Defiance

63%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,250 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Defiance Game Cover
Defiance, like its TV Show counter-part, offers a vast and diverse world for you to explore.
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Defiance is a massively multiplayer science fiction shooter game with good story and graphics, offering both co-op and competitive gameplay. Scavenge for alien technology on a transformed Earth, equip powerful weapons, and engage in epic battles while leveling up and forming alliances. Despite some bugs and grinding, Defiance delivers a unique and often humorous, action-packed experience.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

63%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,250 reviews
story232 positive mentions
stability88 negative mentions
  • Defiance offers a unique blend of MMO and shooter gameplay, providing a fun experience for players who enjoy both genres.
  • The game features a large open world with dynamic events, allowing for spontaneous multiplayer interactions and cooperative gameplay.
  • The tie-in with the TV show adds an interesting layer to the game, enhancing the overall experience for fans of the series.
  • The game suffers from repetitive missions and a lack of meaningful endgame content, leading to a grindy experience.
  • Many players have reported significant lag and server issues, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • The monetization model, including microtransactions and DLC, has been criticized for being exploitative, especially for players who initially paid for the game.
  • story1,056 mentions

    The story in "Defiance" is generally viewed as mediocre, with many players noting its reliance on repetitive quest structures and a lack of depth. While the integration with the TV show adds some interest, the narrative often feels clichéd and uninspired, leading to a grindy experience as players complete similar missions repeatedly. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the character interactions and the overall sci-fi setting, finding enjoyment in the gameplay and cooperative elements, even if the story itself doesn't stand out.

    • “In-game, you play as a hunter of alien artifacts who is hired as a bodyguard by a weapons manufacturer on a mission that could save the world... until something goes wrong.”
    • “The further into the story you got, the more ravaged the world became.”
    • “The integration with the ongoing TV show only adds to the level of excitement as it lets you feel on a personal level, more a part of the whole universe and the story they've created.”
    • “The story missions feel like a chore as the missions are repetitive and pretty much all the same, and I found the storyline boring.”
    • “The story is mediocre, but acceptable.”
    • “The writing, staging, and voice work of the character interactions make storytelling in LOTRO, STO, and GW2 look like puppet shows.”
  • gameplay371 mentions

    The gameplay of Defiance is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its solid shooting mechanics and engaging co-op elements, reminiscent of Borderlands, while others criticize it for being repetitive and grindy. Although the game offers a large open world and a variety of missions, it suffers from technical issues like lag and bugs, and some players feel that the free-to-play model leads to a pay-to-win scenario. Overall, while the gameplay can be enjoyable and immersive, it often lacks depth and variety, leading to a sense of monotony over time.

    • “There's a ton to do, and the gameplay is fun.”
    • “The gameplay is a blast, gunplay works fantastically, environment is pretty and interesting.”
    • “I feel that the overall gameplay of Defiance is extremely polished and fun to play.”
    • “The gameplay itself is boring and lackluster.”
    • “Absolute garbage, gameplay is mundane, it is completely pay to win, grindy as balls and the social aspect of this so-called MMO is nonexistent.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitious and extraordinarily dull.”
  • graphics156 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are decent and visually appealing, they are also somewhat dated and not on par with current standards. Some users appreciate the smooth performance and vibrant environments, especially during major events, while others criticize low-quality character models and graphical glitches. Overall, the visuals are generally considered satisfactory for an MMO, but there is a consensus that improvements could enhance the experience.

    • “Open world fantastic graphics even for a low-end PC.”
    • “Gorgeous graphics and environments, especially during major arkfall events.”
    • “The graphics are awesome, the controls and weapon systems are smooth; I really do recommend this game.”
    • “Also, the graphics are dated (were dated when it came out, but doesn't really affect the fun).”
    • “The graphics are very last gen; I don't care if it's an MMO.”
    • “The first DLC update came with a new PvP map, which has serious graphical glitches (lighting breaks and makes your screen black), invisible walls that look passable, and a few other issues.”
  • stability88 mentions

    The game's stability has been a significant concern among players, with many reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and server issues that detract from the overall experience. Despite some improvements over time, players still encounter frequent lag, crashes, and unresponsive menus, leading to frustration. While some enjoy the gameplay and find it fun despite these issues, the consensus is that the game remains quite buggy and in need of further optimization.

