How broken is the current Game Review process?

Should you really be taking any notice of Game Reviews anymore?

Is the whole game review system not giving us what we want, a non biased review of the latest, greatest game of that time?

It probably is looking back at some previous reviews. Lets take a look back in time.

[rucky]

They just need to take out 360 fanboys in reviewing PS3 titles and voila it's unbroken!

[GWAVE]

The problem is that there isn't anyone to hold reviewers accountable. Worse yet, a "controversial" review gets as many site hits as a legitimate review, and sometimes it generates even MORE hits.

But no one holds the media accountable. That's just how it is.

[Aaron Greenterd]

Gaming "journalism" is in a very sad state. There is absolutely no consistency from game to game, review to review. There is no standard, and reviews are no longer about "reviewing a game for what it is", it has now become "review it for what it's not".

Ratchet and Clank: ToD - no multiplayer, too much variety
Uncharted - no multiplayer
MGS4 - cutscenes are long
Killzone 2 - no co-op
Warhawk - no single player campaign

yet

Gears - 10
Halo - 10
CoD 4 - 10
GTA 4 - 10

etc etc

The list goes on and on, and the point I am trying to make is reviewers these days will forgive 360 exclusive games because of bias (i would know), forgive multi-platform games because they are multiplat, but ps3 exclusives get crapped on.

Every generation there are those that want Sony to fail. Yet this is exactly why Sony will succeed, because eventually people start to see this type of behavior with outlets they've always trusted, and aren't willing to accept it anymore.

Sony must be doing something right if reviewers consistently feel the need to be so inconsistent.

[cmrbe]

Add

Heavenly Sword - Too Short.

[N4360G]

The current game review process is very broken.How can great exclusive games on the PS3 get such low scores? If they were Xbox 360 exclusives they would all get 10's like crazy.This has got to stop now!!

[Sarcasm]

Yup and the ones who complain "Killzone 2 is only 8 hours" disregarding the 4 hour campaign of COD4 and 5-6 hours of Gears of War.

[Doppy]

The gaming industry is broken as a whole not just reviews. The biased media and journalist, the overwhelming fanboys, and overall hate is ruining the industry. Its being broken down bit by bit, and what makes it so sad is that instead of being positive about everything we have, we find something to complain or argue about with one another while everyone else bandwagons right along with it.

Its gotten to the point where I rarely check the comments on articles, or read article for that matter, because a majority of them are negative, and used just to get hits.

[Chubear]

There's a poll about this very matter on there. Check it out and post a comment or just participate in the poll.

http://www.hiphopgamershow....

[pswi60]

"When will this madness end???"

right around the time you buy a ps3 and get Killzowned!!!!!!

[trancefreak]

agent vx it really baffles me how you get away with being such a flaming ahole in the gamer zone calling out sony fans with ever post.
you really belong that way >> but for now u can suk my azz

[Sarcasm]

Agent VX, go please your wife instead of complaining about PS3 fanboys when you're one of the worst 360 fanboys ever.

[DeadIIIRed]

Shes finding attention elsewhere ;)

[soxfan2005]

I don't get it. Many people who claim that the gaming media is biased are the same ones who proclaim a game to be "greatest game ever", even though they have NEVER played the whole game, while the reviewers have played it.

I know this may sound crazy, but before you form an opinion, or criticize other's opinions, shouldn't you actually play the game first?

Hype seems to bring about a sense of entitlement among fanboys.

[FrankenLife]

@soxfan:

It isn't about a good score bad score. It is about consistency. Keeping their standards, standard. If one game is going to get knocked for no co-op, then other games in the genre should get knocked just the same. Be honest in story critique. Giving Halo 3 high story marks is BS. Say what you will about the gameplay and the multiplayer, the story was mediocre at best. But it is ok for it to have a forgetable story. FPS aren't known for their stories. RPGs on the other hand, have to have a great story. One of the recent complaints that I am tired of is the color pallet. Urban warzones aren't known for having flashy colors. What do they want, magenta buildings? If a game is trying to look realistic, then they are going to stick a color pallet that is realistic for the setting. Bright color pallets are used as eye candy. They make the game more enjoyable to watch. If the developer used other techniques to make the game pretty, then what is the problem? Then the reviewers don't ding all games with the same color pallet the same way.

