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How Metascores Are Calculated
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4 Elements
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
Dropped into the frozen wastelands of Antarctica, you're the leader of a military rescue team sent to investigate the mysterious deaths of an American scientific expedition. In the punishing wind and cold, your team encounters a strange, shape-shifting alien life form that assumes the appearances of the people it kills. This monster is difficult to see, hard to kill, and seemingly impossible to evade. And when you see it, it's often too late. [Universal Interactive]
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... 100
Four Fat Chicks
So see the film, take a little break, then turn down the lights, put on headphones, and prepare yourself for the atmosphere, anticipation, apprehension, anxiety and action of The Thing.
 100
Maxim Online
Incredibly atmospheric (it makes great use of flickering lights, icy landscapes, and foreboding corridors) without skimping on the screams, The Thing is a terrifying battle to the finish.
85
IGN
The visuals and sound are top notch and the sense of desperation you feel when you are stuck outside and about to succumb to the elements or being hunted by packs of the foul creatures is very real.
85
Game Over Online
Excellent, moody and atmospheric, and at some points downright creepy.
84
Gamers' Temple
More interactive movie than third-person shooter, The Thing is an enjoyable diversion loaded with atmosphere.
84
PC Format
The Thing isn’t a classic but it is a superbly executed, engrossing horror shooter that almost everyone will enjoy, once at least.
81
Armchair Empire
It adds multiple innovations to the survival horror formula and improves on that genre immensely. Unfortunately, The Thing also holds on to some of the most annoying conventions of the genre.
80
ActionTrip
The game is fairly short. The overall impression was also reduced with those sound bugs and camera issues I mentioned. Still, the excellent visuals and squad-based gameplay compensate for all of that and they make The Thing a truly entertaining product.
80
GameZone
The control interface is overly complicated. When you look at the manual you might feel like ripping your arms off and beating yourself silly, but there is no need. After thirty minutes of running around the station you'll feel more familiar. However during an intense battle looking down to press the I button is like trying to read Latin in the dark.
77
GameSpot
If it weren't for a general scarcity of terror and a control scheme unsuited to its action-oriented gameplay, The Thing would be great.
75
Entertainment Weekly
This contrived implementation of a great concept is disappointing, but at least the surrounding game delivers some taught cinematic moments that would make Carpenter proud. [6 Sept 2002]
70
PC Gamer
Too many rough edges ruin an otherwise smooth production: clipping problems, unexplained mission objectives..., save points strategically placed to artificially raise the difficulty of certain missions, and an emphasis on scripting over substance. [Dec 2002, p.102]
70
Yahoo! Games
The Thing on its own stands as a slightly flawed, yet atmospheric and alluring action-adventure. Hardcore fans of the film, however, will have fewer complaints.
70
Adrenaline Vault
If you're willing to get frightened out of your wits, be grossed out along the way and feel like an icicle, The Thing will definitely not disappoint.
70
Voodoo Extreme
Has many unique and innovative points going for it, but in the end has one too many little flaws that prevent it from being a truly great game.
69
GameSpy
At least The Thing starts out strong. It's the sort of game you don't have to feel bad about not finishing.
61
netjak
But since the game operates in 3rd person, and doesn't give you a cursor when you're using important weapons like the flamethrower, you can't aim. This totally sucks.
60
Pregaming
It's like the design team started designing a good game, complete with the groundwork for the fear and trust system and then decided to throw it all to the wind and turn the game into some sort of half-cocked Half-Life clone, except without the playability or shock value of that title.
60
Computer Gaming World
A great concept but is filled with crippling annoyances that drag down the entire experience. [Nov 2002, p.120]
R.J. M. gave it a 10: Jon C. gave it a 7: Jason M. gave it a 9: [Anonymous] gave it a 7: The Voice gave it a 5: Night Wo1f gave it an 8: Gaz gave it a 3: |
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