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Destroy All Humans! xbx Game Reviews
Destroy All Humans!
Critic Score
Metascore: 76 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.5 out of 10
based on 62 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 36 votes
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Rate this game

Use destructive weapons and innate mental powers to take on the most feared enemy in the galaxy - Mankind! Play as Crypto, an alien warrior sent to Earth to clear the way for the Furon invasion force.Your mission is to infiltrate humanity, control them, harvest their brain stems and ultimately destroy them. You choose the method - infiltration or disintegration! Arm yourself with a variety of alien weaponry on land or in the air. Use the Ion Detonator, the Zap-O-Matic, the Sonic Boom, or even the Quantum Deconstructor to eradicate feeble humans. Explore and interact with 5 huge environments using an arsenal of alien abilities to manipulate humans into submission: hypnotize, body-snatch, read minds, levitate and more. Take to the skies in your UFO, abduct animals, cars, and humans for research, or cause large-scale destruction. [THQ]

PUBLISHER: THQ
DEVELOPER: Pandemic Studios
GENRE(S): Third-Person Action, Adventure
PLAYERS: 1
ESRB RATING: T (Teen)
RELEASE DATE: June 19, 2005

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...

96
XboxAddict
It has been a long time since I’ve had so much fun with a video game... Love him or hate him, Crypto’s intense hatred for our race and his willingness to fail missions just to !&%$@#* off his leader makes him this year’s iconic character.
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90
Stuff
The spicy, tangy combination of third-person action and real-time strategy is unlike anything we've played before.
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90
GamePro
While there are some noticeable blemishes in the game such as graphical pop-in and broken cut scenes, Destroy All Humans succeeds where many have failed. This is truly a refreshing way to experience an adventure that you wish would never end.
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90
Gamezilla!
Fun, if not deep, compelling, if not always thrilling, humorous, if not always hilarious, but make no mistake, it’s always entertaining.
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90
AceGamez
It's rare that I'll stay up into the early hours of the morning to play a game; in fact, Destroy All Humans! is the only game that has done this to me since "San Andreas."
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89
Talk Xbox
It really is a breath of fresh air because of its creativity and non-linear gameplay.
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88
Da Gameboyz
Continues THQ’s gameplay champ reputation with another hilarious, exciting, and genuinely fun action adventure title!
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88
My Gamer
Though the gameplay in general consists of nothing drastically new, the style and narrative flair that oozes from this game really do deserve attention from the gaming public.
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87
Xbox World Australia
It may not be the deepest gaming experience, and much of the game’s objectives are exactly the same (although placed in differing contexts) but it is also the most fun I’ve had on my Xbox in a very, very long time.
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86
Game Chronicles
A simple premise that is saved by its charming visual design and campy gameplay attitude. There is something just a bit twisted about playing the “alien” and making the humans the “bad guys”.
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85
Gaming Nexus
I hope that any sequel keeps the writing teams and gives them enough leverage to write a script that’s as interesting and fun as the first one.
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85
Next Level Gaming
It's got originality, solid gameplay, and is outright fun. Come on, you're the alien! It's time to kick some Human butt!
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85
Official Xbox Magazine
Wickedly clever...Strikes the right balance between imagination, creativity, and a little borrowed inspiration. [Aug 2005, p.79]
85
Kombo
Talk about a game that took me totally by surprise. Destroy All Humans! is one of the most enjoyable experiences to come down the pipeline in awhile.
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85
Team Xbox
Not the deepest and not the hardest in the genre, but the overall composition and camp factor will keep you playing.
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85
eToychest
The game is very short, extremely linear and somewhat repetitive. However, none of these faults really hurt the game's appeal. Its presentation is top-notch, and the humor, visuals and characters really help to sell the experience.
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84
Gamers' Temple
In spite of its flaws, Destroy All Humans would be easily recommendable if the campaign lasted longer. As it stands, you can play through the game and get all that you need out of the free roam mode with a weekend rental.
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83
IC-Games
If anything, Destroy all Humans is well presented. All the menus are a joy to navigate and hold some pretty decent bonus material.
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81
DailyGame
Fun, creative and surprisingly fresh, but not quite enough gameplay variety to carry the load.
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80
Extreme Gamer
It's addictive, humorous and easy to get into three traits that go a long way in the gaming. Even though the game is an overall success it is a little repetitive and dull even with all the destruction and giggles.
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80
Armchair Empire
With some great-looking explosions, a comfortable control scheme, good action and mission variety and structure, and, of course, genuine fun and humor, Destroy All Humans! is a highly recommended summer title.
