Alright, so as a gamer, I like to keep up to date with the industry. That probably goes for everyone who's reading this. As such, I realize that there are a whole lot of games being released. A lot more than we have time to play. But all the reviews I read give far too many games overly high scores and a mountain of praise. They never seem to tell me what push factors a game has, and I'm left with a sea of games that all critics think I "must have". Then when I buy them, I end up downright disliking them. Anyone else have this issue? And anyone know a good site to find some really harsh reviews? Croshaw's don't count.
Harsh Reviews
- Thread starter InfiniteJacuzzi
- Start date
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I think I read 100 garbage reviews for every reasonable, objective review. Alongside the puff pieces written by "professional" sites soaking in ad revenue, we have hilariously biased user reviews that seethe with hyperbolic negativity. Ask for Harsh Reviews and you'll get a legion of wannabe Yahtzees flinging bile under the auspice of "being honest", or because they're laboring under the misbegotten belief that negativity all by itself is hilarious and interesting to read.
True.YesConsiderably said:
But damn if he doesn't make me laugh, and think about the review process.
He used all 10 points of the scale, too.
Not just 5-10.
I guess i can appreciate why some people like him, but i don't think he's likely to ever be a reliable judge of a games worth.Onyx Oblivion said:
To the OP, my advice would be to look around on metacritic and read some reviews for games you feel passionately about. Take note of which writers you find yourself agreeing with, and eventually you should be able to compile a list of sources you consider trustworthy.
It's such a complicated case :-/
It mainly comes down to objectivity vs subjectivity. How much of your review is supposed to be based on your personal taste and how much is supposed to be cold hard fact?
If you keep it too objective you're gonna end up rating functionality, and most games out there do what they're supposed to do with few hiccups, so in that regard a lot of games deserve the high scores they get. But at the same time, how much does a review like that actually tell you about the game?
On the opposite side, if you make the review too subjective you're gonna end up with something like Zero Punctuation where a game can end up slammed or praised because of a specific opinion that you don't agree with in the first place. Say for example (a very extreme example, but whatever) that I have a whole lot of things against turn based combat, and I review Final Fantasy IX and rip the sh*t out of it for not having real time battles. I'd end up with a review that goes well beyond reviewing functionality, but does it really tell you if the game is any good or not?
Obviously you need to balance the two, but that's easier said than done.
It mainly comes down to objectivity vs subjectivity. How much of your review is supposed to be based on your personal taste and how much is supposed to be cold hard fact?
If you keep it too objective you're gonna end up rating functionality, and most games out there do what they're supposed to do with few hiccups, so in that regard a lot of games deserve the high scores they get. But at the same time, how much does a review like that actually tell you about the game?
On the opposite side, if you make the review too subjective you're gonna end up with something like Zero Punctuation where a game can end up slammed or praised because of a specific opinion that you don't agree with in the first place. Say for example (a very extreme example, but whatever) that I have a whole lot of things against turn based combat, and I review Final Fantasy IX and rip the sh*t out of it for not having real time battles. I'd end up with a review that goes well beyond reviewing functionality, but does it really tell you if the game is any good or not?
Obviously you need to balance the two, but that's easier said than done.
Personally I'd say you're better off just watching a couple of random gameplay videos on youtube.
The problem with reviews is that there is simply no accounting for taste. A reviewer with the best intentions in the world might end up misleading you simply because they have different preferences.
The problem with reviews is that there is simply no accounting for taste. A reviewer with the best intentions in the world might end up misleading you simply because they have different preferences.
Angry Joe can be harsh on a game if it's particularly bad. Like Yahtzee though, I'd say his reviews are more for entertainment value.
Still, he usually points out a game's flaws, even for titles he really likes.
Still, he usually points out a game's flaws, even for titles he really likes.