Review opinions that you disagree with.

Fasckira

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Oct 22, 2009
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Its one of the reasons why I like the Escapist. As time has gone by, I've learnt to understand and appreciate what each of its regular reviewers/previewers like and dislike. This in turn means that I know a) which of them best aligns with my own tastes but also b) means I get an idea of what I will feel about the game based on their tastes (Im aware this may make little sense but Im trying my best here!).

So yeah, while there are reviews I disagree with at times here on the Escapist, I still value them because their still informative to me.
 

Evonisia

Your sinner, in secret
Jun 24, 2013
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Fasckira said:
Its one of the reasons why I like the Escapist. As time has gone by, I've learnt to understand and appreciate what each of its regular reviewers/previewers like and dislike. This in turn means that I know a) which of them best aligns with my own tastes but also b) means I get an idea of what I will feel about the game based on their tastes (Im aware this may make little sense but Im trying my best here!).

So yeah, while there are reviews I disagree with at times here on the Escapist, I still value them because their still informative to me.
Yeah I understand. For instance I don't (and cannot) take Yahtzee's opinion on most modern shooters seriously since they aren't to his taste.

Does he make good points that are a genuine concern? Yes.
Does he also use it to project his ego to the world on how older shooters are better? Fuck yes.
 

Sniper Team 4

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Apr 28, 2010
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Danbo Jambo said:
I think that modern day reviewers are FAR worse than those from the early 90's when reviewing took off.

There's WAY too much focus on the duck waving aspects of games (how big an open world is, how good the graphics are, etc.) than the actual amount of enjoyment you can have.

How games such as Skyrim, COD, Gears of War etc get the praise they do is beyond me, when the larger amount of time spent playing them is boring as buggery.

Dragon Age 2 and Mass Effect 3 are two prime examples of games which are soulless and mostly a chore to play, but which were generally praised. Bring back Jaz Rignall.
See, all of those games I had a blast playing, which I think is the whole point. Everyone has different opinions on what makes a game good and fun. The games for me that I just don't understand why everyone loves is the entire Grand Theft Auto series. When that game comes out, reviewers always give it the utmost praise, but I just don't get it. Running around and being a thug and criminal just doesn't appeal to me.

The only two times that come to mind when I disagreed with a reviewer were Crysis 2 and CoD: Ghosts. I followed X-Play and, when Adam moved to YouTube, I followed him there too. Both times those games were give either 4 or 5 out of 5 so I picked them up. And I didn't enjoy them as much as the reviewer said.
 

Skatologist

Choke On Your Nazi Cookies
Jan 25, 2014
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I actively go out of my way to look for reviews I disagree with. I can't name a ranked review I've ever really disagreed with, but getting general thoughts of others has made often made me appreciate the things I do like even more.
 

JohnnyDelRay

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Jul 29, 2010
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On a regular basis. I don't take them all too seriously though, more as a way to get a quick glance at a game rather than decide if it's good or not. I look first whether it's the kind of game I want to play - judgement waits till after. There are lots of things reviewers gloss over, or excuse, or grate on that I don't agree with, but I don't let it get under my skin.

One example is Dead Rising, how they continue to get great reviews. While the gameplay is ok, in fact very fun for the most part, the mechanics which render the game unplayable to me such as the save system, and being on a clock the ENTIRE time, seems to not bother most reviewers. Well, seeing as I don't share the sentiment with much of the gaming population, good thing I'm not a reviewer then I guess? (Btw, I *hate* being on a clock in games, unless it's a small part of added tension like making a quick escape or trying to save someone, or even trying to not run out of O2 etc).
 

Pink Gregory

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JohnnyDelRay said:
One example is Dead Rising, how they continue to get great reviews. While the gameplay is ok, in fact very fun for the most part, the mechanics which render the game unplayable to me such as the save system, and being on a clock the ENTIRE time, seems to not bother most reviewers. Well, seeing as I don't share the sentiment with much of the gaming population, good thing I'm not a reviewer then I guess? (Btw, I *hate* being on a clock in games, unless it's a small part of added tension like making a quick escape or trying to save someone, or even trying to not run out of O2 etc).
I think as a reviewer you're more inclined to view a game on its own terms, as opposed to your own particular preferences.

A reviewer as a reviewer and a reviewer as a gamer is (are?) going to have different things resonate with them; i.e. the games they play to review and the games they play to enjoy.

It doesn't make either appraisal irrelevant, but I imagine many consumers have the idea of what constitutes a 'perfect game', and personally I don't think a writeup positing how whatever title matches up to that is interesting. I wouldn't want to see every horror game written up in direct comparison to Silent Hill 2, for example.

I actually appreciate that aspect about Dead Rising, because I don't think the idea of a completely unguided zombie sandbox is interesting.
 

lacktheknack

Je suis joined jewels.
Jan 19, 2009
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Me vs Silent Hill 2 and everyone who loves it. It's a pretty OK adventure game, but I will never see it as being some mind-melting journey into complete terror.

