Poll: Do you take Yahtzee's reviews seriously?

[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.

 

[TheHappySquid]

I usually just watch them for comedy, of if I'm already going to buy a game, to watch it for reference. I take no heed if he dislikes a game, just watching for fun.

If he reccomends a game, I may take notice though, as some of the games he likes are some of my favourite games (Shadow of the Colossus, Prince of Persia TSOT, The Thief Series).

So yeah, sort of, but only when he likes games I guess

 

[KAPTAINmORGANnWo4life]

I know the kind of games he likes, and place an appropriate filter over what little there is in his reviews that isn't nitpicking for comedic effect.

 

[Rusty pumpkin]

Kinda. If he truly raves against a game, tearing it apart at the seams, then it probably is a bad game. If its standard mocking, than its probably an average game. Anything hes given his praise to is usually a great game.

 

[Xanadu84]

A good review by Yahtzee will perk my interest in a game. But a bad review is little more then entertainment.

 

[maninahat]

I take any review with a grain of salt because it is simply someone else's opinion on the game. It may or may not be close to how I feel about it. ZP has a very cynical and satirical approach of reviewing games, and so, if you keep that in mind while watching, you can take it seriously. Just remember what kind of opinion the person has when watching the review.

I think you hit the nail on the head there. I don't expect a reviewer to uphold arbitrary standards of "balance and objectivity" in what is essentially an entirely subjective medium. I'm certainly not objective in my tastes, so what good is a reviewer that pretends to be? As long as I know why they like or dislike something and I am familair enough with their tastes, then that reviewer is useful. I may not always agree with ZP, and I often disagree with MovieBob, but because I know their personas well enough to know which genres they favour, I have the correct perspective with which to value their advice.

 

[an874]

I don't always agree with his attitude towards a game, but he's rarely wrong in reporting what's in the game, I find his viewpoint insightful and interesting, and I'm always entertained by his reviews which was the reason I started watching them in the first place.

 

[Sariteiya]

Yeah, I take them with a grain of salt. They're more comedy than anything, although they have opened my eyes to certain recurring drawbacks and failures in games, which has helped me be a bit more game-savvy. Mostly though, I buy what I like no matter what he says.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

I usually like to see what he says, but at the same time I disagree a lot.

 

[inFAMOUSCowZ]

I always thought of his reviews a joke reviews. Sure he makes some good points, but sometimes he rips on a good game for a few minor flaws.

 

[Llamaboy01]

*>__< Head Desk*

No cause hes a critic, not a reviewer

 

[Malrock]

I love Zero Punctuation. It is the reason I found out about the escapist, and it is the reason I became a community member.

I watch the reviews from the angle by which I believe they are intended; for entertainment purposes. On a few occasions and upon further research, I have found that the reviews have highlighted flaws in a game that would have made them total deal breakers for me, but it is important to realise that the style of critisism is intentionally exaggerated.

I keep this in mind and watch accordingly. They can be informative if one is attuned to see through the (hilarious) hyperbole.

So in direct response to the OP: ZP's critique alone would not deter me from purchasing a title, but if the critisisms detailed aline with my own opinions on what can ruin a game, then I will do further research into it. So a bit of both I reckon. I've never seen a ZP that hasn't made me chuckle, but equally it has alerted me to potential issues on more than a few occasions.

I also read 'Extra Punctuation' which can be taken more seriously.

 

[King Toasty]

They're funny, but it's a persona he uses. It's not what he actually thinks about a game. I trust the Escapist Reviews for that.

 

[fingerbang143]

I watch as entertainment but upon occasion he'll say something that makes a game look worse in my eyes. If he does nothing but hate on a game i'll likely not get it as well.

 

[tyriless]

He actually is one of the few reviewers that actually pays attention to the writing of the game for which I care about a great deal. If the story or characterizations aren't any good there is far less of a chance I will bother finishing the game. For example, his review of Infamous 2 has me intrigued where, previously, I was going to overlook the game. I want to know what got Yahtzee to well up in the end... I mean do squat thrusts while grunting in a manly fashion.

 

[King Toasty]

They're funny, but it's a persona he uses. It's not what he actually thinks about a game. I trust the Escapist Reviews for that.

It's not a persona. He's just quick to make fun of a game in his reviews. If he enjoys a game, he'll make that clear.

No, it's definitely a persona. I'm pretty sure he's clarified this at some point, in Extra Punctuation, where he puts his real reviews. Sure, if he doesn't like a game too much, he'll say it in the videos. But he overemphasizes everything for comedic effect, ignores or downtones good parts, and insults people who disagree with him.

Don't get me wrong, I find him hilarious. But it's a persona he uses, not his actual opinions.