Video Game Talk's Scores

  • Games
Select another publication »
For 393 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 32% higher than the average critic
  • 4% same as the average critic
  • 64% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 8.6 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 66
Highest review score: 100 Super Mario Galaxy
Lowest review score: 10 Fighters Uncaged
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 158 out of 393
  2. Mixed: 176 out of 393
  3. Negative: 59 out of 393
393 game reviews
view
per page
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Dragon Age II
    If you were in love with Dragon Age Origins, I'd strongly recommend testing the demo before purchasing Dragon Age II. You should be able to get a good idea of how well you can handle 25 to 30 hours of that combat system. For those that hated the methodical battles of DA: Origins, you will probably love the fast paced, mindless combat of Dragon Age II.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Okamiden
    Okamiden never feels like a giant leap forward, but it was never intended as such. Instead, it shows that the world of Okami is ripe for further adventures, and that they can appear in new and exciting forms.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Castle Crashers
    Castle Crashers is an entertaining brawler, but the replay value is chopped into little frustrating bits by a horrifically painful online experience.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mario Kart Wii
    This game gets a high recommendation for the multiplayer aspect but if you're in a position where you're going to be exploring single player consider this merely recommended.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Heist
    For less than a buck, you are getting 60 puzzles to solve as well as a clever presentation to go along with it. The only major drawback to The Heist is there are few, if any, original gameplay concepts introduced.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Madden NFL 09 All-Play
    But if solid, enjoyable game play is more important to you than high-end graphics or being taunted by 12-year-olds, you can't go wrong with what Madden '09 is offering up.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Midnight Club: Los Angeles
    If you're looking for a good street racing title, then this is definitely one to consider. It's not perfect, but there are enough positives to put it neck and neck with some of its competition.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    FIFA Soccer 08
    As a standalone game this is easily a recommended title if you enjoy the sport in any fashion, it’s true to the sport and plays, looks and sounds great and there’s a large pool of players around the world to play online.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    You Don't Know Jack
    In any case, You Don't Know Jack is an excellent choice for parties or simply those looking for a great trivia challenge with a liberal dose of silly humor.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Catherine
    Overall, Catherine is a strange beauty of a game that deserves to be given a spin in your console.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Saints Row 2
    Saints Row 2 isn’t a GTA killer, that’s for sure. However, it stands well enough on its own due to its different take on this style of game.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Torchlight
    For $15, it's a bit steep for a dungeon crawler, but probably worth demoing on Xbox Live if you are fan of the PC version.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Bomberman Ultra
    Bomberman is simply just one of those games that is amazingly easy to pick up and understand, but hard to master.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Saints Row 2
    Assuming the crashing issues that I observed on my system were isolated (I didn’t hear many reports of this happening to others) then Saints Row 2 gets a highly recommended grade from this reviewer.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    ilomilo
    Ilomilo is an incredibly charming puzzle game that will likely be too frustrating for some players and the lack of a fully featured multiplayer mode decreases the replay value dramatically.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dawn of Discovery
    Yet again, a game on the Wii that looks to be well below my level of interest surprises by focusing on the gameplay and implementing solid, intuitive controls. That it's extremely accessible thanks to the tutorial-on-steroids story mode is just another feather in the Wii's something for everyone cap.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    GoldenEye 007
    The end result is a game that's among the most entertaining overall on the Wii, and easily the finest example of a first-person shooter the console has to offer.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile
    Give the trial a go and if you can burn through it a few times without getting bored, then maybe plunk down your money, otherwise, delete it and seek out greener pastures.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Plants vs. Zombies
    Unfortunately, this is the worst performing version of Plants vs. Zombies and oddly the most expensive.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Midnight Club: Los Angeles
    Fans of the series will no doubt feel right at home in this iteration and continue to support the franchise. Those new to the Midnight Club line or those looking for a new racing game to pick up will still get a great deal out of this game.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 All-Play
    If you're looking for a good golf game for the Wii, then Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 All Play is the one to get.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    FIFA Soccer 08
    FIFA 08 has a lot of diversity of its game play and offers an addictive, easy to learn experience for soccer fanatics.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A Space Shooter for 2 Bucks
    The attractive price is not the only thing that makes this frantic space shooter worth trying out. Looking past the hit or miss humor in the dialogue, the action is absolutely addicting and you will be replaying levels incessantly to build up some space cash to purchase your next upgrade.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Prince of Persia
    This is a highly polished hit that deserves to be checked out.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation
    The audio soars even higher than the graphics.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Eternal Sonata
    The PS3 finally has a solid RPG and despite the fact that it is one that has been ported over from the 360 it's worth checking out.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
    LucasArts and Travellers’ Tales have been a great job of making the Lego Star Wars experience portable and a genuine blast to play.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Geometry Wars: Galaxies
