Xbox 360

The Club

An adrenaline-fuelled romp that ever shoot-em-up fan must add to their collection!

We’re sure Bizarre could have made a Gears of War style shooter instead, with plot twists and character development, but they didn’t – and kudos to them. What they have done is filled a gap in the current console market we didn’t even know was there. They have made a video game that is an essential purchase for anybody interested in arcade shooters. It’s outstandingly good fun for the first weekend or so that it will take to peek at what it has to offer, and it’ll be outstandingly good fun for the next couple of years when you dip into it from time to time in order to have a breather from Gears of War 5 or some other interactive movie. Overall we think it’s more than value for money. In fact, we think it’s one of the best games so far this year. Well done Bizarre.

All in all, I found The Club to be a refreshing switch from the normal flow of similar shooters, and I welcome Bizarre’s contribution for that. I do wish there was more depth to it, and perhaps it’ll do well enough to bring about a sequel that expands on what’s been done here. It’s a nice start that gets away from the “me too” approach that many others are willing to take. Now let’s see where it goes from here.

As it stands The Club is one of the finest examples of bringing the essence of arcade gaming to modern consoles and a game no adrenaline junkie should pass up.

The Club is great if you’re looking for a good challenge via simple gunplay. It excels in this department, and you’d be wise to check it out if you even remotely liked the Dreamcast. Whether you like arcade-like game mechanics or furious shooting action, there is plenty to keep you coming back for more.

The overall experience also begins to mimic a racing game in that sheer speed is absolutely mandatory for survival, whether you're taking laps on a predetermined route, or tearing toward the heavily guarded finish line. The reason for this is the scoring system that drives every encounter. Rather than simply chalking up frags, every kill is rated based on shot placement, distance, fancy footwork, and more. That figure gets multiplied by your current combination count, which you add to by racking up kills before your killbar meter bleeds out.

A nice change of pace and hopefully the beginning of a new genre, The Club can best be summarized as a hardcore gamer's type of game. Taking the time to perfect runs is a blast and unlike most shooters, it can also be used for short gaming sessions. If you enjoy a good sessions. If you enjoy a good challenge and arcade-like games that empower you with bragging rights, you're right going to love this game's nerve-shattering pressure.

In such a crowded genre it’s great to see Bizarre Creations do things a little differently. The Club may not look that unique in terms of its visual design, but give it a chance and – if you’re anything like us - its high-score ethos will hook you in. Smooth controls, great combo mechanics, a variety of modes and decent level design all combine to create a game that’s about rhythm and flow. A little more vivacity in enemies, animations, environments and set-pieces would have been great, but at the end of the day The Club nails its concept and its gameplay.

I think this is a really fun, and simple minded game. Nothing like a Bioshock in terms of thinking and plot, but more like a 3rd person shooter that's got an arcade feel to it.

The Club is filled with mojo, who doesn’t want lots of guns, lots of bad guys to shoot and excellent rag doll effects to go along with all this. If you’re looking for a fun, super fast paced shooter this game is for you, but if you’re looking for something with a little more depth then maybe consider this a rental. Either way I would suggest renting this game first as it is hit or miss and doesn’t take long to complete.

The bottom line is that as addictively fun as The Club is, it is not for everyone. If you pick up this game looking for a third-person shooter with an engrossing story, just put it back on the shelf. This is for gamers who have that certain twitch in their systems. This is for the gamers who get their kicks from continually challenging themselves to beat their own high scores, and giggle at the marked satisfaction of seeing their names rise in the leaderboards.

If you’re looking for a third person shooter with intense, heart-pounding gameplay, The Club is the perfect game for you. On the other hand, if you like to stroll around, taking in environments and having a relaxing time, avoid The Club at all costs. Frantic, fast-paced action is presented in its best form by Bizarre Creations, who prove they can produce more than just fantastic racing games; incredibly fun arcade shooters as well!

The Club is a game that's misunderstood. Many approach it in the wrong way and dismiss it, but for those who don't expect it to be the next Call of Duty, then there's a treat in-store. It has been a while since aiming for high scores were this fun.

If the game was just for me, I would wholeheartedly recommend it, however there are some game decisions which will narrow the target audience. Rent it first before paying full retail.

The Club offers a great experience for all gamers who are looking for non-stop action while giving fans of old-school shooters something to talk about. The wide supply of modes and levels offers many unique and diverse ways to play the game, and online multiplayer combined with four-player co-op gives The Club a much needed supply of replay value. While the weapon structure lacks depth and some of the sound and visuals flutter at times, The Club is a pure adrenaline rush of fun.

The Club is an excellent arcade game. While it doesn't touch the depth or scope of more complicated shooters, it provides a nostalgic experience for anyone who was raised on Space Invaders. Bizarre's trademark emphasis on score fits well in a shooter model, and the singleplayer mode is addictive enough to keep players coming back for high scores and achievements. The multiplayer mode works well too, especially the inclusion of a split-screen mode - something that is sorely missing in many games these days. Anyone with an appreciation for old school arcade games will have a blast with The Club. Just remember to leave your brain with the doorman.

