Metascore
45

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 30
  2. Negative: 15 out of 30
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  1. Still, it’s a solid rental and a good way to spend some time having a bit of fun. If you really want to kick ass as the Fantastic 4, go play Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.
  2. If you’re an insane fan of the series, you have already bought it and if you like action games like X-Men Legends and Ultimate Alliance you should definitely check this out at your local Blockbuster (or GameFly). Otherwise steer clear of what turns out to be the worst of the video games based on movies so far in 2007.
  3. The game seems to be designed to be rented rather than purchased, as it is not only boring, but short as well. Have a few friends over and knock this one out in an evening. Then return it and never think about it again.
  4. 55
    Lack of online and sketchy graphics headline the game’s serious flaws while the wonky co-op camera almost kills the idea of any type of multi-player action.
  5. Official Xbox Magazine
    55
    Feels totally manufactured and formulaic. [Sept 2007, p.76]
  6. 54
    The bottom line is you never feel like you're the Fantastic 4. Instead, you're a big orange tank and three kick boxers who know some magic tricks.
  7. Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer could have been way more than it was. Only get this game if you are a true die-hard fan of the Fantastic 4, otherwise go find a used copy of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance to get your superhero fix on.
  8. Fans of the comics and the films will be sorely disappointed, so if you feel obligated to purchase this game out of fan loyalty, at least wait until it hits the bargain bins.
  9. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is yet another example of movie tie-ins failing to even come close to their potential.
  10. Everything works pretty much as it should - the controls and camera rarely freak out and leave you confused and defenceless - but it's just utterly uninspired and devoid of life.
  11. There's nothing inherently broken with the game, and until it fizzles out at the end the story's not bad, but the gameplay is so contrived and repetitive that it's unlikely anyone will garner much enjoyment from the game.
  12. Suffers from monotonous gameplay and a terrible presentation. Everything, from poor narration to Jessica Alba's awful looking character model will disappoint fans and gamers alike.
  13. The only saving grace that this game has is its combat mechanic. By no means is it good, but it’s competent, and successful in making you feel like you clocked someone pretty hard. If you have some friends over, you can delve into four-player co-op.
  14. Rise of the Silver Surfer offers very little enjoyment, if there is any fun to be drained from this fantastically mediocre game then perhaps the hardcore fans of the Marvel comic books, series or movies may be able to harness their special powers to find some form of fun out of this not so fantastic game.
  15. Games Master UK
    50
    As dynamic and exciting as being slapped with a warm flannel. [Aug 2007, p.78]
  16. The bland environments, boring stages, repetitive enemies, and easily exhausted powers make the Fantastic Four feel more like a fantastic chore or just a fantastic bore.
  17. 45
    Despite an entire review's worth of problems, Fantastic Four isn't a complete loss. It has some nice-looking effects ("flaming on," specifically), a decent joke or two, and some nice extras to unlock (old Fantastic Four comic covers, alternate costumes, etc.), but it's just not compelling in any of the basic areas it needs to be.
  18. Play Magazine
    45
    Some decent ideas do fight there way to the surface. [Aug 2007, p.68]
  19. In fact, it’s repetitive and (quickly) becomes boring. Regardless of the enemy, expect a lot of walking around, smashing, taking of elevators to the next floor, more walking around, and more smashing and more … well, you get the picture.
  20. The gameplay is about as basic as it gets, and while the super powers add a bit of fun, you’ll probably just end up using the same ones over and over.
  21. We know that plenty of people will look past the monotonous gameplay, poor voice acting, unimaginative level design, lack of online play, etc., but our advice is to hold out for the next movie.
  22. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    40
    Thoroughly average. [Aug 2007, p.93]
  23. Despite the few things done well in it, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer remains a bland, poorly-done game.
  24. 40
    Worse than the usual mediocre movie spinoffs, which is saying something. Youngsters might have the attention span to find completing the game entertaining, but everyone is better off playing Ultimate Alliance—a vastly superior game.
  25. Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
    33
    Absolutely soul-crushingly tedious. [Sept 2007, p.78]
  26. 30
    The graphics are distinctly last-gen, with bland, repetitive environments that feel as slapped together as every other part of this lackluster brawler.
  27. I have been advised that Hour of Victory may, in fact, be a worse game than Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, a fact that I sincerely find hard to imagine. Out of fear for my life, I do not intend to test this theory, nor do I recommend anyone else do so, as certain things just aren't meant to be known by humanity.
  28. X-ONE Magazine UK
    30
    As cynical as it is terrible, this pushes "Fuzion Frenzy 2" hard for the title of worst game on the Xbox 360 to date. [Issue #22, p.89]
  29. For a system as powerful as the Xbox 360 – which I’m sure could make a digital sandwich so convincing, it would have gamers around the globe trying to bite their TVs – Fantastic Four is a huge letdown. Character models and environments are boring and lack detail. If anything it all looks like a higher-resolution version of an ugly PS2 game.
  30. The visuals are pretty lackluster for a 360 title, and while the characters themselves look nice, the environments are pretty bland and uninspired, much like the level design.
User Score
5.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 16
  2. Negative: 7 out of 16
  1. GioD
    Feb 22, 2008
    5
    FF4 ROTSS was looking pretty damn good from the screen shots that i saw. Unfortunately the game is rather dull. Whats cool about the game isFF4 ROTSS was looking pretty damn good from the screen shots that i saw. Unfortunately the game is rather dull. Whats cool about the game is that all 4 members of the FF4 are present at the same time and you can switch and control any of them any time you want, or you could also (finally) do 4 player co-op (unfortunately just offline). Not to mention the fusion attacks (double team super power moves) is a cool idea and work good for the most part. The problem with it is that the FF4 only has 4 powers each and when you do use them your power bar drains fast (more powers would obviously been beneficial) and they all have only about 2-3 attack combos. And im so not kidding when i say that the levels, ALL the levels, have NO variety whatsoever (In the skrull home world level, once you've seen a room prepare to see that same room dozens of times, same goes for the milatary level, so on and so forth). What i found surprising was the developer that 2K put on this project, Visual Concepts. Visual Concepts has done NOTHING but all of 2k's sports titles, so why would you get a developer who has done nothing but sports titles to work on a comic book game? I'm as stumped as anyone else, but i guess thats the reason why the game turned out like it did. If you really like/love the FF4 i would say get it, but ONLY when it drops to like $20. Otherwise get your FF4 fix with Ultimate Alliance. Full Review »