Metascore
69 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 27
  2. Negative: 1 out of 27
  1. In introducing weapon modification and more importantly Adrenaline/Healing Tool, Pariah ends up feeling significantly different to the vast majority of shooters on the market, there's a definite sense of survival to the whole experience.
  2. Futuristic first-person shooter with not-so futuristic game design. [June 2005, p.86]
  3. Digital Extremes provided a rip-roaring play, but neglected to make it mean something. [June 2005, p.124]
  4. If you are strictly searching for a great solo FPS with stunning production values aimed at providing a cinematic, story-driven experience, then Pariah is a game you simply can't miss.
  5. The game can and will entertain, but both myself and its creator were clearly expecting better, brighter and more narratively-coherent things. [PC Zone]
  6. 80
    Designing your maps and heading online has never been easier than it is in Pariah, but you may have trouble spreading your map around in the public when every other man and his dog has designed a map that they want to show off too.
  7. 78
    It's quite solid in most respects, but it won't tear you away from whatever you're currently hooked on. In fact, Pariah just made me want "UT2006" that much more.
  8. The value here ultimately comes down to the creativity of the Pariah community. Decent package overall. [June 2005, p.51]
  9. With sub-par designs, weak sound effects and a thin storyline, it is doomed to end up on the bargain bin sooner or later.
  10. 75
    A solid, serious, deeply competent game. This competence may not prove an adequate substitute for the moment-to-moment buzz of the mindless FPS in its terminally adolescent pomp.
  11. A generic sci-fi shooter that is short and not much fun to play. [July 05]
  12. With the FPS realm being crushingly overpopulated, and its upper class becoming so terrifyingly demanding and particular, Pariah's solidity isn't enough to allow it entry into the genre's gentry. [June 2005, p.82]
  13. Digital Extremes should be reasonably proud of Pariah, even though it falls short of being the be all and end all of the genre that the developer claimed it would be. [May 2005, p.90]
  14. There are lots of great elements to the game, but nothing that stands out as being worthy of a purchase alone.
  15. Unless you're only into multiplay, Pariah quickly loses it's appeal. First person storyline has low appeal and almost no replay value, and frankly, there are other titles out there that do it much, much better.
  16. Enjoyable, although apart from the upgradeable weapons system and weapon loadouts in the multiplayer, it is not groundbreaking.
  17. Generic Shooter # 7,491, but with some cool weapon upgrades. [July 2005, p.70]
  18. I wanted to like this game so much, I thought the premise was awesome, but when it was game time, the experience left me wanting to play a better-built game.
  19. There's nothing innovative or original about it and even Karina looks pale from all those freezes and unfreezes.
  20. While the backdrop may still have some life left in it, Pariah's combat, story, and weapons loadout are all positively lifeless, making the game feel like nothing more than an also-ran shooter that barely stands on its own, let alone stands up to the genre's best.
  21. I hate to say it, but Pariah is basically bogged down by so many issues that no matter how neat its little quirks are, or how many things it kindly borrows from Halo, it still feels several years behind the pack.
  22. The level design is very poor. All the environments look uninspiring in addition to being loaded with invisible walls and being very, very small. You totally feel like you're on rails throughout the game.
  23. 60
    Sadly, a lot of the goodwill generated by Pariah is killed when the bugs come crawling out.
  24. The FPS game definitely needs revitalising by something new and original. This isn't it.
  25. Honestly, it looks like Digital Extremes spent its entire time perfecting the proprietary map editor (which works fantastically) instead of making the game fun.
  26. Pariah's biggest problem is that, while it is an okay game, the competition it faces is incredibly strong. On the Xbox it's beaten to the pulp by "Halo 2" and on the pc "Half-Life 2" is light years beyond. Which leaves Pariah somewhere in the middle. [July 2005, p.60]
  27. Seems like one of the better bland, forgettable shooters out there, if there is such a beast. [Aug 2005, p.72]
User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 4 out of 11
  1. Sugested by a friend to play this.I did not regreted playing this it is not a bad game.Deserves 7 because has some vehicles to and the levels are nice good graphics and some nice visual effects like earth jumping all the screen when a grenade explodes on the ground Full Review »
  2. It's an insanely boring, unimaginative, not original piece of fps. I could bare even 3 hours of this game, because of serious boredom. You really don't want to play that. Full Review »
  3. johnDoe
    0
    Put simply,this game is worst than the sum of its parts.The overall mix somehow manages to fail so bad,that even worse games are better...because they atleast make you laugh,while this one is just pure bother.It amounts to nothing,you feel numb while playing.The thing makes shooting a gun boring.Now I see how FPS haters see the genre. Failed hard.And whats with the pre-made classes?Who the hey said that if I want to snipe I also want to take a bazooka?No sense combination.Only way to kill a guy efficiently is roadkill here.And even driving sucks. Full Review »