    Twitch gamers will eat this up, and Galaxies is an easy game to go back to every now and then to unlock new planets or try to break those high score records that you set.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Naruto: The Broken Bond
    If you're a Naruto fan then Broken Bond should definitely be on your play list.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Scribblenauts
    Simply one of the best puzzle games to ever grace a handheld and a must get for any puzzle game fan, and the sheer amount of different solutions each puzzle can have will keep you playing for a very long time.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Eternal Sonata
    The story and some of the mechanics do work better in Blue Dragon but Eternal Sonata's artistic mastery and amazing combat help to balance the scales.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters
    I wouldn't hesitate to give this game the highest rating possible, if it weren't for this terrible marketing strategy, because that aside, it's a fantastic game and one of the best sports titles I've played. Don't hesitate to pick it up if you love golf, just understand the few drawbacks.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Midnight Club: LA Remix
    Midnight Club: Los Angeles Remixed is a worthy addition to the series even though it has a few stumbles here and there.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dead Rising 2
    That being said, critics of the first game are going to find problems with Dead Rising 2, namely the highly difficult boss battles and the poorly structured inventory system.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Tales of Vesperia
    Tales of Vesperia is a fantastic RPG that isn't to be missed by lovers of the genre.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Geometry Wars: Galaxies
    The DS version is also a bit more forgiving than the Wii version, so even passing fans of these kinds of games will find a lot to like here without feeling overwhelmed, making this one an even easier recommendation. This is the best shooter on the DS so far.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    echochrome ii
    There's a considerable amount of content in the game, but it is somewhat easier to complete than the original likely due to the allowances made to include the unique Playstation Move control scheme.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Blue Dragon
    It's a new world, new story, and new characters, but it feels like an old friend.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Roogoo
    Check out the demo for this title before purchasing Roogoo if you enjoy single player puzzle games.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice
    Taken by itself Disgaea 3 has a lot to offer with some fantastic gameplay, fun mechanics, open-ended customization, and plenty of opportunities to grind for levels.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Prototype
    Prototype is a blast to play. It's fun, rewarding, and stands as one of the better constructed open-world titles I have played in a very long time.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip
    If you want to really get into a snowboarding game, actually standing on a board is probably the best choice, and the integration with the Balance Board raises Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip above the pack in that respect, but it's in no way gimmicky, as it can be just as enjoyable with your Wii-mote, thanks to a very intuitive control system.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
    Apollo Justice delivers an evolved version of the Phoenix Wright titles, but the overall experience has been shortened dramatically.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mega Man ZX Advent
    The game features a ton of solid gameplay with enough improvements over the original to take note of.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
    If you are looking for a game experience similar to recent Final Fantasy games, you will ultimately be disappointed with Radiant Dawn. However, if you craved focused gameplay and a story without embellished full voice acting or tons of FMV cut scenes, then Radiant Dawn fits the bill.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Viva Pinata
    While the Windows for Live process has been poorly implemented across the board for these new Microsoft PC titles, the addictive nature of Viva Piñata will delight people of all ages and keep you pecking away at the keyboard to mate your newly acquired species of Piñata.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Grand Slam Tennis
    But with the controls implementation difficult to get a handle on and the graphics looking unfinished, the Wii tennis throne remains slightly out of reach, but it's a solid debut for the franchise.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Switchball
    It’s very much geared toward a laid back style of play that’s surprisingly difficult to transition into when playing anything else on the Xbox 360.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars
    To conclude, Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars is a huge diversion from the norm, but it's also quite a good game. In fact, it's one of the best launch titles for the Nintendo 3DS.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Mafia II
    The combination of the ancient control mechanics, odd pacing and lack of real world entertainment drag the game down and seriously decreased my enjoyment of Mafia II. Still, it's worth a playthrough if you just adore mafia games and have a solid PC build to take it on.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Sega Rally Revo
    Overall, "Sega Rally Revo" does offer the cool addition of GeoDeformation and moderately enjoyable multiplayer options. However, the game suffers from dismaying AI (which takes away from the fun of the single player), little depth and what I consider to be overly floaty control.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Angry Birds
    The 200 or so levels will eat up a solid chunk of your gaming time and is very addictive to the casual gamer.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Tomb Raider: Anniversary
    Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a nice throwback, but doesn’t offer much innovation to adventure gamers in this generation of consoles.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Dead Nation
    In an industry that pumps out tons of zombie games each year, there's nothing incredibly distinctive about Dead Nation.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Fable III: Traitor's Keep Quest Pack
    You are looking at about 3 to 4 hours of playtime with this add-on pack, not terribly overpriced for 560 marketplace points ($7). The main draw is obviously the expanded storyline, ideal for Fable III junkies that want to stay engrossed in the narrative.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Downstream Panic!