    • “Trion has ruined it, it's buggy, it's laggy, there's no support.”
    • “I've been playing since day 1 and this game still has a bunch of bugs, glitches and it definitely needs its weapons and threat levels balanced properly but the game's biggest problem right now is server stability.”
    • “There were tremendous glitches with the released game that were reported but never fixed from the alpha and beta test.”
  • grinding62 mentions

    The reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is a significant point of contention, with many players finding it excessively repetitive and tedious. While some appreciate the depth of customization and variety in activities, the overall sentiment leans towards grinding being a chore that detracts from the enjoyment of gameplay, especially for those who do not favor this style of progression. A few players noted that the game is less grindy compared to others in its genre, but the majority felt that it still required an overwhelming amount of time and effort for minimal rewards.

    • “Lastly, it isn't that grindy as other games of its type.”
    • “Boring, grindy, repetitive and no matter how many better weapons and gear you get you never feel any stronger... because you aren't any stronger.”
    • “You'll end up doing the same stuff over and over again and that's just gets tedious way too fast.”
    • “But afterwards it offered no content and got really grindy and boring, unless you enjoy farming and doing quests that repeat over and over again then go for it.”
  • monetization34 mentions

    The game's monetization system is heavily criticized for its reliance on microtransactions, which are seen as misleading and excessive, often leading players to spend more than intended. While the game is free-to-play and offers many items through gameplay, the presence of expensive starter packs and a focus on selling rare items creates a perception of a pay-to-win environment. Despite some positive notes on the absence of a subscription fee, the overall sentiment reflects frustration with the monetization practices overshadowing the gameplay experience.

    • “It does have a lot of microtransactions since it's free-to-play, but it's definitely not pay-to-win. You don't need to spend money in the game; you can get a lot of things just by playing story missions and defeating enemies. I even got a cool car for only 30k scrip, so you don't need to spend any real money unless you want loads of rare items and costumes.”
    • “The monetization system (the Arkforge currency needed to keep your weapons functioning at your level) has been balanced out to where the daily income you get for Arkforge is plenty to keep most of your weapons up to date.”
    • “Also, I love how they don't charge a subscription fee or shove microtransactions down your throat, so +1 for that!”
    • “Other than that, the game is primarily about microtransactions.”
    • “Terrible monetization implementation.”
    • “Beyond this, the game is riddled with microtransactions that purposely lead you to believe you're getting special in-game items with promises of 'at least one extremely rare item guaranteed' while using a transitive currency in an attempt to make you spend more than you normally would, leaving you with excess currency that you can't use unless you pay more money and continue the cycle until you come full circle and end with no currency leftover.”
  • replayability28 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it highly enjoyable with various instances and random events that keep the experience fresh, others criticize the lack of character uniqueness and class specialization, which limits the incentive to replay. Many agree that the absence of meaningful differences between races and the reliance on cosmetic unlocks detracts from long-term engagement. Overall, it offers decent replay value, particularly for those who enjoy grinding quests, but falls short for players seeking deeper, varied gameplay experiences.

    • “It's easily the most replayable shooter I've got in my library.”
    • “Fun game, free to play now, and has a good amount of replay value.”
    • “Great game and tons of replayability.”
    • “Falls short with its replayability factor, and the only reason to run dungeons is to obtain unlockable cosmetic gear.”
    • “In short, the lack of character uniqueness, lack of involved character missions, and different classes/races really did hurt the replay value of the game.”
    • “And last, there is no class specialization or specialized class missions, so there is no value in leveling more than one character, which limits replay value.”
  • music22 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising the soundtrack for its intensity and variety, particularly in combat and exploration scenarios, earning ratings around 8 to 8.5 out of 10. However, some players find the music repetitive and annoying over time, suggesting that it can detract from the overall experience, especially when combined with subpar voice acting. Despite these criticisms, the music contributes positively to the gameplay atmosphere, making it enjoyable for extended play sessions.

    • “So the soundtrack, enjoying a game usually has something to do with the soundtrack, with the intense combat music and calm music when exploring the world. Not much else is there to say about the soundtrack other than that it's amazing.”
    • “The great gameplay, pretty graphics (although not so important), and the amazing soundtrack have already made this game my personal favorite MMO of 2013. Anyone who loves third-person shooters and MMOs will love it.”
    • “Music = 8.5/10. There are some good tracks, albeit they can be repeated a bit too much.”
    • “Reccomend playing the game muted, better than listening to the stupid voice acting and pretty bad music... gameplay is good.”
    • “Some characters are terrible, some have terrible voice acting, the alien curse words are plain annoying, and the combat music is insufferable after a while.”
    • “Even though the song is kinda repetitive, the script is not so good; the story is so cliché and the voice acting is lacking.”
  • humor20 mentions

    The humor in the game is often described as quirky and situational, with players finding amusement in the enemy AI's absurd behavior and the occasional bugs that add a comedic touch. While some reviewers note that it may not be as consistently funny as games like Borderlands, the cutscenes and weapon mechanics still provide plenty of laughs. Additionally, the transition to a subscription model is seen as an ironic twist that adds to the game's humor.

