NZGamer's Scores

  • Games
Select another publication »
For 2,085 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 62% higher than the average critic
  • 6% same as the average critic
  • 32% 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 Gears of War 4
Lowest review score: 20 Deca Sports Freedom
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,403 out of 2085
  2. Mixed: 592 out of 2085
  3. Negative: 90 out of 2085
2085 game reviews
view
per page
    • 76 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Transformers: War for Cybertron
    As an action game, this can't contend with the top dogs in the genre, but that's a moot point, because it isn't just an action game. It's a Transformers game. And Transformers: War for Cybertron is better than anything else we've seen from the license before.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
    The graphics and sound are predictably polished, and should delight any Harry Potter fan with their faithfulness to the movies… albeit in block form.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Dragon Quest Heroes II
    Dragon Quest Heroes II is an excellent game, taking everything that was great about the first game and doubling down on it. It’s still fundamentally a Warriors game, but now there’s even more focus on the Dragon Quest heritage with deeper RPG systems and increased focus. Dragon Quest Heroes did a fine job of combining the two franchises, but Dragon Quest Heroes II takes that to the next level.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Tacoma
    A refreshing genre piece, which plays on expectations to explore the humanity of its cast.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Persona 4: Dancing All Night
    Persona 4: Dancing All Night is a game for Persona fans, a game for rhythm genre fans, and definitely a game for Persona fans who love rhythm games (like me). Perhaps more importantly, it’s a milestone for rhythm games, pushing the bounds of mastery and player-defined difficulty, and demonstrating that this genre has as much capacity for a deep and compelling narrative as any other.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Alien Zombie Death
    If you're at all into shooters and like the idea of something bitesize you can consume whenever you feel the need, there's just no reason to leave this on the shelf.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    R-Type Dimensions
    All up Dimensions is a solid remake of an all-time classic, and is much more convenient than plugging in old systems to give the game a blasting. If you like R-Type, or shooters, then this game is a must.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Chariot
    While getting a handle on the physics-based challenges takes time, especially in co-op mode, what kind of puzzler would it be if it was easy?
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Endless Ocean: Blue World
    I'd say it was a pleasant experience, but forgettable.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 81 Critic Score
    Shadows of the Damned
    An engaging and refreshing survival horror, if that's what it truly can be called. Its got solid combat and challenging puzzles, all wrapped up in excellent atmosphere.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Resonance (2012)
    While at times frustrating (like all good adventure games), Resonance is an interesting combination of gritty, creepy, and above all else, humorous. Working with memories, and different characters' perceptions of events makes for a satisfying approach to the story.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Band Hero
    Ultimately, this all adds up to a disappointment for the vets. Band Hero, simply, is not for them. It is an introductory title, a gateway drug for those who are yet to experience the near-saturated market of music games.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Total War: Rome II
    A solid strategic effort, but no Triumph.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Dead or Alive 5
    Dead or Alive is a series that knows what it does well and DOA5 doesn't deviate from the formula. Simple controls, fast gameplay, and reversals make it a solid fighter for veterans and beginners alike. Given the series' similar controls, the Virtua Fighter guests fit in quite well too.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Aion
    If you're looking for something with a different storyline to WoW, don't play WoW for reasons other than its gameplay or want something more than combat, Aion is well worth checking out. It's arguably the best MMO at launch that we've ever seen.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
    Managing to deliver an emotional story and a big body count with lots of explosions.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus
    Nexus will delight new players and veterans alike with its humour, enjoyable gameplay, and captivating story.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Atelier Ayesha Plus: The Alchemist of Dusk
    A solid JRPG, which suffers from the occasional frame rate drop; it seems the developer Gust were so focused on adding costumes, they neglected to optimize it for the PS Vita’s hardware.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Puzzle Quest: Galactrix
    If you're a hardcore Puzzle Quest fan you'll probably be disappointed initially but once you get past the graphics, sound and some of the gameplay (!), the twists on the game are a smart extension on what came before it.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Pokken Tournament
    Pokken Tournament is an impressive game that carefully treads the line between a deep, complex game for fighting aficionados and an accessible, approachable one for the more casual audience.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    Kinect Sesame Street TV
    Sadly by the time my twins are old enough, we'll probably be up to Kinect 3.7, where it will monitor your blood pressure and check for Vitamin C deficiencies while you sing the 'ABC song'. But for now, those with little ones in the household, a Kinect-equipped console, and a decent amount of safe living area by the TV, you should give Kinect Sesame Street a go and watch the fun that unfolds.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Werewolves Within
    An intimidating and mixed VR experience, but could appeal to fans of the ‘whodunnit’ genre.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    Twisted Metal
    It loses points for having a dull singleplayer mode, but if it is viewed as your training ground for the multiplayer it starts to make more sense. The multiplayer is so fast paced and convincingly pulled off it is a blast to play, even with the controls being a tad hard to get used to.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    Yo-kai Watch
    A spirited good time.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
    One of the better JRPGs on a system that’s full of them.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Penny Arcade Adventures: Episode One
    Penny Arcade: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness does a lot of things a little differently from the generic western RPG. Unfortunately, some things work better than others. No doubt the system will be refined with the sequels to come.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Singularity
