Crimsonland
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews for Crimsonland
Crimsonland's shooting is repetitive, yet addictive, especially when you're keeping an eye on the online leaderboards.
Simple and proud, 10tons' retro shooter offers large-scale murderisation for you and some friends - just don't expect much of a looker when the bloodlust wears off.
With fun gameplay, interesting combat tactics, and cool weapons, Crimsonland almost elevates itself above its exceptionally boring presentation
Progressing the twin stick shooter genre is no easy task, and Crimsonland makes a mechanically valiant if visually lethargic attempt. There are the foundations of a great game here - the moment to moment gameplay is a basic yet guilty pleasure of relentless, gratuitous violence, and the perk system and weapons within a level are consistently and immensely rewarding to use. While the action is ludicrous, fun, dumb and obnoxiously brash, the game is let down by its bland presentation, repetitive and uninspired quest mode and non-existent level design. It hides what is, at its core, an addictive and sadistically entertaining experience. It will make you realise how awesome it would be to have something like Dead Nation or even DOOM on the system. Oh, wait...
Crimsonland isn't a game that's out to change the world — it's a simple shooter that gets the job done and does it well. With the exception of there being no online co-op, I don't have any major complaints about this game. If you're into super violent twin stick shooters then this is a game you should try out.
In its current state the game should have been a £1.99 PlayStation Mobile title, not a £7.99 PlayStation 4 game. The title is coming to PS Vita this week and will be cross-buy but not cross save, and is certainly more suited to short bursts of gaming on a bus.
If you like retro shooters and relax by blowing stuff up, Crimsonland is an easy way to spend a few afternoons as long as you don't expect anything groundbreaking. Some of you may want to stay away unless you have constant access to couch co-op, as it can overstay its welcome after every mission is said and done.
Crimsonland is a fun game to sit down with two or more players while trying to compete for a spot on the leaderboards, but it ultimately feels more like a distraction itself, than a twin-stick murderfest without distractions. Even destroying hoards of spiders, zombies, lizard people, and aliens can get a little bit old when there's not much more to the fight than cookie-cutter enemies, random weapon spawns, and a blood spattered field. Perhaps this will all be better suited when it releases on the Vita.
