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I GIVE THIS POST A 10.5!!!!
Seriously, though, you're right. I don't have a problem with ratings systems, per se, but reviews that don't rely on them or little bullet point lists are usually more informative and honest. But people want that little badge on whatever they're playing. If someone writes 5 paragraphs on how great GTA4 is, but doesn't quantify it with a little icon (GOLD AWARD, PERFECT 10, 8 STARS!), for some reason people feel like it's not a real review.
Seriously, though, you're right. I don't have a problem with ratings systems, per se, but reviews that don't rely on them or little bullet point lists are usually more informative and honest. But people want that little badge on whatever they're playing. If someone writes 5 paragraphs on how great GTA4 is, but doesn't quantify it with a little icon (GOLD AWARD, PERFECT 10, 8 STARS!), for some reason people feel like it's not a real review.
I'll admit, I skimmed your article.
But I'm personally glad we don't live in an age where reviewers hold back 10s out of trepidation or questioning themselves down from their excitement for something they feel is done to a point of excellent.
Also, if we call the 10 point scale into question by virtue of comparing 10 2 decades ago to a 10 today . . . I think that's silly. A review lives in its own age, and can't be held accountable for things to come.
augh, malformed thought. I'm going with it.
But I'm personally glad we don't live in an age where reviewers hold back 10s out of trepidation or questioning themselves down from their excitement for something they feel is done to a point of excellent.
Also, if we call the 10 point scale into question by virtue of comparing 10 2 decades ago to a 10 today . . . I think that's silly. A review lives in its own age, and can't be held accountable for things to come.
augh, malformed thought. I'm going with it.
I checked my fridge and it is not full of beer.
I think part of this is that we've never seen this many of the top AAA franchises come out in such short of a time. In just a year we've gotten a new Halo, Mario, Smash, GTA, and soon Metal Gear. And that's not even counting all the countless other great games in this time. The bar has definitely been raised in the past year. As far as reviews I'm not sure how the system could be changed, aside from not giving a score.
I think part of this is that we've never seen this many of the top AAA franchises come out in such short of a time. In just a year we've gotten a new Halo, Mario, Smash, GTA, and soon Metal Gear. And that's not even counting all the countless other great games in this time. The bar has definitely been raised in the past year. As far as reviews I'm not sure how the system could be changed, aside from not giving a score.
Every review thats written is generally opinionated and therefore flawed. A group of reviewers will generally have different scores for games.
For example, I certainly don't think Halo 3 or GTA deserve the supposedly coveted 10/10 scores, the latter getting a 8.5 from me.
Still a very good read, some good points raised
For example, I certainly don't think Halo 3 or GTA deserve the supposedly coveted 10/10 scores, the latter getting a 8.5 from me.
Still a very good read, some good points raised
I'VE SAID IT ONCE, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. NUMBER SCORES ARE THE PERFECT WAY TO DESCRIBE A GAME. THEY COMPLETELY INFLUENCE MY PURCHASING DECISISONS
@ F Wipple: I agree, there have been a lot of big names released lately. But that in itself is interesting. We now have so many great franchises that we're literally swamped with them. I don't have any answer to most of the questions I've raised (hence, putting it to the dtoid collective) but I do like hearing people's thoughts.
This is why Gamespot was the best site to find game review scores from. Their review system was systematically designed to make it extremely difficult to get a perfect score: only 5 games in the 11 year history of the website have managed to snag the perfect 10.
.....Though you probably shouldn't go there anymore. Some stuff went down last November. Take it from me....
.....Though you probably shouldn't go there anymore. Some stuff went down last November. Take it from me....
All the franchises you mentioned are put on a pedestal, they are esentially untochable no matter how good or bad the games are.
I personally think the San Andreas is still the best GTA and found GTA IV to be underwhelming at best and mediocre at worst, hell I traded it today for Blue Dragon, Bioshock and Assasins Creed.
Simply put, reviews can't be trusted anymore, I've seen a reviewer give a high score to something, let's say RE4 then give a low score to a game that shares the same flaws that RE4 had. Course you can read and re-read the RE4 review as many times as you want, you'll never see a mention of the flaws I speak off.
Dare I say it? If the magazine or site doesn't get a pay-off, they scrutinize the game like crazy and fault it for every tiny thing but if its some big company then no, its ridiculous.
I personally think the San Andreas is still the best GTA and found GTA IV to be underwhelming at best and mediocre at worst, hell I traded it today for Blue Dragon, Bioshock and Assasins Creed.
Simply put, reviews can't be trusted anymore, I've seen a reviewer give a high score to something, let's say RE4 then give a low score to a game that shares the same flaws that RE4 had. Course you can read and re-read the RE4 review as many times as you want, you'll never see a mention of the flaws I speak off.
Dare I say it? If the magazine or site doesn't get a pay-off, they scrutinize the game like crazy and fault it for every tiny thing but if its some big company then no, its ridiculous.
Great read, you raise interesting points but I agree with Tubatic more or less. Game scores can't be compared in a vacuum. The day and age they were written needs to be accounted for.
Also, just to stoke Kyousuke Nanbu's proverbial fire, I think GTA: SA is the WORST (3D) GTA game, with the series hitting it's style, story, and entertainment pinnacle(s) with Vice City.
Thus far I like IV, but the fact they took so much gameplay and so many different mechanics OUT of the game it's hard to justify the existence of the more fleshed out story that was put IN instead. I'd take a shittier story in exchange for more robust gameplay any day of the week. I played through Gears of War like most 360 owners, so I mean, shit... clearly story isn't THAT important to me if I'm having fun.
Also, just to stoke Kyousuke Nanbu's proverbial fire, I think GTA: SA is the WORST (3D) GTA game, with the series hitting it's style, story, and entertainment pinnacle(s) with Vice City.
Thus far I like IV, but the fact they took so much gameplay and so many different mechanics OUT of the game it's hard to justify the existence of the more fleshed out story that was put IN instead. I'd take a shittier story in exchange for more robust gameplay any day of the week. I played through Gears of War like most 360 owners, so I mean, shit... clearly story isn't THAT important to me if I'm having fun.
(That was not to imply GoW has more robust gameplay than GTA:IV, only to make a point that as long as the gameplay is fun and engaging in context, the story can often take a backseat for me. Thus far IV's gameplay is not nearly as fun or exciting as other iterations because it's become so limited. So, don't jump on me for that, I apologize for any potential confusion.)
I really dug this, and I think it hints at the bigger debate over what the role of the games media should be. Are they cheerleaders for the industry, fighting to get us respect? Or are they indpendent and interested only in the merit of each game?
Also, I think we've been seing so many "ZOMG 11/5" review scores as a natural progression with the art of the 3D medium right now; I think 3D is starting to be perfected in certain circumstances (Mostly anyway) and now we're hitting on new focuses rather than the old "How do we work the camera" question?
Also, I think we've been seing so many "ZOMG 11/5" review scores as a natural progression with the art of the 3D medium right now; I think 3D is starting to be perfected in certain circumstances (Mostly anyway) and now we're hitting on new focuses rather than the old "How do we work the camera" question?
Yeah, and one of the few things Gamespot has done right recently is change the review system so that it's based on merits, or achievements, if you will, rather than a number based score.