As somebody on here already said. The reviewers don't necessarily review PS3 games overly poorly by default. It is more like they have "beer goggles" for 360 games.

[Apone]

Heavenly Sword - Too beautiful

[BobDog]

yes but those stated ps3 exclusives have all been released, some of them received average scores, and the people who bought those games all thought they were fantastic

[InMyOpinion]

Yeah, cause it's not that you are blind fanboys. It's the Internetz that is teh biased...

[Rampant]

Weren't MGS4 and LBP the highest scoring exclusives of last year?

[prowiew]

This is one of the most ridiculous read I had in a long time. That why there are a tons of sites. A review is just an opinion of one person. If you really are buying based on reviews, then read different reviews. IGN, 1up, etc doesnt give scores based on every team member opinion. Is just one person. A game could be a 10 to you and a 2 to me or viceversa. People just complain for the dumbest things. And if you think a website is biased to you, then read another. Simple as that.

[Tiberium]

What site are you talking about dude? Examples please.
Just because everybody isn't slobbering over killzone 2 or the other ps3 exclusives doesn't mean they are sony biased. Tell me something- what is so hard about RESPECTING OTHER PEOPLE'S OPINION. America still is a democracy right? If you don't like what one site has to say, go to one that you like, it's that simple. In the real world people disagree with you, deal with it.

[BulletToothtony]

i don't understand how this even makes sense..

It's simply double standards, but sometimes these people with websites forget the only point that's important..

I'm gonna enjoy this game to the max on my hdtv no matter what they say and how much they hate the ps3..

they can keep their perfect gta4 which nobody plays anymore..

[InMyOpinion]

GTA IV is a sandbox game which handles huge drawdistances and a ton of objects on screen at once. At the same time in incorporates an advanced physics engine for both characters(natural motion) and cars.

On the other hand Killzone 2 sports meticulous detail, advanced smoke effects, lighting and overall polish. No FPS games come near it and no sandbox games have come near GTA IV.

I think both games deserve a 10 in the graphics apartment.

[N4g_null]

You know part of the problem is that you guys yes every one uses review scores and not the actually reviews to buy games.

Seriously these are all paid ads for each and every game. If they are not paid then their are phone calls made saying "come on man give us a break! We need one 10 from you.".

Seriously Fanboys give these reviews power. If USA today reviews a game I'm betting no one cries over it.

Another reason why reviews don't work is the simple fact that they don't take every one into consideration. Right now every one is saying casuals are killing gaming well elitism is actually what is killing gaming. Before the console wars was a bunch of kids now it's people over 21 who will hold grudges for a long time. The Idea is that their opinion is what matters. maybe this is a product of market expansion. Most game reviewers just don't know who is going to be reading their articles.

[bomboclaat_gamer]

booohooooo

i wanna cry.

killzone 2 got 9.2 out of 10.

i dont wanna live anymore. ima go write articles about bias reviewers now

[komp]

Killzone2 is just mentioned as it is one of the latest games to be coming out. It applies to all future games. It has nothing todo with the fanboy side of it. Reading past the headline usually helps empower the reader!

[bomboclaat_gamer]

i know u wrote this after the review got on the site. if KZ2 got a 10 i dont think the writer would write that article. ur a fanboy and u dont even know.

@below.... lol. u made me laff to bomboclaat. good one, bwoy

[LTC]

Bomboclaat gamer cussing ps3 boyz no? U is a pvssyclaat because KZ2 raas ya claat.

Blurrclaat tsk.

[Aaron Greenterd]

Killzone 2 has a metacritic of 94 with 100 from X-play and 96 from gamesTM still outstanding.

The author makes a valid point, but a troll like yourself is too busy "smoking the green" and trying to attack readers for seeing the truth which obviously you aren't happy about.

Why don't you go back to your Sony Attack Force site (which I pay for by the way) and cry hardar

[bomboclaat_gamer]

who gives a hell how much killone got???
if its a good game get it and form ur own criticisms.

it clearly shows what fanboys u r

[Aaron Greenterd]

"who gives a hell how much killone got??? "

if it got a 7/10 you would be here telling us how much of a flop it is, the ps3 sucks, etc etc. the only reason you are here is because of its high scores, and you want us "fanboys" to suddenly believe the gaming media is no longer biased.

