Shacknews' Scores

  • Games
For 1,735 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 46% higher than the average critic
  • 5% same as the average critic
  • 49% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 0 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 75
Highest review score: 100 Resident Evil Requiem
Lowest review score: 10 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5
Score distribution:
1762 game reviews
    • 68 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Gauntlet is the perfect party game. It brings people together while tearing them apart. There's fast action that's easy to pick up for more casual players, and a decent selection of relics for players that want to make to experiment with ways to make their character an unstoppable loot grabbing killing machine.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Whether you want to manage a club to a Champions League Title, or have a 10 year career with a custom player, FIFA’s got it. FIFA 15 sets a high bar for sports games, and FIFA 16 will need to work twice as hard to clear it next year.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    D4 is bizarre. There's no other game out there where you'll find someone playfully tossing a rat in your mouth or strutting around with their lover that also happens to be a mannequin. But underneath all of those quirky story beats is an intriguing mystery, bolstered by a solid use of Kinect.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    It still has some legacy issues, but the improvements go a long way. The Marvel fan-service, along with the constant small moments of delight and whimsy, more than make up for a few remaining weak spots.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Wasteland 2 has everything a deep role-playing game should: a large open world, multiple decision paths, and a satisfying mix of serious themes and dark comedy. It can be a long journey, and one where the end is nowhere in sight, but it's an experience that's easy to get lost in.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Hyrule Warriors offers an intriguing blend of both the Zelda and Dynasty Warriors series, making for an experience that fans of either series can thoroughly enjoy. It stays true to the Zelda series’ lore, sights and sounds, and combines it with the fast-paced, button-mashing action the Dynasty Warriors series is so well-known for.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    As it is, Destiny is an ambitious project that isn't quite meeting its potential yet. All of the pieces are in place for a great dungeon-crawling playground, and I've enjoyed my time with it, but I'd like to see it come into its own as a more cohesive experience.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    It's too bad that now that the company has shown how well it can work, it's taking a bow.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The smarter sims, sleek customization system, and emotions truly brings The Sims 4 to life. However, even with those impressive features, the game ultimately feels like a incremental step up from The Sims 3.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    If you're expecting a completely stacked, feature-laden game as you've gotten in the past, you're bound to be disappointed and on the phone with EA's customer service department, wondering where the majority of your game content has gone. However, if you're an avid hockey fan, you probably won't mind hitting the ice and taking part in a well-rounded contest of hockey, and seeing what the new visuals and audio have to deliver.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Hatoful Boyfriend is very much a mixed bag, in terms of story quality, but also proves to be a quaint curiosity. If nothing else, the anime art style is a pleasure to behold, with some bright and engaging set pieces on display.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    After cutting loose with a pair of chainsaw swords, or giving zombies a devastating Street Fighter "Shoryuken" Dragon Punch, you can wash the blood and gore off your boots with the knowledge that it was all time well spent.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    For its simple premise, its fun characters, and an experience that can be fully enjoyed both online and off, Lethal League has proven to be a delight.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It may be too bogged down in its own story and look slightly dated, but the pure puzzle mechanics still work both in and out of the courtroom, and are bolstered by the crossing of ideas. It's more than the sum of its parts, and as a result is a nice treat.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Infamous: First Light is at its best when it's iterating on and riffing on Second Son. In many ways, the abbreviated length of First Light makes it a better bite-sized package. It's more linear and less surprising than fans might expect from the series, but exploring this world as Fetch is just as fun as it ever was.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    EA Tiburon could be onto something, and if it continues to listen to fan feedback, we could be in for some glorious days of video game football yet. For now, this is definitely worth checking out, as it's far from the same old thing.
    • 41 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Even with the challenges, there isn't a lot of replay value in Wayward Manor. Going through the experience once is plenty. By the end of it, players end up giving the house exactly what it wants. Leaving it alone to rot, empty and forgotten.
    • 56 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    While the multiplayer options are confusing, it's fun to have some friends along for the ride, even as you fight over the last remaining health orb in a massive boss battle. Hey, at least you won't have to worry about shooting the food, right?
    • 64 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Calling Gods Will Be Watching "fun" would be a gross misrepresentation. It's not even an experience that one would necessarily recommend, but it is one worth trying. The game is certainly challenging and engrossing in its way, but I wouldn't necessarily call it fulfilling. More often, the game is almost painful to play, and relief comes when you finally manage to make it through a single scenario.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It's a friendly introduction for people like me, a flexible platform for hardcore players, and all-around the best version of Planeswalkers yet. Wizards of the Coast and developer Stainless Games have made a great showpiece for an enduring classic of a card game.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The somewhat ridiculous bugs and some slight repetition leave Sniper Elite III just short of joining the elite action pack alongside other games. In itself, it's still a pretty good experience for those who like to leave their mark from a distance.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The Wolf Among Us is a winner for its pacing, its character work, its story, and the manner in which it makes the player think without being overly heavy-handed about it.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn is sure to be a welcome return for some, but the rust is clearly showing on this series.
    • 49 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Blue Estate shows that an on-rails shooter can work efficiently on PlayStation 4.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Valiant Hearts may get repetitive at times, and struggles to find its tone, but I'd be hard-pressed to name a game that better explores the complexities of war.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Blood of the Werewolf is a pleasant little surprise from Midnight City, a game that's improved greatly since its PC release with a number of touches here and there, along with the additional modes.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Shovel Knight is an amazingly fun romp, offering precision platforming at its finest. Only at the end did I feel the game began to falter a tad, as it delved into some unwelcome cliches. But aside from that, this game brought back memories in the best way possible, all supplemented by a soundtrack that will ring through your head for a long time.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    EA Sports UFC may not be as fully fleshed out as UFC Undisputed 3 was, but it's a splendid starting point for what could be a powerhouse franchise for the team. The gameplay dials most of the right numbers, even with the simplified ground game, and the presentation nails the sport's authenticity, right down to that painful tap-out.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The impatient will probably give up just a few levels in, but the devoted will find a lot to enjoy with 1001 Spikes. It's a fitting tribute to the games of old, while embracing a challenge level that today's dedicated gamers will truly appreciate. If they don't break their controller first, that is.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The richness of the atmosphere and charismatic lead performances pulled me through the story. That paired with a solid, no-frills investigation mechanic helped mitigate some of the technical problems and the sadly tacked-on demon hunting sequences. It's a distinctly average experience, but it has enough going for it that I'm glad I was able to conquer the bugs and see it through.

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