Machinima's Scores

  • Games
For 532 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 62% higher than the average critic
  • 4% same as the average critic
  • 34% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 1.9 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 77
Highest review score: 100 BioShock Infinite
Lowest review score: 10 NCIS
Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 27 out of 532
532 game reviews
    • 86 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    It’s really hard to be excited about the future of Tomb Raider after this game. It fails where more successful films and games of its kind succeed: in its characters. The way in which Lara goes from inexperienced to full-on action movie hero survivalist is so jarring that it’s near impossible as a player to remain on the same emotional wavelength as the story. Because of this the rest of the game falters.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    I won't say that the framerate issue is a deal-breaker, but it's definitely keeping me from wholeheartedly recommending Armored Edition.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    If you've never played any version of Lumines before and you're looking for a solid puzzle game for your new Vita, then this title is certainly worth your time. But if you'd rather save your money and stay home with your block-dance-party-game, then Lumines Electronic Symphony is a bit of a tougher sell.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Monster Hunter takes for granted a lot of extracurricular effort on behalf of its players. How much extra research are you willing to do on a game’s systems before you expect to have fun with it? How many nonsensical, anachronistic hoops are you willing to jump through just for a slight taste of what this game will hopefully become in ten years’ time?
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Despite this episode’s focus on item collecting instead of verbal crime solving, it continues to deliver on the fairytale angst.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    I liked the sense of accomplishment I felt after completing a complex level, and online play is entertaining. Racing game fans won't find the same type of gameplay in Gran Turismo, as the arcade style gameplay leans more toward the casual crowd.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Most Civ players will find the changes too minor and the original game complex enough that an expansion isn't necessary.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    With Pokemon Black 2 and White 2, the game is starting to feel stale. The Pokemon series has been living off its laurels for some time now, and the series is in need of change.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Revelations very much feels to me like a team checking off items from a list. Ezio, Altair, and Desmond are here; there's parkour; there's combat; there's a bad guy, eventually; there are puzzles; there's a big beautiful world to explore. The problem is, they never seem to cohere into a single experience, and the kind of passion and quality that has made this series so good in the past is missing.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    I really wanted to love From Dust. I love the concept. I love Eric Chahi. But the gameplay feels like it was never play-tested, and the difficulty curve is wild and unsatisfying.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    For the Poke-Maniacs out there, these two games are easily the definitive versions of this generation, but only because they offer a few added side missions and graphical enhancements. For anyone that played and enjoyed the two games before, Black 2 and White 2 can be skipped without question.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    A game with an identity crisis trying to be too many things to too many people. It's more successful than it should be but ultimately the entire package is brought down by being pulled in these two polarizing directions.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    At its core, this is a really good game with a winning gameplay mechanic, but its flaws often grind the fun to a screeching halt.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Only problem is that novelty doesn't make the game concept really workable, and thus you get a jumble of mechanics that partially invalidate themselves.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Racing die-hards may find GRID 2′s schizophrenic approach to driving physics an interesting curiosity, but you can find any angle of GRID 2′s experience executed more successfully in other games.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Starhawk is definitely a game that was made; I just don't know if it was a game that was designed. Its scope seems at odds with its mechanics. There's nothing inherently broken about Starhawk, it's just painfully straightforward, as if the question of "why" was never asked. And it's one I continued to ponder as I played the game and don't think I ever really came up with a satisfying answer.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Though the underlying action RPG mechanics are well done, constant grinding through improperly balanced levels brings the game down a couple notches.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Despite how interesting the gamepad is used to play the game, the ten-plus hour campaign itself just isn't fun. The multiplayer is a better experience, but that's not saying much. ZombiU is for those gamers that truly want difficult survival horror with no end purpose, and that's fine for those that don't need complexity to their zombie apocalypse.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    If you dig DotA and want to play a streamlined version of that game on a console, Awesomenauts will deliver big time. But don't be surprised when, well, you wind up never being surprised.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The core of the Horizon Rally DLC is solid; it recreates superbly the rally racing experience. Only in the additional features does this DLC fall short, which is less forgivable given its price point.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    A good way to play this quirky RPG if you don't have a PSP.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Despite the fact that PixelJunk Sidescroller isn't that bad, it isn't that good either. It's a mildly-entertaining-but-shallow offering from a studio that's usually at the pinnacle of PSN development.