"if its a good game get it and form ur own criticisms."

it comes out the 27th noob, i have it pre-ordered just like the rest of the internet.

"it clearly shows what fanboys u r"

and your comments tell not only that you are a fanboy, but in fact what kind of fanboy you are, mr. eX Believer Of Truth.

[Crazywhitie]

Let the Fanboys Rage on, Killzone 2 won't Flop if it gets a 7/10, It's going to Flop because it won't Sale like a Xbox 360 Title.....Xbox 360 Player Tend to Support there system in game sales more then the PS3... Yes Sony as a Great System but they don't know what to do with it... as where Xbox 360 has Crappy Hardware but all the Software you need... Game Reviews don't mean that much anymore, when you got a guy out there like hiphopgamer spitting his PS3 crap, but acts like he's un bias.. give us a break.... The only reviewer you should listen to is yourself.. If you want a game bad enough Buy it, if your not sure about a Game Rent it...

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

Could I get a reference to your formal education system?

I'm looking to settle down in a nice quiet place where my kids can grow up and "get teached English real good"!!!

You actually typed the word "boohoo". Who does that?

[bomboclaat_gamer]

i dont see u making comments about guys who say the word noob. is noob a word?

no its not. which shows that u just want to attack me. i have no time for u tho

[Helghast Slayer]

I think sony should not allow the 360 loyalists to review their exclusives. Obviously they have nothing better to say than biased nonsense. The double standards are starting to show and after Killzone2 i don't expect another fps to ever get a perfect score.

[ElementX]

LOL, people rate sites as "360 fanboys" or "PS3 fanboys". What matters is the reviewer. Each site has multiple people reviewing games. If site X gives Halo 3 a 10/10, it doesn't mean the same reviewer will also review Killzone 2. Maybe the person reviewing KZ2 doesn't like it very much, so they give it a 8.5/10. It doesn't mean the site is biased, just that different people are doing the reviews.

BTW this is a blog and shouldn't be submitted. N4G should get a new name, such as B4G, Blogs for Gamers. There are more blogs posing as "articles" than anything on this pathetic site.

[pswi60]

call me old fashioned, but i think ElementX is a 360 fanboy.

one person writes an article about media inconsistency and these 360 fans cry even moar...you guys can't stand it when a ps3 game gets the high marks it deserves.

as someone stated in another thread, "your tears taste like 20 year old scotch"

[ElementX]

LOL. I stated in a previous post that I used to like 360 but like PS3 more. Get over it. You try to smear someone on N4G? How sad is that? I haven't played my 360 in a while.

Read this:
http://n4g.com/NewsCom-2633...
Post #35

B!tch.

[pswi60]

defensive are we?

here is a link for you

http://www.youareabot.com

[Dmitry Orlov]

@pswi60: C'on man! Remember the time when R2 and Gears2 were getting their reviews? EVERY ps3 fanboy on this site thought it was he right to go to Gears2 section and to spam on multiple accounts how the game 'sucked'. Nothing like that happened with R2.

@all: KZ2 isn't getting 10/10 like Halo 3 because time passes by and demands rise up. When Halo 3 was released it was cool and awesome. If you look at it today (like it was released today) it would be 8-9/10.

But still, ps3 fanboys have lived the hype made around KZ2 (remember the article "KZ2 has better graphics than Crysis"?) and when the game doesn't score 10/10 everywhere, these pathetic people try to commit a suicide. Oh, wait.. There is still God of War 3 to hype..

My point is: you made the hype and expected an IDEAL game. nothing is ideal - there are always flaws somewhere. now, when you realise it by looking into the reviews, you cry.

[Unicron]

100% broken. I've harped on this issue plenty, as you all know. Scores need to die, more open discuss needs to rise, and we need to judge games on their own merits, not based on what console they are from.

[Dark General]

I agree with the later half of your statement. I however do not think reviews are not "broken" per se. When it comes down to things reviews are little more than personal opinion. Now a way to maybe better scores would be if everyone judged games on universal criteria. But again it all comes down to 1 single persons opinion on a video game.

I do agree that reviewers have to judge a game on it's own merits though. And not comparing it to other games. What does the game set out to do, how well is it executed etc.

