You all make great points. I just wish we could rise above scores. They make NO sense, and people often don't even read the reviews. I'd rather know what a person liked and disliked instead of just slapping a number on it.
And for me, 3 and 4 are tied best, with 1 closely behind and 2 after that. See, different strokes for different folks!
You should know by now I disagree with scores in general. Since, well, they are arbitrary and make NO sense, and are attempting to quantify something that cannot be.
"How they see it" is still a matter of their opinion though. Thankfully, I don't share their opinion.
I see a LONG thread of fanboys using these scores to justify their purchases, which is sad. You realize that review scores are just one person's opinion? Thank god each person has their own opinion, because I don't think anyone should miss out on titles like Fallout 3 or Valkyria Chronicles.
I hope Cliff brings some of this clout back to the UT series. UT3 just wasn't as great as UT2004 was sadly.
Don't EVER let talking about games take away from PLAYING the games man. The people you are attempting to defend can handle themselves, and the idiots attacking them are just that, idiots. Why waste your time when you could be enjoying awesome games? They won't listen anyways!
As for game journalist... they get so many incentives and are just as biased as normal people. I don't know why ANYONE would EVER put their reviews ahead of your own, or your friends.
What a sell out. Sucks because Midway is in rough time, but they just neutered their biggest franchise. Sad days.
Gaming is no longer about fun. It's no longer about discussing the pros and cons of a game, or reflecting on what you just played, or discussing the greatness of a title and hopes for what to see in a sequel.
No... this new generation of "gamer" is all about numbers, ratios, sell thru, texture resolutions, install bases, YTD sales, SKUs, and all other manner of useless fanboy E-penis pissing matches. It's rather pathetic.
I'm sorry, but most games these days are made for pansies. In the quest to casualize gaming (a la the Wii)they end up taking it too far. Useability becomes pandering, and frankly it sucks IMHO. Mega Man 9 and Contra 4, at least, are a good indication of how games can be challenging and not cheap.
Metal Gear Solid 2; Substance ran worse on the Xbox than it did on the PS2.
Big fiasco with a pre-rendered cinematic, confusion and arguments that it was realtime gameplay showing the power of the PS3, yadda yadda... pundits claiming it will never look that good... now its pretty damn close. Controversy yay!
Nice writeup. I'm glad they pointed out the positives and negatives. I'm very excited for this game. If it can deliver on a solid single player experience, with nice level and enemy variety, and fix the few beta glitches people bring up... well... it's going to be an amazing game. Sadly, I feel it WILL be nitpicked to death in reviews for SOME reason.
The PS3 IS a great value. Unfortunately, it's also expensive. Couple that with competitively priced competition, as well as a global recession, and "value" isn't enough sadly. I love the gaming experiences provided by my PS3, but Sony needs to really step up its game. They need to drive down manufacturing costs fast as their priority. They have software, they have a budding online service, but I really think the price is the main stumbling block.
Of course, there are ot...
Actually Bloodmask made a pretty good point, and a rather un-fanboyish one at that. It's all a matter of perspective. The FUD against these companies is amazing. Sony isn't doing as well as it SHOULD be given its past, but it also isn't doing as bad as fanboys would like it to be given its present competition. Who cares though, unless you work for Sony? It's THEIR job to get their act together, not ours.
But I pity ANYONE who wants MS to "destroy the competition." For...
DJ is sorta right, and Bloodmask is sorta right. Stats can be spun to favor any situation, thats why my prof always told me. Can't we just like... enjoy the games, and stop putting so much stock in numbers? We aren't working for these companies, why not let THEM handle that crap, and we can simply... I dunno, be gamers? Can't we accept that its a 3 console generation, that things have changed since the destruction the PS2 wrought upon its competitors, and just have fun?
You speak words of wisdom, good sir. Constructive criticism is not allowed. All games must be praised as the second coming of Jesus.
A game "living up to the hype" is entirely subjective. For some it will, for some it won't.
Don't forget, reviews are just opinions. Don't let his control or in any way influence your own.
I agree with all of you, and share your sentiments. The answer is simple though... the internet. Fanboys are able to get information easily, and post without fear of reprisals behind their safe and cozy monitors. Game "journalism" shares just as much of the blame. Their reviews are self claimed to be "the definitive facts" instead of opinions.
I miss the days when it was about Sonic running faster than Mario, arguing face to face in the lunchroom. Now, as y...
Have you picked up either yet? How are you liking Fallout?