    An extremely solid action thriller that Activision probably should be more loud and proud about.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Masquerada: Songs and Shadows
    Masquerada has decent combat, painfully linear level design, and an amazing story with equally amazing characters. Come for the colourful art style, stay for the fantastic world building and plot twists.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
    Competent, compelling gameplay, but with an uneven tone.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Tales From Space: About a Blob
    Even with the continued existence of the human race at stake, there's plenty of fun to be had just eating heaps, getting to be the size of a bus and just blobbing out.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 68 Critic Score
    Kirby Super Star Ultra
    Newcomers might be flummoxed by the dynamics while seasoned gamers will quickly crack this, but you could do a lot worse if you're after a platforming fix. [Dec 2008, p.70]
    • NZGamer
    • 76 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    MAG
    It’s in these areas that MAG succeeds in what it set out to do – delivering some epic, heart-pounding and bullet-ridden multiplayer action.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    SingStar Vol. 2
    Overall, SingStar Vol.2 is a step in the right direction, if only because it’s slightly better than your average sequel on the PS2.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 79 Critic Score
    Pillars of Eternity: The White March - Part 1
    More of what you loved, but no earth-shattering experiences.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    ATV Offroad Fury Pro
    It’s worth a look for fans of the genre and even someone looking for a well-rounded racing experience on the Sony handheld.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational
    I guarantee that many of you will be surprised at how many hours of enjoyment you'll get out of this game - and this is from someone who thinks golf is just a great way to get struck by lightning.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 89 Critic Score
    Pix'n Love Rush
    If you think you'll get a giddy thrill when the game's visuals change to look like a Gameboy, a Virtual Boy or the sounds switch to something clearly inspired by Tetris, Pix'n Love Rush is a must-buy.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    R.U.S.E.
    A perverse dichotomy; RUSE either goes too far, or not far enough.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Need for Speed: Rivals
    The small player cap is disappointing in this day and age, but AllDrive shows real potential. The frame-rate issues I encountered were a downer on an otherwise impressive arcade racing game.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Disney/Pixar Toy Story 3
    Got a kid who's into Toy Story? There's a lot here for them to sink their teeth into, and thankfully it's not all bad.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure
    Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure is about as connected an experience as you'll find in the genre. The characters are cool, the narrative interesting, and the gameplay (mostly) very enjoyable.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 77 Critic Score
    Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands
    This game is one that requires you to play with friends in order to extract the fun out of it. In single player, Wildlands is passable, but in multiplayer it shines. While the missions don’t do much in terms of variety, in playing with others, you find yourself expecting the unexpected. But the real hero is the vast open world, providing you with freedom to approach each objective in any way you wish. Yet while the open world giveth, it also taketh away. A lack of density is obvious, and meandering becomes the most frequent activity that you do.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Far Cry Primal
    The new prehistoric setting is amazing: swapping armed soldiers for tribesmen, a rifle for a bow and arrow, and er, regular elephants for woolly elephants - it all creates a very different atmosphere...However a lot of the game feels like déjà vu for anyone who’s played the previous one. The same setup of missions, the forming of alliances and expanding your territory, the same crazy-old guy character with a dead animal on his noggin, and even the same hallucinogenic discovery missions are all lifted straight from it. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it does make Primal feel like a spin-off rather than it’s own game.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Lode Runner
    Some of the gameplay can seem a little restrictive compared to modern titles (much as Bionic Commando Rearmed did) but once you get into the swing of it (not as literally as Bionic Commando...), the rule set of the game becomes habit and you'll enjoy flexing your mental muscle as you navigate each level.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 89 Critic Score
    The Evil Within 2
    Point-for-point, The Evil Within 2 is a better game than its predecessor. But what defines it – and elevates it – is its ambitious design. Taking a horror game into an open world setting could have been a disaster, but Tango Gameworks pull it off with aplomb.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
    But overall Shattered Dimensions is very easy on the eye.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Disney/Pixar Toy Story 3
    Got a kid who's into Toy Story? There's a lot here for them to sink their teeth into, and thankfully it's not all bad.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Game of Thrones: Episode Two - The Lost Lords
    An irritating bug severely holds back this setup episode.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare
    A great, simple shooter for all ages.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Samurai Warriors 4
    Although it has dated visuals, it comes through on a gameplay front - for fans at least. The battles feel epic due to the number of drones on the screen. In the end, that’s what these titles are all about - epic battles that keep these titles going.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    Heart&Slash
    Besides a camera straight from Robot Hell, there’s a real Heart to this little indie brawler.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Ratchet & Clank Collection
    Despite a little wear and tear, the original Ratchet and Clank Trilogy more than gives you bang for your buck.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    The Walking Dead: Michonne - Episode 3: What We Deserve
    Important, eye-opening, beautiful, and heartbreaking.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 77 Critic Score
    Age of Booty
    With its colourful visuals, animated soundtrack and a real sense of “pick up and play” gaming, Age of Booty is a title most people with Xbox Live should check out, even if it is just for the demo, as chances are you’ll like what you see and purchase it for 800 MS points.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Aliens: Infestation