[incogneato]

very very VERy very very very broken

[Shaka2K6]

..

[Immortal Kaim]

I could have sworn reviews were a single persons opinion. All these claims of bias and inconsistency is pretty ridiculous (imo), of course there are going to be differences in reviews from the one site, they are written by different people with varying tastes.

I don't see the problem?

[Unicron]

The problem is in people thinking reviews are indeed fact (the general public) or ammunition (fanboys). Opinions are great things, but once you start tacking on arbitrary scores, the concept of opinion collapses. It's almost like a contradiction, putting a quantifier on something subjective.

Reviews need to evolve, and how gamers VIEW reviews needs to evolve if we are ever going to get anywhere. Kotaku's methods/format and 1up's roundtable discussions I feel are the way to go, not some number.

I like you Dark General. Have a bubb. You always take the time to post good stuffs.

[Dark General]

Well 1up got synced in with UGO and over half the staff was cut. So i'm not so sure on how that'll go moving forward. I do also love how Kotaku reviews games. Precise and pro's and con's of a game with no score. Then there's always Frankenreviews.

edit: Thanks Unicron i unfortunately can't give you any more bubbles (i've been bubbling you up) but i do agree more times than not with your sentiments. Or at least see where you come from. Bubbles to you too Kaim. It's good to get some real gaming discussion going not just wild conspiracy theories.

[Immortal Kaim]

I agree about the score mate, the problem is a lot of gamers don't want to actually read a review but would much rather just have a designated number which they think represents the quality of the game.

Listening to Podcasts from many gaming outlets, it is clear they personally don't like giving an arbitrary score to a title. Unfortunately the review process (ie tacking on a score) is dictated by the general populace who 'need' a number to somehow validate a purchasing decision.

I just don't agree with this whole industry (Gamespot/IGN/Eurogamer etc) are bias, if I person doesn't like a game (or Vice-Versa) that is their prerogative, it isn't in anyway shape or form going to detract from my enjoyment.

[Unicron]

Certainly. But still, when comments are tossed about, such as X-Play's unprofessional dig at PS3 fans in their KZ2 review, I really do have to call into question just how much the fanboyism does run things. They are still people, regardless of being "pro" or not, and are subject to the same bias as anyone else. Opinion and bias is a fine line.

[cmrbe]

the problem is they lack conseistancy. If reviewrs lack conseistiency then readers will really wonder if say an 8 one reviewer gave to one game is equivalent to a 9 to another reviewer gave to another game. This is where the numbers rating is a big problem as people will generally take an 9 as a better game than and 8 rated game which is logical. I agree that different reviewers have different tastes and opinions but they should follow a strict guidelines in marking games so that they are fair and consistent with their final rating.

[Immortal Kaim]

Would be interested in reading/viewing this X-play Review, do you have a link mate?

Yes, Opinion and Bias is certainly a fine line. Unfortunately a valid critique or even valid complaint of a product is often seen as an unsubstantiated attack in the minds of fanboys on both sides. If I was to make a valid complaint about MGS4 or Halo 3's downfalls, I would be attacked by the respective 'sides' and called a fanboy depending on which system the complaint was directed at (even though it has nothing to do with the system but the game itself).

That is the injustice here, we can't make valid comments because it will be seen as taking 'sides'.

[Dark General]

That's definitely true that it's a difference between biasness and opinion. I think for the most part, most credible journo's try to handle things as subjective as possible while saying what they think. Biasness in reviews is one thing along with personal taste. It still comes down i think to the "human factor". People like different things and while some people will overlook some things, others will dig heavily into them. Even the best reviewers, enthusiasts or whatever you want to call them will have at least a little bit of personal sort of stream of consciousness writing coming out. It happens, weather it be a bad day, extra good day or something that's always knack that will have a impact on a review.

It boils down to opinion. Reviews are more of a personal opinion than anything. Round table discussions are things that i like and would farther like to see in the gaming industry. Which is why i miss 1up yours so much.

[Immortal Kaim]

Yes, I understand but I think that is the nature of the beast. Even if guidelines are incorporated into the reviewing process when designating scores, each reviewer will interpret those guidelines differently and thus we still end up with different scores.

