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Club, The ps3 Game Reviews
Club, The
Critic Score
Metascore: 72 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
6.8 out of 10
based on 40 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 11 votes
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Rate this game

The Club is a new breed of third-person shooter, combining fast-paced run and gun gameplay, destructive environments, lethal weapons and an in-depth story structure. You will fight to survive in a shadowy underground blood-sport controlled by a faceless, obscenely wealthy and influential elite who place their bets on who will survive as the blood-bath ensues before them. Take control of up to eight uniquely trained killers motivated by greed, driven by pure insane bloodlust, and hell bent on earning respect on a global level. As one of eight fighters, blast your way through five single player game modes including: Standard Mode, Time Attack, Survivor, Siege, and Run the Gauntlet. Earn Respect Online. Shoot your way to the top of the leader boards in over nine cut-throat multiplayer modes. Face-off with 15 real-time opponents online or battle with your friends offline in 4-player split-screen action modes. Battle in eight unique real-world locations from around the globe, including war-torn cities, abandoned factories, steel mills and many more. Extreme Gun Battles in Hazardous Environments: A motion blur camera system intensifies the adrenaline rush in both open range and close quarter firefights. Destroy and manipulate objects in the environment to your advantage. A unique score-based accumulation system creates even more competition among players; the faster, more efficient and accurate that you are, the more points you will earn to unlock weapons, characters and maps. There are 17 high-powered assault weapons to choose from and customize, including Automatic Weapons, Sniper Rifles, High Caliber Pistols, Sub Machine Guns, and Mounted Weapons. Each Character has a Story to Tell. [Sega]

PUBLISHER: Sega
DEVELOPER: Bizarre Creations
GENRE(S): Third-Person Shooter
PLAYERS: 8
ESRB RATING: M (Mature)
RELEASE DATE: February 19, 2008

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...

90
VideoGamer
One of the finest examples of bringing the essence of arcade gaming to modern consoles and a game no adrenaline junkie should pass up.
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90
G4 TV
The Club may not satisfy your daily dose of carnage, but what you will find is a challenging shooter that tries something new with a tired genre.
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88
Game Informer
A hardcore gamer’s type of game. Taking the time to perfect runs is a blast, and unlike most shooters, it can also be used for short gaming sessions. If you enjoy a good challenge and arcade-like games that empower you with bragging rights, you’re going to love this game’s nerve-shattering pressure.
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85
PSX Extreme
It features explosive action elements that are rather addictive and extremely fun. Once you get a feel for the game it only becomes more fun, and so replaying it and attempting to beat your previous records becomes common practice.
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85
NZGamer
The Club wears its heart proudly on its sleeve and makes no apologies for what it is: beautiful, finely crafted gameplay that grabs one by the throat and demands they play some more.
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85
Game Chronicles
Much like the famed Deathrow, The Club is not going to appeal to every gamer. But I’m willing to bet that if any gamer worth his salt were to give The Club a good honest weekend session, that they would find themselves hooked on The Club’s high intensity gameplay.
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82
GameZone
Surprisingly brilliant and utterly addictive, The Club is one of those games that are hard to put down offline or online.
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80
GameDaily
This fast-paced arcade shooter has heaps of action and modes for players of any skill. Its visuals look good, with intricate level designs and cool explosions.
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80
AceGamez
Although the style, or lack thereof, has seriously hampered The Club, it's still a brilliantly addictive title and one that will hopefully prove popular enough to turn this not so little experiment into a long running franchise.
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80
Extreme Gamer
If you’re looking for a fun, super fast paced shooter this game is for you, but if you’re looking for something with a little more depth then maybe consider this a rental.
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80
Play UK
Refreshing, but probably should have been better. [Issue#163, p.78]
80
MEGamers
The Club is a game with no real weakness or strengths really. You will enjoy this game for hours yet it doesn’t reach true epic standards.
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80
Gamer 2.0
The Club offers a great experience for all gamers who are looking for non-stop action while giving fans of old-school shooters something to talk about.
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80
Gameplanet
This is a great game, and plays as it should. If it weren't for the multiplayer it would be a near perfect score as Bizarre Creations are owed something for going out on a limb with the genre!
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79
Worth Playing
The Club succeeds in part, in that essential element of gameplay over lofty ambition — essentially, function over form, that most laudable of design goals ever — but falls far short of brilliance in presentation.
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75
ZTGameDomain
With so much focus on creating an interactive experience in games today it is always nice to see one that simply focuses on being fun. The Club may not be the most intricate experience you will have on the consoles this year, but it certainly will be one of the most intense.
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75
Game Over Online
The Club is a classic example of an excellent rental game. Its brutal, rapid pace will wear you out in a hurry, and just when you think you can’t take much more POOF! It’s over.
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75
PTGamers
If you’re looking for an uncompromised shooter, to jump straight into the action old-school style, then The Club is something to try.
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75
Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
It manages to accomplish what it intended: fast paced action, following the same paths in search of the perfect score. But besides its obvious inspiration, this is not a racing game and how many action fans will be willing to repeat the same processes over and over again? [Feb 2008]
73
GameTrailers
The Club is a lot like junk food—it initially tastes good but it won’t leave you satisfied for long.
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72
Cheat Code Central
The Club is a fresh take on the shooter. It has a core concept that is truly engaging; it just feels as if it needs to be fleshed out a bit more. The single player Tournament mode is an absolute blast that will keep you occupied for a few hours. Unfortunately, the multiplayer features, though varied, are poorly executed.
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72
IGN UK
It’s a one-off that mostly succeeds, but by concentrating only on function and never on form, it denies itself greatness. If the Club 2, should there be one, can stop to laugh at itself occasionally, it’ll be a far finer game.
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72
PSM3 Magazine UK
The Club is pretty ballsy, and tears up the shooters' rule book to provide something unique. The arcade-style blasting is instantly fun and it looks and feels meaty, but the enjoyment quickly wears thin due ot a lack of variety. [Feb 2008, p.74]
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71
Console Monster
The Club is a bold attempt at trying something new in the next gen arena while prodding and poking us older gamers with joys of an almost forgotten age, however whether this title actually works is far more dependent on your perceptions of enjoyment.
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70
Boomtown
I really disliked the single player aspect, but the multiplayer saved the game in my eyes.
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70
Armchair Empire
I can't say that I would recommend spending your money on The Club if you aren't already an action fan, but if you are just looking for a fast-paced game with lots of shooting you might want to give it a shot.
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70
Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK
Straight arcade action with no depth; play for points, though, and you'll relish it. [Feb 2008, p.103]
70
Playstation Official Magazine UK
Play it looking for depth and you'll come away feeling cheated; play it for points and you'll relish memorising the location of every last high-scoring kill zone, passing the pad between clammy-handed mates as you become unstoppable kill-crazed machines. But in a good way. [Feb 2008, p.92]
70
Edge Magazine
Underneath the mundane masculinity and grimy gun-toting clichés lies a heavily structured and well-considered score-attack game – one that’s worth excavating for all the short-lived interest it holds. [Feb 2008, p.88]
70
Gamer.nl
Bizarre Creations delivers a different kind of shooter that will attract a specific kind of gamer. The boring setting and combo-system don't bring this game to the absolute top, but the addicting gameplay makes up a lot. If they put more effort in a possible sequel, it might become a classic in this new subgenre.
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70
GameSpot
The Club provides some old-school single-player thrills, but it fails to live up to its initial promise.
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70
GameSpy
It's the weak multiplayer that keeps us from recommending The Club with full enthusiasm.
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70
Kombo
The Club is a game you want to master but might find the lasting appeal is lacking. The multiplayer stands out as being the shining feature of the game but the single-player will be a love/hate relationship.
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69
IGN
I didn't find the hook all that appealing and felt left with a glorified shooting gallery. The idea is sound. There just isn't much to be excited about in the final product.
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67
GameShark
While the game is a fast and furious stylized shooter, one of the biggest faults the title has is with how muddy the controls feel.
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65
1UP
I can't recommend the weak single-player mode, but the multiplayer left me surprisingly satisfied.
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62
Electronic Gaming Monthly
The Club certainly brings nothing innovative to the venerable shooter genre. [Mar 2008, p.83]
60
GameTap
Sadly, The Club probably would’ve made a bigger splash had it been released in the early part of this decade, when games like this were all the rage.
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50
Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
Unfortunately, the all-too-brief stints of white-knuckle action don't deliver the memorable impact required for us to recommend The Club. [Apr 2008, p.84]
50
Play Magazine
This is one club people might not want to join. [Mar 2008, p.58]