    A fun and addictive experience. It is challenging with a lot to offer and pretty good replay value. With eighty stages out of the box, that's a lot of gaming.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tom Clancy's EndWar
    If you're looking for an RTS that is cut from a slightly different cloth then EndWar is definitely the way to go.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Full House Poker
    It's easily one of the more polished poker games that I've played on any platform, but there's plenty of free poker games on the PC that can offer the same thrill.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure
    But if you want to play with your children, and they have a few friends whose parents were willing to buy them some additional figurines, then you might be able to get some decent fun out of it. For everyone else, though, Skylanders is a pass.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
    ITSP is undoubtedly a work of art, even if you only based that evaluation on its unique and beautiful visuals. But the rest of the package more than carries its own weight, especially the design and variation amongst the bad guys and some of the level design.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    R.U.S.E.
    This really just boils down to if you enjoy RTS games and the methodical level of pacing that comes with the genre. This is the first RTS game on a console that I have been able to tolerate.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Pirates of the Burning Sea
    An excellent MMO on nearly all counts, but suffers from a shockingly huge learning curve.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Penny Arcade Adventures: Episode One
    While the stylish production value of the title is utterly fantastic, I can’t recommend a $20 game with an obnoxiously easy difficulty level that lasts about 4 to 5 hours.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tales From Space: About a Blob
    Tales From Space: About a Blob is a very unique and charming game that provides a nice change of pace.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Brave Story: New Traveler
    It is a very standard RPG and gets repetitive with a generic combat system. The dungeons are similar from dungeon to dungeon. There are no puzzles or complex tasks required.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The Sims 3
    As expected, the virtual playground that is the Sims doesn't convert very well into the console world. Even with the added gameplay components like Karma, the experience is very much like Sims 3-lite compared to the larger world in Sims 3 for the PC.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Disney/Pixar Toy Story 3
    Toy Story 3 is clearly targeted at a much younger demographic of players than the vast majority of Xbox 360 releases, but there's plenty of entertainment value for young adults that grew up on the Toy Story movies.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Section 8: Prejudice
    Section 8: Prejudice is a must-own XBLA title.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tom Clancy's EndWar
    If you're looking for an RTS that is cut from a slightly different cloth then EndWar is definitely the way to go.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
    For anyone that's played the previous LEGO Star Wars titles or for those that love the animated television series on the Cartoon Network, Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars is a fantastic purchase that can be enjoyed by fans of all ages.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Puzzle Quest: Galactrix
    Puzzle Quest: Galactrix is a lot of fun and it reminds me why I enjoyed the first game as much as I did. The simple puzzle interface combined with the role-playing elements go together like peanut butter and chocolate.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Battalion Wars 2
    Fortunately the sequel is just as good, if not slightly better than, the original game. It finds a home on the Wii and fans of the strategy genre should definitely give a spin to see how Kuju Entertainment developed it.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space
    If you enjoyed Sam and Max’s first XBLA outing, this release is a no-brainer.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Sega Rally Revo
    It's a visceral racing title that takes the genre back to its roots but it in no way pushes the envelope.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012
    If you're one of last year's players who has come this far and what you've read hasn't swayed you, stick with last year's edition. It's not obsolete; the decks are different enough that you'll still have fun playing them. If you are intrigued, I say drop the $10 and get going.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers
    For $10, “Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers” is a lot of bang for the buck.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm
    Considering there are so many Naruto games on the market, it really says something that Storm actually stands out.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda
    Kung Fu Panda isn't a title designed for adults, but rather the young fans of the movie.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Assault Heroes 2