An example is a Uni paper I wrote. My University has strict marking guidelines, yet when given to two different lecturers I received 18/20 from one and 16/20 from the other, that's 2 whole points difference in the exact same paper and marking process. Interpretation and opinion is everything in reviews.

Great discussion guys, very interesting thoughts. Bubbles for you all

@Dark: Agreed, couldn't have said it better myself

[Unicron]

It's a video review. Scroll down on the front page of this site, there should be a link to X-Play's KZ2 review.

[cmrbe]

but gamers only look at sites as one entity. For example. A review from IGN is from IGN only and not IGN and a particular editor. It is the nature of the beast true but after seeing so many PS3 games mark down for what other games do exactly the same i really do question the objectivity and conseistancy of many of these major reviewers. As a PS fan i only ask for consistency and to judge PS games solely on their own merits and not being compared to games on another platform every time they can.

I think the best way forward is to get rid of this stupid numbering system which i never liked to begin with. Instead they should just give an overall view of what they liked and what they didn't like and then let the gamers decide for themselves.

[Immortal Kaim]

Ouch... certainly not called for, though after reading places like N4G I can see why some people would be sour :)

Yeah very Unprofessional in my opinion.

[Johnny Rotten]

I'll take substance over a number any day.

[dktxx2]

The review system is broken because we have too many possible scores. 9.7? 8.4? 9.9? I've even seen some sites go into the hundredths place. Its stupid. What the difference between a 9.6 and a 9.2? Nothing. The scores are worthless. Hell IGN's game of the year wasn't even their highest rated game (it actually beat out two prefect scores). The fanboy whining and complaining occurs because of these stupid decimals. EX: Halo 3 is better then Killzone 2 because it scored .1 higher. Whats the difference? Take the decimal places out of the equation and reviews will be that much better. Simpler is better. Why do you think so many people trust X-play's reviews so much?

[SAiOSiN]

VERY

[Monty_The_Great]

Gamespot gives a not no high praise (at least one guy) on an update, not a review, and BAM we get this article. Surprise surprise, who would of guessed? OMG not everyone is going to love KZ2, holy crap. According to N4G, love KZ2=great, creditable site. But doesn't love KZ2=biased, paid by MS, yada yada yada. Please lets try to protect KZ2 even more.

[komp]

this was written before that. check the times.

[Unicron]

Your own fanboy goggles are making you miss a larger and heavily apparent situation there Monty. I suggest you take a step back and look at the industry, not N4G.

[cmrbe]

you are not that great observing time.

[seraph741]

N4G is probably the most broken. All this article (and comments) are is people complaining about PS3 games not getting good reviews. boo hoo, cry more.

You guys are defending a game that you haven't even played yet! Seriously, if that's not biased, i don't know what is.

How about you wait until you actually play before making judgments.

Stop crying and go play some video games, seriously. N4G is beyond annoying anymore with all these PS3 crybabies. Anything above a 9 is a great score, relax.

[Timesplitter14]

Who said Killzone 2 had anything to do with this? It's broken because s*** games get better scores than good games. GTA4 is the finest thing the video game medium ever created? Well you'd think so if you read the reviews.

It's as if Bad Boys 2 won 12 Oscars. It doesn't make any sense. The industry needs to grow up and have better tastes...

MY TASTES!

Hey but the movie reviews are quite broken too, but on the opposite side. I just saw the metascore for Taken a few days ago. 49/100. Seriously? That's way too harsh.

To conclude :

Gaming journalism : A group of immature raging childish adults.
Movie journalism : Wanna-be intellectuals.

[Timesplitter14]

More broken than something that's very f****** broken

[Bill Gates]

Stupid BABOONS....AHHHAHAHAHAHA

[Tsalagi]

1) Anybody and their dog can start a gaming blog now and idiots will listen to them no matter how retarded their opinions are.

2)"Professional" or corporate ran blogs are corporate whores who will give a game what ever score the developer wants as long as the ad cash flow is coming in. Even if a game is complete crap it will get a high score just to keep the money coming.

3) Both the blogs and pro gaming websites are filled with 30+ fanboys (from all sides) who haven't managed to let the Sonic vs Mario type arguments and immaturity go and carry it over into their work. They're blinded by their own self worth and inflated egos and will look over glaring faults in a game just to support what ever company they happen to be shilling for.