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 6.8 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

DJM gave it an8:
This game is quite addictive, it has great level design, good gunfights online and I have to say that I instantly fell in love with that chase camera when you run, absolutely awesome. The game is a solid arcade shooter with a different levels of challenge, from "casual" to "real", and they do a great job in keeping the game fresh offering a good challenge. Try the demo, and see that chase camera, see the game flow, see the graphics and then decide. I bought this game for cheap and I don't regret it.

Martin B. gave it a9:
This game is underrated. It seems like reviewers who gives bad reviews for "The Club" judge the score they gives base on the fact that they do not like the arcade style of the game. You cannot rate a game on the fact that you do not like this type of game. This game is awesome, it's well done, it's pure adrenaline rush, it's full of fun. Read the good reviews and base your decision on them, it's a great game. If you like fast pace arcade 3rd shooter game at home, "The Club" is the game you want. Good job to Bizarre Creations & SEGA.

Oni J. gave it a3:
Like all recent release of Sega games. Nothing new or inventive here. The gameplay gets boring quick.

Nicolaas gave it a6:
This game looks very good at he first moment it start. The music and clips at the beginning and intro's are very explosive. The gameplay was not what I expected. The game control and movement feels like i was playing the old game "freedom Fighters" on the Gamecube/Xbox. The levels are some kind nice but also old skool and dull. The buttons are not on place, where you expected them but ofcourse yo can chance that. I run like crazy and run to enemies an shoot them close and move further, so it is easy to complet a level. So strategy wise, nothing news and lame. for 25-30 euro maybe a nice budget game , so wait for this one.

Anthony B. gave it an8:
While The Club doesn't do anything to advance the shooting genre, it does do everything else well. While it's not a great game, it is however, a fun and well polished game. Just don't expect this to replace Call of Duty, Halo, or Resistance.

Eric M. gave it a3:
Bad graphics, and not worth a crap.

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