    A fairly enjoyable title that's let down by a few glitches and questionable design decisions. The best things it has going for it is the budget price (around $60) and that the majority of the game is the classic Metroid-style exploration.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea
    Much more than meets the eye here - an RPG for RPG fans.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Din's Curse
    If you've still got a 14" monitor or are looking for something to play on your GeForce 2 equipped monster of a PC (this would probably work well on a netbook), Din's Curse is a pretty addictive way to flit away the winter hours.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 73 Critic Score
    ShootMania Storm
    It does get a little tiresome, however, with so few options and - more importantly, perhaps - the lack of variety in the look of the maps.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Payday: The Heist
    When you take into account that Payday is an indie game and the promise of potentially more levels down the lines as downloadable content, there is very little reason to not pick this game up.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Paper Mario: Color Splash
    A fun game that is almost a step in the right direction for the series.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Don Bradman Cricket
    Aside from difficulty finding a quick match, and the fact that it’s a year old game that looks a lot older as it’s being sold at full price, Don Bradman Cricket offers plenty for those that don’t have the 2014 version.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
    There is just so much content to the game, that players will find themselves inevitably in the middle of a frenzied grab-a-thon.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    SingStar Amped
    All in all, the lineup of songs isn’t terrible – it just lacks any compelling set of standout songs that hold everything together.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
    Space Marine is solid. Dependable. If intense combat carnage is your thing, you will enjoy this game. If you're a fan of the 40k universe, you will enjoy this game even more. If you are into neither of these things… well, there's always the demo to try out. It never reaches the heights of the top echelon of third-person action games, but it's a good start.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tales of Hearts R
    Tales of Hearts R won’t convert anyone, but fans of Japanese RPGs would do well to pick this up.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Sports Champions
    This is the game to get if you're set on buying a Move controller or two. It's a shame that we couldn't have more involved experiences at launch, but Sports Champions should tide you over until the mythical bunch of 'second generation' Move games arrive.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 76 Critic Score
    Wonderbook: Diggs Nightcrawler
    It would have been perfect with a little more polish and gameplay variety, but it still manages to be enjoyable, not too hard or scary for younger kids, and a nice looking game that adults hopefully shouldn’t find too unbearable to play with the young ‘uns.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Dead Space 3
    A combination of an average shooter (that won’t appeal to shooter fans) and a (tension and atmosphere barren) survival horror game.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Who's That Flying?!
    Who's That Flying? raises the bar for what minis are capable of.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tiny & Big: Grandpa's Leftovers
    While it's not every day that emails about "underpant games" make it through my spam filters, I'm particularly glad this one did. It's indie gaming at its finest.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    WWE 2K14
    WWE 2K14 isn’t a huge improvement over WWE ’13. It does a great job of representing the events of past WrestleManias, however, packing a roster that has almost as many legends as modern superstars - it might even rely too much on nostalgic appeal.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles
    I daresay that this is the perfect girlfriend game; in fact, most situations have you paired as a girl/guy duo which really sets the mood. Shooting zombies is great, but shooting them with friends is even better.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    Edna & Harvey: Harvey's New Eyes
    For those who like their adventures on the darker, twisted - but still humorous side, Edna & Harvey: Harvey's New Eyes might just tickle your fancy. A worthy successor to the original.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    After Burner Climax
    After Burner's high-energy action, combined with next generation visuals and arcade pricing combines for a stellar package.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Panzer General: Allied Assault
    Despite the bizarre you-failed-because-the-Germans-surrendered quirk this is one of the top turn-based strategy titles of the generation. On the down side it isn’t something casual gamers will get into easily. Play the trial first.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    SUPERHOT VR
    Superhot has been talked about a lot since it debuted on Oculus, and for good reason. Now that it’s finally available for PSVR owners, it’s a must have for anyone who wants to play a VR first-person shooter with a twist.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Battalion Wars 2
    Its presentation is some of the best on the Wii and will silence those who feel that Nintendo doesn't know modern production values. However, at the same time the gameplay remains the simple and accessible stuff that has sold the console to the masses.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Overlord II
    It's fun, looks great and will make you chuckle - you'll just be frustrated a little more often than is entirely forgivable. Very definitely worth a look, though, even if you thrashed the first one.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space
    Sam & Max represents fantastic value.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 77 Critic Score
    NHL 18
    NHL 18 is a good game, but I’m biased; even I know that there is little in it that’s new, and NHL Threes isn’t enough make it worth buying. There are great details that I love. The gameplay is fast and tough and takes work to master. But hockey is in danger. It’s in danger of falling behind baseball, football, and basketball in the gaming world, just like it’s lagging behind in real life.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Dragon's Dogma
    It's a game that asks for a bit of effort at the beginning. But, that's the kind of game it's meant to be. It's a big world to explore, and with plenty of downloads planned, it's only going to get bigger.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Paper Mario: Sticker Star
    Fans of the series may want to pick this up to get another taste of what used to be an amazing franchise, but be forewarned that it's not what you're hoping it to be and that you should probably steer clear.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    Saints Row IV: Re-Elected
    Repetitive and unashamedly fun (but a lacklustre port to PS4).
