Homefront

Amazing campaign that deals with morals as well as the reality of war and the multiplayer just adds to the games greatness, with 32 player online capability inviting a new kind of first-person shooter into the world of gaming.

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"Homefront is a warfare shooter game with both single-player and multi-player modes. The story, written by John Milius, takes place in 2027 where a fallen America is occupied by the Greater Korean Republic. The game boasts fantastic visuals and a spectacular soundtrack, but lacks optimization and is full of bugs. The single-player campaign is emotionally gripping and wholesome, but not very replayable."

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Reviews

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,760 reviews

story731 positive mentions

stability74 negative mentions

Unique and engaging story premise about a North Korean occupation of the USA.
Decent graphics and sound design for its time, creating an immersive atmosphere.
Fun gameplay mechanics with a variety of weapons and some interesting set pieces.

Extremely short campaign, averaging around 3-5 hours of playtime.
Poor AI behavior, both friendly and enemy, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Linear level design with scripted events that limit player agency and exploration.

story
2,164 mentions
34 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The story of *Homefront* presents a unique premise where North Korea invades the United States, leading to a resistance movement. While the concept is intriguing and the narrative includes emotional moments, many players find the execution lacking due to its brevity (around 4-5 hours) and underdeveloped characters, resulting in a disjointed experience that fails to fully engage. Overall, the story is seen as a highlight of the game, but it suffers from pacing issues and a lack of depth, leaving players wanting more.
- “The story paints a vivid picture of a nation under siege, where ordinary citizens rise up to fight against overwhelming odds in a desperate struggle for freedom.”
- “From the opening moments to the heart-pounding conclusion, the story of Homefront is a rollercoaster ride of emotion and intensity.”
- “The storyline is rich, compelling, and filled with unexpected twists that kept me on the edge of my seat.”
- “The story is very forgettable.”
- “The story is short but sweet.”
- “The story also makes no sense, has terrible pacing, as you would expect from a 3 hour campaign, and is tonally all over the place.”
gameplay
707 mentions
28 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Homefront* has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its similarities to the *Call of Duty* series but criticizing it for being generic and lacking innovation. While some appreciated the shooting mechanics and set-piece moments, others found the AI frustrating, the campaign too short (around 4-5 hours), and the overall experience uninspired and linear. Despite its engaging story and atmosphere, the gameplay often feels dated and fails to stand out in a crowded genre.
- “The gameplay keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time, whether you're fighting fierce firefights or working with your fellow rebels to outwit the enemy.”
- “In conclusion, Homefront is a masterfully crafted experience that seamlessly blends a gripping narrative with immersive gameplay.”
- “The meticulously crafted environments not only serve as a backdrop for the unfolding drama but also provide a dynamic playground for engaging gameplay.”
- “Shooting mechanics are quite dated even for its time.”
- “Really, the only overtly bad thing about the gameplay is that the enemy AI tends to go from rock stupid to aimbot at a moment's notice, and of course the curse of every 'modern' military shooter, the numerous times you have to wait around for your AI buddies to either open a door or move the constantly recycled refrigerator model in order to advance to the next section.”
- “The gameplay itself felt clunky, and the gun sounds were repetitive and unimpressive.”
graphics
551 mentions
38 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, released in 2011, are generally considered decent for its time, with some reviewers noting that they hold up better than expected despite showing signs of age. While the visuals contribute to an immersive atmosphere, many players find them outdated compared to contemporary titles, with some describing them as reminiscent of earlier games like Call of Duty. Overall, the graphics are seen as a mixed bag, with moments of impressive detail overshadowed by inconsistencies and technical issues.
- “The graphics and attention to detail in Homefront are nothing short of impressive.”
- “The game's visuals contribute significantly to the immersive atmosphere, drawing players into a world that feels both haunting and beautiful in its own way.”
- “It's a must-play for everybody searching for an amazing gaming experience because of its gripping plot, compelling gameplay, and breathtaking graphics.”
- “The graphics are awful and the game running very lag.”
- “The writing is bad, the gameplay is clunky, and the graphics weren't even all that good for the time it was released.”
- “The graphics look like a badly done PS2 game circa 2005, and the combat is so boring and unrealistic you'll lose interest within five or ten minutes.”
emotional
97 mentions
