Do reviews affect your opinions?
- Thread starter WhyBotherToTry
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I have some trusted review sources, well, pretty much PC PowerPlay (I used to read Commodore PowerPlay too). They are good informative reviewers. I can generally tell from their reviews if the game will be something I'm interested in or not. The reviews inform and entertain, but they don't influence my opinion, just my purchases. It's hard to tell if reviews have made me more critical of games or not as I've been reading game reviews for over twenty five years. Anyone else remember Zzap!64?
Depends on the review. If they spell out a reason that is something I like or dislike about a game, that can completely change my view of the game and get me interested in it.
Zero Punctuation is what initially brought me here, but lately, I watch maybe half of the reviews. Part of it is the same few gripes repeated ad nauseum. I realize that these are gripes about issues that are prevalent in the many games, but it's almost where I think, "So, which game is Yatzee complaining about A,B,& C in this week?"
But for actual reviews, I tend to hit Metacritic, read the top two reviews from sources I've heard of and the bottom five reviews and figure it out from there. Generally successful for me.
Oh, and I take notes during Extra Credit's "Games You May Have Missed"
Zero Punctuation is what initially brought me here, but lately, I watch maybe half of the reviews. Part of it is the same few gripes repeated ad nauseum. I realize that these are gripes about issues that are prevalent in the many games, but it's almost where I think, "So, which game is Yatzee complaining about A,B,& C in this week?"
But for actual reviews, I tend to hit Metacritic, read the top two reviews from sources I've heard of and the bottom five reviews and figure it out from there. Generally successful for me.
Oh, and I take notes during Extra Credit's "Games You May Have Missed"
I use a variety of review sources. A game's Metacritic score can be a very good gauge of how well-made a game is. Although I may not see eye to eye with critics 100% of the time, the vast majority of highly reviewed games are that way for reason.
People criticize the way in which games are dismissed if they are below a 7, but the system works just fine for me. Experience has taught me that if a game looks good to me and has great reviews, I most likely will enjoy it.
I also use Amazon's customer reviews. People on Amazon can be very informative in determining whether a game would appeal to me or not. Metacritic's user reviews can sometimes be helpful, but the fanboy population on Metacritic is staggering and the reviews tend to be poorly written.
If I need more info, I occasionally read professional reviews from sites like RPGfan and use that info as a tool. Many times I read professional reviews to determine how good the story in a game is, as story is valuable to me in the games I play.
People criticize the way in which games are dismissed if they are below a 7, but the system works just fine for me. Experience has taught me that if a game looks good to me and has great reviews, I most likely will enjoy it.
I also use Amazon's customer reviews. People on Amazon can be very informative in determining whether a game would appeal to me or not. Metacritic's user reviews can sometimes be helpful, but the fanboy population on Metacritic is staggering and the reviews tend to be poorly written.
If I need more info, I occasionally read professional reviews from sites like RPGfan and use that info as a tool. Many times I read professional reviews to determine how good the story in a game is, as story is valuable to me in the games I play.
Well obviously, I turn to reviews for the crucial information before I buy anything, but I always weed out the BS reviews and anyone that gives scores.
Also gameplay is a huge indicator of what to expect.
Also gameplay is a huge indicator of what to expect.
They've gotta be by really good reviewers, where I know the kind of games they like.
The only one at the moment is angryjoeshow, on youtube. He seems very silly and cheesy, but his stuff is legit, and he has really, really good points.
The only one at the moment is angryjoeshow, on youtube. He seems very silly and cheesy, but his stuff is legit, and he has really, really good points.
Well... Yes, they do. It's one of main reasons i visit places like The Escapist. I can't remember playing any single game without sharing overall impression with Escapist reviewers.WhyBotherToTry said:
I like him too, mostly because when he is enthousiastic and/or disappointed about a game, it shows and feels more honest than most reviewers. I don't always agree with him, but I admire his passion for the medium.GeneralTwinkle said:
I suppose reviews affect my opinion in the sense that I use them as a source of information about a game's features, story, and so on. Whether they are good, bad, flawed, ... something that would appeal to me. For example, a reviewer may slam a feature for poor implementation. If I see multiple reviewers react negatively to that same feature, then that indicates it will likely bother me too. That wouldn't stop me from buying that game, but it could determine how I buy it: new or used.
