22 games that didn't get great review scores, but are still worth playing

As recommended by GamesRadar's own readers. And they know what they're talking about

Words: on June 28, 2010
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Last week I did a little article called 'Would you buy a game that scored 7 out of 10 or lower?' Plenty of you responded to the question in the affirmative. Which was nice to see. And you also suggested a heap of games that failed to reach the dizzy heights of 8, 9 and 10 out 10 greatness, but still had some enjoyable, entertaining qualities.

So in the interests of giving those less-than-an-8 games a little credit, I thought I'd compile the recommendations that were current-gen titles into a list. They might not have bagged themselves scores from the higher end of the review scale, but all these games have something to offer. Especially as a rent or bargain-bin purchase.

  • 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (Highest score on Metacritic: 72) | PS3, 360
  • Alpha Protocol (73) | PC, PS3, 360
  • Bionic Commando (71) | PC, PS3, 360
  • Dark Sector (72) | PC, PS3, 360
  • Dark Void (59) | PC, PS3, 360
  • Fracture (63) | PS3, 360
  • Fret Nice (67) | PS3, 360
  • Fuel (67) | PC, PS3, 360
  • Gratuitous Space Battles (73) | PC
  • Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (67) | PC, PS3, 360
  • Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon (64) | PC, PS3, Wii, 360
  • Lost Odyssey (78) | 360
  • Lost Planet 2 (69) | PC, PS3, 360
  • Mercenaries 2: World in Flames (72) | PC, PS3, 360
  • Quantum of Solace (70) | PC, PS3, Wii, 360
  • Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy (71) | PS3, 360
  • Saboteur, The (76) | PC, PS3, 360
  • Shadowrun (66) | PC, 360
  • Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (73) | PC, PS3, Wii, 360
  • Two Worlds (65) | PC, 360
  • Wet (70) | PS3, 360
  • X3: Terran Conflict (73) | PC

 

If anyone's got any other suggestions of good-but-not-great-but-still-well-worth-a-play games that they'd like to recommend, do your duty and speak up in the comments. Someone might thank you for it.

June 28, 2010

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73 Comments
Order Comments: Newest First | Oldest First
  • Craza

    Craza  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    The Saboteur is an EXCELLENT game. It's had me hooked for days now. I find the main storyline quite enthralling, even if it is short.
    I picked it up for $10, and it was well worth it.
    Reply
  • MaynardJ

    MaynardJ  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    I recently got Fracture and The Bourne Conspiracy from the bargain bin. Guess I should consider buying a few more of these cheap good times, thanks guys!
    Reply
  • jessejohanna

    jessejohanna  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    I thought Fracture was quite good, should have a score around 75 IMO.
    Reply
  • Mexiflan

    Mexiflan  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    I own Kane and Lynch: Dead Men,and it's a pretty good game. It's hard,too. And i'm thinking about getting Mercenaries 2 since it's pretty cheap.
    Reply
  • Amnesiac

    Amnesiac  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    Dark Sector, hell yes. It's only $10 and more than worth the price of admission. Wanted: Weapons of Fate is also good for a rental or really cheap purchase.
    Reply
  • AlexDeLarge

    AlexDeLarge  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    Oh my god will someone please play Amped 3.. That game was so fun!!
    Reply
  • nadrewod999

    nadrewod999  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    I doubt I am going to rent any of these (the two Blockbusters closest to me are closing, and my Redbox still only rents movies, no games), but I do already own 2 of these, and they are very fun (one even made it onto my list of top games)
    Reply
  • crumbdunky

    crumbdunky  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    Heavenly Sword, surely one of the most under rated games this generation-and since it got the control patch I think Lair is pretty good to play as well(even if I'm alone on that one!).

    Actually, there's a few games I've quite liked that got panned a little in some quarters-I didn't even mind SR2 after hating the first for instance and thought the PS3 version of AITD was passable ,most of the time and excellent in places(crap in others with an ill thought out control scheme but enjoyable overall). Add to that Nier(if they'd focussed more and made it look sharper it COULD have been a classic)and, maybe even the often derided UT3 which, on PS3, offered me more play time than the 360 version of either itself or the L4D games(which are similar in that the SP is mere practise)because of the added joy of importing my talented mate's mods.

    Oh, can we say one game each that we cannot understand why it got SO much love? Most will choose GTA4, no doubt, but as a fan of the first two games i'd go for FO3. Everyone loved it but, to me, it never lived up to the hype, was buggy as hell and had TWO borked shooting systems. The FPS aiming was pants and the VATS system didn't seem to add up to it's own numbers. Add in the fact that 90% seemed to be bits of Oblivion with added rubble and, to me, the genre splicing masterpiece was just frustrating. Still, not as crap as Resi5 though-but what is?
    Reply
  • philipshaw

    philipshaw  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    I know it's not current gen but Mark Ecko's getting up is still worth a play imo
    Reply
  • NEPAL

    NEPAL  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    ARMA 2 is underrated and under publicized.
    It is a tactical shooter tries to emulate real combat.
    Reply
  • Slaanash

    Slaanash  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    So was the creation process:
    "So I was going to write an article, but I figured, hey, I can just make a list and noone will be any the wiser! I love being me."?

    How close was I? :P
    Reply
  • JohnDagger

    JohnDagger  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    Most of those games are actually pretty good. I just have a problem with Two Worlds, I found it to be one of the worst experience on an xbox 360 I have ever had.
    Reply
  • Javv

    Javv  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    i got stranglehold like 2 weeks ago for 15 bucks. actually fun to just go around destroying the world and jumping like an hyperactive child.
    also, what about stuntman: ignition? it has 75 on metacritic, i never managed to actually play the game but i still have the demo in my ps3 and it just funny to play over and over again
    Reply
  • Cyberninja

    Cyberninja  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    i recomend digimon world dawn and dusk for ds they may not be the best games but if you put the time in them you will find a solid rpg
    Reply
  • RonnyLive19881

    RonnyLive19881  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    WHERE IS DEADLY PREMONITION!
    Reply
  • EnragedTortoise1

    EnragedTortoise1  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    Star Wars TFU is AWESOME.
    Reply
  • RebornKusabi

    RebornKusabi  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    I commented in that article about the significant gap between what reviewers though and what gamers thought of the Fatal Frame series but seeing your list here, you're just segmenting current generation games so those don't count, I guess.

    Still, a couple of these were pretty good for what they did so your general point still remains.
    Reply
  • Romination

    Romination  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    How about an interesting list instead? Not even any flavor text?
    Reply
  • michaelmcc827

    michaelmcc827  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    Fuel is absolute garbage and deserves to be played by no one.
    Reply
  • Darkhawk

    Darkhawk  - 1 year, 10 months ago  - Report

    Seconded on Stranglehold. Fun mindless entertainment. Sort of like going to a popcorn movie, enjoying it for the duration, then never returning to it later.

    reC: kung to
    Reply
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