Over the course of the next few months, we at Destructoid are aiming to steadily improve the review content of our kick-arse Web site. As purveyors of brutally honest videogame reviews and the standard bearers for a true ten point scale, we plan to make sure that Destructoid becomes a review focal point for both gamers and the games industry.
As part of the review team's efforts to keep a spotlight on this expanding department of Destructoid, I'm firing up a weekly little chat with you, the readers, to discuss all the latest happenings, our current reviews, the articles we have in the pipeline, and a number of new features we shall be installing.
I welcome you to share your views and promise we'll take them on board. Since I've taken a more hands-on role in the production of review content, I've heard a lot of people making suggestions and requests for our output. Please share any you have and use the following thread to talk about this sometimes controversial, amusingly volatile area of our work. I love videogame reviewing and want to make sure everyone loves when we do it.
After the jump, you'll get a round up of our latest reviews, plus a preview look at what we have coming in the pipeline. Also, I will vaguely hint at awesome things without you having the first clue what I am talking about.
Current Reviews:
Opoona (Wii): Johnathan Holmes gets one hand on Koei's quirky RPG.
Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword (DS): Nick Gaidens some Ninja as Ryu goes portable.
Warrior Orochi (PSP): How well does this hack n' slash mash up do on the PSP? Well, I'm reviewing it, so it doesn't take a genius to guess.
Wild Arms XF (PSP): We've been rocking our PSPs lately -- and why shouldn't we? It's a great system if you forget the first year or two of its life. Dale takes another portable RPG for a test drive.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP): The only reason Final Fantasy VII is a subtitle instead of Crisis Core is because Square-Enix is pretentious. Colette liked the game well enough, however.
Echochrome (PSN, PSP): Told you we've been showing the PSP some love. Our man in Japan, Brad Rice, brings us this review.
Dark Sector (Xbox 360, PS3): When I said Dark Sector might be decent, Florian Whatever-his-name-is laughed at me and called my intelligence into question. Well, Nick's review says the game IS decent, so Florian can go die in a swamp. I win!
Coming Soon:
Sega Superstars Tennis: Sega finally started sending us stuff, so we have a wad of Sega games up for review this coming week. I've given this one a quick spin already and the First Jimpressions are actually somewhat surprisingly good.
Viking: Battle for Asgard: Many of you will know I've been trying to make Sega give this to me for a while. I succeeded! Review coming soon.
Universe at War: Rounding out our Sega reviews is this interesting looking strategy game in which humans are mere distractions. I've been looking forward to giving it a whirl, and we'll let you know how it turns out.
Hot Shots Golf: Golf is only good when combined with heat and shooting, I hear.
World Heroes Anthology: 2D fighting nostalgia from SNK.
Sam and Max 205: More episodic glory from the freelance police. Take a wild guess who's writing lead on this.
Baroque: It came from Japan! Literally, thanks to Brad.
Ikaruga: I am so happy for Topher right now. This game is considered just too special to have the one review on Retroforce Go. We'll have a written review up soon.
MLB 08: The Show: Samit wondered if it was too late to review this. We say NEVER!
Features:
In the future, our reviews are going to be bolstered by some brand new features. Niero has shared some of the plans with me and there are a fair few interesting new toys that will be implemented, some of which will really help out those who might not always agree with our opinions. That's all I am going to say on that matter, but soon you'll get the skinny on some of our new plans.
That's it for this week. Thank you for your support and opinions as we continue to strengthen our Destructoid reviews.
Contest:
5:14 PM on 04.07.2008
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I should make a habit of finishing my sentences.
Also, why do I get the feeling more pics of you in that hot-tub will be showing up over the coming days?
Viking failed.
No! I love the night life! I love to boogie, on the disco aaat night, oh yeah!
I may yet someday hope to attain this thing you call 'class'.. but until then, my schooling and training will continue. lol
Especially looking forward to the Baroque review, as ATLAS RPGs make my pants turgid with joy.
And for the sake of saying I already like the reviews, all are well written and talk about the things I look for.
I'm one of those who are happy with EGM/1up's switch to the grading system, 'cause I think the ten-point scale is almost a joke of itself as it's almost the consensus that it's a 7-10 scale nowadays; superlative, big numbers used to wow readers and please egotistical third-party supporters of the outlet.
But like I said, good luck to Destructoid and hopefully your attempts will be successful.
Barring that, why would you bother wanting to be on Metacritic at all, considering that, in spite the coincidence of both grade scales using numbers, being entirely incompatible?
A little suggestion, which may be ignored for it is for the lazy. Mini reviews, a tiny cut down version of the original review for those who don't have time to read the full.
Same deal with the average review thing from readers. That's a little more complicated, but your exact ideas, among others, are being worked on.
I would love to see an instant messeage type thing implamented where you hop on and join some community members in an online chat via voice or traditional text:)
Let's see those tits!
I am quite happy with the state of Destructoid reviews and the direction they are heading. Also, the sepia tone you've added to that image is classy!
Also it looks like you forgot your top hat.
...
I so regret not asking for time off to go to cancun now. not that I would of gotten time off.
Don't worry about it, in the end pandering to the lowest common denominator ends up the same every time, you wind up with shit no one cares about.
I know you guys are trying expand, and accessibility and hits help, so maybe thats unrealistic, but I think it would be a better system.
...Maybe that's why you're fully clothed...
At least that's my feedback, I know the two person thing might not always be feasable.