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Damnation

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4.2 User Score:

Generally unfavorable reviews

Based on 17 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 40 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Codemasters

Developer: Blue Omega Entertainment

Genre(s): Shooter

Players: Multi

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: May 26, 2009

Summary

Evolving the shooter genre with its unique combination of fluid action and combat, Damnation features huge, open environments, frenetic combat, daredevil acrobatics and high-octane vehicle-based stunts. Presenting players with an intense test of reflexes, quick thinking and rapid-fire conflict, Damnation features vast, breathtaking landscapes, each covering miles of distance and thousands of vertical feet. Billed as a "shooter gone vertical" and visually inspired by iconic elements of American history, these massive streaming landscapes form the battlegrounds for a post-industrial conflict between humanity and an unstoppable arms dealer hell-bent on total world domination. Players choose their own paths and navigate the world by performing daredevil feats on the edge of human ability. Intelligent enemies give chase and engage players in frantic gun fights and attacks that can come from any direction. With up to three hours of actual gameplay stretching out in front of them per level, players need more than just muscle power to get across each level safely. Damnation offers players a selection of vehicles, from motorbikes capable of launching across seemingly infinite chasms, to huge, armour-piercing marvels that induce mayhem with every huge shell. The high action is supported by an epic and in-depth story which, while focusing on the exploits of the hero character Rourke, is truly an ensemble piece. Players meet and become involved in intricate story plots that reveal much more than the obvious. In addition to the single player experience, Damnation comes complete with a unique set of multiplayer options that take full advantage of the game’s expansive levels. [Codemasters]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

LEVEL (Czech Republic)

Damnation is a useless action game especially for core gamers. If only the developers had fulfiled their promises, we could have had a pretty cool game. Now you can enjoy the vertical architecture and nothing more. [May 2009]

Play Magazine

Blue Omega’s vision is buried under so many layers of clumsy gameplay and painful cinematics that the glimmers of the game that could have been just can’t stem the tide.

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GameStar

Technically, Damnation is not up to date, it looks like a game from the 20th century with overly complicated controls. It's a shame, because it could have been so much better. Blue Omega, please try again.

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Gamers.at

Damnation fails at pretty much everything it attempts to do. The story has never heard of coherence, climbing shouldn't be attempted if the gamer wishes to retain his sanity, bullets might as well be thrown with Rourke's bare hands and visually, Damnation could've been entirely in grey and nobody would notice the difference.

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PC Zone UK

Damnation is so deeply generic and boring, so it gets the sort of mark that it deserves. [Aug 2009, p.71]

PC Format

Epic, steampunk fail. [Aug 2009, p.96]

PC Gamer UK

The big picture is impressive, but if the devil is in the details, this is his pitchfork jabbed right up your fundament. [Aug 2009, p.86]

Total PC Gaming

Damnation's good ideas are unfortunately never matched by its rough, unfinished and unsatisfying execution. [Issue#21, p.56]

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Total Video Games

It's ill-thought from the very start, which is demonstrated by the contradictions and flaws evident throughout the entire game.

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Vandal Online

Summing up, the first game of the moviemakers of Blue Omega is not as good as they expected. They have to work hard to polish the errors committed in this game, which better argument is the Steampunk aesthetics so enjoyed in underground genres.

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InsideGamer.nl

Damnation sucks at every front. The futuristic cowboy setting is lame, the shootouts are boring and the story is just stupid. Damnation will ruin your day, your marriage and even your life.

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GameSpot

This third-person shooter is a trip into hell.

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Cheat Code Central

A sad story. The game had an interesting concept and a good amount of potential but it just never came together.

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Edge Magazine

The game's ambition far outstrips its creator's abilities: damned by execution rather than intent, but damned nonetheless. [July 2009, p.99]

IGN

The gameplay isn't fun, the levels are too long, the sound is bad, and the story isn't interesting. There are more problems, but I'll leave my written flogging at that. Avoid this game at all costs.

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Absolute Games

Eight hours of sheer boredom spread over a few equally gray (in all senses) levels.

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Gamer.nl

Damnation had potential, but manages to do everything wrong. The game looks and controls awful and never gets fun to play.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 4.2 (out of 10) based on 40 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

James H. gave it a7:
I thought the game was pretty good. I don't know if the people who reviewed it ever even played it, but I just beat it in a day and a half with my friend. Great game co-op; co-op plays out the same as it does in like Gears of War. Jumping is pretty easy to do, sometimes you can get lost where you are exactly, but the route is fairly linear so you are still moving forward, and played to jump are typically laid out well to see like being a yellow color. Enemy AI seems fine, they don't just stand there, they move about and are decent shots. Definately glad I played it with a friend, think it wouldnt have been nearly as good solo. Several times you ride a bike and the track routes seem pretty well laid out, lots of fun jumps. All in all not the best game, but certainly good, and worth a try, especially if you need a co-op game.

Mark D gave it a10:
I thought this was a great game. It was exciting, as well as the huge jumping environment added alot of joy. It seemed to have a bit of a puzzle element as well (even though they werent hard in any sense just a bit different). Certain levels seemed like they would be more fun in co-op mode but I just played this in single player mode only. Overall the play, the AI and Weapons gave me a good time. I was upset to see this game scored so low.

Alex H. gave it a2:
Dear lord, this was a deeply irritating game. The graphics were only 2004, at best, and that made the gameplay a little fidgety. The enemies are dumber than oak trees. The combat system was pathetic. The voice acting was as annoying as Alvin and The Chipmunks music (Don't quote that point). There was NO story to it really, it was as if they had forgotten the storyline and needed something to fill in. I nearly got sick from all of the climbing because I had to restart so many times. It took up 10 GIGS (I would underline that rather than use caps but...) which is purely ridiculous for the lack of polish, or styling, or thought, or... I think the only remotely enjoyable thing about this was the motorcycle/mini-trains, and that is worth maybe a quarter of a point. All and all, there goes forty bucks I won't be getting back. Codemasters, Blue Omega, why?

Colin E gave it a1:
I'd give it a zero if it weren't for the whole Western and Steam punk aspect. The controls are sloppy, the graphics are pretty outdated in terms of being a PS3 game. Player movements are choppy and the NPCs pretty much defy gravity. The story is stupid and rather boring. I was hoping this game would be another GUN but I suppose my hopes were just too high.

Taco J gave it a0:
DO NOT BUY THIS GAME. AT ALL COSTS, even that of your children, do not pull out your wallets when it comes to this piece of trash. Forget liam and jonas, what kind of name is jonas? Some kind of hippy we todd, idk. But this is the single worst game ive ever been fooled by. OMFG do not buy this game.

Jon H gave it a0:
False advertisement is what this is. I think they spent more time making sure the preview looked great then actually making the game. They should reimburse all the people who purchased this game if they ever want people to buy their any of their games again. Shame on you codemasters./P>

Colin A gave it a1:
Trailer looked great but the game play lets it down. My dog could finish the whole lot in under 4 hours, good job dogs don't play. As an average player i found it far to easy, quests lacked any great difficulty and the paths through the game were tiered. Codebreaker = brain dead in 5 mins. A total waste of money and disk space.

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