Review Dissapointment

[PhunkyPhazon]

If I'm interested in a game, I ALWAYS take a look at it no matter how bad the reviews turn out to be. Provided I can rent it or download a demo, anyways. But of course there have still been games I looked forward to only for them to get slammed by critics. (Whether or not I agree with them is a different issue) Spider-Man 3, Lord of the Rings Conquest, just about every recent Sonic game, Metroid: Other M...I can't think of any more off the top of my head.

 

[Et3rnalLegend64]

...Reviews have a pretty skewed view of reality. ...I've never read a review and changed my mind about a game.

...I have however watched a gameplay video...and changed my mind about a game.

Yes. I will never listen to reviews as the end all-be all. Some people have certain tastes and tolerances (or lack thereof) and it may not apply to me. I can create my own opinions if I can see gameplay videos instead.

 

[RowdyRodimus]

The only "reviews" I pay attention to are the ones of normal, everyday people. People that play games because they find it fun and as a hobby. Professional reviewers tend to be burnt out, which is understandable since they have to play through and write up a review of a new game every few days to weeks. Look at people's reviews from when they first start at a place and you'll notice that they usually start off giving games honest scores and then slide into giving everything a 7 (or whatever they feel is average) or lower as the months and years go by.

It's sort of like a relationship. At first everything is happy crappy, lovey dovey stuff, never wanting to be away from them and as the time goes on you just want to be left alone for a bit.

I just find that the people that play games for fun and not as a job have a clearer understanding of what games as fun are supposed to be. That's why I ask my friends and people looking at a certain game what they think of it and it seems to work for me.

 

[Korten12]

Tales of Symphonia 2, I didn't think It was going to be good. But I had that niggling little ray of hope at the back of my brain that it would somehow just pull it together.

It didn't.

And I was sad.

Because the first one was so very very enjoyable.

This I had high-hopes for TOS2 and was extreamly sad when it failed.

 

[Starke]

None because i don't follow reviews like the people writing are some god and we have to take their word as law.

Wise words. Perhaps all those people whining about movie bob having an 'ego' should take a chill pill, realise that he is paid to review films how ever the fuck he wants and realise that their own egos are giving him his.

The Bob situation was aggravated by two things. First, Bob wasn't reviewing films, he was throwing five minute tantrums and flinging poo at his viewers. Second, a mindlessly loyal cadre formed around his poo flinging antics, which he took to mean that he was in the right, when in fact, all he was doing was throwing a tantrum and saying "oooh boobs" repeatedly.

EDIT: On topic: Singularity (I picked it up later), and Hellgate London (which I picked up anyway).

 

[daemon37]

If I'm interested in a game, I ALWAYS take a look at it no matter how bad the reviews turn out to be. Provided I can rent it or download a demo, anyways. But of course there have still been games I looked forward to only for them to get slammed by critics. (Whether or not I agree with them is a different issue) Spider-Man 3, Lord of the Rings Conquest, just about every recent Sonic game, Metroid: Other M...I can't think of any more off the top of my head.

What? Metroid: Other M got an average of 79 based on 61 critical reviews. I'd hardly call that a bad score. Sure Yahtzee doesn't like it but what does he like? (Besides Silent Hill 2 of course)

The Bob situation was aggravated by two things. First, Bob wasn't reviewing films, he was throwing five minute tantrums and flinging poo at his viewers. Second, a mindlessly loyal cadre formed around his poo flinging antics, which he took to mean that he was in the right, when in fact, all he was doing was throwing a tantrum and saying "oooh boobs" repeatedly.

EDIT: On topic: Singularity (I picked it up later), and Hellgate London (which I picked up anyway).

I don't understand why people are hating on MovieBob. He's just an internet personality who talks about nerdy things, like Yahtzee or the Angry Video Game Nerd. His job is to entertain us w/interesting videos. Sure he's trying to be more honest and philosophical than most, but why does that warrant such hatred?