I have really enjoyed playing The Club as it's very different to what is the norm, it also has a distinct addictive quality despite its simplicity. I played the demo, but didn't really "feel" it at the time; however with the full game and a better understanding of the whole high score flavour, I can appreciate what Bizarre are doing here. I think the high score element will be the game's biggest strength, but also its potential downfall. In an age where gamers expect a story to be told and something more tangible other than a high score table, I wonder if the whole idea will be lost on many gamers? If you are looking for a game which offers fast paced combat and you are of the competitive type, then The Club is most certainly well worth a look. By all means it's not the best game ever created, but it has enough charm and personality to make it a valid, plausible and original attempt at the shooter genre.

The Club is sort of a marmite game. You either love it or you hate it. This is a game that, although there isn't a lot to do, is best spent being played a few hours in a row, perfecting your skill instead of just coming home from a night out and having a quick bash before bed. [Accidental innuendo is great, eh? -Ed] The Club is a fresh change from all the serious games out there and brings you back to the good old days where points mean prizes... I mean everything.

The Club is a classic example of an excellent rental game. Its brutal, rapid pace will wear you out in a hurry, and just when you think you can’t take much more POOF! It’s over. The idea is decent, and it has a cool style matched with some interesting characters, but sadly there isn’t enough time spent fleshing it all out. What’s left is an arcade style shooter that’s fun and done in an afternoon. Multiplayer doesn’t add anything tremendous, and unless you and your buddies love gathering around for some mayhem, trying to one-up each other in high scores, The Club doesn’t possess much in the way of staying power. Rent it, love it intensely for a while, and then move on.

While The Club is one of Sega's best action games in years, it's marred by a lack of depth and repetitive gameplay. If you can get past some of these shortcomings then you will find that The Club is a worthwhile game that tries to do something different with the third-person shooter genre.

Those hooked by The Club's importance on the leader board will not be able to put the game down. Sadly, for the rest of the gaming population, there the game is all about replaying the same levels with the limited variety of weapons and characters repeatedly. It is a great idea for a game, but there is not enough here to warrant a purchase at full price.

Ein Arcarde–Shooter, bei dem die Highscore–Jagd zumindest im Single Player ganz klar im Vordergrund steht, der jedoch mangels Abwechslungsreichtum etwas langatmig daherkommt. Auch die unterschiedlichen Charaktere sind recht passabel ausgefallen und man wird schnell den einen oder anderen Favoriten für sich herausgepickt haben, mit dem man sich ins Abenteuer stürzt. Ein Abenteuer, welches zwar auf Grund der Highscore–Jagd öfters in Angriff genommen werden kann, jedoch auf Grund zahlreicher Unzulänglichkeiten nicht werden muss. Was hier ganz klar vermisst wird, ist Abwechslungsreichtum – sowohl was die Präsentation als auch was die Umsetzung sowie die Technik angeht. Da sich die Xbox 360 Version eigentlich nicht von der PS3 Version unterscheidet, gibt’s dem Kommentar meines Kollegen an dieser Stelle kaum noch etwas hinzuzufügen.

The Club is a fresh take on the shooter. It has a core concept that is truly engaging; it just feels as if it needs to be fleshed out a bit more. The single player Tournament mode is an absolute blast that will keep you occupied for a few hours. Unfortunately, the multiplayer features, though varied, are poorly executed. That means there isn't a whole lot of replay-ability in the title. After the first few days with the game, you'll soon grow tired of it. That's why I suggest picking it up on the cheap and waiting for a sequel to do away with some of the less refined aspects.

The Club is one of those games that you are really going to fall in love with, or discard fairly quickly. It makes it difficult to score because of that, so you’ll have to draw your own conclusions after trying it out. Give it a chance however, because any game that innovates deserves respect and this one definitely falls in that category. I’m off to try and get that head shot now.

The Club is a little bit like discovering some new food shop where on the first visit, everything rocks. At first you love it; it's new, different and you're happy to support it with your time, effort and money. Well, to be truthful, you'll probably tire of The Club long before you'd get sick of some new cool restaurant as the variety on offer here in this game is even more limiting, but we hope you see the point we're trying to awkwardly make. A few years ago another development studio known for their racing games tried their hand at a first person shooter, (Black) and it kicked arse so it's a bit sad to see how this one ended up. Ultimately The Club is worth a weekend rental, and good for one play through, but nothing really more.

It's the weak multiplayer that keeps us from recommending The Club with full enthusiasm. The single-player portion of the game is entertaining, but the experience will be brief if you're not the type to obsess over high scores. If you're looking for much more than a few hours of fun single-player target shooting, you'll probably not want to pay the steep fee this club charges for membership.