    If you have points to spare, or don't mind plunking down some cold cash to obtain a few, you cannot go wrong with this fun title.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Eye of Judgment
    It’s a neat little distraction and cool as a screensaver or distraction for those awkward dinner parties, but when compared to the real thing it’s boring, dull and the limited number of fish available make the cost far outweigh the benefits.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    X-Men Origins: Wolverine
    X-Men Origins: Wolverine is the real deal folks. It's a hard-hitting action game and a comic book movie tie-in all wrapped into one package that defies stereotypes.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3
    If you're looking for a new Naruto game to sharpen your kunai on then Ultimate Ninja 3 is definitely worth a spin. The gameplay may be the same as ever but slight improvements in just about every department help flesh out the experience.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Back to the Future: The Game - Episode I: It's About Time
    If you have any love for the Back to the Future series or simply are looking to digest TellTale's latest click-happy adventure, you really can't go wrong with Episode 1: It's About Time.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Sam & Max: Save the World
    The game didn’t take me the 20 hours the makers claimed it would to complete, but it definitely saw more playtime than many physical releases that cost three times as much and delivered one-third the enjoyment.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Dead Rising 2: Case West
    There's a moderately satisfying amount of entertainment to be found in Dead Rising 2: Case West, but the $10 cost seems high for the 2.5 hour play time.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - The Director's Cut
    As I've stated in the past, I love point-and-click adventures, but Broken Sword, with its engagingly deep storyline, gorgeous art, fun writing, entertaining puzzles and terrific vocal cast, just raised the bar to a level that will be incredibly hard to meet for any game.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Kinectimals
    While the cute factor is off the charts, Kinectimals never really offers the addicting gameplay and depth of a game like Viva Pinata.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Sam & Max: Season One
    Saying that, if you've enjoyed the characters in the past, there's more than a good chance you'll like these adventures, especially as they get better as you move along, even if the video presentation doesn't make a similar improvement.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    UFC Undisputed 2010
    Despite being a solid fighting game for a portable platform, it's unfortunate to see such a barebones version of Undisputed, in comparison to the console versions.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Just Dance 2
    It's far more effective as a fun aerobic workout or a way to get your groove on if you wouldn't step foot "in da club."
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2
    The combat is a blast, the single-player game is faithful to the source material, online matches are appreciated, and the game looks and sounds the part.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Mafia II
    A great story that manages to make old ground seem fresh, coupled with out-of-this world sound design, is sadly attached to a middle-of-the-road, limited third-person gaming experience.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    NBA Live 08
    Offers fast, sleek-looking gameplay, as graphics are impressive in almost all regards.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Medal of Honor: Airborne
    Aside from the powerful and dynamic sound mix, everything else about Airborne is thoroughly pedestrian.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2
    While I enjoyed playing this game, it simply flew by (I completed my first run in just over seven hours,) and the teases of characters who make appearances but aren't playable were disappointing.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures, Episode 1: Fright of the Bumblebees
    Game crippling glitch aside, “Fright of the Bumblebees” is a strong entry into this new series of four adventures.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    NBA Live 08
    The real disappointment about this version is the lack of different modes and mini-games.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Guitar Hero: Smash Hits
    Guitar Hero Smash Hits isn't a bad idea, but the execution is less than perfect, with strange sound mixes and no possible DLC. Given that this is the third of five Guitar Hero products to be released in 2009, making it feel like nothing but a cash grab.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Disney Epic Mickey
    It's unfortunate that Epic Mickey has such a nasty barrage of poor gameplay design choices as the story is absolutely top notch.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action
    All in all, you cannot go wrong with a quality title like this that brings gamers and non-gamers together in a battle of trivia knowledge.
Page:

Top Trailers

See all »
See all trailers »