Yeah, I disagree with him a lot too. That's why it's important to know what kind of things they like, a purely objective review is almost impossible.chimpzy said:
But, even when he hates a game I love, he makes such good points that it's hard to argue with them sometimes
Captcha "hear hear"
He agrees
When I'm on the fence about something, and if I usually agree with the reviewers opinion on things, then yes. But if I'd made my mind up one way or the other then not so much, unless I had planned to skip over it and constantly see reviewers lauding it as 'the best darn thing' it has a grander impact.
They do, but not always negatively. Sometimes I'll look at the review score and say "what the heck is wrong with you people, this game rules/sucks."
They can affect my decision to buy a game in that if it seems to be getting universally low scores and generally being slated then I probably wont buy it. Usually though I know what games I am going to buy and nothing short of universal terrible reviews will dissuade me or they bring up a point which I was unaware of and dont particularly like.
A lot of reviews particularly from the big companies are a bit of a joke though the reviewers come across as either being huge fans of the game (so not objective in the slightest) or have been paid off which also brings a backlash the other end with others usually users giving it terrible scores to try and counteract the unjustified praise they feel it is getting.
Once I have a game though reviews wont affect my opinion of it as then im quite capable of making up my own mind on it.
A lot of reviews particularly from the big companies are a bit of a joke though the reviewers come across as either being huge fans of the game (so not objective in the slightest) or have been paid off which also brings a backlash the other end with others usually users giving it terrible scores to try and counteract the unjustified praise they feel it is getting.
Once I have a game though reviews wont affect my opinion of it as then im quite capable of making up my own mind on it.
For Zero Punctuation no but for other reviews, sometimes but not all the time.
It depend on a few factors like-
How much I want to play that game?
Is the negative reviews?
Did I already already pre-order it?
Or am I just short on cash?
Example I didn't pre order or buy the game Pandora's Tower because of some of the negative traits in that game (the camera angle and the control) and since I was short on cash I decided not to buy it despite intially I would had bought it.
It depend on a few factors like-
How much I want to play that game?
Is the negative reviews?
Did I already already pre-order it?
Or am I just short on cash?
Example I didn't pre order or buy the game Pandora's Tower because of some of the negative traits in that game (the camera angle and the control) and since I was short on cash I decided not to buy it despite intially I would had bought it.
Professional reviews: yes.
Zero Punctuation: no.
User Reviews: I used to, but in the past few years they've become meaningless.
Zero Punctuation: no.
User Reviews: I used to, but in the past few years they've become meaningless.
It all depends on the reviews and, the games. If I'm on the fence about a game (like Mario's Tennis Open) the review affects my buying decision. If it's a game I've never heard of that has been given extreme reviews (like Okami which was apparently great and, Shaq-Fu which was apparently shit) I will buy those fuckers up as soon as I find them. I want to experience the master pieces and the flops can't be that bad can they? Shaq-Fu had one level with good music and Aquaman on the Xbox...had awesome under-water hair physics...
Its been a long, long time since I've had a game that I didn't know I wanted immediately or would otherwise avoid.
There is not that much creativity in games these days(outside of arcade) so either a game is going to be polished or a worthless clone and you can usually tell.
I use reviews to help me figure it out if I'm on the fence, or sometimes if you know the guy behind the counter is smart you can ask him but a lot of times its not a good bet.
Though if its in the bargain bin I usually don't care, I've gotten a few surprising gems out of there but also a bad apple or two but I kinda chalk these up to "hey it only cost me 5 bucks" deal.
I've only been disappointed in paying for one full priced game in the last couple years that I remember. Though if you knew which one alot of people would look at me funny.
Playing as many demos as I could get my hands on helps. In most cases it gives you a feel for how the game will be.
There is not that much creativity in games these days(outside of arcade) so either a game is going to be polished or a worthless clone and you can usually tell.
I use reviews to help me figure it out if I'm on the fence, or sometimes if you know the guy behind the counter is smart you can ask him but a lot of times its not a good bet.
Though if its in the bargain bin I usually don't care, I've gotten a few surprising gems out of there but also a bad apple or two but I kinda chalk these up to "hey it only cost me 5 bucks" deal.
I've only been disappointed in paying for one full priced game in the last couple years that I remember. Though if you knew which one alot of people would look at me funny.
Playing as many demos as I could get my hands on helps. In most cases it gives you a feel for how the game will be.