In the other direction, I <3 Captain Bible and there's NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO TO CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE.
 

JohnnyDelRay

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Pink Gregory said:
JohnnyDelRay said:
One example is Dead Rising, how they continue to get great reviews. While the gameplay is ok, in fact very fun for the most part, the mechanics which render the game unplayable to me such as the save system, and being on a clock the ENTIRE time, seems to not bother most reviewers. Well, seeing as I don't share the sentiment with much of the gaming population, good thing I'm not a reviewer then I guess? (Btw, I *hate* being on a clock in games, unless it's a small part of added tension like making a quick escape or trying to save someone, or even trying to not run out of O2 etc).
I think as a reviewer you're more inclined to view a game on its own terms, as opposed to your own particular preferences.

A reviewer as a reviewer and a reviewer as a gamer is (are?) going to have different things resonate with them; i.e. the games they play to review and the games they play to enjoy.

It doesn't make either appraisal irrelevant, but I imagine many consumers have the idea of what constitutes a 'perfect game', and personally I don't think a writeup positing how whatever title matches up to that is interesting. I wouldn't want to see every horror game written up in direct comparison to Silent Hill 2, for example.

I actually appreciate that aspect about Dead Rising, because I don't think the idea of a completely unguided zombie sandbox is interesting.
That's why it's probably a good thing I don't review games. Gamers are not going to have an easy time if they think any one reviewer is going to have the exact taste in games as them, I for one have not even found another human being on the planet with the exact taste in games as me. That's why you can't get too caught up with what each reviewer says or rates about your favourite game , like a lot of people do. It's still an industry, best you can hope for is that it will be as unbiased and informative as possible, like you said on it's own terms.
 

FPLOON

Your #1 Source for the Dino Porn
Jul 10, 2013
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Basically almost every single one of them... In fact, I would go onto Gamefaqs, looks up games that I've enjoyed overall, and read the reviews that gave said game the lowest score out of all the reviews listed in the review section of said game... Sometimes it's a fun read with perspectives I never thought about, in which I can see why they didn't like X the same way I did for example, and sometimes is filled with hyperbole up the ass to the point that it feels like I'm reading someone's personal [review] diary or something like that...

Overall, it all comes down to the fact that I can respect a reviewer for feeling the way they do about a game I like more than them and, I hope, they do the same when they do realize that there are those that will still enjoy the game for what it is and/or what it has to offer in the long run...
 

XSTALKERX

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Mar 10, 2012
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erttheking said:
Jim is too soft on Metro 2033. I like the game, but it has some serious problems. The stealth is horrible, dealing with human enemies makes you want to pull your teeth out and it just feels a little too clunky.
You should try Metro 2033 redux. It's not simply just a graphical overhaul but they redid the stealth and re balanced everything so stealth is actually very fun and viable in it. Agree that the original had horrible stealth game play.

OT: My problem with reviews are when they aren't thorough enough and simply just deduct points for features that they never try to understand or get good at. Like IGN review of Alien: Isolation, the fact that they said the game was too hard and frustrating but the guy played on hard the entire time, and never thought of switching the game to a lower setting. Hell I agree with him the game is simply too hard and frustrating on hard but on medium that's never a problem.
 

Xerosch

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Apr 19, 2008
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I'm not relying on just one reviewer but read about three to get the basics and decide if this would be a game for me. Reviewers are supposed to judge their stuff on a neutral basis. But that leaves no place for things we, the readers, are passionate about. I think reviews get better the more personal the experience written about is. I used to have a quick look at GameSpot for a review score, but find most of the writer's style very unpersonal. They probably do this to make their articles significant for lots of readers, it's just not for me.

As time goes by I find myself enjoying flawed or panned games more than AAA titles. They seem less complicated and are ideal for me to relax after a stressful day at work.
 

TheGamerElite33

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Nov 3, 2011
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i disagree with most reviews these days because they are paid one and corrupt mainstream media give 9s based on popularity.
 

Danny Dowling

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May 9, 2014
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I remember PS2 Official Magazine UK giving Transformers a 10/10, I thought it was a tad pants iirc.

The IGN video review of Tekken Tag 2 was balls

The IGN written review of Double Dragon Neon COMPLETELY missed the point of the game.
 

L. Declis

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Apr 19, 2012
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I bet Greg Tito is reading this thread waiting for someone to mention his Dragon Age 2 review.

-----------------------------

Final Fantasy XIII.

I honestly think it's a good, solid game. It's not a Final Fantasy game, but I think it's a perfectly good step up in an interesting direction and it led to the wonderful FFXIII-2.

But the third one...

No, that one deserved to be destroyed.
 

