Damnation

 PlayStation 3
Damnation Image
Metascore
36

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 36 Critics What's this?

User Score
3.1

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 47 Ratings

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  • Summary: Evolving the shooter genre with its unique combination of fluid action and combat, Damnation features huge, open environments, frenetic combat, daredevil acrobatics and high-octane vehicle-based stunts. Presenting players with an intense test of reflexes, quick thinking and rapid-fireEvolving the shooter genre with its unique combination of fluid action and combat, Damnation features huge, open environments, frenetic combat, daredevil acrobatics and high-octane vehicle-based stunts. Presenting players with an intense test of reflexes, quick thinking and rapid-fire conflict, Damnation features vast, breathtaking landscapes, each covering miles of distance and thousands of vertical feet. Billed as a "shooter gone vertical" and visually inspired by iconic elements of American history, these massive streaming landscapes form the battlegrounds for a post-industrial conflict between humanity and an unstoppable arms dealer hell-bent on total world domination. Players choose their own paths and navigate the world by performing daredevil feats on the edge of human ability. Intelligent enemies give chase and engage players in frantic gun fights and attacks that can come from any direction. With up to three hours of actual gameplay stretching out in front of them per level, players need more than just muscle power to get across each level safely. Damnation offers players a selection of vehicles, from motorbikes capable of launching across seemingly infinite chasms, to huge, armour-piercing marvels that induce mayhem with every huge shell. The high action is supported by an epic and in-depth story which, while focusing on the exploits of the hero character Rourke, is truly an ensemble piece. Players meet and become involved in intricate story plots that reveal much more than the obvious. In addition to the single player experience, Damnation comes complete with a unique set of multiplayer options that take full advantage of the game’s expansive levels. [Codemasters]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 36
  3. Negative: 31 out of 36
  1. GameCritics
    Feb 19, 2013
    70
    It may feel a bit out of place on current hardware, but viewing it as something of a "lost classic" from the last generation affords it a more appropriate context to be judged in, and a more comfortable one to be enjoyed with.
  2. Games Master UK
    55
    Not quite so bad it's good but not so bad it's awful either. It's worth a rent, but just for laughs. [Aug 2009, p.82]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Total Video Games
    40
    It's ill-thought from the very start, which is demonstrated by the contradictions and flaws evident throughout the entire game.
  4. InsideGamer.nl
    35
    Damnation sucks at every front. The futuristic cowboy setting is lame, the shootouts are boring and the story is just stupid. Damnation will ruin your day, your marriage and even your life.
  5. Edge Magazine
    30
    The game's ambition far outstrips its creator's abilities: damned by execution rather than intent, but damned nonetheless. [July 2009, p.99]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Game Informer
    30
    This isn’t a premier blend of pulp fiction. It’s just a pulpy mess.
  7. Gamer.nl
    20
    Damnation had potential, but manages to do everything wrong. The game looks and controls awful and never gets fun to play.

