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68
1942: Joint Strike
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
From the collaboration between famed game developer Tetsuya Mizuguchi of Q Entertainment and director SangYoun Lee of leading Korean developer Phantagram comes the Xbox 360-exclusive Ninety-Nine Nights. The title is a fantasy action game for Xbox 360 that allows players to experience an immersive and emotional story though the eyes of good and evil while they fight among hundreds of fellow soldiers through an epic adventure of fantasy and action. Each playable character will feature their own strengths and weaknesses, as players must choose the right combination of magic and might to overcome their adversaries. With hundreds of combatants on screen at once, players wield their armies with precision and skill in massive scale battles against ever evolving virtual opponents. In the epic and emotional campaign, gamers play through the heart of a fabulous fantasy realm with unparalleled depth. Each character has his or her own dedicated plotline that ultimately intertwines with that of a larger story. [Microsoft]
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... 91
Gaming Age
If this is a genre you like or have been tempted to try out, N3 is a fantastic addition.
 90
Play Magazine
If you've come for heavy tactics and deployment you will be disappointed. But if you come for epic battles, inspired visuals, soaring overtures, and gorgeous medieval design you will be overcome with joy. [Aug 2006, p.54]
84
GamingExcellence
The graphics in-game and in cut scenes are dazzling with beauty. N3 is quick and easy to learn and is fairly easy to rack up the 1000 gamerscore if you are willing to try out and complete each characters short campaign.
80
Xbox Evolved
At the end of the game, the final character that is unlocked, has a terrible power, and a strength that can only be matched by the last enemy, and that is why it is worth playing to the last minute.
80
Kombo
The overall experience is incredibly fun and fulfilling.
80
Pelit (Finland)
A fun and nice-looking group beat 'em up. There are literally hundreds of enemies on-screen. Too bad your guard is practically useless and the save system is too unforgiving. [Sept 2006]
80
Worth Playing
Do you like simple gameplay? If the answer is yes, then you will enjoy N3 and consider your time and money well spent. If the answer is no, then it can end up being an exercise in frustration and boredom.
80
AceGamez
Regardless of the glaring omission of a complete lack of multiplayer, Ninety-Nine Nights is a great deal of fun for those that stick with it long enough to uncover its hidden depths.
75
Official Xbox Magazine
But for those of us who love a bit of fruity melodrama to go with our genocidal tendencies, N3's simple, responsive controls--along with the singular, satisfying thrill of netting 2,000 kills in one stage--is exhilarating. [Oct. 2006, p.80]
75
Game Informer
Ninety-Nine Nights may be the best that the genre has to offer, but it also shows us that this style of game still has a long way to go. [Sept. 2006, p.96]
72
Gamer 2.0
A game with a niche concept and levels of simplicity that border on patronizing at times.
70
Planet Xbox 360
An enjoyable gaming experience that left me wanting more but feeling empty at the same time.
70
Gaming Illustrated
Definitely worth a look, but gets a bit repetitive with the actual gameplay.
70
EuroGamer
What you'll get out of N3 is the relentless pounding excitement that transcends the initial gripes.
70
GameZone
Ninety-Nine Nights uses the Dynasty Warriors formula to perfection, having no glitches, a steady camera, and seamless attacking. Perfection is then lost by the formula; a game structure that has players jamming on the X and Y buttons from the moment the game begins.
70
GamePro
It just turns out to be an object example of how even the prettiest eye candy can't mask flawed mechanics for long, and how gameplay that aims for greatness can stumble and wind up slumming it in Mediocre Town.
70
GameBrink
While it’s true that for 70% of each stage while you are just mashing buttons and sending enemies flying, N3 is an enjoyable mindless romp, the fact of the matter is that the other 30% is so bad it definitely qualifies as “broken”. [JPN Import]
69
Games Master UK
Half epic, half irritating slash-'em-up that's as grand as it is sloppy. [July 2006, p.69]
68
Digital Entertainment News
Another problem with the game is horrid AI.
67
Ferrago
Aside from the basic RPG elements and decent storylines, Ninety Nine Nights remains a shallow game with little to make it stand out.
67
Team Xbox
I left the battle bloody from the knuckles to the fingertips and didn’t really feel that satisfied. Was something lost in translation? Could be. But I’m convinced that the button mashing genre needs to grow up a bit before invading the Xbox 360 again.