    • 75 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
    Graphically the game looks to be on par with the PS2 titles, but what makes DDD shine above the rest is the 3D.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    NBA Live 09
    Although it’s disappointing that New Zealand isn’t one of the twenty international teams included in the game, that disappointment is greatly outweighed by all the positives.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 73 Critic Score
    The Legendary Starfy
    Packed with extra activities, secret areas and a decent if not overwhelming adventure, The Legendary Starfy will no doubt have satisfied all those eager gamers waiting for it to appear in a language they could understand.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
    By design, Thieves in Time is a fairly simple experience, so if you want more of a challenge, maybe it’s time to graduate to something that’s going to stretch you a little more. I personally need more from a game at this stage of my life. Sorry Sly, it’s not you, it’s me.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Gyromancer
    A true successor to the Puzzle Quest throne and the new puzzle game RPG champion.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Deus Ex: Mankind Divided - System Rift
    A fun reason to jump back into Deus Ex, but not necessarily worth dropping coin for the Season Pass.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Speed Racer
    Speed Racer is a game that gets a lot of things right but it never goes that extra mile. The license probably does make the game better than it should be but that doesn't mean you should give it a miss.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Liqua Pop
    Liqua Pop is not what we'd call a 'chill out' game; however it's perfect for killing a few minutes here and there, has good replay value, and is suitable for all ages. Just be prepared to work up a sweat… and for some puzzled looks from passersby, if you're playing it in public!
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Hustle Kings
    While others might give it a miss, physics majors and pool sharks will definitely get a kick out of this game. And, at a price of $15.50 (and a download size of just 400MB), it certainly won't break the bank for a few hours of solid gameplay either.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    F.E.A.R. 3
    In the end, this is a game that will attract its share of fans for what it does do well - namely, transplant some Call of Duty elements into a more horror-like setting with some novel multiplayer modes. But that phrase, "horror-like", also works in another way: it has the appearance of being a worthy sequel to the atmospheric, creepy Fear games, but in the end it's a mere shadow.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Dante's Inferno
    On the whole, the game has enough extras to keep it from being too dull - puzzle levels for example - but apart from some of the boss battles the combat as a whole is a little underwhelming and a bit same-same, even on the higher (punishing) difficulty levels.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Medal of Honor
    Between sniper missions, marking targets for air support, gunning from choppers, warming your knife, close combat and laying suppression from a distance, MoH should deliver everything shooter fans are looking for.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth
    A fun, mature entry in the Digimon series, let down by the verbose story and lack of challenge.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
    Just don't expect it to do more than tread water in anyway whatsoever and you won't be disappointed.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Shardlight
    A familiar tale, but expertly told.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 79 Critic Score
    Cling!
    The graphics are cartoon like, cute, and colorful, so the game has good eye-catching appeal.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 77 Critic Score
    Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition
    I like Bulletstorm. I like its tongue in cheek, in your face attitude, and I like that it tried to do something new in a time when nobody else was doing so. Is it a good game? Yes. Is it a great game? Probably not anymore. Unfortunately the Full Clip Edition has fallen into the trap of a remaster that, while I’m sure people wanted it, just doesn’t live up to the memory of the original. A sequel would probably have been a better move; this cliffhanger only hurts more the second time People Can Fly, come on! But in the end it’s a romp. A bit pricey for what it is, but most remasters are. I’d play it again, but I’d wait for a sale before taking the plunge.
Page:

Top Trailers

See all »
See all trailers »