See all 36 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 6
  3. Negative: 3 out of 6
  1. Rani
    Jul 12, 2009
    8
    I actually really liked this game - and I'm usually so hard to please! It's a hugely original title in a sea of turd brownI actually really liked this game - and I'm usually so hard to please! It's a hugely original title in a sea of turd brown derivative shooters. Sure, it tries to cram a lot it, but that beats boring no brain run and gun games like Gears of War. The levels are brilliantly designed and beautifully made. The controls are intuative and you can trust them. The setting is interesting and in the spirit of Bioshock. The co-op is hellafun! I wonder whether the games press gave it such a bad run because Codemasters aren't very good at shmoozing journos. Ignore the haters - give it a go, you might be surprised.… Expand
  2. Freddo222
    Dec 16, 2014
    6
    It is really broken, but sometimes this makes a game funny and enjoyable. The best parts are the awkward cutscenes, the absolutely terribleIt is really broken, but sometimes this makes a game funny and enjoyable. The best parts are the awkward cutscenes, the absolutely terrible voiceacting and of course the hyper strange enemy movement.… Expand
  4. RegionalAccent
    Oct 2, 2009
    5
    I honestly enjoy playing this game. It's obvious it's poor, and not at all what was expected but i still find it genuinlyI honestly enjoy playing this game. It's obvious it's poor, and not at all what was expected but i still find it genuinly entertaining. Granted that's playing with a mate and not taking a blind bit of notice of the story line, and creating our own voice overs. Plus leaping off the cliffs never seems to get old.
    The shooting is poor and the controlls are basic, but i did enjoy the very large levels and quite long game. It's a little glitchy in places when playing with a friend, one of you can sometimes end up without a level to stand on constantly falling to your death as it just respawns you in the same place - so the other person has to complete that part of the level by themselves.
    You CAN take cover it does work, and is suggeted, as just running into battle fireing will most often result in your death as a) the aiming is very poor (unless it's the sniper rifle) b) the enemys are very accurate...
    The climbing part of the game, again although quite a basic attemt, is also well done. There are often multiple routes to take to get to the same point, and you can lose track of where you are, which way your going and where the other player is.
    Hopefully if they are to make a sequel they will put more effort into it though    … Expand
  5. Moviebuffreview
    Apr 10, 2011
    2
    Absolutely horrendous visuals, a mindless story, and broken gameplay, Damnation is damned bad. It is one game that should be avoided at allAbsolutely horrendous visuals, a mindless story, and broken gameplay, Damnation is damned bad. It is one game that should be avoided at all costs! There is nothing more to say about this game than to say that if you buy it, you will be reminded of the worst on other platforms, cough Superman 64, and why we hate bad games.… Expand
  6. TylerH
    May 29, 2009
    1
    I watched a friend play this... after about 10 minutes we thought, maybe this could get better, like the visuals, or the gameplay, or the I watched a friend play this... after about 10 minutes we thought, maybe this could get better, like the visuals, or the gameplay, or the plot... nope. glad it was a rental... after another 10 minutes of horror, we began to panic thinking that this was the beginning of the zombie appoclypse... so we stabbed and scratched this game, ran it over, chopped it up, threw it in the toliet and urinated on it in hopes it would go away... no not really, but it was more enjoyable for me to write that than play this game for a little bit/watch this rushed mistake. obviously the developers decided not to develop a game, but instead a giant turd... congrats if that was your goal.… Expand
  7. TedS
    Jun 5, 2009
    1
    I'm a huge Steampunk fan, and quite interested in action games, so I was all geared up (pun intended) to give this game a chance, I'm a huge Steampunk fan, and quite interested in action games, so I was all geared up (pun intended) to give this game a chance, despite the few negative reviews I've seen. Unfortunately, even with these good expectations, it quickly became apparent that this game is awful. The touted free roaming aspect is non-existent, the game is essentially a linear level grind with the only meaningful choice being which ledge to jump on. To show this, even things like climbing poles is unfortunately limited. You climb up facing one of the 4 cardinal points, and can switch to the others, but bad luck if you want to jump off on the diagonal. This makes jumping onto platforms easier, as you can bet they'll be on one of the points, but it feels ridiculously constrained. Mind you, this contraint is probably a good thing. The controls are so bad that even shooting requires you to hold down a button, press another button to enter aim mode, wiggle another joystick, then press a third button to fire the thing, and the shoddy responsiveness means you'll probably miss. Taking cover is a no-no, as crouching behind a wall means you'll still get shot, but your bullets will do nothing but slam into your own cover. Obviously, with shooting being this much of a nightmare, accurate platforming with the required control responsiveness is almost impossible. The graphics are moderately interesting, scenery-wise, but the characters are quite mediocre, and the obvious difference between the movies and the gameplay just serves to show how so-so the graphics actually are. I wouldn't be able to tell you about the story because having got to the end of the second level, I decided that I'd rather be doing something (read, pretty much anything) else, and quit. Fortunately I was among the first to get to the trade-in, so didn't lose much in the way of money.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

89
#89 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2009
56
#56 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2009