Crimson Alliance Reviews

Yet another batch of reviews for Certain Affinity’s Crimson Alliance popped up today, and while it’s overall pretty favorable, it seems like there’s a common sentiment of disappointment towards the title’s lack of complexity and customization. First in line is GamePro, 4/5.

Still, Crimson could stand to be a little more robust and varied. Its comparatively paltry three classes beg for DLC, as does its four hour campaign; similarly, there are only a few enemy types per themed map, and the game doesn’t seem to rebalance unit numbers for multiple players. Perhaps next time Certain Affinity should concentrate just a hair less on arcade simplicity; until then this is still a worthy note in a crowded genre.

Metro, 6/10.

Dungeon crawlers aren’t exactly the deepest of games at the best of times and this really does cut the concept down to the bare bone, with even the collection of loot streamlined as much as possible.

That makes it a great game to introduce newcomers to the genre though, especially via the co-op. Crimson Alliance may not be a deep or complex game but despite its overfamiliarity it is a lot of fun, no matter how much you pay to play it.

Cheap Arse Gamer, 3/5.

The pricing model for Crimson Alliance is atypical for what we’ve come to know for Xbox Live Arcade games. The game itself is free, but in order to actually play the full game you either need to buy a single character type for $10 or plunk down $15 to have access to all three protagonists. You are also able to buy in-game currency, but we got through the game just fine without shelling out any real-world money. (Got through the game) is indicative of my feelings for the game. I had a good enough time hacking and slashing through dungeons in co-op with my wife, but there’s little to set Crimson Alliance apart from others in the genre.

ZTGD, 8.0/10.

Crimson Alliance never tries to be something it is not, and I actually enjoyed that part of it. The game is not as deep as other games like it, and the levels are fairly straightforward. The combat is smooth and the visuals are actually pretty good. The story is hit and miss with some rather amateur voice work and a typically clichéd story. Still, I had a great time with the game and recommend everyone at least give the demo a whirl. If you can live without the immense customization and progression that most of these games pack in you, will find something more akin to a modern day Gauntlet, and to be honest, sometimes that is all we really need.

The Controller Online, 7/10.

If you and your friends are looking for a fun co-op game to hold you over until some of the big fall releases this is your game. Beware of unsolvable puzzles if you plan to play this game solo or a bit of frustration if you plan to play with the general public.