Home Gaming Quantum Break – review round-up

Quantum Break – review round-up

4 min read
38

Quantum Break is out next week – but it’s reviews have started going live this morning, showing that Microsoft and Remedy have quite a bit of faith in the product they’ve created. It’s an unusual game – not in its mechanics, or story – but rather that it’s a mostly linear, single player experience. A single player game that tells a story. No open worlds, no social interactions, no shoe-horned multiplayer. In that regard, it’s very much an old-school game, just one built using modern technology.

It’s a bit of an experiment too, (mostly) seamlessly blending in a live-action show that’s – for the most part – slick and well produced. You’ve possibly already read our review – but what do other critics think of Remedy’s latest game?

Action Trip – 8.4/10

01-8

Remedy has, without a doubt, crafted a very creative title with Quantum Break. It’s not going to be the killer exclusive game that so many were looking for with the Xbox One, but it’s definitely been worth the wait. Story gamers will especially delight in replaying the game multiple times to see the various episodes and experience the different paths the game itself can take. For anyone with an Xbox One, Quantum Break is a must-own.

Jim Sterling – 8.5/10

QB

Quantum Break is not the most revolutionary of games, and its box of time toys cover what is, at heart, a fairly standardized shooter. However, it carries itself with style and speed to create something genuinely fascinating to play, flavored by a story that, while failing to pay off in the final stretch, is more detailed and engrossing than most in its league.

The Xbox One may have failed to live up to its dreams of being a cross-media entertainment portal, but we got Quantum Break out of it, and that’s just fine by me.

03-8

Giantbomb – 2/5

04-7

On one hand, Quantum Break fits perfectly into Remedy’s timeline, representing something grander and more cinematic than the fake TV shows and other ambitious little elements that have worked their way into the studio’s past work. But it’s probably telling that I was way more excited to watch Quantum Break’s fake in-game TV show on various TVs found around the edges of the game than the one that was actually produced and shoved into the middle of the action. There are a lot of sound ideas in the middle of Quantum Break and, hey, if you’re a sucker for goofy time travel hijinks this game has that going for it, too. But those ideas are the only things holding this project together. The moment you look past that heady connective tissue, every single one of Quantum Break’s individual elements fall flat.

Polygon – 8.5/10

05-5

Remedy’s touch and style is all over Quantum Break, which is a strength and, at a few points, a weakness as well. But it’s more than that, a real transmedia experiment — I know how it sounds — that succeeds in ways that other games don’t even try. There’s some wonky shooting and a few cringe-worthy story cliches present. But ineffective cover systems and narrative fridges notwithstanding, Quantum Break feels like the first action game taking real lessons from the Netflix binge-watch era, and in that respect, it’s a surprising success.

Gameinformer – 8.5/10

02-8

Quantum Break isn’t a perfect game; it’s a bold experiment in how two mediums can tell a larger story, and at times it pays off. It would be foolish for every game to attempt to emulate this form of storytelling, but Quantum Break as a gaming oddity deserves attention. I wish the events of the show were more significant to the main story, but Quantum Break more than makes up for that with some of the best storytelling and gameplay Remedy has ever produced.

Pennyworth Reviews – 5/5 Stars (though nobody knows what this means)

Quantum-Break-Review-5.jpg

I recommend that you play it and then I recommend that you play it again, because it’s a damn fine example of what a high quality story-driven video game and it ultimately delivers a unique experience worth having. It may not be a perfect game, but the Xbox definitely has an incredible new addition to its library of exclusives.

 Nag.co.za – 96/100

qb1

It’s not Alan Wake 2, but that’s okay – Quantum Break is an absolutely phenomenal game on its own terms. With a compelling, sophisticated story, a cast of authentically multi-dimensional characters, and spectacular presentation, this is an instant cult classic.

Sagamer – 8/10

qb2

Remedy has done an outstanding job. Everything that was promised has been delivered, and then some. It’s very ‘Remedy’. The use of licensed music at the end of each act is a Remedy trademark we’ve come to know, the gameplay is addictive, the writing is good and story has been given the typical Remedy twist. Now, if only they can fracture time and give us more of that exciting gameplay next time it’ll be something a little more time-consuming and a moment in time worth freezing.

Lazygamer.net – 9/10

06-4

Quantum Break is another example of Remedy Entertainment sticking to what they know, and doing it better than anyone else. An engrossing adventure with a captivating story. experimentation with new mediums for telling stories in games and refined third-person gameplay to match. Quantum Break isn’t optional, it’s essential.

Last Updated: April 1, 2016

38 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief in New York

    April 1, 2016 at 09:20

    2/5
    Geez

    Reply

    • Francois Knoetze

      April 1, 2016 at 09:20

      Giant Bomb being the Rebels that they are

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief in New York

        April 1, 2016 at 09:22

        “…every single one of Quantum Break’s individual elements fall flat”

        I’m guessing they did not enjoy the game, or found it difficult

        Reply

        • Francois Knoetze

          April 1, 2016 at 09:28

          Somebody might have taken a leak in their tea…and poisoned their scones.

          Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          April 1, 2016 at 09:34

          “The moment you look past that heady connective tissue, every single one of Quantum Break’s individual elements fall flat.”

          I don’t pay attention to any reviews that do that kinda crap, be they games, movies, whatever. Let’s pretend the story doesn’t exist, then the game’s crap. But you can’t remove the story. You review a whole, not separate parts divorced from one another.