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80
3DAvenue
The unique gameplay mechanics paired with a tried and tested style of play makes it one of the sleeper titles of the year and while its not a smash hit best selling AAA game, it’s something that thinks otuside the square of normal gameplay and offers great fun.
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80
Gamer's Hell
One improvement would be if players could interact more with the environment using common things to wreck havoc in creative and funny ways.
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80
G4 TV
Makes destroying humans fun with an original setting, enjoyable alien arsenal, and cleverly designed missions. Its sense of humor may falter once in a while, and content freaks will definitely find the game on the short side.
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80
games(TM)
It could be argued that Pandemic’s extra-terrestrial effort is a little on the simple side, but in terms of sheer playability, scale and freedom - albeit within fairly limited areas - Destroy All Humans! is a class act indeed. [July 2005, p.96]
80
Thunderbolt
The sheer amount of destruction is satisfying and the sense of humor is refreshing, but the short length and lack of saves during lengthy missions are what makes this potentially great game merely a good one. Even so, it’s still hard to resist the Destroy All Humans’ charm.
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80
Maxim Online
Set up like Grand Theft Alien, there are tons of missions to complete, though you can also just roam around, killing filthy humans and destroying their stuff.
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80
Computer and Video Games
The countless in-jokes and references to other films, the mocking comment of NPCs on the American dream, and even the less-than-loving relationship between Crypto and his controlling superior... all the icing on the cake of an incredibly fun actioner.
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80
Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
An original take on the shooting game and a subversive take on US paranoia executed with character and style. Destroy All Humans is hard not to enjoy. [Xbox World]
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80
Game Informer
No aspect of life remains unscathed, from sexual repression and homophobia to government conspiracy and rampant paranoia. And it's funny. Very funny. [July 2005, p.114]
80
Play Magazine
Bottom line: being an alien is fun, even if it is a bit rough around the edges. [July 2005, p.76]
80
Sydney Morning Herald
The freedom to create chaos is terrific but some missions lack variety.
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80
Yahoo! Games
Once the greater story starts, you'll face some great combat (the "Area 42" assault), moments of pure oddness (like making a brainwashed politician B.S. his way through a public speech), great little period touches, and some cool bits of humor from the alien who thinks he's Nicholson.
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80
GameSpy
And while the title may never be mistaken for the deepest game on the Xbox, Destroy All Humans! could very well be one of the funniest.
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79
BonusStage
A repetitive, simplistic and accessible game with a wealthy plating of good ole’ fun-in-small-doses style that makes it the quintessential rental.
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77
The New York Times
Worst of all, if you die at any point during the series of several tasks that make up a mission, you must start from the beginning, at times replaying the least interesting sections of the game over and over. It's a shame the gameplay lacks the almost flawless perfection of Destroy All Humans' story and presentation.
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77
GameZone
Failing to rise above its mediocrity, Destroy All Humans! is still a fun and original game gamers will want to check out when they’re in the mood for something different.
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76
VGPub
Those looking for a lengthy adventure will be disappointed for sure, while those who are just looking to do whatever they please to mankind will surely be thrilled.
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75
MS Xbox World
I guess it boils down to how fun you think it is to toss cows at unsuspecting people!
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75
GameSpot
And while the gameplay doesn't really do anything especially remarkable, and the adventure is unfortunately quite short, Destroy All Humans! shows such enthusiasm for its thematic inspiration that you can't help but at least appreciate what it tries to do.
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75
Detroit Free Press
Goofy fun, and that makes up for a lot of its failings. But I couldn't quite forgive the occasional tedium and fairly short length enough to give it a better rating.
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74
Game Over Online
The combination of frustrating mission mechanics and limited replay value leads me to strongly suggest renting Destroy All Humans before buying, if at all, regardless of your love for bad sci-fi.
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74
Inside Gamer Online
The meat of the game's storyline is rather fun, but it's over before you even know it - renting the game would probably be the most advisable thing in this situation.
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72
Jolt Online Gaming UK
In the end, Destroy All Humans! just doesn’t provide good value for money, and that’s something the developers seem to have lost sight of.
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71
Xbox Solution
One of the most fun, enjoyable and hilarious games of the modern age and it's a crying shame to see such a rarity soiled by a few glaring issues.
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70
Boomtown
A flawed, funny, likeable game that doesn't quite live up to expectations.
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70
Xequted