If you get into The Club, you'll find an arcade shooter with a twist that can be played obsessively in search of high scores. I didn't find the hook all that appealing and felt left with a glorified shooting gallery. The idea is sound. There just isn't much to be excited about in the final product.

Man könnte meinen, dass The Club den Versuch macht, eine neue Richtung im Shooter-Genre zu machen, allerdings kann das Spielprinzip letztendlich nicht überzeugen. Dazu wird einfach zu wenig Abwechslung geboten. In Zeiten von Shootern mit epischer Story und vielseitigem Gameplay rechtfertigen die immer gleichen Highscore-Runs durch die langweilig modellierten und strukturierten Level keinen Vollpreis. Dazu ist The Club technisch nur Mittelmaß. Abschließend bleibt festzuhalten, dass Shooter-Freunde deutlich bessere Alternativen haben. Bizarre Creations ist zu raten Zeit und Geld lieber ins nächste Project Gotham Racing zu investieren.

The Club has a lot of fresh ideas but its lack of refinement in many key areas drags it down a notch. The gameplay is simple to learn, despite the spotty controls, but incredibly difficult to master which either gives the title a degree of longevity if you’re willing to learn its nuances or it’ll cause you to shelve it all together in frustration. With the multiplayer side as underwhelming as it is, and it’s a missed opportunity because the game’s design screams for great multiplayer support, The Club is easy to recommend as a rental to see if it clicks for you, but it’s tough to go any higher than that.

In short, The Club may fill the gap if you're waiting for "more serious" titles to hit the market. Although it's always nice to see developers facing challenges and taking their talents across new ground, in Bizarre's case, it's safe to say they're far better off making racers. Nice try, guys, but it appears you're not quite there yet.

On est toujours ennuyé quand on en vient à sortir ce genre de phrase dans un test mais il se trouve qu'elle s'applique particulièrement bien à The Club : il faut aimer. Voilà, débrouillez-vous avec ça. Pas très beau, ni vraiment laid, le jeu de Bizarre Creations propose aux joueurs de répéter encore et encore des niveaux jusqu'à les connaître par coeur et réaliser un sans-faute, seule façon de marquer les plus hauts scores et de relever les défis des niveaux de difficulté les plus élevés. Vous êtes prévenu, si vous n'êtes pas du genre à jouer à la borne Pac-Man pendant 54 jours pour battre monsieur AAA, The Club va sévèrement vous gonfler. Pour le reste, difficile tout de même de ne pas lui reprocher une certaine paresse dans le nombre de cartes et un manque de modes de jeu vraiment différents.

The Club does get points for trying to do something a little different with tired shooter conventions -- at the very least, this isn't the same space-marine-infested crap you've played a thousand times before. But it's also proof that just because something works in one genre doesn't mean it belongs in another. I can't recommend the weak single-player mode, but the multiplayer left me surprisingly satisfied.

"The Club" é um jogo que parece ter sido criado para atender apenas os saudosistas, que curtiam competir com os amigos pelo maior placar, e os jogadores obcecados por ação e determinados a aperfeiçoar suas habilidades. Dentro desta proposta, ele funciona de maneira exemplar. Contudo, para uma audiência mais ampla, ele perde a força por seu estilo repetitivo e a falta de um maior desenvolvimento tanto de sua apresentação quanto de sua narrativa.

I hate to criticise an attempt at originality in the shooter genre, but The Club constantly feels like a mish-mash of promising ideas forced together for release; from the Mortal-Kombat inspired contestant roster and guttural “Fight!” before each level, through the racing-style championship grid progression, via every unoriginal third person shooter of the last 10 years. Whilst never doing anything particularly badly, these gaming elements never feel coherent, and certainly don’t combine to form the gaming classic that Sega are clearly hoping for. Add a point if you’re going to take it online or if you harbour an obsession with beating your own high score; I won’t and I don’t, so I’m off to play something else.

As much as the game attempts to attach some sort of story to the single-player game, it doesn’t quite fit. You get tiny little cinematic snippets here and there, but it never coheres into anything like an actual story. The game looks great, and even in the multiplayer game, everything runs smoothly. But I can’t shake the feeling that somewhere there’s a fantastic single-player adventure in The Club. The single-player modes are like a fast, fun, wild rollercoaster, but I’m not running back to get in line and ride it all over again.

The Club's greatest flaw is that it thinks it's a whole lot more revolutionary than it actually is. Despite the game's claims to the contrary, there's nothing new about any of this. Grading shots for score is old as the hills, and even Max Payne had a mode where levels had to be completed within a certain time, and killing opponents rewarded players with precious seconds. That's the central problem here. The utter lack of a story, the completely generic nature of the enemies, the focus on repetition—they make the whole game feel like the kind of bonus game that gets unlocked after a real game has been completed. Frankly, if this were a particularly extensive set of time trials and challenges that I could go back to after playing the real game, I would be ecstatic. As a complete product, though, it's just too shallow and repetitive to be any good.