If you want a true unbiased opinion download the demo to what ever game you're interested in or rent it. Don't base your gaming on some monkey dancing for sponsors or a 30 year old neckbeard's opinion.

[Obama]

I know it's broken when gta4 got 10 across the board. That is just a load of bull.

[DutyCalls]

GTA IV is crap
10/10 of course

then it must be high class crap

[Tsalagi]

Well the Mythbusters managed to polish a turd so i guess anything's possible.

[Chubear]

Devastatingly broken. It's pretty much meaningless dribble for teenage a gamers to foam at the mouth and help garner "hits"

I've trying to point this out for the past 4yrs.

[ApocalypseShadow]

but opinions now sway potential casual buyers to get a game or not.

a reviewer is supposed to judge a game on its merits.not based off of something else.

"plays like(insert game title)"
"looks like(insert game title)"
"doesn't have such and such like(insert game title)

but personal "OPINION" has changed to serious bias against what ps3 and it's games have to offer.

the opinion is:

if ps3 games don't have multiplayer in a traditionally single player game. or don't have single player for an online only game.or don't have colorful little cute aliens speaking gibberish across the screen.or has too much "variety" or is "a little too clean" or only lets you hold two weapons at a time.or has too many weapons.etc,etc,ETC.

then ps3 games get deducted points for things that the same counterparts on 360 get a PASS on.

you can't claim that gears is a perfect game if the online is broken.but give it 10s.you can't give bioshock a 10 but it has no multiplayer for an FPS game.you can't give gta4 a 10 if it doesn't innovate beyond a better previous version(san andreas) that let you do more.you can't give mass effect 10s if the game has glitches and loads textures 5 minutes later(exaggeration)

you can't give the most overhyped game 10s when the game has poor animation,weak story,sad physics,sub hd graphics and no evolution in multiplayer beyond 16 which was in the previous game.DO YOU EVEN HAVE TO GUESS WHAT THIAS GAME IS?

360 has biased reviewers on it's side.mostly english speaking sites and mags.ps3 has bettered the 360 by having

better rated games
a better rated system
better rated features
better sales performance based on year to year sales.

but can't catch a break because playstation is bending xbox over after all the negative hate.and these same haters have been called on all they were wrong on and have been called out.they refuse to acknowledge that they were wrong about ps3 since 2005.not one has said:

"hey,we were wrong about ps3."
"it's a great system and doesn't need saving."
"does have games and is reliable."
"has a great next gen format in bluray and cell is not just for movies watching."
"killzone 2 lived up to the target trailer."
"ps3 is a true next gen system that is worthy of being in your entertainment center."
"the games are steller."

nope.you won't hear that from them.because they bought a 360 and were lied to by microsoft.and will gladly take more $800 dollar swag bags to sway new purchasing customers from buying ps3 and its games.

apocalypse...................

[bviperz]

Inconsistency. That's what happens when you have bias during your review.

[Sasanova]

definitely broken...because its american...anything american tends to break

[DutyCalls]

maybe the american media is trying really hard to put an american company on top of the video game industry. japanese have dominated as long as i have knowledge.
patriotic?

if apple got into the business, then we may have a true competitor in american soil

[OGharryjoysticks]

I will use Killzone 2 (the big trend in game discussion recently) as an example.

It's pretty funny how every review says the game is graphically unbelievable, but very few reviews (even the ones that take a paragraph to drool over the graphics) actually give it a 10 for graphics. Like what was the point of writing about how the game is the new model for excellence and not awarding a score that relates to that. I guess Bioshock and whatever other games they say were 10's for graphics really deserved it - even though at the time maybe they did. But just as an example it seems like game journalism is a pawn to the brainwash factories that employ and/or sponser them.

[free2game365]

The thing is it seems like at most major websites the critics are fanboys and in the hands of publishers. There's often outright lies posted about games in reviews and they're obviously loaded with bias. For example, Gamespot said that MGS4 is a technically more advanced game graphically, when it's not, no debate there, it isn't. Same thing with critics lying outright about game length. Many critics for example were saying Dead Space was a 10-12 hour experience, two friends who played it said it's more like 7-8 at the most, or all of those Gears of War reviews claiming the game was 8-10 hours long when in reality it was 5-6. Grand Theft Auto 4 was another case, it was loaded with framerate issues, yet most critics claim it ran perfectly smooth, there didn't seem to be any backlash about it till the PC version was released. Then there's the review scale, there's no point to a numerical system when the range is never explored, most games fall between 50% and 100%, making the whole point of the system pretty much moot. The whole thing is just up beyond belief, most of these people wouldn't even pass their first year high school journalism class.

