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Foreword: Playing is believing. Woops. That's 3 words. Damn.
This post is about two things. First, read the title and fore/3 word for one, and the other is about reviews.
How can you trust a review? It may tell you that the game you're reading about is great, but for all you know the writer may be stupid, and be biased about games he/she owns, or not admit that it's a bad game after the huge hype it's been given, e.g. Metal Gear Solid 2 in the case of many folk on these forums.
Also the reviewer may have a different interest in game genres then you. Perhaps you are a beat 'em up fan, and thoroughly enjoy games such as Tekken and Street Fighter. Let's say that a new beat 'em up game has been released that not many have heard of, we'll call it Smash Extreme (made up on the spot, bad title, I know), and you're considering buying it. So, you go on to the review archives of some website, and see just one review. You read it, and see that it has been given an awful 5 out of 10. But for all you know, this person may not stand beat 'em ups! And, let's say Smash Extreme was a PS2 only, perhaps this person is totally against Sony, and doesn't like the PS2 controller, and you could be the opposite! So, you're screwed. The game could be bad or good.
But, what if you're smart, and realise that this review is messed up? Then, you'll go somewhere else and read a review that says it's amazing. But, for all you know (sorry if I'm starting to sound paranoid) they might be the opposite of the person who reviewed Smash Extreme in the first place, but more obsessed with beat 'em ups and PS2 as you! And you read another review. And another. And so on, and so forth, and eventually, you buy the game.
So you've bought it, played it, and disaster strikes: it's terrible. In fact the first reviewer was totally correct.
So in other words, you're screwed. But there is are several solutions as to what to actually what to do, solutions that can also help you decide if an actual console is good or not:
1.) If the game has been given brilliant reviews absolutely everywhere, and you like the genre, then it's probably going to please you, often if you don't like the genre.
2.) Here on Special Reserve is a good way to find out if a game is good. Generally, GAD-winning reviews are good, with the assumption that the SR staff reader has played the game, and thought that the review described the game quite well. But not every game has a GAD winning review describing it. And still, this isn't THAT a trusty method.
There are several other methods, but I'll skip on to what is definitely the best.
3.) Play it. Because Playing is Believing. That way you can decide if it's good or not for yourself to get it. The easiest way of testing the game for yourself is to rent it, but this might not work with N64 and GBA games in some shops. You could just see if a friend has it, and test out the game or console once again for yourself. Another way to test a game is in shops such as Special Reserve, Electronics Boutique and HMV, something that many game manufacturers do, and something that was a very good idea by Microsoft. Or at least good for the public, not necessarily for themselves.
What Microsoft did as you may know, is put out their new console the Xbox out to play in shops all over Britain a few weeks before its release, so people could settle the internet-argued dispute as to whether the console was good or not. After the time, people could now actually prove what they liked/didn't like about it with the evidence that they had played it. Doing what Microsoft did may not of settled the argument, but it was a good deed, as it meant people could play the Xbox to actually decide if it's good or not, in their opinion.
Whilst Microsoft may of pleased the public as they now had there own thoughts on the Xbox when doing what they did, that decision may also have been a terrible marketing strategy. Imagine if everybody agreed that the Xbox was terrible (let’s say it was, as an example), then no-one would buy it, whereas before people would have been stunned by the graphics and amazed at the looks of games without the ability to test it for themselves, and would have bought it. But if they played it and hated it, they would cancel their decision.
In a perfect world, each game could be tested in shops by people of the public, but it ain’t gonna happen. Back on to the “Playing is believing idea”. Here’s a good example:
1 word.
Halo.
With so much hype about it, I wasn’t so sure if it would be that good, and I knew little about it. So, one day, I was looking round the Dvd section in a Virgin Megastore, and I noticed an Xbox with no-one playing it. I’d played Xbox before, and wasn’t impressed, but thought I’d give it another try. So I went over, and saw a gun in FPS on the screen. I wasn’t too sure what the game was, and after I found the shoot button, I soon realised that this was what the fuss was all about! As soon as you play it, you are hooked; it’s the most addictive shooter I’ve played! After only wanting to go on for five-ten minutes, I soon found myself playing the Xbox for an hour, time whooshing by without me realising. A game that I had doubts about, that I played, and believed. I’m considering buying an Xbox now.
That’s all for now.
Thanks for reading, Allardini.
This post is about two things. First, read the title and fore/3 word for one, and the other is about reviews.
How can you trust a review? It may tell you that the game you're reading about is great, but for all you know the writer may be stupid, and be biased about games he/she owns, or not admit that it's a bad game after the huge hype it's been given, e.g. Metal Gear Solid 2 in the case of many folk on these forums.
