IGN, G4, Game Informer, etc. Dozens of groups that review the games you play. But is it worth trusting them? You tell me.
Poll: Game Review Companies...Trust or Bust?
- Thread starter Kombatkid123
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You don't trust them to have the same opinion as you. You trust that their opinion is worth comparing to your own through their words. Often I'll read a good review and know I'll hate the game because it's been informative and sometimes a bad review will criticise things you like and then you know you'll like the game. I don't think they're widely payed for positive reviews because unless the entire review industry was payed off you would be able to see a discrepancy on metacritic and it's the sort of thing people wouldn't be able to keep secret if it was that pervasive.
The main thing I don't trust reviewers at is giving a fair review score to deep games. Deep games are much more scrutinised and get marks taken away for flaws that linear games could never have because of their shallowness. It's not right for gears and uncharted to get higher scores than la noire and fallout new vegas. These are just clearly much higher quality games than the generic linear shooters, but because GTAIV set the standards so high for the genre no other games can come close.
The main thing I don't trust reviewers at is giving a fair review score to deep games. Deep games are much more scrutinised and get marks taken away for flaws that linear games could never have because of their shallowness. It's not right for gears and uncharted to get higher scores than la noire and fallout new vegas. These are just clearly much higher quality games than the generic linear shooters, but because GTAIV set the standards so high for the genre no other games can come close.
I usually check Siliconera, The Escapist, Edge, Destructoid and Joystiq for information. Reviews (and Metacritic ratings) shouldn't be used as a metric for the quality of a game, and for the love of god don't just skip to the end for the final score.
Ultimately, I have to trust my intuition. Would have missed out on a lot of good stuff if I 'trusted' any specific critic.
[sub]User reviews are fucking useless, though. Not referring to the ones on this site in particular, mind you, those are structured more like conventional reviews.[/sub]
Ultimately, I have to trust my intuition. Would have missed out on a lot of good stuff if I 'trusted' any specific critic.
[sub]User reviews are fucking useless, though. Not referring to the ones on this site in particular, mind you, those are structured more like conventional reviews.[/sub]
Sure, trust them.. but just as with any sort of review, don't just go with a single opinion and actually read the review instead of just reacting to the score. I also don't really feel that user reviews are any less worthy of scrutiny. When someone isn't doing something for an actual job, I've found it's far more likely for them to be a fanboy about things.
Simply, actually read the review and then compare it to others.
Simply, actually read the review and then compare it to others.
The Escapist always has really late reviews.
I generally trust reviewers, but I don't rely on them that much in making my decision. I buy a lot of games first day, so it's mostly all hype and trust for the developers.
I generally trust reviewers, but I don't rely on them that much in making my decision. I buy a lot of games first day, so it's mostly all hype and trust for the developers.
Destructoid will occasionally warn against a bad game, but not always. I'll give them some credit.
The others swallow poppycock.
Using metacritic to find the lowest scoring review can also sometimes be helpful.
I also find the aggregate user score on metacritic to be the best indicator for game quality, if I had to pick a single one source.
The others swallow poppycock.
Using metacritic to find the lowest scoring review can also sometimes be helpful.
I also find the aggregate user score on metacritic to be the best indicator for game quality, if I had to pick a single one source.
Not gaming critics no.
While movie critics are usually a good judge and the public a bunch of morons, its not like that in the game industry...mostly.
The major reviewers give nearly everything 80%, Very Good, BUY IT etc etc. Meanwhile the gaming community is very critical, and I find myself agreeing more with the public.
I'm sure advertising revenue has NOTHING to do with this *cough cough*.
While movie critics are usually a good judge and the public a bunch of morons, its not like that in the game industry...mostly.
The major reviewers give nearly everything 80%, Very Good, BUY IT etc etc. Meanwhile the gaming community is very critical, and I find myself agreeing more with the public.
I'm sure advertising revenue has NOTHING to do with this *cough cough*.
Not so much. In my experience, gaming reviews usually aren't worthy of the title. They're just not critical enough, and they rarely focus even for a moment on an aspect of the game that makes or breaks my gaming experience.
If I'm not sure, I wait for a let's play or something.
If I'm not sure, I wait for a let's play or something.
I look at a lot of reviews for a game I'm considering, and then trust them... with a grain of salt. I've loved games that have gotten relatively low scores (Infinite Undiscovery comes to mind) and disliked games that have gotten very high scores (GTA IV, for instance). I know what sorts of things I'll like and dislike in a game, and can usually read between the lines of reviews to see what my opinion of a game will end up being.
I pretty much only trust PC Gamer (US)
But I always go on the forums to check what the people are saying.
But I always go on the forums to check what the people are saying.
Completely depends on the source. I always check a multitude of reviews before I make a purchase. I look more for the content of the game than the score, then I decide for myself. Of course, the only really good ones are me [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.296612-Hypnotic-reviews-inFAMOUS-2#11728410] and Yahtzee.