Quantum Break reviews roundup

Remedy Entertainment’s innovative third person shooter Quantum Break was released this month on Xbox One and Microsoft Windows. With eye-catching TV ads, integrated live action sequences featuring Game of Thrones star Aidan Gillen and a central concept that involves the manipulation of time, the game generated significant buzz in the lead up to its release.

Metascore of 77: Quantum Break’s current metascore on review aggregator Metacritic indicates “generally favourable reviews.” At the time of writing Metacritic have pulled together 97 reviews. 71 are classed as “positive”, 22 as “mixed” and 4 as “negative.”

Two of the reviews listed on Metacritic awarded the game a maximum score. However, despite their 5 star review Digital Spy did have some reservations about the game. “If they dial back the gorgonzola, the product placement and adjust that cover mechanic, this could have been a perfect game,” they wrote. “But, for now, you’ve got the best-looking game on Xbox One, jam-packed full of familiar faces and top-notch acting, complemented by strong gameplay mechanics and a popcorn-crunching TV series.”

IGN Sweden also gave Quantum Break a perfect score although their parent site IGN gave a more reserved score of 8 out of ten, noting that “Quantum Break is an artistically distinct shooter, with a compelling and malleable plot and excellent performances from its main players in both their digital and live-action forms.”

Polygon gave the game a score of 8.5 out of 10. Like Digital Spy they were impressed with much of the game but felt that taking cover during gameplay was lacking. “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.”

Two of the poorest reviews listed for Quantum Break on Metacritic come from UK newspapers The Guardian and Telegraph. The former gave the game a lowly score of 2 stars and called it a “costly and unrepeatable mistake”, while the latter were slightly more generous. Quantum Break is “explosive, barely coherent, high-budget bluster,” they wrote “and for the most part, is rather good fun.”

All in all, the critical response indicates that while Quantum Break is far from an unqualified success, it offers an enjoyable gameplay experience with some new and innovative features.