Review section?

[Hey Joe]

Here's a question for all you guys and gals out there in the webiverse which exists entirely within my own mind, do you use the user reviews section of this site for reviews?

Do you find the review section to be a credible source of opinion, and do the opinions ventured by the writer's of the user review section make you buy or not buy a game? Who has shunned traditional and professional sources of review to make the user reviews section their number one stop for reviews?

Alternatively, do you take the reviews posted as amateur scribblings, and therefore not worth your time?

 

[xitel]

I use them as a general tool, but I don't base my decision solely on them. Although I will say I view them as more credible than most magazines and websites, seeing as how they are fellow gamers evaluating them.

 

[Enigmers]

I use the review section, but I take the reviews in it with a grain of salt, however they have convinced me to try Prince of Persia, at least. Does that count for anything?

Oh, and they told me not to come near Twilight with a ten-foot pole (as though I didn't know already)

 

[Ursus Astrorum]

I don't regard the reviews as amateur scribblings, but they're not the gaming equivalent of the Oracle of Delphi, either. I like reading them, as I do with most reviews, but I tend to reserve my own opinion of a game for after I've played it.

EDIT: However, this site has inadvertently gotten me to buy City of Heroes and several albums by The Kinks. Well, Yahtzee did, but that's beside the point.

 

[Berethond]

Nope. I don't use it at all.

 

[Reaperman Wompa]

I check reviews, but it's easy to see if a reviewer was biased, mainly from the quality. Plus over time you start to get an understanding of the reviewers so you can better make a decision.

 

[Jumplion]

I use the reviews section just like I do with any other review site, and that's just clumping all the reviews I've seen and making a general consensus of the game I'm thinking of purchasing.

If the majority think it's crap, then I'll consider not buying it.
If the majority think it's average, then I'll consider buying it.
If the majority think it's great, then I'll, yet again, consider buying it.

I make my own decisions, reviews just help me reinforce my opinion.

 

[Maet]

I review films in there rather frequently (*Ahem* [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.81849]) although I have a mind to review a certain game or two shortly.

Filtering out the scribblings and the hate speeches, the reviews in that section are pretty credible. Users who are halfway serious towards their craft get some good advice, and it's a great place to learn about writing in general. RottenTomatoes.com is still my first choice for film and IGN for games, but the Escapist reviews are a great second opinion from the perspective of a smart consumer.

 

[NewClassic_v1legacy]

I tend to read mostly reviews for titles I'm familiar with, largely because I tend to approach the reviews from a critiquing standpoint. When I find the writers I really enjoy, I'll observe a review for the review's sake, especially if it's Escapist-published or a particularly well-worded review. Often times, the games I need to check reviews for aren't reviewed, largely because I restrict my titles to handhelds, which aren't often observed here. Although when I do find a review on a game I'm considering, I'll read it.

So, yes and no. I wonder if my laptop can run GTR Evolution?

 

[the monopoly guy]

*sigh*
I haven't been in the review section lately, I don't know why.
How sad.

 

[reaper_2k9]

I use it to get a feel for something but I tend to look at several different sources.

 

[Knight Templar]

I get a kick outa' reading them but don't really use them as a guide.

 

[Novajam]

I love the user reviews section. I think my English skills have improved in leaps and bounds since I started posting reviews there, and reading the advice others gave (both on my reviews and others.) I looked back on a couple of my first reviews yesterday and could really see the evolution from then until now.

But more to the subject at hand, yes, I do find the user reviews section helpful. They aren't the only thing I'd base a purchase on, but they go a long way. You can usually trust the mob rule, that if there's a large number of reviews leaning a certain way (bad/good/worth a rent etc.) then that's a good reflection of the game/movie/whatever.

And No, I don't take most of them as amateur scribblings. A couple, yes, but they tend to improve over time if they keep writing and taking good advice. There's some definite talent around.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

I don't use the User Reviews much. I fear the dreaded "wall of text," and a lot of the reviews don't have enough pictures to go along with them. I'm not saying pics are mandatory, but it's a lot easier for me to get what a game IS if there are a nice amount of screenshots.

Can you imagine trying to describe Katamari Damacy in only words and making it actually sound like a good game?

"Well, you control a weird little guy and use a ball to roll over stuff. And if you roll over enough stuff, your ball thingy gets bigger. You keep doing that the entire game. Oh, and people say funny stuff... And the music is good."

And yeah, I imagine somebody HAS already done a Katamari review with only text, but... Is it really all that good of a review? Some games just need visuals in order for the reader to fully understand what the reviewer is talking about.

 

[black lincon]

I tend to rely on friends opinions of games, word of mouth if you will. Like for example while the gaming media was calling the force unleashed a piece of shit my brother picked it up and recommended it to me, I trusted him because he's usually right, and he was, it was incredibly fun and I don't understand what people complain about.

This doesn't always work, like the time he recommended mass effect, I will never get that hour of my life back, ever!

I however can't say I've read many of the user reviews on this site or any for that matter, I just ask friends.

On a side note, I know the manager of a local game stop and he has an interesting way of determining a games quality, he sees how many people bought the game, and the looks at how many people returned or traded in the game within a certain time frame. I was recommended TFU by him as well based on his standard.

 

[Anarchemitis]

I sometimes venture into it for a gander into opinions people hold for some games I may have interest in, which are few to name.

 

[sirdanrhodes]

I read them just to keep me entertained.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Generally no, because this is a JRPG hating, Valve humping, Bioware loving community.

And I'm a "JRPGs are a mixed bag, Valve is mediocre, Bioware is pretty good" kinda guy.

 

[Travis Austin]

I don't need someone telling me if I'll like a game or if I should get it. I decide that for myself.

If I don't like it I'll take it back.

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

does anyone know how to make a review on this website???

Go here

Then click the big 'New Topic' button

Here's hoping your Review is worth the Necro you just did

OT: I will use them for the same thing I use all reviews for

Entertainment

I don't trust reviews often, because no matter how proffesional they try to be, personal feelings always come into play. I've also found myself Agreeing and Disagreeing with the smae reviewer(s) many times.

'Appy?