Also the reviewer may have a different interest in game genres then you. Perhaps you are a beat 'em up fan, and thoroughly enjoy games such as Tekken and Street Fighter. Let's say that a new beat 'em up game has been released that not many have heard of, we'll call it Smash Extreme (made up on the spot, bad title, I know), and you're considering buying it. So, you go on to the review archives of some website, and see just one review. You read it, and see that it has been given an awful 5 out of 10. But for all you know, this person may not stand beat 'em ups! And, let's say Smash Extreme was a PS2 only, perhaps this person is totally against Sony, and doesn't like the PS2 controller, and you could be the opposite! So, you're screwed. The game could be bad or good.
But, what if you're smart, and realise that this review is messed up? Then, you'll go somewhere else and read a review that says it's amazing. But, for all you know (sorry if I'm starting to sound paranoid) they might be the opposite of the person who reviewed Smash Extreme in the first place, but more obsessed with beat 'em ups and PS2 as you! And you read another review. And another. And so on, and so forth, and eventually, you buy the game.
So you've bought it, played it, and disaster strikes: it's terrible. In fact the first reviewer was totally correct.
So in other words, you're screwed. But there is are several solutions as to what to actually what to do, solutions that can also help you decide if an actual console is good or not:
1.) If the game has been given brilliant reviews absolutely everywhere, and you like the genre, then it's probably going to please you, often if you don't like the genre.
2.) Here on Special Reserve is a good way to find out if a game is good. Generally, GAD-winning reviews are good, with the assumption that the SR staff reader has played the game, and thought that the review described the game quite well. But not every game has a GAD winning review describing it. And still, this isn't THAT a trusty method.
There are several other methods, but I'll skip on to what is definitely the best.
3.) Play it. Because Playing is Believing. That way you can decide if it's good or not for yourself to get it. The easiest way of testing the game for yourself is to rent it, but this might not work with N64 and GBA games in some shops. You could just see if a friend has it, and test out the game or console once again for yourself. Another way to test a game is in shops such as Special Reserve, Electronics Boutique and HMV, something that many game manufacturers do, and something that was a very good idea by Microsoft. Or at least good for the public, not necessarily for themselves.
What Microsoft did as you may know, is put out their new console the Xbox out to play in shops all over Britain a few weeks before its release, so people could settle the internet-argued dispute as to whether the console was good or not. After the time, people could now actually prove what they liked/didn't like about it with the evidence that they had played it. Doing what Microsoft did may not of settled the argument, but it was a good deed, as it meant people could play the Xbox to actually decide if it's good or not, in their opinion.
Whilst Microsoft may of pleased the public as they now had there own thoughts on the Xbox when doing what they did, that decision may also have been a terrible marketing strategy. Imagine if everybody agreed that the Xbox was terrible (let’s say it was, as an example), then no-one would buy it, whereas before people would have been stunned by the graphics and amazed at the looks of games without the ability to test it for themselves, and would have bought it. But if they played it and hated it, they would cancel their decision.
In a perfect world, each game could be tested in shops by people of the public, but it ain’t gonna happen. Back on to the “Playing is believing idea”. Here’s a good example:
1 word.
Halo.
With so much hype about it, I wasn’t so sure if it would be that good, and I knew little about it. So, one day, I was looking round the Dvd section in a Virgin Megastore, and I noticed an Xbox with no-one playing it. I’d played Xbox before, and wasn’t impressed, but thought I’d give it another try. So I went over, and saw a gun in FPS on the screen. I wasn’t too sure what the game was, and after I found the shoot button, I soon realised that this was what the fuss was all about! As soon as you play it, you are hooked; it’s the most addictive shooter I’ve played! After only wanting to go on for five-ten minutes, I soon found myself playing the Xbox for an hour, time whooshing by without me realising. A game that I had doubts about, that I played, and believed. I’m considering buying an Xbox now.
That’s all for now.
Thanks for reading, Allardini.
V.V.V.V.V. wrote:
> I tend not to trust reviews, call me "paranoid" but I just don't trust
> the reviewer.
I've lost count of the times I've read a review that gave a game
> poor marks and then when I finally played it, I loved it!
"Why did I
> trust that bloody reviewer" I'd say.
And the same thing oftens happens
> vice-versa. Like you say, sometimes you can't win.
My problem lies in the
> fact that, when it comes to videogames, I don't really know what I like - I have
> diverse tastes - so I guess at the end of the day: playing IS believing.
Thank you. The same goes here. That somes up my post better then I could.
> I tend not to trust reviews, call me "paranoid" but I just don't trust
> the reviewer.
I've lost count of the times I've read a review that gave a game
> poor marks and then when I finally played it, I loved it!
"Why did I
> trust that bloody reviewer" I'd say.
And the same thing oftens happens
> vice-versa. Like you say, sometimes you can't win.
My problem lies in the
> fact that, when it comes to videogames, I don't really know what I like - I have
> diverse tastes - so I guess at the end of the day: playing IS believing.