66
Gamers' Temple
Ninety-Nine Nights looks fantastic, but it’s not much more than a pretty face.
66
Xbox World Australia
It's true that the game is extremely frustrating and is in fact so full of bugs that a call to the exterminators may be required – and it's for that reason that it has received such a low score.
65
Jolt Online Gaming UK
It’s automatically a better game than any in the "Dynasty Warriors" series, but still comes a distant second place to Phantagram’s own "Kingdom Under Fire" titles.
65
Gamezilla!
Personally, it works for me as there’s just something about see enemy legions running down a hill side in formation and then charging into battle.
65
Deeko
It's even more infuriating that almost every major issue with the game could have been resolved with very little effort. Save points, more massive battles, less dull boss encounters... the list goes on and on.
62
Game Chronicles
For fans of Dynasty Warriors, you’ll be in heaven, but if you are looking for tactics, strategy, story, or even a game that makes sense, you’ll probably want to look somewhere else.
61
Gaming Nexus
While this game has some positive aspects (Movie Graphics, mindless killing, beautiful attack combos), the lack of a true identity and engaging plot make the effort hardly seem worth it.
60
360 Gamer Magazine UK
There are plenty of flaws in the gameplay, meaning the game doesn’t run as smoothly as we’d like, but there’s possibly enough for fans of this type of game keep them interested enough to battle it out right to the end.
60
GameTrailers
It has almost as many flaws as there are nights in the title but if you love mindless button hammering gameplay and salivate over the onscreen enemy count then this might be a title that interests you.
60
eToychest
An object lesson in placing production value over entertainment value. Graphics enthusiasts and rabid "Dynasty Warriors" or "Kingdom Under Fire" fans may not be able to stay away, but gamers on the fence can be content in going one more night without it.
60
Extreme Gamer
N3 wants to be deep and engrossing, but the depth of the story never really translates because it's cased in a host of boring and simplistic gameplay elements.
60
Talk Xbox
Sure, they were able to cram hundreds of enemies onto the screen at one time. Yes, the ability to kill goblins with incredible attacks is fun. But alas, I don’t find it entertaining to keep playing the same clichéd storyline that contains no innovation.
60
Game Over Online
Most players will become annoyed and tired of the insulting gameplay and half-hearted design and put the game down for good after the first night of playing it.
60
Xboxic
The game has no savepoints in game. You can save your progress after going through a level but that’s it. This wouldn’t be a big problem if a. the levels weren’t as long as they are now (they can easily take up to 40 – 60 minutes of your time) or if b. there would be enough items to restore your health. I literally wanted to destroy my N3 DVD a couple of times because of these 2 problems.
60
GamerFeed
The problem here lies with the little things that don't add up. No checkpoints, a complete lack of Xbox Live support, the weakest soldier AI I've seen in ages, and voice acting so bad that even infomercial actors show more emotion keep this title from being a must buy.
60
Total Video Games
A reasonable action title that manages to serve a purpose on the Xbox 360. Unfortunately the game quickly suffers from issues of repetition.
60
G4 TV
The addition of perspective and emotional content comes out of left field, but is amazingly well done. It’s the rare button masher that can play on a person’s sympathies, and Nights proves it has both heart and brains to go with its mindless exterior.
60
DarkStation
Far from revolutionizing the genre, it falls victim to the same fault of "Dynasty Warriors" - repetitive gameplay.
60
XboxAddict
Looks like some good mindless fun. The main problem is the 'mindless' part; like so many of these games there’s not a lot to it beyond slashing through crowds of anonymous enemies while getting incrementally more powerful the more you do it.
60
1UP
It's more than just "Dynasty Warriors for the Xbox 360" and becomes more entertaining the further you make your way into it, but some irritating design decisions, combined with horrible voice acting and the generally repetitious nature of the action, results in a game with limited appeal for a mass audience.
60
GameSpy
From here on out, next-gen games are going to be separated into two categories: those that have evolved, and those that have not. Even though N3: Ninety-Nine Nights gives us literally 1,000 onscreen opponents, I'm afraid it sits firmly in the latter section.
60
Yahoo! Games
It definitely won't win the war for your Xbox 360 gaming dollar -- especially when the newly released "Dead Rising" does something similar but comes off infinitely fresher.
