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How Metascores Are Calculated
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Afro Samurai
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
Created by the same team that developed Fight Night Round 3, FaceBreaker offers irreverent fun, immersive gameplay and eye-popping stylized graphics. In this in-your-face, arcade world full of ego-wielding characters, each boxer comes to life with unique attributes and distinct personal style, including Romeo, a Latin lover known for his pelvic thrusts, and Molotov, an oversized Russian demolitions expert with a penchant for fighting dirty. Add a little personal motivation to your fight by uploading a photo of your face to create a realistic likeness using Photo Game Face, and go toe-to-toe with a real-life friend or foe. Laugh out loud as you pummel your opponent with a barrage of blows to the face and watch in satisfaction as your progress is illustrated by real-time facial deformation. With haymakers, face shots and body blows, wait for the right moment to drop a super punch to make your presence known. Taunt your adversaries and flaunt your talent, by tying one hand behind your back to add ultimate humiliation to your bout. In FaceBreaker, it just feels good to rearrange your opponent's face. [Electronic Arts]
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... 80
Total Video Games
Facebreaker is so much more than a brawler. This is an intelligent fighting game with all the hallmarks of gaming excellence.
 80
Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
It has charisma and it’s quite fun. Despite the arcade style, its combat mechanic is very technical and rewarding, although the difficulty could be more balanced. One final word for the character creator, that allows for the most bizarre creations. [Sept 2008]
79
WonderwallWeb
This is a good fighting game in its own right, but with Soulcalibur and the new Street Fighter around the corner this game may be left on the ropes.
78
Game Informer
Whatever critical punishment you can level at the game, its gameplay core packs enough punch to survive your flurry.
75
GameZone
FaceBreaker’s gameplay is pretty simple, meaning that gamers of all types will be able to get into the game and feel comfortable with the controls very quickly. However, the overall experience does feel a bit shallow and might not hold your interest for very long.
72
Games Master UK
Excellent production values but lacking the depth of our favourite beat-'em-ups. [Oct 2008, p.81]
72
GameFocus
While there’s a new Fight Night down the pipes, EA is shining the spotlight on Facebreaker, their latest title in a new line of ‘EA Freestyle’ sports games. It’s a solid brawler that’s easy to get in to, but ultimately it’s only as well-known as it is because of its budget – not its quality.
71
3DJuegos
Arcade boxing is coming to the next-gen in order to break faces in a very original and artistic way. Smashing buttons is the key in Facebreaker to punch rivals and perform acrobatics over a good but incomplete videogame. It could have been better if EA Canada had added more length and game modes to the punching pack, but it's still a great opportunity to get funny and easy gameplay.
70
Team Xbox
There’s no question FB has style to spare—you gotta love the round card-carrying bimbos holding the cards upside-down—and those willing to put up with the early beatings will find lots to enjoy both offline and over Xbox Live.
70
Gameplayer
It’s not about mastering strings worth of combinations or sussing out whether your right hook does more damage than your left, it’s about goofy fun – plain and simple.
70
Official Xbox Magazine
FaceBreaker delivers fast online brawls, and the constant back-and-forth of counters, stuns, and outrageous signature moves yields a surprising amount of room for strategy and style. As tiresome as solo scuffles become, exciting multiplayer bouts against unpredictable humans save FaceBreaker from a TKO.
70
Cynamite
Arcade boxing packed with very funny characters and a fighting system easy to access.
65
Da Gameboyz
Overall, FaceBreaker is game with great intentions, but the execution disappoints.
65
MEGamers
We were really looking forward to this one, but many problems however force us to put this game down sooner than expected.
64
Console Monster
EA advertised the game as a balanced fighter using a ‘rock, paper, scissors’ format. Unfortunately the game isn’t balanced, it’s not much fun to play for anything more than a few minutes at a time, and the computer AI is evil.
62
GameTrailers
Facebreaker tries to revive the arcade boxing glory achieved by classics like Punch-Out!, but with its punishing difficulty, minimal gameplay modes, and humor that falls on its face, it doesn’t come close. Creating your own boxers can become addictive, and it’s not a bad option for a casual party atmosphere, but for serious players it lacks the depth to pick itself up off the mat.
62
Planet Xbox 360
The blend of shallow button-mashing controls and overly tough computer enemies make for an experience that neither hardcore nor casual gamers can really get into.
60
Gamer.nl
Kicking your friends ass is no longer a forbidden dream. With Facebreaker you can upload a photo of your friend or foe
and start kicking the crap out of them. Sadly the game lacks a balanced singleplayer mode and offers little fighting pleasure if your on your own. But we see a bright future for Facebreaker 2.
60
GameDaily
It's not bad, although the game is plagued by severe balancing issues. Some boxers are more talented than others, and online match-ups are unfair, resulting in a Facebreaker finisher and a quick end to the match. At least the Create-a-Boxer mode is great, enabling you to scan yourself or a picture of someone into the game.
60
Official Xbox Magazine UK
Our advice: fix the career, add in some quirky new modes other than the Gamer Face, and widen the character's fighting styles beyond one special attack, and we'll be queuing up for Round 2.
60
Gameplanet
It has a refreshing visual style and looks fun to start with, but FaceBreaker is let down by frustrating and shallow gameplay.
60
LEVEL (Czech Republic)
Modeling of your own fighter is sadly the best part of the whole game. Fighting itself is tedious and if you can’t find any living opponent during 30 minutes of play you will be overwhelmed by boredom. [Sept 2008]
60
MS Xbox World
FaceBreaker is perhaps one of the few games that has driven me to despair.