Thank you. The same goes here. That somes up my post better then I could.
I tend not to trust reviews, call me "paranoid" but I just don't trust the reviewer.
I've lost count of the times I've read a review that gave a game poor marks and then when I finally played it, I loved it!
"Why did I trust that bloody reviewer" I'd say.
And the same thing oftens happens vice-versa. Like you say, sometimes you can't win.
My problem lies in the fact that, when it comes to videogames, I don't really know what I like - I have diverse tastes - so I guess at the end of the day: playing IS believing.
I've lost count of the times I've read a review that gave a game poor marks and then when I finally played it, I loved it!
"Why did I trust that bloody reviewer" I'd say.
And the same thing oftens happens vice-versa. Like you say, sometimes you can't win.
My problem lies in the fact that, when it comes to videogames, I don't really know what I like - I have diverse tastes - so I guess at the end of the day: playing IS believing.
Why does nobody ever read my posts in prime?
By the way, sorry about the suggestd paranoia of myself.
Stay Away!
Stay Away!
Foreword: Playing is believing. Woops. That's 3 words. Damn.
This post is about two things. First, read the title and fore/3 word for one, and the other is about reviews.
How can you trust a review? It may tell you that the game you're reading about is great, but for all you know the writer may be stupid, and be biased about games he/she owns, or not admit that it's a bad game after the huge hype it's been given, e.g. Metal Gear Solid 2 in the case of many folk on these forums.
Also the reviewer may have a different interest in game genres then you. Perhaps you are a beat 'em up fan, and thoroughly enjoy games such as Tekken and Street Fighter. Let's say that a new beat 'em up game has been released that not many have heard of, we'll call it Smash Extreme (made up on the spot, bad title, I know), and you're considering buying it. So, you go on to the review archives of some website, and see just one review. You read it, and see that it has been given an awful 5 out of 10. But for all you know, this person may not stand beat 'em ups! And, let's say Smash Extreme was a PS2 only, perhaps this person is totally against Sony, and doesn't like the PS2 controller, and you could be the opposite! So, you're screwed. The game could be bad or good.
But, what if you're smart, and realise that this review is messed up? Then, you'll go somewhere else and read a review that says it's amazing. But, for all you know (sorry if I'm starting to sound paranoid) they might be the opposite of the person who reviewed Smash Extreme in the first place, but more obsessed with beat 'em ups and PS2 as you! And you read another review. And another. And so on, and so forth, and eventually, you buy the game.
So you've bought it, played it, and disaster strikes: it's terrible. In fact the first reviewer was totally correct.
So in other words, you're screwed. But there is are several solutions as to what to actually what to do, solutions that can also help you decide if an actual console is good or not:
1.) If the game has been given brilliant reviews absolutely everywhere, and you like the genre, then it's probably going to please you, often if you don't like the genre.
2.) Here on Special Reserve is a good way to find out if a game is good. Generally, GAD-winning reviews are good, with the assumption that the SR staff reader has played the game, and thought that the review described the game quite well. But not every game has a GAD winning review describing it. And still, this isn't THAT a trusty method.
There are several other methods, but I'll skip on to what is definitely the best.
3.) Play it. Because Playing is Believing. That way you can decide if it's good or not for yourself to get it. The easiest way of testing the game for yourself is to rent it, but this might not work with N64 and GBA games in some shops. You could just see if a friend has it, and test out the game or console once again for yourself. Another way to test a game is in shops such as Special Reserve, Electronics Boutique and HMV, something that many game manufacturers do, and something that was a very good idea by Microsoft. Or at least good for the public, not necessarily for themselves.
What Microsoft did as you may know, is put out their new console the Xbox out to play in shops all over Britain a few weeks before its release, so people could settle the internet-argued dispute as to whether the console was good or not. After the time, people could now actually prove what they liked/didn't like about it with the evidence that they had played it. Doing what Microsoft did may not of settled the argument, but it was a good deed, as it meant people could play the Xbox to actually decide if it's good or not, in their opinion.
Whilst Microsoft may of pleased the public as they now had there own thoughts on the Xbox when doing what they did, that decision may also have been a terrible marketing strategy. Imagine if everybody agreed that the Xbox was terrible (let’s say it was, as an example), then no-one would buy it, whereas before people would have been stunned by the graphics and amazed at the looks of games without the ability to test it for themselves, and would have bought it. But if they played it and hated it, they would cancel their decision.
In a perfect world, each game could be tested in shops by people of the public, but it ain’t gonna happen. Back on to the “Playing is believing idea”. Here’s a good example:
1 word.
Halo.