60
Edge Magazine
Ninety-Nine Nights deserves a better score... That's a strange ways to put it, but it comes from the fact that its most grating flaws occur at such a fundamental level that it's a mystery they were ever tolerated at all. [JPN Import; June 2006, p.89]
59
GameSpot
Ninety-Nine Nights puts a lot of enemies onscreen but doesn't give you many interesting ways to dispose of them.
58
GameShark
Where the game ultimately stumbles is in its lack of cohesive gameplay mechanics, some cheap parlor tricks in terms of movement and characters that don't get enough quality time in the limelight. Still, I'd be hard pressed not to recommend this game to fans of games like Dynasty Warriors or Drakengard.
58
Next Level Gaming
I did not like "Kingdom Under Fire" and I do not like this game either. I still have hope that someone will make a good hack n’ slash game for the Xbox 360, but this is not it.
56
IGN
With slowdown hitting at the peak of battles and no bonus features worth looking at, Ninety-Nine Nights is a game that is hard to get immersed in and even harder to enjoy.
55
Armchair Empire
Nostalgic cameos and sweet pyrotechnics aside, Ninety-Nine Nights is ultimately a frustrating experience.
52
Cheat Code Central
Disappointing. Everything about this title feels like it needs more work, from the cut-scenes to the broken A.I. of your allies.
52
Gaming Horizon
The gameplay is horribly repetitive relying on two buttons the entire game. Add to that the dull story, terrible enemy A.I. and the lack of a multiplayer component and N3 grows tiresome within minutes.
50
Detroit Free Press
N3 is quite a looker, but there's not much under the surface.
50
Official Xbox Magazine UK
Beautiful graphics do not a good game make. [Oct 2006, p.104]
50
X360 Magazine UK
Fantastic production values and a great concept let down by a lack of checkpoints, dull art direction and horribly repetitive, shallow gameplay. What a shamefully wasted opportunity. [Issue # 11, p.88]
50
Boomtown
It’s boring, dull and yet still somehow oddly compelling.
50
NTSC-uk
Essentially, much like a Chuck Norris film, NNN isn’t bad enough to stop you enjoying the red red kroovy on offer and even on occasion manages to add some poignancy and pathos to the various narratives through some well-executed cutscenes; there are just too many niggles and not enough imagination involved to recommend it, even at second-hand pricepoints.
50
DailyGame
Easily the worst game we've played on Xbox 360, and worse even than most last-gen consoles' button mashers.
50
WHAM! Gaming
Just hack, hack and hack your way through the maps, eventually meeting the level end boss and take them down. Great, huh? There really is nothing new here, other than the graphics.
50
VideoGamer
A game crippled by its archaic save system. No matter how much fun the game is while you're battling hundreds of on-screen enemies, nothing can balance out the sheer frustration experienced when you die for the fifth time at the hands of the end of level boss.
50
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Ninety-Nine Nights tries to capture the glories and horrors of war, but it's more like mowing the lawn.
50
games(TM)
Most of the time Ninety-Nine Nights does look like a game which befits the ‘next-gen’ tag, and yet periodically it embarrasses itself with ‘previous-gen’ foibles. Playing N3 is a frustrating experience. [July 2006, p.124]
50
Games Radar
Sure, Ninety-Nine Nights looks hot, but there's simply nothing there... and you'll undoubtedly tire of its frustrating mediocrity within minutes.
50
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Technological feats aside, N3 doesn't do much else....er, make that anything else that you haven't seen from this stuck-in-the-mud genre. [Sept. 2006, p.96]
40
Computer Games Magazine
It's good for about twenty minutes before it becomes a dull grind and you realize you're basically playing a tech demo ffor a game yet to be created. [Oct. 2006, p.81]
30
netjak
This was clearly rushed to market, and obviously not worth your time. The only question that remains is, "Would this actually have been any better if they did have more time?" My guess is that it probably wouldn't improve by much.
25
Game Revolution
It is never made clear what the title “Ninety-Nine Nights” means. My guess is that it’s the suggested waiting period before purchasing this dangerous, infuriating, broken game.
Chris D. gave it an8: Lionel E. gave it a6: Darren D. gave it a4: Mike M. gave it a2: Pim B. gave it a10: James A. gave it a7: ACE5 gave it an8: |
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