90 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players feeling deeply invested in the characters and narrative, praising the soundtrack and impactful moments that evoke strong feelings. However, many others criticized the lack of emotional connection to the characters, citing shallow storytelling and forced emotional scenes that failed to resonate. Overall, while the game attempts to deliver an emotionally charged experience, its effectiveness varies significantly among players.
- “As a player, I found myself emotionally invested in their journeys, rooting for them every step of the way.”
- “The soundtrack complements the narrative perfectly, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments and adding to the overall cinematic feel of the game.”
- “The single player is gut-wrenching, and I haven't felt an emotional roller coaster like this in any game before.”
- “Bad controls, unbelievably boring story, textbook characters about as deep as a puddle.”
- “Bad aiming mechanics, bullet-sponge enemies, bland characters, painfully short and boring story coupled with bad NPC collisions, laggy world interactions, and horrible level design proved to make this game unbearable as the story progressed; even more when I found out the multiplayer was deserted.”
- “Boring storyline, uncomfortable weapons, AI sometimes seems like a dumbass.”
stability
84 mentions
10 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
88 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, leading to a frustrating experience for many players. While some users noted that the shooting mechanics are smooth and the game runs well on high-end systems, the overall stability is marred by frequent freezes, AI issues, and poorly scripted levels. Despite its potential, the game's technical shortcomings significantly detract from its enjoyment.
- “The shooting mechanics work well and the game is relatively bug free.”
- “That being said, the animations are not buggy and are actually really smooth and consistent.”
- “The game runs great, but there are some times that the FPS drops to around 25, but this is only for about one second or less.”
- “I encountered multiple glitches as well, everything from seeing AI glitch out to falling through the map and dying, making me reset a whole section.”
- “The ideas for a great game are here, but the thing is a rushed mess that is buggy on even high-end systems.”
- “This game has numerous bugs and glitches.”
music
78 mentions
28 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack for its emotional depth and cinematic quality, particularly during key moments, while others find it generic and forgettable. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to enhance the narrative, though some note that its impact is most felt towards the end of the game. Overall, while the music is considered decent and well-composed, it lacks memorability and can feel repetitive during gameplay.
- “The soundtrack complements the narrative perfectly, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments and adding to the overall cinematic feel of the game.”
- “Despite not having household names for it, the team manages to produce a heart-pumping soundtrack with an excellent combination of rock, epic orchestra, and ambient sounds.”
- “The sounds/music in this game are epic and definitely get you pumped to be playing the game.”
- “The music is unbelievably generic.”
- “The music was forgettable but appropriate.”
- “- audio: weapons sound fake, battle music is bland, this is not the game's strong point.”
atmosphere
56 mentions
57 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique portrayal of a war-torn, post-apocalyptic setting, enhanced by impressive visuals and emotional depth. Players appreciate the immersive world-building, which evokes a sense of loss and human suffering, although some feel that the campaign's brevity detracts from the overall experience. While the atmosphere is generally considered a standout feature, opinions vary on its ability to maintain engagement throughout the gameplay.
- “The game's visuals contribute significantly to the immersive atmosphere, drawing players into a world that feels both haunting and beautiful in its own way.”
- “The world building and atmosphere in this game are unbelievably good.”
- “Emotionally charged and visually stunning, this gritty and hard-hitting shooter is unique in that it focuses on the story and atmosphere more than groundbreaking gameplay.”
- “If the atmosphere is right at the beginning of the game, the campaign degenerates into a Call of Duty clone, especially towards the end.”
- “This game had the potential to thrive with the atmosphere it built that I had never thought was going to be realized.”
- “Ancient graphics, clipping issues, vocal samples out of sync with lips, cut-offs on voice clips, and a lack of map design contribute to an atmosphere created in the style of a mediocre Steven Seagal movie.”
optimization
54 mentions
15 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
41 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates even on modern hardware. While some players noted that it runs smoothly at times, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, particularly on PC, with complaints about unskippable cutscenes and outdated graphics. Comparisons to other titles running on the same engine highlight its lack of polish and efficiency, leading to a frustrating experience for many players.
- “The game runs smoothly overall.”
- “This game is optimized muuuuch better for PC than I thought it would be.”
- “Performance is not an issue on modern hardware; in fact, your Fitbit or Apple Watch could easily run the game without any hiccups.”