55
Jolt Online Gaming UK
The idea behind it is good and there’s a lot of polish in the presentation, but the gameplay is just so shallow and unevolving that it’s really hard to recommend as a full-price purchase.
55
Ferrago
Facebreaker has a seemingly interesting premise but has this tacked onto a very simple beat-em-up gameplay mechanic. It is definitely good fun if you have the camera peripheral and can create your own image to fight with, but is simply not deep enough to deliver a knock-out blow as a standalone game.
50
PALGN
While it tries to capture the arcade fun of boxing titles of previous console generations, FaceBreaker doesn't deliver the knockout punch that was expected.
50
XboxAddict
Overall, the game is a brilliant idea that was executed terribly.
50
Gamervision
Other than the A+ character creation and the B+ graphics, the best thing about this game is the ever-so-busty ditz of a ring girl that shows up between rounds to semi-flash what’s under her robe.
50
Boomtown
But in the end the boxing action itself is not as fun as it should be, because it's all about being fastest, and the AI does tend to cheat.
50
PTGamers
FaceBreaker is extremely simple and straight to the point, but not exactly fun, mostly due to the frustration that derives from the fighting.
50
DarkStation
Its a shame to say that FaceBreaker really was a disappointment.
50
VideoGamer
It has a lot going for it, from its superb visuals and style to the rather excellent character creation tool, but the button-mashing gameplay and easy exploits ruin all the good work.
50
Kombo
I love the character design and the over-the-top approach the taken but the dastardly duo of ridiculously hard AI to mask a shallow control mechanics doesn't bode well when trying to get fans on board a new franchise.
50
GameSpy
It remains bogged down with completely unbalanced gameplay, maddeningly difficult AI, and online gameplay that has the longevity of a stick of Big Red. That being so, there's nothing worthwhile in the final product that you can't get in the demo.
50
X360 Magazine UK
FaceBreaker is one of those typical EA test games which will no doubt be improved upon next time around but for now needs major improvements. It would help if it was like boxing, for a start.
50
games(TM)
The cosmetics and style that FaceBreaker offers in spades fail to raise the mechanics and gameplay above average. [Oct 2008, p.125]
50
IGN
It's designed to provide a rock-paper-scissor style gameplay experience, but players will likely end up feeling cheated and overly frustrated by the core gameplay. There are too many balancing issues and cheap moves given to some characters to keep players around for more than a couple of hours.
48
Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
Perversely, and in spite of its difficulty, Facebreaker can still be completed with just two buttons.
42
1UP
FaceBreaker is fine if you want to mindlessly mash buttons and beat the hell out of friends, but if you want a deep, balanced boxing game, look elsewhere.
42
Gaming Age
Easily not enough fun and gameplay potential to suffice for a 50-60 dollar purchase, that's for sure.
41
AtomicGamer
Don't let the goofy characters and otherwise sharp-looking visuals fool you; this game is all flash and no substance.
40
EuroGamer
Whatever your thoughts are on the finer points of the game, it all boils down to one thing, really, and that's the fact that you're essentially mashing the same two or three buttons repeatedly, and largely winging it most of the time.
40
BigPond GameArena
Looks great, is super fun for about five minutes, then every second you play beyond increases the chance that somebody is going to get hurt. If you need to see some terrific visuals and brilliant animation, rent it out then breathe a sigh of relief you didn’t pay full dollar.
40
Gamer 2.0
So as you can tell, we really enjoyed this game. All it lacks is a major amount of quality and inspiration. We beg you, for the love of gaming, do what you can to spend your time on something more worthwhile.
40
Xbox360Achievements
It's a broken game that aimed high and hit low.
40
D+PAD Magazine
By removing any sense of strategy and skill EA has broken the two most fundamental rules of a fighter. Instead, FaceBreaker is nothing more than a mere exercise in button-bashing.
40
Video Game Talk
Facebreaker should be reserved to only the very dedicated and level headed gamer, as the enjoyment level goes from quite high to excruciatingly not fun in a matter of seconds.
40
Xbox World Australia
Facebreaker is only for gluttons of punishment and definitely a game to avoid or give to someone that you do not really like for Xmas.
38
Game Chronicles
What we get is a boring cartoon button masher which quite honestly should have come out on Xbox Live instead of a $50 disc.
38
Worth Playing
The clever audio commentary and the decent character creator are the only positive things about a game that tries way too hard to be hip, edgy and cool — but just ends up disgracing boxing games, fighting games, and EA Sports in general.
38
Cheat Code Central
The real crime of FaceBreaker is that its gameplay is so bad and the A.I. is so cheap that the game's excellent create-a-player feature can't really be enjoyed. Who cares how many cool characters are available in a game that is insanely frustrating to play?
35
GameSpot
FaceBreaker's impressive boxer-customization options are overshadowed by terrible gameplay.
33
GameShark
Even at the reduced $49.99 price point Facebreaker must be avoided unless you like no-brainer button mashing boxing.
30
AceGamez
FaceBreaker is probably one of the worst games I've ever had the misfortune to play; childlike not only in style but also in design, it definitely isn't worth full price.
30
Gamestyle
It'll need serious steroids and gym work before it can be considered a contender.
30
DarkZero
It’s just a really bad game, in places unapologetically bad.
20
G4 TV
The controls aren't nuanced enough to please hardcore fighting or boxing fans. The frenetic pace and cheap shots will clearly alienate the more casual gamer. If your sole reason for getting this game is to enjoy multiplayer with your friends, it might be worth a look. Otherwise, stay away from this stinker.
Joshua C. gave it an8: Khristian R. gave it a5: red son gave it a7: Paul F. gave it a2: |
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