I personally usually tend to look at a games visuals, check up a 'proper' gameplay video, usually most easily seen with LP'ers. Not to ruin the story for myself I blaze through them, skipping to random spots in the video, turning off the sound, etc. About the reviews themselves, I also tend to read the negative ones, simple because the 'negative' scores tend to be more realistic, no Im not speaking about the 0/10 scores, but more the 3/4/5 of 10. They have valid points and theres thought put into them for the most part. And seeing as the 'mini review' for alot of 10/10 games consists of 'best game evar...rarghlbrgl' ehh yeah, point taken.
Also implying the fact that atleast in my book, there is no game that deserves 10/10 besides 'maybe' (its high up there...really high) Heroes of Might and Magic 3. As spoken, my preference, seeing as I had tons of fun playing it by myself, and with friends. Where you could just lean back an evening, crack open a beer or two and go for it. Of course with the only rule being 'if you pick Necropolis...no farming skeletons.'
Besides that, some games, once again in my opinion, defo dont deserve the high scores they do. I know Im going to have an angry mob at my doorstep but nevertheless, GTA 4 got massively high review scores, so I went alone from the reviews and got it and had to put it down after an hour out of boredom. Then tried it 3 or 4 more times but just couldnt bring myself to play it because it was such a large step back from Vice City/San Andreas in my eyes. Nevertheless though it gained tons and tons of praise from everyone and seemed to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Those who have fun with it, go knock yourself out, I wish you the best of fun with it really, it just wasnt my cup of tea.
Long story short, I, much like the OP, also go to the negative reviews first if I do read a review, not the bottom pit of 0/1 but on the flipside also not to the 9/10's rather try to position myself in the 3/4/5/6/7 area because I somehow see those reviews as more truthful and in depth about the games flaws/mistakes but also about the games good points.