despite the overarching story not fully coming together, however, I had a great time with Europa’s Folly. It’s an action-packed, fast-moving conclusion that takes the time to give most of the game’s cast a moment to shine and satisfies from a character perspective. I’d mostly say the same about The Expanse: A Telltale Story as a whole. While the game definitely has pacing issues, and parts of its story feel like they’re mostly there to fill time, its cast of characters is brought to life in a way that made me look forward to returning to them every couple of weeks. It’s not a perfect return from Telltale, but it leaves me excited to see where the studio goes next, and hoping we get to see more of this crew.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Chants of Sennaar is beautifully designed from the ground up. With a fantastic look, beautiful music, and unique gameplay almost entirely focused on translating various languages, there’s nothing like it on the market. If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, you’re almost certainly right that it will be. If you’re like me, though, and barely managed to squeak through foreign language classes in school by memorizing what you needed for the next test, Chants of Sennaar likely isn’t for you.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    El Paso, Elsewhere stands as a testament to what indie games can achieve. While it borrows elements from giants, it carves its unique identity, blending retro aesthetics, a gripping narrative, and a hip-hop soundtrack into a cohesive experience. Its shortcomings, though present, don’t overshadow its achievements. The game offers a haunting journey through its surreal world, making it a memorable title in the third-person shooter genre. As the credits rolled, I couldn’t help but appreciate the game’s effort to be more than just another shooter—it’s an earnest triumph that breathes freshness into a sea of familiarity.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    TY the Tasmanian Tiger 4: Bush Rescue Returns is a fun adventure on Nintendo Switch, albeit a flawed and inconsistent one. It took me 5 to 6 hours to beat, and there’s plenty more bonus content to unlock, including a ton of silly optional costumes. While I enjoyed my time with the game, the wonky platforming, simplified combat and annoying boss battles all held it back from more. That said, if you’re a fan of platformers and want to check out a silly, Aussie story, then it’s still worth picking the game up.

Top Trailers