BigPond GameArena's Scores

  • Games
For 334 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 49% higher than the average critic
  • 4% same as the average critic
  • 47% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 2.7 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 76
Highest review score:
Critic Score 100
Lowest review score:
Critic Score 10
Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 31 out of 334
334 game reviews
    • Metascore: 87
    • Critic Score 80
    Game Freak wanted to reel people back in with Pokémon Black, and they have made an outstanding new addition to the series.
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    Any fan of wrestling - old or new - with friends should pick up All Stars (and a case of Stone Cold's favourite beverage) - though it doesn't have the same strength for those playing alone.
    • Metascore: 71
    • Critic Score 80
    It's well paced, offers cool vehicle sections to break the routine and still has you wanting more at the end.
    • Metascore: 72
    • Critic Score 80
    The co-op and multiple story branches are a compelling reason to go back through the story at least one more time and while the sometimes terrible companion AI make single player incredibly frustrating at times, Dungeon Siege 3 does a great job of balancing action and role playing - making it feel like more than just a mindless clickfest.
    • Metascore: 86
    • Critic Score 80
    Definitely a must-play game. It delivers some truly great music, a narrative built around your own actions and a huge bang for your buck.
    • Metascore: 78
    • Critic Score 80
    Tropico 4 carries similar almost A-grade production values to its predecessors, is thematically identical, is bug-free if not entirely polished visually and it has a raft of new features for you to enjoy - it just struggles to earn that numerical update to its name.
    • Metascore: 67
    • Critic Score 80
    Great for those moments when you have time to spare and you can outdo your previous performance. For most it will be just that - a great game to play for a bit, but not particularly addictive. In some however, it will inspire marathon gaming sessions into the early hours of the morning, bettering your scores and those of others.
    • Metascore: 70
    • Critic Score 80
    One hell of a surprise. I thought I'd have fun playing it, but didn't think it would be this much fun. If you're looking for something a little lighter during this bumper release schedule and dig some fast paced intergalactic action, Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One has you covered.
    • Metascore: 80
    • Critic Score 80
    The characterisation, acting and story are all spectacular - and the way it works to create connections between the player and the characters within should be taught in schools, if such schools existed. The gunplay is frantic but at the same time you feel powerful, and the art style doesn't strive towards realism because it doesn't need to.
    • Metascore: 68
    • Critic Score 80
    Perhaps the largest compliment we can bestow is that it feels very old school, like a spiritual remake of Silent Hill rather than a bold new statement.
    • Metascore: 83
    • Critic Score 80
    Darksiders 2 "the game" is worth your time. Darksiders 2 the story is a little forgettable - and that's a bit disappointing, considering the first game contains one of my favourite moments in recent video game history.
    • Metascore: 79
    • Critic Score 80
    A fitting sequel and takes several important strides forward for the franchise. The strengthening of the multiplayer adds some much needed replayability, the sense of scope and scale is impressive and allowing you to see the climactic battle through the eyes of a smorgasbord of Autobots and Decepticons, each with wildly differing play styles was a definite step in the right direction.
    • Metascore: 82
    • Critic Score 80
    Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is a well-made fighting game that is at its best in a room full of friends with a passing interest in Tekken in general. It's a love letter to Tekken fans, and people who want to see a kangaroo beat the **** out of a dinosaur.
    • Metascore: 84
    • Critic Score 80
    Need for Speed Most Wanted does a great job at what it's supposed to - the cars feel good, the game looks pretty and the multiplayer is phenomenal. Some curious decisions hurt more than they help, and I'll never get used to the LSD inspired intro videos, but overall it's evidence that Criterion are getting ever closer to nailing that balance between arcade and simulation racing.
    • Metascore: 73
    • Critic Score 80
    Multiplayer races do capture a bit of that spirit, but the Single Player gameplay is more exploratory in nature - and the true heart of LBP Karting lies in its creation mode. Making tracks and playing them with friends and checking out the awe-inspiring work of others is what LittleBigPlanet has always been about - and LittleBigPlanet Karting is no different.
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 80
    Nintendo Land oozes with familiarity and might even alert some of the most ardent players to gems they may have missed. With that in mind I have a number of Pikmin games to acquire and devour.
    • Metascore: 78
    • Critic Score 80
    As a huge fan of both Dead Space 1 and 2 I thought this would be a massive disappointment, but Dead Space 3 successfully illustrates that it's tension I crave from these sorts of games, not fear. Because Dead Space 3 anchors its tension in the challenge the game presents, the player is able to customise how tense an experience they have through the difficulty settings (and it gets pretty bloody difficult). This is a good thing, and both Dead Space fans and sci-fi fans will get a lot out of this sci-fi shooter.
    • Metascore: 76
    • Critic Score 80
    Crysis 3 almost knocks it out of the ballpark on so many levels. The controls and visuals are certainly spot on, but the level design and pacing both have sporadic moments that let it, and you, down.
    • Metascore: 82
    • Critic Score 80
    It doesn't match the level of finesse exhibited in their first game, but Injustice is still a stellar example of writing - especially in a fighting game - and with Story mode, Arcade mode, Versus matches and the STARS Labs it offers a ludicrously large amount of value for money.
    • Metascore: 71
    • Critic Score 75
    The story is engrossing and playing around with The Force powers is a treat.
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 75
    EndWar is probably the best attempt at a RTS on consoles, while it’s far from perfect Ubisoft has managed to find a way to allow you to command an army in short but explosive battles - which should suit most console owners. Even though the single-player is best left untouched and the graphics are not up to par with other new release titles like GOW 2, there’s still a lot of fun to be had here with EndWar if you’re a fan of online gaming.
    • Metascore: 84
    • Critic Score 75
    A great game for both newcomers and old school players alike. It’s not the perfect Civ experience for either party, but the compromise is well worth your time.
    • Metascore: 82
    • Critic Score 75
    Unfortunately, if you’re waiting for the big gameplay twist that really sets this game apart from the rest, it isn’t coming. What we’ve got is a high definition, high budget, tinsel filled version of the last few games that ads more than enough for fans of the series, but will once again fail to convert the non believers.
    • Metascore: 81
    • Critic Score 75
    I love the new "adult" tack Sega are taking with their current Wii line-up and I hope it continues. What MadWorld needs is more complexity, but a lot of what makes it great is the fact that it's so easy.
    • Metascore: 64
    • Critic Score 75
    Once embraced and understood, I actually enjoyed the multiplayer more than SupCom 2, RUSE, and yes, even the Starcraft 2 beta. But singleplayer was like a tour of the worst parts of strategy games in the '90s, and hardly a fitting end to the Tiberium saga.
    • Metascore: 86
    • Critic Score 75
    It's not Might and Magic the JRPG, but it is both a solid entry into the Might and Magic universe, and the Puzzle-RPG genre.
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 75
    If you're after a story-driven action horror title, grab Metro 2033. The AI quirks don't detract from the outstanding graphics and the overlapping voice-acting only slightly degrades the overall atmosphere.
    • Metascore: 87
    • Critic Score 75
    The biggest drawback in HG and SS is without a doubt the random encounters.
    • Metascore: 84
    • Critic Score 75
    The teammate AI is painfully bad and it will go down as one of the biggest mistakes in video gaming history. To take you back to the painful train analogy from before, Resident Evil 5 is a train where the engineer is retarded and steals all your god damned ammo. Replace that engineer with a human and you'll have fun with the game.
    • Metascore: 82
    • Critic Score 75
    Far from perfect, with a slightly unfair multi-player component for the cash or time impaired, Split Second is still tremendously fun and addictive.