    • “The enemy AI is hilarious; literally, I can stand next to a dude and just unload in his face whilst he looks the other way.”
    • “Great game, just like Borderlands but much smoother, and an in-depth story so far (21 hrs logged atm :D). Some missions will be hard, but hey, you gotta love the challenge ;) Weapons are funny being able to blow the enemy up with sticky grenade launchers :D Best $10 I have ever spent so far!”
    • “Occasional missing textures making a rainbow-colored burning barrel or purple glowing 'water' is kinda funny.”
    • “If this is such a sanction, then this is not funny”
  • optimization18 mentions

    The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report solid performance on high-end systems, others experience significant server issues, poor hit registration, and lag, particularly after the transition to free-to-play. Despite ongoing improvements from the developers, many users still encounter frustrating performance problems, especially on older hardware. Overall, the optimization seems to vary widely based on individual setups and the current state of the game's servers.

    • “It's very well optimized, runs a nice solid 144fps on my GTX 1080 and i7 7700k, although unfortunately that's because the player base is so small, so you don't have to worry about framerate.”
    • “The game has come a long way in performance; Trion has worked very hard to mitigate latency and crash-related issues, and it only seems to get progressively better with each update.”
    • “Very well optimized with a huge variety of weaponry.”
    • “The server performance is appalling for a modern game; I've had Korean grind-heavy MMOs that were more stable 20 years ago on dial-up.”
    • “I spent 5 hours fighting bad servers, crappy optimization, poor hit registration, laggy mobs, and all the frustration of a game designed for both consoles and PC at the same time.”
    • “Problems in this launch include an unfriendly UI in some parts (especially the contract feature that plays a major role in gearing) and poorly optimized graphic processing, which creates stuttering on older CPUs by prioritizing superfluous background elements and animations over obstacles, player, and enemy models.”
  • atmosphere10 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its engaging gameplay and atmospheric scenes, while others find it lacking in depth compared to titles like Fallout and Borderlands. Overall, it is described as a blend of sci-fi elements with a social focus, but many feel it falls short in character and story development.

    • “I like this game and atmosphere.”
    • “Good gameplay and atmospheric game scene—really, a very good sense of shooting!”
    • “I'd have to say this game is like a combination of Borderlands, Mass Effect, and Halo... but most like a sci-fi Borderlands with more emphasis on the social atmosphere.”
    • “If you liked Fallout, then you might like this game, but still the plot, landscape, and general atmosphere are all meh.”
    • “It feels a lot like a third-person Borderlands, but minus the atmosphere, characters, and story.”
    • “I'd have to say this game is like a combination of Borderlands, Mass Effect, and Halo, but most like a sci-fi Borderlands with more emphasis on the social atmosphere.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for being open-ended and balanced, allowing players to customize their experience with weapons and armor. While the character design may not be extensive, the gameplay and story are engaging, appealing to those seeking a fun experience within a dedicated community. Overall, the game offers a solid foundation for character progression, despite its smaller player base.

    • “I recommend this game to people who are looking for an interesting game with a dedicated player base, character development, and people who are looking for something that will make their wallets happy.”
    • “Love this game; it is balanced in terms of weapons and armors, and character development is open-ended.”
    • “Fun game, with a smaller community; it might not be huge with character design or community, but the gameplay is fun and the story is interesting.”
    • “I recommend this game to people who are looking for an interesting game with a dedicated player base, but the character development feels lacking.”
    • “While the game has decent location and character design, the character development is quite shallow.”
    • “The character development is open-ended, but it lacks depth and meaningful choices.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting feelings of nostalgia and empowerment through challenging gameplay and unique weaponry. The sense of satisfaction from overcoming difficult challenges and the appreciation for the developers' dedication further enhance the emotional experience. Overall, the game evokes a deep sense of enjoyment and fondness reminiscent of classic gaming experiences.

    • “The guns that you can get your hands on can be incredibly varied; for example, very early on I found a powerful sticky grenade-firing shotgun that made me feel like the Terminator at the end of T2.”
    • “This game's last fight difficulty made me feel nostalgic, as I have not met a game that truly challenged me in a fun way like this since my days with a SNES. I love this game and cannot say enough about its quality dev team who rolls out fixes and actually cares about their players and the game content.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

66% average critic score

Buy Defiance

Play time

93hMedian play time
211hAverage play time
25-380hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 28 analyzed playthroughs

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