Poll: Do you take Yahtzee's reviews seriously?

[Nazulu]

Yep, he is usually right, but I do look at other reviews (critics) to make sure if I really want a game or not.

 

[OtherSideofSky]

I take them seriously, but they aren't reviews. They're criticism (not the same thing) and, as everything he points out tends to be an actual problem and he points them out in entertaining ways, they are good criticisms. I don't use him to determine whether I buy a game (that's what reviews are for), but I enjoy seeing him explore what any given game does wrong.

 

[Evil Top Hat]

No, often often contradicts himself from review to review, or sometimes says things that are just simply incorrect. I find myself agreeing with him a lot, but the inconsistencies in his reviews means I would never take his word for something, or not buy a game just because he didn't like it.

 

[Dorian6]

This has to be the hundredth "Do you take ZP seriously" topic!

 

[TheDarkestDerp]

Just another opinion. Granted, much of what he says has a grain of truth to it, so I see it as being as informative as any other third hand info. If he complains about something being horrible, there's some reason why. Maybe it doesn't take five minutes to load, probably more like five or ten seconds, but still, the grain is there for bitterness to swell around.

 

[DEAD34345]

His reviews are an excellent source of information because he talks about features and issues with the game that I actually care about (as opposed to things like "graphics" and "sound" which are really silly categories cause I don't much care about them - others might, but I don't).

However, while I listen to what he has to say about a game, I don't necessarily listen to his overall opinion.

In fact, I've often purchased games BECAUSE he hated them - or, rather, because he hated them for a very specific reason.

I've purchased other games that he loved (Saint's Row 2, Just Cause 2) - again, because he loved them for very specific reasons.

And that's why I actually make purchasing decisions based on ZP - because he is specific about exactly why he likes (or more often, dislikes) a game. And that specific information is what I need to make my game purchasing choices.

This is the best way to treat any review, in my opinion. I don't ever buy a game because it scored highly, or because some specific reviewer liked it. I do buy a game however if a review points out features and good points that I know I will enjoy, and if the bad points are things that don't affect me much.

It applies to Zero Punctuation as much as it applies to all reviews, comedic or not.

 

[Seieko Pherdo]

I do take his reviews somewhat seriously. While I did love Alice Madness Returns I also agreed with the faults he said the game had. That and some other reviews I stumbled upon seem not to have souls.

 

[Dr_McSteamy]

I take the positive reviews seriously, because if the man is that hard to please and can find good things about a game; then I am more likely to purchase that. I usually just watch his other reviews for the comedy though, maybe take a few points down for further research (IE games I already own) but mostly I only let them influence if the reviews are positive.

 

[Laser Priest]

Firstly, it's someone else's opinion.
Secondly, it's the opinion of an egotistical douchehat.
Finally, it's the opinion of an egotistical douchehat attempting comedy.

 

[Rezeak]

Honestly it's the only reviews I do take seriously.

Imo at least you know with Yahtzee what he likes or doesn't like personally because with alot of reviews the scores are more base on personal preference/game companys paying them off/giving them exclusives.

Either way i prefer opinion based reviews over "here's 100 facts and this game will be rated between 8-10" lol

 

[babinro]

Not in the least...his reviews are simply entertainment value with some accurate points about a games faults.

 

[Saviordd1]

I sorta do sort of don't, wheres the option for "only when it makes sense" most of the points he brings up are pretty good, while some are just for the lulz

 

[Latinidiot]

If he's positive about a game I tendd to take it seriously. Otherwise, not so much.

 

[Gitty101]

If I took Yahtzee's reviews seriously I wouldn't have any games. Some of the things he despises I love, so I only watch for the humour. He does make a few valid points however, but then again all games have flaws...

 

[ReverendJJ]

I take a simalair view to Graham from LRR; I watch his reviews and while he is over the top at times, he is right in his criticisms of games whether or not you agree with his actual view/feelings towards them. Like he's slated games that personally I enjoyed but the flaws that he pointed out I can't deny are there, it's just that they didn't impact my enjoyement as much as his.

 

[gentleben]

This poll doesn't really leave the middle ground of "I take the review into consideration weighted against other reviews, previews and whether the game appeals to me based on its genre, mechanics or storyline".

To clarify, that's what I do.

 

[Giest4life]

Yeah, I do. I tend to buy games which he tends to hate less.

 

[zelda2fanboy]

I take his reviews seriously, except when it's a game I like. Oh, Metroid Other M has annoying cutscenes? Well, isn't that special. No More Heroes open world a little bland? Whatever. There are also some games I'd wish he'd rip into more, but doesn't.

 

[Fugitive Panda]

Yes. I roll my eyes every time someone disregards Yahtzee's opinion on the grounds that "Oh, he hates everything!"

Maybe they're too distracted by his funny accent, or just can't keep up with his motor-mouth, but the man knows his shit about video games, and has some articulate opinions that I enjoy hearing, even if I don't personally agree with them.

That said, I usually don't let single reviews influence my purchases, especially when it's no secret that the reviewer isn't fond of the genres I enjoy.

 

[shrekfan246]

Game reviewers are pretty shitty in general. Its sort of the dark seedy underbelly of criticism - most reviewers have no training or education, are relatively poor critical thinkers. They believe objectivity amounts to saying things like, "But if you happen you be a one armed pirate with a penchant for sodomizing monkeys, then you might enjoy this game".

That being said, I find Zero Punctation funny. I don't however find it informative very often (which is a problem for a review of any type).

I probably also don't share many of Yahtzee's views on gaming, some of which I actually find tantalizingly close to being well thought out. This is also a tricky area. For instance, while I probably don't agree with the man very much it's not enough for me to scream "YOU SUCK YAHTZEE!" when I see him at the Mana Bar.

Frankly I think the best thing Yahtzee could do is go out and play more games - and not just console games. I think if he had a broader pallette of experiences to choose from, he'd be a both a funny and informative reviewer. That's just my opinion though.

I respect your opinion, and I'll defend to the death your right to speak it, but please understand that it is just that; an opinion. So while you may think that game reviewers "have no training or education, are relatively poor critical thinkers," that honestly does not mean it is true. I don't know exactly what reviewers you've been reading or watching lately, but it actually takes a considerable amount of knowledge about creative writing and the video game industry to be an effective reviewer.

Now, you might agree with me on that point and simply say that most reviewers around right now don't have what I pointed out they should have, and I would agree with that on a few points. But to say that someone like Yahtzee is absolutely completely uninformed about either how to write creatively, think critically, or examine the video games industry is plain ignorant. It would also mean you've never actually paid attention during his "reviews" (which are usually more for entertainment value) and you've never read his column on this website.

I'm really sick of seeing ignorance when it comes to how "bad" critics are at their jobs. Something the public needs to realize is that, hey, a critic (or reviewer) has to sift through piles and piles of bad material every week and then give their opinions on it in the hopes that they will either:
A. Find a magical gem in the ocean of mediocrity
or
B. Cause the industry as a whole to turn on its head and start putting out "Good" games instead of "Mediocre" games.
If you had to review a new bad game every single week for four years, you'd probably get jaded and lazy at your job too.