The main positives going for Destroy All Humans are its enjoyable action sequences, but these are alienated by, what are in nature, dismal fetch and find missions that lack the originality that the game was trying to deliver in the first place.
70
Games Radar
The concept is pure gold, and much of it works beautifully. We hope this becomes a series; a sequel that kept all the dark humor and cool powers, but explored and civilized its gameplay could utterly dominate us, and we wouldn't mind one bit.
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70
Total Video Games
For the B-Movie enthusiast Destroy All Humans could be a worthy purchase, packed to the brim with an assortment of Sci-Fi references and replicating the style to good effect. As a game however the action just grows a little too thin, a little too quickly; there’s no real substance to the game, which will likely have you switching off far too quickly.
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70
Pelaaja (Finland)
Destroy All Humans! is a successful mix of 3d-action, free roaming game play, conspiracy theories and sci-fi silliness. It has no apparent flaws but there’s still something missing from the mission design and the game as a whole. It promises a bit more than it manages to deliver. [June 2005, p.64]
70
Electronic Gaming Monthly
The game has a great sense of humor, and I enjoyed the story missions, but the side quests hardly vary at all from one level to the next. Just screwing around and messing with citizens isn't as fun as it could be, either.
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70
GamerFeed
The game's got a solid story, pretty visuals, and good controls, and it's for the most part a very fun experience, but some targeting issues, unimpressive mini games, and maddeningly frustrating stealth elements keep Destroy All Humans from being a killer app.
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70
IGN
It features all the underdeveloped and totally unessential components of other notable and forgettable open world action games, yet it also boasts terrific personality, a great premise and some generally solid action.
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67
Gaming Age
At the very least, you have to rent this one just to experience the 50’s B-movie hilarity.
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65
1UP
The main game isn't terribly long, and the missions, though sometimes creative, are often frustrating because there's usually only one way to complete them, making them feel needlessly restrictive--something that stings a little more in a sandbox game such as this.
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65
Worth Playing
From a gameplay perspective, Destroy All Humans! is purely inoffensive and average; it proves itself to be somewhat entertaining in small doses. In all other aspects, the game lacks a soul of its own, choosing instead to use what others have already done.
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65
GameCritics
A technically accomplished, but thoroughly unpleasant gaming experience. I'm sure there's a market for this; I'm just not part of it.
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60
Gamestyle
The humorous parody, satire and carnage of Destroy All Humans is enjoyable, but the experience is significantly lessened by far too much repetition, some frustrating sections, a lack of proper sense of destructive scale, and free-roaming areas that are too small and don't contain that much of interest outside the main story.
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60
Edge Magazine
It’s very easy to while away the time just terrorising the populace of each level in an increasingly destructive fashion, but to actually care enough to contribute anything to a completion percentage is another matter entirely. [July 2005, p.86]
58
Game Revolution
While there’s some good stuff here, its sense of humor and playful vision doesn’t extend to its repetitive gameplay. Must be another Commie conspiracy.
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40
Computer Games Magazine
Unfortunately, unless Crypto's race is looking to harvest tedium and repetition from our earthly minds, he's better off just harassing than destroying them. [Sept 2005, p.90]
30
netjak
Uninspired visuals, disgustingly easy gameplay, and a complete lack of any real motivation to play the game awaits any who dare purchase this title. It is tedious and boring at every level.
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What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 36 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Tony P. gave it a7:
Hey, who doesn't like playing around with telekinesis and blowing stuff up? Picking up cars and trucks then flinging them into enemies alone makes this game worth playing, but sadly it doesn't make it worth a good score. Sadly lacking, the humor gets old and the missions tedious. The extras, mostly time races, are absolutely unplayable rubbish.

Sally S. gave it a10:
I love the game because its so so awesome, cool and you shuold make a 2.

mike p. gave it a9:
Awesome awesome awesome!!! i need help on 1 misssion though. but still a briliant game!!!

Skyler B. gave it a9:
the gan theft auto for ailens!

Joe S. gave it a10:
Love this game.. Kill'em all...!

George M. gave it a6:
Great sense of humor (though the jokes get a bit repetitious). The gameplay is fairly open and the weapons are a lot of fun. On a whole the game is just better than average due to the lack of interesting missions. Yea, it's fun to be the alien and destroy towns but there aren't any really compelling levels in this sandbox game.

Brian H. gave it a10:
Fun Fun Fun... if your sense of humor is a bit twisted, you will love this game.. Even my Mom loves this game. there is just so many little things about the game that it going to take me, forever to get it 100% completed.. There may be repetitive gameplay, but there is in every game.. its also harder than it looks.. and things go BOOM!!! And thats all I have to say about that. SI-FI GEEKS will love this

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