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Ultimately the pace of Smoke and Mirrors is quite different from Faith, but it’s a change that seems necessary for Bigby to do his job. Familiar camera angle issues and an oddly placed fight aside, The Wolf Among Us continues to deliver. The game is still a great bridge for new fans to familiarize themselves with the Fables lore and old fans to connect the dots only they know exist.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Aliens: Infestation is a bit of a mixed bag: blasting through aliens in a desperate fight for survival that is both challenging and fun. Unfortunately these parts of the game are separated by a lot of backtracking that is both tiresome and frustrating.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Despite serious gameplay and production issues, Edna & Harvey: Harvey's New Eyes is still a memorable and enjoyable game.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    A broad comprehensive battle system makes each fight worthwhile, if a bit repetitive. The story is told at the right pace and will keep you interested throughout the entirety of the game. But the experience isn't entirely perfect, with some odd sound issues, a knack for getting you lost, and 3D visuals that should never be used.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Though the game is incredibly difficult and will test the patience of even the most Zen players, it is still a blast to play and a definite challenge to hardcore players.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The whole experience feels like an anachronism. Younger gamers might accept some of these problems more readily, and when the game is on, it’s a lot of fun. If you enjoy the simplicity of the gameplay or collecting lots and lots of shiny objects, you’ll get tons of that here, giving you more entertainment after you’ve completed the main story.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Episode four serves to connect most of the pieces together and potentially meet the perpetrator behind all the chaos in Fabletown… though it doesn’t hype up the next episode as much as it could. Of course there’s always the possibility Telltale is saving the best stuff for the conclusion, so I’m still hopeful episode five will blow us all away.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Even with its flaws, Magicka is fun and fresh, and offers a new experience for RPG fans.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Sadly, its targeting and save point distribution make it tough to recommend for all gamers. If you're a highly skilled player that loves a challenge then you might be able to look past the game's artificial difficulty.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Wii controls continue to disappoint.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Don't get me wrong, I love the amount of jiggle, it's been a ridiculous and hilarious theme for several sequels now. But what I was really hoping for was more focus on how to play the game and tools to improve. I didn't see that in this installment.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Contra and Metal Slug are the KFCs of the 2D shooter world. And this game is literally like hardboiled chicken–enjoyable for the price, but is no gourmet dish.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Disappointing. On its own the game is mediocre with a missed opportunity in character variety, short time to completion, and only a small amount of enemies. Compared to past games this is a downright disaster.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Career mode is deep and involving, with a rewarding sense of progression as you earn new sponsors and bolt on better car parts...On the other hand, the multiplayer, which only offers single races online or in split-screen, is lacking more engaging features (and players, sadly).
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    As a single-player game, Dungeon Siege III succeeds as a fun action-RPG. It doesn't offer anything particularly new, but gamers that enjoy hacking and looting by themselves should have fun. As a multiplayer game, Dungeon Siege III is disappointing.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 55 Critic Score
    There are so many aspects of this game to which I can say "if only"… if only the camera worked right, if only the controls were tighter, if only there were more to do than find keys and kill the same dudes over and over again. But the game is what it is, and the bad seems to outweigh the good at every turn.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    If you're jonesing for classic, Rare-made GoldenEye and your N64 is nowhere to be found, then the updated Reloaded is definitely a must-buy. But if you don't already have an attachment to the old game, there isn't much here for you.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Only the most ardent Dead Rising fans should buy this game.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Unfortunately their goal of creating an epic, apocalyptic first-person zombie survival gameends up cracking under the weight of their own ambition. A smaller scale and some more time in development and Dead Island could have been the zombie game we've always wanted.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Though the variety of gameplay gives Retro City Rampage a broad scope, the redundancy of driving back and forth quickly becomes stale.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Once again a 3DS game fails to realize its huge online multiplayer potential.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Fans that want something like Monster Hunter but not in the same setting shouldn't hold their breath for Gods Eater Burst to be anything more than a quick diversion.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    I can't help but feel like there could've been more to Gotham City Impostors.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The 3rd Birthday should have been brilliant, but is merely decent.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    For as “action packed” and “feature laden” as it is, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge suffers from a lack of balance and will no doubt be a source of frustration for those who try to go against its painful grain.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    If you’re the type of gamer that likes talking about games as much as playing them, The Cave will give you plenty to talk about. Otherwise, if you’re just after a fun and well-crafted experience, there’s too much chaff in this package.