- “The game is poorly optimized, and the game mechanics is something that can easily make you cry.”
- “The game is the most poorly-optimized garbage I've ever played in my life.”
- “Horrible, awful, the optimization is garbage, game is not smooth.”
humor
54 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional hilarity and heavy-handed satire, often poking fun at its own absurdity and the geopolitical context it portrays. Players find the dialogue and character interactions to be predictably ridiculous, with moments of dark comedy that highlight the game's over-the-top scenarios. While some appreciate the comedic elements, others feel the humor can be annoying or detracts from the overall experience, leading to a mixed reception regarding its effectiveness.
- “It's downright hilarious, isn't it?!”
- “The npcs are laughable, the dialogue is genuinely hilarious in how stupid it is and you can almost predict word for word everything the gruff resistance members are going to say.”
- “It's a dumb, fun, 'murica f*** yeah cinematic set piece shooter that gets unintentionally hilarious when it attempts to be serious.”
replayability
42 mentions
10 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is criticized for its minimal replayability, with many players noting that the short single-player campaign and lack of repeatable missions significantly diminish the incentive to play again. While some achievement hunters may find limited reasons to revisit the game, the consensus is that it offers little value beyond the initial playthrough, making it hard to justify a higher price point.
- “The quality of the single player campaign is awesome in that it has definite replay value as when you die it makes you want to play that section of the game again and do it with eventually next to no deaths or no deaths next time.”
- “Beat the entire game in one six hour play session but it was a blast, not too much replay value, but I'll be replaying for the Iron Man and harder mode achievements.”
- “Classic 360 game, replay value is kinda butt unless you replay it like every 5 years.”
- “At its normal price of $20, it's a complete ripoff. I beat the game in about 3 hours and don't see much replay value that will make me go back to play it.”
- “The single player campaign is painfully short with very little replay value, and although the engine is serviceable, I never really felt drawn into the action. As a result, it doesn't really stand out as a title to play multiplayer.”
- “With a short campaign experience devoid of replayability and a relatively empty multiplayer, I do not recommend Homefront.”
monetization
30 mentions
0 % positive mentions
7 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players feeling that it relies heavily on intrusive in-game advertisements, detracting from the overall experience. Reviewers describe the game as feeling rushed and like a "cash grab," with the presence of real-world ads breaking immersion and contributing to a sense of disconnection from the gameplay. Despite some engaging mechanics, the overwhelming focus on monetization has left players disappointed and frustrated.
- “The whole game feels rushed and thrown together for a quick cash grab on a unique idea.”
- “Almost everything about this game screams 'rushed cash grab.' Don't bother with it.”
- “Starting off with the obvious flaws this game has: the single-player campaign is short, it is plagued with in-game advertising for many early sections, many of the animations are stuttery, and a lot of the combat feels like a generic COD clone.”
grinding
26 mentions
8 % positive mentions
15 % neutral mentions
77 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and frustrating, with players feeling that it detracts from the overall experience. Many reviews highlight the need for excessive grinding, particularly in the single-player campaign, which is described as boring and overly scripted. While some players find camaraderie in grinding for achievements in multiplayer, the general consensus is that the game suffers from poor pacing and a lack of engaging content.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The chapter 1 and 2 are meh, the chapter 3 is fun, the rest is just tedious.”
- “Bland, grindy, frustrating and ruined by its own pacing.”
- “As far as the single player campaign goes; it's very tedious and every time you die it will feel like a cheap and random death.”
character development
18 mentions
11 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many reviewers noting that the short gameplay duration (around four hours) limits any meaningful character arcs or backstory. While there are fleeting moments of character growth, they are overshadowed by poor design and storytelling, leaving players feeling disconnected from the experience. Overall, the consensus is that character development is minimal and fails to enhance the gameplay.
- “Short but satisfying shooter with a good backstory, interesting character development, and a lot of action.”
- “Character development and atmosphere created in the style of a mediocre Steven Seagal movie.”
- “The lack of depth in character development and design left me feeling disconnected from the gameplay experience.”
- “You will beat the game in 4 hours or less and it's real short with no real character development or history.”
- “In the story dialogues, their roles and mutual relations are quickly confirmed, though there are few moments when they appear to go through mental changes and some minor character development. However, due to the story being very short, we can’t really see how far those changes would extend in terms of storytelling.”