Equiliari

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Mar 15, 2011
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Yup, I disagree with almost all of the reviews I read.
...
Especially the single player reviews of the co-op game I worked on for the last 4 years *shakes fist*.

But I get it, we are all different people and like different things.
I do have my favorites however who tend to like similar games and of which I disagree with a bit less, like Angry Joe and TotalBiscuit. Even if I have loved games they hate.

I use reviews mostly to get an idea of a game, for entertainment value, and out of interest to see what others think of a game.
 

stroopwafel

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Jul 16, 2013
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Comparitively, I think this year alone both Watch Dogs and Evil Within were reviewed poorly(just to name a few). I think these games are much better than the average review scores they got(granted for both games they were all over the place but still). A lot of games fall victim to the hype machine in that they are first praised like the second coming and then when they're finally released they get torn a new one. Just b/c a game can't deliver to overblown expectations doesn't mean its bad(obviously in case of WD the publisher is partly to blame). Evil Within I think was unfairly criticized for not being the game it never pretended to be in the first place. Its an atmospheric, oldschool, tense RE4 type game the likes I haven't played since the original RE4 and earlier survival horror games. It's a love letter to Mikami's legacy that eschews many modern design conventions implemented on RE4's template since(ie. most over-the-shoulder action games).

Games like Mass Effect 3 and Last of Us receving near unanimous perfect scores I also find ridiculous. In the case of LoU I can somewhat understand but espescially ME3 is just a standard third person shooter with a decent story(not considering the ending). It just seems that reviewers often seem to favor any half-assed attempt at characterization and sappy drama while ignoring the mediocrity of the gameplay. I think a game should always be reviewed on its merits as a game, not on its artistic pretenses. Even if they can add to the experience obviously. This is why I think it's somewhat deserved for LoU as it matches both an immersive story and character development with excellent gameplay.

Other than that we start to see more and more opposing review scores, which I think is a good thing. Some of my most favorite games I would have never played if I had put too much faith in reviews.
 

rbstewart7263

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Nov 2, 2010
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Not The Bees said:
There's been plenty of times I don't agree with a reviewer. I mean, Yahtzee has taken dumps on games I really enjoyed, but at the same time, he loved games I hated. It's a taste situation, he likes stealth games more than I do. He and my husband like the same types of games.

Still, I respect his opinion, because the things he did point out about the games I liked, he was right. And I also tend to watch more than just Yahtzee, so I don't mind going over to someone like Jim Sterling and reading/watching a review from him and saying, okay Jim liked this part, but Yahtzee hated it. Jim likes action style games, Yahtzee doesn't... well, I might like this a bit more.

Plus, because of the subjectivity of reviews, I don't think anyone is ever going to completely agree with a review. That's just the nature of reviews. And that's a good thing, it means we don't get lazy and just look at numbers, we really have to think when we buy something that sometimes we may not fully agree with what they say, but most of the time we enjoy what they like, etc. etc.
I know but im looking for that instance that stuck out in your mind.


I just read the article on shadow of mordor being revenge porn and even though I havent played it ill probably be inclined to agree. Sometimes im just like "what bad controls this feels fine" or "this isnt too long" Its bound to happen since I dont review games for a living but its still entertaining when it happens.
 

sageoftruth

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Jan 29, 2010
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I'm trying to think of some. Strangely, I hardly every disagree with reviewers. Even in Yahtzee's case, I often agree with him, but still don't feel that the problems he mentions are deal breakers.

I'm a lot less flexible with movie reviews. If Bob recommends a movie, that usually means I should avoid it.
 

Daft Ada

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Sep 9, 2014
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I could never understand how Edge gave Smash Bros Melee a 6 out of 10, citing a lack of depth in the combat...


Plenty of badly rated games I've enjoyed though. 007 Agent Under Fire was one every magazine hated when it released but I really enjoyed it on the GameCube. Same with FF XIII-2, it didn't do very well in reviews, but something in the demo really got me hooked and I bought it the next day. I only managed to stomach two hours of the first game, but completed this one twice. Also loved MadWorld, Billy Hatcher, Disaster Day of Crisis, the Mario Party series, Banjo-Kazooie Nuts & Bolts, Cooking mama, and Medal of Honor European Assault despite their lack of critical success.
 

Lightknight

Mugwamp Supreme
Nov 26, 2008
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Jim gave extreme fishing one of the 5 game of the year awards last year. Now, thanks to him I picked up the Stanley Parable that year too so all is forgiven. But as simple and fun as extreme fishing was, it certainly wasn't "game of the year" material even on a list of ten. Honestly, not even close.

On the movie side of things, Bob placed Captain America's Winter Soldier as being better than Avengers and any other marvel movie to date... I... absolutely don't see it. First half of the movie was him being sad that times have changed and the last half was dragged out and equally boring. The only person I found interesting in the movie was the Falcon and they decided not to show them breaking in to get his wings which would have been more interesting than what they did.