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The controls are not only responsive, but they show a subtlety we don't normally see in motion-controlled games. It's just too bad that what could've been a fun, magical romp is deflated by generic fantasy tropes and equally uninspired visuals and sounds.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Though actual gameplay is on the lower end, witty writing and impressive visual variety ensure your time spent with the crossover strategy RPG is memorable.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The game is a faithful port of the arcade game, but the appeal to purchase it is really only for fans of the original seeking a dose of nostalgia.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Mario Tennis Open is like Jessica Alba with a giant, puss-filled zit right on the tip of her nose. Its flaws are glaring and hard to overlook – a beginner-friendly control system that harms competitive online play for purists and, more crucially, a distinct lack of imagination.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Even though the game gets repetitive you're constantly receiving rewards and increasing your stats, which makes the game addictive.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    A mixed bag. The action and strategy implemented in an already demanding sub-genre of shooters is engaging and fun, but a lack of gameplay modes and stages cuts the experience short all too quickly. Dreadful voice acting, bland sound, and a lack of a compelling story keep the game from being stellar.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    While it partially succeeds in exploring some of the aspects of pirate life, it doesn't deliver on it enough to make the experience super exciting.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The HD treatment, online multiplayer, casual mode for newbies, and extra goodies to unlock ensure plenty of playtime for each of the various titles.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Foul Play is a combination of good and not so good. On one hand the overarching theme, visuals, and humor are top notch. But on the other the gameplay is boring and there is little challenge.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    I really enjoyed the ridiculousness of playing poker to stop ice wolves and castle guardians (just think about it…).
    • 69 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    The tension-inducing design present in I Am Alive's mechanics extends to its checkpoint system, which I would describe as torturous.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    A fun game. There's little to criticize here, save a price on the higher end of the XBLA spectrum, but you really can't compete with free.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The 3DS itself seems like an odd choice for a game like this, what with its small screen and isolated user base-compared, at least, to the massive communities surrounding PC games in the same genre.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    But the new game types, cartoon graphics and on-rails acceleration turn it into a car version of the human slingshot PSN game Pain.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    The core gameplay is still enjoyable and the addition of DC characters makes this game the most expansive yet. But if you’ve already played around as God with Maxwell’s notebook then there is little reason to return.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    While Gungnir is in no means a bad game, there isn't anything about it that calls out to be played. The story isn't entirely original, but the lower class uprising setting fits well with the gameplay (as it does with most titles in the genre).
    • 68 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    EDF2017 has a particular magic that defies logic. If you've played the original to death, you may simply want an excuse to play the game again despite the disappointing renovations in Portable. Hell, I'm in that camp myself, so I won't talk you out of it. Just make sure you have some friends lined up for co-op ahead of time.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    It's better than last year's abysmal effort, that's for sure. But it's still not the supreme racer the biking scene deserves.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Too many quirks and glitches still exist in the gameplay for me to fully immerse myself into the sport. 2K12 makes pitching more challenging and stands out as the most polished aspect of the gameplay. Very little has been added in the way of game modes this season, but the standards still play true to form.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    BloodRayne: Betrayal is on the line of a game I'd recommend and a game I wouldn't recommend. The visuals are wonderful and genuinely a pleasure to look at. But the gameplay is hindered entirely by overly difficult platforming and atrocious controls.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Tequila Works certainly understands the 2D space and there is some sense of satisfaction in navigating Randall Wayne through miles of hallowed out buildings, a treacherous underground, and zombie-infested roads.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The obtrusive HUD and messy atmospheric bits aren't bad enough to ruin this, but as with some of the questionable facets of this game, you can't help but wonder how much more fun it would be without them.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    A unique blend of turn based and real time battles is squandered on bland battles and a pacing that is far too slow.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    There's a little more depth to Primal Carnage than its premise might imply, but only a little. The interplay of the game's classes provide some intelligent play, but at the end of the day there's simply not enough game here to justify its cost.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Proven gameplay mechanics and the wacky sense of humor that is Adventure Time make the game a blast to play from start to finish. Just don't expect to be playing it all that long.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    The convenience of modern games makes this Resident Evil Code: Veronica X feel dated.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Mahjong Cub3D is exactly what it needs to be - a collection of mahjong puzzles with a neat gimmick that works well with the 3DS's display.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    It's a shame it was released in such a crowded downloadable game window, as it's an enjoyable diversion for the price.