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Insecticide gets meh initial reviews 12 Mar, 2008 / Comments: 8

By Jason


A few reviews for Insecticide are already out, and are unfortunately quite average so far. IGN, Nintendo Power, and Game Informer give the game a 7.0, 6.5, and 5.75 respectively. The IGN review, the only one of those available online, summarizes their thoughts on the game thusly:
Have you ever wished your graphic adventure games had a little more action? Or that your platformers required a bit more puzzle solving? Well, Insecticide is here, kind of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup of point-and-click and action games. Unfortunately, only one of these elements turned out well. While the investigative segments of the game are a blast from the past, the platforming and combat are clunky and frustrating.
The good news is that it's still early in the game, and that the complaints may not be as much a factor for those without a general adversity to combining adventure and action elements as literally as the game seems to. Plus, the upcoming PC version should surely do something to address the cited control issues and "drab" visuals. So we'll see I guess! Also, be sure to look out for our own review of the DS version soonish.
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8 Comments

  • Diduz on 14 Mar, 2008, 10:56…
    New review here:

    http://www.zentendo.com/reviews.php?articleId=302&page=1

    It's not that bad either. :-)
  • Shmargin on 13 Mar, 2008, 05:03…
    Wait wait wait...People read IGN and their half assed review system?

    IGN will be reviewing a turn based RPG and complain about the fact that its turn based.

    Tehy aerz a joke!11
  • neon_git on 13 Mar, 2008, 15:38…
    Haing read the review I thought it came across pretty fair. It's not like they just said "IT SUXXORS!!!", they say what was good about the game and what wasn't so good. And they go into enough detail to inform my opinion on how much the flaws detract from the game.

    There's no need to throw a hissy fit every time a game doesn't get a great review - we're all going to get it and make up our own minds anyway aren't we?
  • The Tingler on 13 Mar, 2008, 16:47…
    I don't know about other IGN reviews, but I agree with neon_git here. It's obvious that the reviewer really wanted to give the game a higher mark but felt he had to mark it lower. And like I said earlier, 7.0 is NOT a bad score.

    To use Sam & Max and PC Gamer UK as an example again, the latest issue gave Night of the Raving Dead a paltry 53%, and I personally think it's great - second best after Abe Lincoln Must Die in fact. It's down to reviewer opinion and how much you're willing to see through the flaws.

    If you're still on the fence about Insecticide, wait for the Mojo review. We'll nitpick, but we'll also actually tell you whether it's an enjoyable game or not.
  • neon_git on 14 Mar, 2008, 03:03…
    Awww hell, we sound like our dads. I miss being young and driven by impulse :(
  • Maratanos on 13 Mar, 2008, 00:06…
    I kindof think they missed something.

    They briefly mentioned that Chrys turns too slow to dodge incoming bullets, but if you look at their test drive videos, it looks to me like you can dodge in the more leaping and flipping manner that doesn't really track very well with their comments on the subject. Is it possible they didn't actually figure out how to dodge properly on the DS controls?
  • The Tingler on 12 Mar, 2008, 23:55…
    No matter how hard Crackpot have tried to fix the DS control issues, every review is going to complain about it - that's the nature of the DS and third-person 3D games.

    That's a very short review from IGN, and yet is probably the better. 7.0 is NOT a bad score, guys. Especially for a DS game that's not by Nintendo.

    I do suspect the PC version will be the definitive version though.
  • Kroms on 12 Mar, 2008, 23:24…
    I'm not too worried about the DS version being badly reviewed...it's PC I'm worried about. I'm sure the game is great though.