"I Don't Need Critics to Tell Me What I Should Like"

We’ve all heard this statement many times before, but it’s spoken by those who don’t understand the proper role of a critic.

[PinkEye]

Who says that they are? They're just telling you what THEY like. And if you have a particular publication that consistantly likes the games u like (my only fave is gamespot, i think IGN isn't critical enough when reviewing), and has the same criticisms about issues u don't like in some games, than u found a match worth considering. U still don't have to worship every opinion they have though.

Sorry but I won't just blindly buy a game anymore. With games being incomplete to sell dlc, microtransactions, pay to win model, etc I am not willing to pay $60 without some kind of insight as to what is in it and if the journey makes up for the initial cost.

But at the end of the day, I o rely on user reviews. I trust those who were excited enough to get it day one, only to give it a bad review after paying $60. Nobody does that for no reason. I trust the opinions of those who bought it, more so than someone who never had to pay for it (corporate reviewer)and might have been paid/bribed/supported via ads by the game publisher who gave them an unpaid version of said game to review.

[DaleCooper]

I rely on a mix of critic and user reviews when I buy games. I was told by another person on here to "try it for yourself, don't listen to critics". That'd be nice, if I didn't have to spend 60 dollars to "try" it. Unfortunately, I do have to rely on other people's opinions, but reading reviews from several trusted journalists has kept me from buying a bad game in at least ten years.

[PinkEye]

Yep. Watch Dogs got good reviews, but I waited. After 2 weeks the user reviews poured in and I new I was dealing with a slightly better-than-average game at best. Why pay $60 for that when I can buy like 3 $20 classics that I haven't played yet (Catherine, Dragon Age Origins, Demon's Souls, all of which are far more challenging games with a rewarding sense of accomplishment and are only $20 each). Sounds like a better use of my $60.

[no_more_heroes]

I use reviews to tell me what's in a game, not what I should think of what's in it. I already know what I like and what I'm willing to accept. I just need to know how that particular game "plays". So give me all the reviews and gameplay clips possible. I'll make up my own mind on what I see.

[MEsoJD]

Reviews are meant to help you determine whether you want to purchase the item in question or not.

[Chrono]

Can't you just, like, ignore them?

[Baka-akaB]

" A good critic doesn’t try to make a consumer feel stupid for purchasing or not purchasing a product. A good critic doesn’t try to explain why all “real gamers” should buy a certain title. It has nothing to do with elitist labels."

True but sadly it often isnt like that . There have been multiple instances when do try to guilt or shame their public about a game they'd rave about , but wich ultimately failed in sales and/or public opinion .

And on another matter , i can't and won't ever accept the huge disconnect between the preview period and the review . There have been too many cases , even with the previewers and critics being one and the same , where they go just above informing people about a title , but would rave and hype it to death . Only to admit it being mediocre and crap in reviews .

in some cases , a whole year of constantly hyping of the game . Making it the second coming of jesus , even till the month before release ... only to suddenly discover , after extensive time with the products and its most apparent flaws , that those wasnt that awesome .

I find the practice dishonest . And no it can't always just be chalked up to some hyped person having spent but a few minutes with the title . Some publications had quite the time to try the games at various stage of development and right before release . They just cared to be an infomercial for a year , and when faced again glaring issues that everyone could see , were pressed to tell the truth solely in the reviews .

[knifefight]

Ideally a critic would tell you what THEY like, not what you should like.

This is why I hate the phrase "must buy." Call it great; call it wonderful; call it the best, if you want. But when you say "must buy," then that's a critic indeed telling you what you should and shouldn't purchase. No. Don't do that. Tell me what you like and why you like it. End it there.

[Artista]

I like kotaku review system.. No score, just read.
I also look at user reviews. That's about it.

[Inception]

This days we have trailers, demo, or video games rental so why we should listen to critics?