          Reply

          • Captain JJ the Isolated

            April 1, 2016 at 09:56

            Yea. I agree.
            (now don’t let it go to your head that I agreed with you AGAIN)

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            April 1, 2016 at 10:00

            I’m just happy you’re choosing to be right.

          • Captain JJ the Isolated

            April 1, 2016 at 10:01

            You’re just lucky you turned out to be right this time ;P

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            April 1, 2016 at 10:02

            And happiness is fleeting.

          • Captain JJ the Isolated

            April 1, 2016 at 10:03

            Haha. Touché

          • HvR

            April 1, 2016 at 10:50

            The only time in a game review that comes into play is replayability and I think it is obvious that Qauntum Break is one of those games that it is going to be an awesome first time play, good 2nd time play and then sit on the shelf. Nothing wrong with it and it is perfectly exceptable for 8 or 9 out of 10 game to be that way.

      • HvR

        April 1, 2016 at 10:51

        They want to hate on Quantum Break before it was cool.

        Reply

    • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

      April 1, 2016 at 09:44

      Yeah…. I’m not sure if they’re serious about that score or whether they had a 56k modem to try and stream the games’ TV side of things…

      Reply

    • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

      April 1, 2016 at 09:44

      Yeah…. I’m not sure if they’re serious about that score or whether they had a 56k modem to try and stream the games’ TV side of things…

      Reply

  2. Admiral Chief in New York

    April 1, 2016 at 09:21

    I’m glad my 7.5 prediction is wrong. I’m all for good games!

    Reply

  3. Francois Knoetze

    April 1, 2016 at 09:21

    WOOT good reviews all round!! Wiggles in office chair

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief in New York

      April 1, 2016 at 09:22

      Don’t spill the coffee!

      Reply

      • Francois Knoetze

        April 1, 2016 at 09:26

        EEK!! MY FACE IT IS BURNING!!!

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief in New York

          April 1, 2016 at 09:27

          5 second rule dude, schlurp it up ASAP

          Reply

          • Loftus

            April 1, 2016 at 09:28

            The heathen spilled the sacred java, let him burn!

          • Francois Knoetze

            April 1, 2016 at 09:28

            but now it tastes like broken dreams and false hopes…MY day is ruined!

          • Admiral Chief in New York

            April 1, 2016 at 09:34

            Try a face scrub tonight/tomorrow, exfoliate that funk off your face.

            Be more metro-sexual Frannas!

          • Francois Knoetze

            April 1, 2016 at 09:54

            NEVER!!! I shave with a rock every morning and pour beer over my cereal. bec that is what real men do!!

  4. Loftus

    April 1, 2016 at 09:23

    This is one of a couple games i am envious of not being able to play since i only have a ps4 and latop that works on diesel power.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief in New York

      April 1, 2016 at 09:23

      Diesel laptop seems like a good investment

      Reply

      • Loftus

        April 1, 2016 at 09:26

        Yeah it might be, but those diesel fumes isn’t good for the bubble gum that holds the RAM in place. 🙁

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief in New York

          April 1, 2016 at 09:27

          Try sugar free gum, better binding with diesel fumes

          Reply

          • Loftus

            April 1, 2016 at 09:29

            O_o how…no wait is’t better not know…. I Bow down to your superior knowledge in this regard. 🙂

          • Admiral Chief in New York

            April 1, 2016 at 09:33

            *it’s
            +to (or I do)
            *bow

            I have a degree in diesel management

          • Loftus

            April 1, 2016 at 09:38

            You lied when you said you are a diesel fitter for victoria secret…o wait i see what you did there 🙂

  5. Jonah Cash

    April 1, 2016 at 09:57

    Ahhhh a single player linear story driven game… Who knew that people still had the balls to make quality story games? I will get this on PC right after I finish off The Division. (Which might take me another month at this rate…)

    Reply

    • Captain JJ the Isolated

      April 1, 2016 at 09:58

      I was in the mood the other day for a decent story SP FPS
      Couldn’t find one. 🙁

      Reply

      • Jonah Cash

        April 1, 2016 at 10:53

        Story games are dying. What we will get in the future is just Destiny and The Division. There is a story, but the world is more important. At least The Division doesn’t give us bits of a story thread just to never tell the rest of it like Destiny! The Division knows what it is and it plays to it, Destiny tries to tell a story and then they fail epicly!

        Reply

  6. UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

    April 1, 2016 at 10:57

    “Won’t be coming to Steam.”

    Well… Seems I am sadly skipping this one. I just like all my games in one place really.

    Reply

  7. Honest Review

    April 1, 2016 at 12:37

    Story – 6 – you do know the whole time stopping story is because it’s hard to aim and shoot with controllers.
    Graphics – 7
    Gameplay – 6.5

    That’s about it. 6.5 score for Quantum Break. Not that great.

    Reply

    • Pieter Kruger

      April 1, 2016 at 13:06

      LOL! Idiot! ????????????

      Reply

  8. Jim Hogan (Banana Hulk Hogan)

    April 1, 2016 at 12:47

    Giant Bomb… tsk tsk

    Reply

  9. WitWolfy

    April 1, 2016 at 23:28

    I dunno if I want this game anymore…. Sounds more like a live action TV show with some gameplay thrown every now and then for shits and giggles.

    Reply

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