With so much hype about it, I wasn’t so sure if it would be that good, and I knew little about it. So, one day, I was looking round the Dvd section in a Virgin Megastore, and I noticed an Xbox with no-one playing it. I’d played Xbox before, and wasn’t impressed, but thought I’d give it another try. So I went over, and saw a gun in FPS on the screen. I wasn’t too sure what the game was, and after I found the shoot button, I soon realised that this was what the fuss was all about! As soon as you play it, you are hooked; it’s the most addictive shooter I’ve played! After only wanting to go on for five-ten minutes, I soon found myself playing the Xbox for an hour, time whooshing by without me realising. A game that I had doubts about, that I played, and believed. I’m considering buying an Xbox now.
That’s all for now.
Thanks for reading, Allardini.
This post is about two things. First, read the title and fore/3 word for one, and the other is about reviews.
How can you trust a review? It may tell you that the game you're reading about is great, but for all you know the writer may be stupid, and be biased about games he/she owns, or not admit that it's a bad game after the huge hype it's been given, e.g. Metal Gear Solid 2 in the case of many folk on these forums.
Also the reviewer may have a different interest in game genres then you. Perhaps you are a beat 'em up fan, and thoroughly enjoy games such as Tekken and Street Fighter. Let's say that a new beat 'em up game has been released that not many have heard of, we'll call it Smash Extreme (made up on the spot, bad title, I know), and you're considering buying it. So, you go on to the review archives of some website, and see just one review. You read it, and see that it has been given an awful 5 out of 10. But for all you know, this person may not stand beat 'em ups! And, let's say Smash Extreme was a PS2 only, perhaps this person is totally against Sony, and doesn't like the PS2 controller, and you could be the opposite! So, you're screwed. The game could be bad or good.
But, what if you're smart, and realise that this review is messed up? Then, you'll go somewhere else and read a review that says it's amazing. But, for all you know (sorry if I'm starting to sound paranoid) they might be the opposite of the person who reviewed Smash Extreme in the first place, but more obsessed with beat 'em ups and PS2 as you! And you read another review. And another. And so on, and so forth, and eventually, you buy the game.
So you've bought it, played it, and disaster strikes: it's terrible. In fact the first reviewer was totally correct.
So in other words, you're screwed. But there is are several solutions as to what to actually what to do, solutions that can also help you decide if an actual console is good or not:
1.) If the game has been given brilliant reviews absolutely everywhere, and you like the genre, then it's probably going to please you, often if you don't like the genre.
2.) Here on Special Reserve is a good way to find out if a game is good. Generally, GAD-winning reviews are good, with the assumption that the SR staff reader has played the game, and thought that the review described the game quite well. But not every game has a GAD winning review describing it. And still, this isn't THAT a trusty method.
There are several other methods, but I'll skip on to what is definitely the best.
3.) Play it. Because Playing is Believing. That way you can decide if it's good or not for yourself to get it. The easiest way of testing the game for yourself is to rent it, but this might not work with N64 and GBA games in some shops. You could just see if a friend has it, and test out the game or console once again for yourself. Another way to test a game is in shops such as Special Reserve, Electronics Boutique and HMV, something that many game manufacturers do, and something that was a very good idea by Microsoft. Or at least good for the public, not necessarily for themselves.
What Microsoft did as you may know, is put out their new console the Xbox out to play in shops all over Britain a few weeks before its release, so people could settle the internet-argued dispute as to whether the console was good or not. After the time, people could now actually prove what they liked/didn't like about it with the evidence that they had played it. Doing what Microsoft did may not of settled the argument, but it was a good deed, as it meant people could play the Xbox to actually decide if it's good or not, in their opinion.
Whilst Microsoft may of pleased the public as they now had there own thoughts on the Xbox when doing what they did, that decision may also have been a terrible marketing strategy. Imagine if everybody agreed that the Xbox was terrible (let’s say it was, as an example), then no-one would buy it, whereas before people would have been stunned by the graphics and amazed at the looks of games without the ability to test it for themselves, and would have bought it. But if they played it and hated it, they would cancel their decision.
In a perfect world, each game could be tested in shops by people of the public, but it ain’t gonna happen. Back on to the “Playing is believing idea”. Here’s a good example:
1 word.
Halo.
With so much hype about it, I wasn’t so sure if it would be that good, and I knew little about it. So, one day, I was looking round the Dvd section in a Virgin Megastore, and I noticed an Xbox with no-one playing it. I’d played Xbox before, and wasn’t impressed, but thought I’d give it another try. So I went over, and saw a gun in FPS on the screen. I wasn’t too sure what the game was, and after I found the shoot button, I soon realised that this was what the fuss was all about! As soon as you play it, you are hooked; it’s the most addictive shooter I’ve played! After only wanting to go on for five-ten minutes, I soon found myself playing the Xbox for an hour, time whooshing by without me realising. A game that I had doubts about, that I played, and believed. I’m considering buying an Xbox now.
That’s all for now.
Thanks for reading, Allardini.