I've noticed that although he goes for that comedic effect in a game, he also gives his honest opinion on it. He's unbiased and is strong in his opinion, which is something I personally admire about his reviews. I think he reviews it seriously, but in his own way. Therefore, I do take him seriously. His opinion however, does not really affect what I buy. We have different tastes in what we play, after all.
Poll: Zero Punctuation: Do his words matter?
- Thread starter Spinwhiz
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This may sound odd but I don't rely on the reviews themselves as much as the rules he puts forth in said reviews.
Allow me to clarify. His review for the Witcher actually changed how I look at games, what should constitute a good game and opened me up to more types of games. He covers a bunch of general rules in regards to games dos and don'ts (outside of mechanics) that are really important.
"I would rather be stupid and having fun than bored out of my huge genius mind"
This led me to a game that for all of the 'standard' reasons is bad; "Turning Point: Fall of Liberty". It is linear, the hit detection is terrible (nothing like shooting a Nazi point blank in the abdomen with a machine gun and missing) and though I have no problem with it many people dislike the game because it is short.
On the other hand I thought the idea of being a cab driver (that's what the trailer indicated) who in the middle of the attack on New York picks up a gun and starts fighting the Nazi invasion sounded fun. Despite the fact that I was a construction worker (close enough I guess) I am having tremendous fun with the game and am glad I purchased it.
With games like Call of Duty 4 and Rainbow Six Vegas around I know the fact that I liked and bought Turning Point, but didn't like or buy Call of Duty 4 means I should be hanged. But I don't mind sitting here saying such a statement because well...remember the quote I am clarifying.
I found Call of Duty 4 to be boring which I am sure responders will say proves I am an idiot. But hey at least I am having fun killing Nazis in the Supreme Court building. (Fun by the way I am still under the silly impression was the main point to buying, renting, or playing games. Not how gory it is, how complicated it is, or how pretty it is.)
"I guess I don't have the right to complain seeing as I didn't spend all weekend memorizing the documentation."
This is all I can think when people ask me how I enjoyed Last Odyssey. While this may not seem to fit the general premise of what I am talking about the quote has a point. Which turns it into a rule for socially interacting with other gamers.
"A game that generally feels like work isn't looking at a good writer"
For the longest time I would trudge through terrible games for the sake of the story or script (Legend of the Dragoon is a prime off the top of my head example.) But how good can the story be if it feels like work and playing it makes me die a little inside?
This realization chopped a whole bunch of games out of my collection and off my play list.
*Waves to Silent Hill 4, Condemned, and Final Fantasy X-2 as they find themselves dumped on my front porch*
Allow me to clarify. His review for the Witcher actually changed how I look at games, what should constitute a good game and opened me up to more types of games. He covers a bunch of general rules in regards to games dos and don'ts (outside of mechanics) that are really important.
"I would rather be stupid and having fun than bored out of my huge genius mind"
This led me to a game that for all of the 'standard' reasons is bad; "Turning Point: Fall of Liberty". It is linear, the hit detection is terrible (nothing like shooting a Nazi point blank in the abdomen with a machine gun and missing) and though I have no problem with it many people dislike the game because it is short.
On the other hand I thought the idea of being a cab driver (that's what the trailer indicated) who in the middle of the attack on New York picks up a gun and starts fighting the Nazi invasion sounded fun. Despite the fact that I was a construction worker (close enough I guess) I am having tremendous fun with the game and am glad I purchased it.
With games like Call of Duty 4 and Rainbow Six Vegas around I know the fact that I liked and bought Turning Point, but didn't like or buy Call of Duty 4 means I should be hanged. But I don't mind sitting here saying such a statement because well...remember the quote I am clarifying.
I found Call of Duty 4 to be boring which I am sure responders will say proves I am an idiot. But hey at least I am having fun killing Nazis in the Supreme Court building. (Fun by the way I am still under the silly impression was the main point to buying, renting, or playing games. Not how gory it is, how complicated it is, or how pretty it is.)
"I guess I don't have the right to complain seeing as I didn't spend all weekend memorizing the documentation."
This is all I can think when people ask me how I enjoyed Last Odyssey. While this may not seem to fit the general premise of what I am talking about the quote has a point. Which turns it into a rule for socially interacting with other gamers.
"A game that generally feels like work isn't looking at a good writer"
For the longest time I would trudge through terrible games for the sake of the story or script (Legend of the Dragoon is a prime off the top of my head example.) But how good can the story be if it feels like work and playing it makes me die a little inside?
This realization chopped a whole bunch of games out of my collection and off my play list.
*Waves to Silent Hill 4, Condemned, and Final Fantasy X-2 as they find themselves dumped on my front porch*
I bought Portal because of his review and it is THE BEST GAME EVER. GlaDOS is F***ing hilarious. It doesn't hurt that it comes with Half Life 2 either
Yes I take caution of what Ben says but usually I don't let it affect me that much. If I like a game and he doesn't oh well it's fun to me, and that's what counts. And if he likes a game and so do I well there, more power to Ben. But honestly he should keep reviewing. It's hilarious and it's fun to listen to him rant on about absolutely nothing. He doesn't have poor judgement or anything it's just that he's kind of mean to games. Even if he gives it 5 golden stars he'll still find something bad to say about it. You know minus Portal.
I don't base my gaming purchases on his, or any other reviews oppinion for that matter.
The reviews are hilarious of course and they often contain very good points - I agree with a lot of what he says, but that isn't going to stop me from purchasing - or enjoying games.
He can hate this game, and that game or this one coming out and he can tell me that in a funny and also informative way but at the end of the day I've been gaming pretty consistantly since I was five, I've played enough to know what I like and I'm going to buy it reviewers be damned.
The reviews are hilarious of course and they often contain very good points - I agree with a lot of what he says, but that isn't going to stop me from purchasing - or enjoying games.
He can hate this game, and that game or this one coming out and he can tell me that in a funny and also informative way but at the end of the day I've been gaming pretty consistantly since I was five, I've played enough to know what I like and I'm going to buy it reviewers be damned.
I don't think it ever was his idea to influence others to buy or not buy something, the man states his opinion and we turn it into something greater or lesser. This is abundantly clear from something as early as the Darkness Demo review (To paraphrase: "A demo is made to make me want to buy the game. Based on this demo, I won't").
But the thing is that whatever he says at this point will make no difference.
His words matter because the people listen.
We think about what he says and discuss his point of view. It matters not whether you agree or not, you're bound to think of arguments why he is or isn't right. He's become the king of subjective reviewing and through that he's also tackled objective reviewing. Through us.
But the thing is that whatever he says at this point will make no difference.
His words matter because the people listen.
We think about what he says and discuss his point of view. It matters not whether you agree or not, you're bound to think of arguments why he is or isn't right. He's become the king of subjective reviewing and through that he's also tackled objective reviewing. Through us.