 

[Calum_M]

Alpha Protocol. I pre-ordered it, and was checking the reviews like a madman to find out what it would be like. Despite all the hate, I liked it anyway.

 

[Thunderhorse31]

I would say Alpha Protocol (I was on the fence, but the reported brokenness didn't exactly convince me to pull the trigger), but all the Metroid: Other M talk is appropriate here as well. I liked the gameplay vids I saw, but hearing about the completely terrible character assassination that occurs makes me want to take Yahtzee's advice - just play Metroid Prime and hire a hooker.

 

[PhunkyPhazon]

If I'm interested in a game, I ALWAYS take a look at it no matter how bad the reviews turn out to be. Provided I can rent it or download a demo, anyways. But of course there have still been games I looked forward to only for them to get slammed by critics. (Whether or not I agree with them is a different issue) Spider-Man 3, Lord of the Rings Conquest, just about every recent Sonic game, Metroid: Other M...I can't think of any more off the top of my head.

What? Metroid: Other M got an average of 79 based on 61 critical reviews. I'd hardly call that a bad score. Sure Yahtzee doesn't like it but what does he like? (Besides Silent Hill 2 of course)

Yeah, I debated editing that earlier. But regardless, I'm still hearing bad things about the story and very mixed reception regarding the gameplay among fans. (I always listen to fans more then I do critics) And considering Metroid games are always universally praised, it still counts as a disappointment for me.

 

[Casimir_Effect]

Alpha Protocol most recently. I'll still be getting it at some point, and at least I'll be pleasantly surprised as I once more find out most people are talking out of their ass when it comes to reviewing stuff that isn't a Modern Warfare or Bioware game and it turns out to be good.

 

[CloggedDonkey]

Singularity. it looked like it was going to do something new with the time mechanic, but ended up just being bland and unoriginal. Sad, really. I liked Raven Softworks. They where good.

 

[daemon37]

What do you expect for $15?

Just STFU and pre-order it.

I've bought tons of games for 15$ or less that were great. Braid was 15$, so I guess you could say I expect Braid-level entertainment (i.e. unique style/gameplay, but a bit short on length). Anyways, regardless of the price, I would not buy a game if it got numerous bad reviews, which is what this thread is all about.

 

[StriderShinryu]

I tend to always pay attention to reviews when making a purchase (unless, of course, there's a way for me to try the game myself). I can totally understand not taking the word of a reviewer as gospel, particularly if it's just a single reviewer, but I'm a little perplexed about those claiming to never take reviews into account. I find myself wondering how they determine what games to buy if they can't try prior to purchase.. perhaps they just read previews (which are actually more prone to bias than reviews are), watch gameplay trailers (which can be edited to totally misrepresent the game), or listen to friends who already tried the game (which will not only be late but are also *gasp* just reviews too). Maybe they decide based on the box art.. I mean, Ico and Mega Man 1 were crap games because the box art was bad, right?

As for my personal negative experience with reviews, I have to go with Fable 2. So much praise and even a few GOTY awards for such a lackluster game. Oh well, at least I was able to trade it in before the value went down much.

 

[The_Deleted]

It's just youthful arrogance, to be honest. 'Mummy buys my games, so why I do need to worry about reviews and cost?'
Of course they try to come across all cool and nonchalant to promote an air of disdain toward us saddo's who live in the real world and have to earn our games... but they'll learn.

 

[AyaReiko]

Depends on which reviews.

"Mainstream" reviews, a.k.a. the IGNs, the Gamespots, and the like, I tend to ignore. When shitstains like FFXIII and Spore gets high marks from them, you know something is fucked.

I tend to focus in on User Reviews and Word of Mouth. They're more likely to warn me if something is shit (i.e. the presence of "Press X to Not Die") or if the game just sucks.

 

[Oliver Pink]

Spore.

I was looking forward to it ever since a friend told me about it 3 years ago or so. And it sucked ass.

And therein lies the difference between us. I didn't even know it existed till it was released, and I Loved it.

 

[Scobie]

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