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    I was disappointed with this game. Killing zombies with friends is a fun, if short, adventure, but highly repetitive gameplay makes the game stale. A great deal of backtracking and monotonous quests holds the game back even further. The nail in the coffin is no online multiplayer, because this game is just screaming to be played with friends over Xbox Live.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Doom 3 has aged fantastically well. Provided you haven't already played the games in this collection, BFG Edition is also a solid value.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Sonic Generations for the 3DS is by no means a bad game, it is just a disappointing one. Being able to play as both Modern Sonic and Classic Sonic in an assortment of old and new stages is a great idea, but everything is over very quickly.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    The gravity fluctuating gameplay combined with simple platforming make for devilishly difficult levels that only hardcore puzzle fans need apply for.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    A good dance game that uses solid gameplay mechanics. While the visuals are distinct, they're lacking on a technical level.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Those of you looking for a more engaging, worthwhile, and ultimately enjoyable RPG should look past Unchained Blades and not look back.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    It offers nothing profound, but improves incrementally over the last in the series (as the franchise is wont to do). Series regulars already know everything there is to know, and as such probably haven't bothered to read any reviews.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The lack of narrative hurts what could have been an awesome story.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Yoshi’s New Island isn’t a bad game; it just doesn’t live up to the legacy set forth by its predecessors.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Essentially a no-frills score attack game with base-capture, twin-analogue shooter and real-time strategy elements all rolled into one. Its lacking content and technical niggles give it a cheap, rushed feel, yet it still manages to provide a surprisingly carrot-on-a-stick, addictive experience with just the right level of complexity for its 10-minute missions.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    It won't blow your mind. It won't raise the FPS bar. And if you play the big FPS games on HD consoles, moving to this would be like dumping Jessica Alba for Snooki. You just wouldn't do it. But if Wii is your only console this is a refreshingly enjoyable romp arriving right in the middle of a worrying Wii games drought.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    It's nothing that I want to particularly spend much time with, since it's just generally lackluster in modes and variety. It's a pretty game, that's for sure, but there was nothing in Ravaged that really drew me in, nothing that made me want to turn it later once I'd shut it down.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The average visuals, clunky animations, clumsy controls, and nonexistent lip-syncing represents a distinct lack of polish, but this doesn't ruin the otherwise solid game tucked within.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    There’s biker and vehicle customization in the game, and a fair amount of it. With outfits, accessories, and bike upgrades to attain, enough reason exists to go out of your way to nab cash in-game and increase your star count.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Offers an adequately suspenseful adventure and expands the series' lore, just barely making it worthy of the Silent Hill name.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The core fighting system has been ported perfectly to the 3DS and the animation is very well done, but everything else has been stripped down to the bare essentials. Substantial lag makes most online matches unplayable, and just two single player modes doesn't give too many options for replayability.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    F1 Race Stars is simple, charming, looks great (particularly thanks to a silky smooth frame rate) and has some clever nods to the real life sport without getting technical. Its simplicity makes it better suited to families or more inexperienced players, and it could be great fun in local multiplayer.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    lilt line is an awesome little proof of concept that justifies its $5 cost with around an hour of bangin' beats. Jaded and retro gamers will enjoy the minimalist design, while dubstep fans will enjoy the fresh tracks and representation of one of electronica's up and coming genres.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Urban Trial Freestyle isn’t Trials HD, but it can have its moments: when you’re flying through the levels, landing after huge falls, and getting super fast times the game is quite fun.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    SimCity as a game is thoroughly entertaining, if flawed in several areas, and now at least we can experience it fully, and hopefully put the disaster of launch in our rear view mirror.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Virtually no changes have been made between this game and the last in the series. While not wholly bad, unfortunate omissions like online play and a revamped combat system will leave fans of the series (and of action RPGs in general), wanting more. DeathSpank has a penchant for the epic, but so far his games have been average.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The roster of Sega stars and tracks is commendable. When the game hits its strides it can even be as entertaining as genre king Mario. But more often than not the game’s suite of issues holds it back from greatness.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    But its hugely let down by this DLC idea of THQ's which, executed in the way it has been, has left the game lacking in any real content to justify laying down the initial $40.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Ultimately, it seems a bit unfair to give Continue? a score—it’s a game that can mean everything or nothing depending greatly on your worldly interpretation. Where games like Gone Home and Papers Please have a clear fundamental message tugging on your principles, Continue? is either answering life’s questions or presenting some you weren’t considering before—apparently while “late at night with a glass of wine or some weed.”

Top Trailers