[Unicron]

People can laugh about conspiracies all they want, but if only they knew how much advertising dollars, publishers, and incentives (Halo swag bags, Konami trips) controlled reviewers...

[bee2427]

good read, he makes very good points especially about gta4 and gears 2. Id be pissed if reviewers hyped up a game that has serious multiplayer issues and didnt mention it in their review. You know if killzone 2 encountered the same problems they would shyt on it just like they did with counter-strike

[indyman7777]

What do you think? These fan toys have not even played the game! Even if they got a beta they don't have a full experience with it! The graphics look a little subpar for a AAA title yet PS3 people seem to think it will be perfect. NOT look at it!!! Freeze a frame of it, almost anywhere compare it to a top 360 game HELLO, this is part of why people hate irrational fans. Yeah PS3 is a good machine but it is still inferior in the graphics department. I told you people this is system savior number 13 it will not happen!!! Just AAA title number 10 says sales. Not going to save anything with graphics like that. The game play had better be worth it. That I can't comment on but, gametrailers.com have the positive and the negative on this game. I'm pass. There are better PS3 games for my money.

[Redlight]

I think N4G has passed the tipping point where the constant PS3 fanboyism is quickly turning this site into a joke.

This article is not news, it's not even informed opinion. One person/site gives one game (that you haven't played) 5% less than this other game, and suddenly the entire internet is an anti-Sony conspiracy.

Yeah, right on.

How about that fake moon-landing huh?

[DutyCalls]

Resistance 2 is horrible
wasted $60 on that low quality crap

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

I'll buy it off of you.

That game is amazing!

[Shnazzyone]

To figure out that this is a mindless article by some spazzy Sonytard whining that killzone 2 didn't get 10's across the board. It got good ratings from most reviewers. Stop twitching already! It's just another fps! I'm eager to see the fanboy freakout from the sales figues.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

Five minutes?

Does it take you that long to stand up too?

[psiom]

People get too excited about reviews. A lot of people mistakenly think that they have the right to demand unbiased media be published at all times, when in fact no such right exists, and nor should it.

We have freedom of press. It ensures that people can publish really any opinion they feel like, no matter how biased, ridiculous, or downright obnoxious. Their freedom to do that is, and should be, protected at all times, because there's no form of media control which is not profoundly bad for society.

So, what to do then...?

The simple answer is to find a reviewer, mag, or site that you like. Some one who has a similar taste to your own, who's words you trust, and who writes reviews that are useful to you.

Too often reviews are dragged into the fanboy console 'war' when it shouldn't matter to any one gamer as an individual if some reviewers are talking out their arse and publishing scores that don't make sense.

It's not worth the energy to give a crap.

Oh, and also...From what I've seen the KZ2 scores (which I assume triggered this article) that I've seen for the most part look entirely reasonable. They're great scores, so what's the problem?

My comment goes for any general review that a person doesn't like.

[PoopSockJuice]

You know how you write an unbiased review. You come up with a theory, collect data, analyze it, then come up with a thoughtful conclusion!!! Oh wait... A review is filled with uncircumstantial opinions based on hearsay facts with no supporting statements whatsoever.

[psiom]

What the hell does a review have to do with creating theories and collecting data.....?

A review is an impression and a set of likes and dislikes. Supporting statements are nice but they only provide insight into that OPINION which you may still disagree with.

No one has to validate their opinion when what they're writing is entirely in itself a personal opinion.

Just like I don't have to validate the opinion I'm writing right now. It doesn't matter how many people agree or disagree with what I'm saying - it's neither true or false. It's just my opinion.

It's like people think that scientific method should be applied to reviews or something. We can end up with maybe FOUR reviews worldwide that all correlate on all points while we cast down all others as heretical disparity ridden gibberish...

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

Is it just me or did that statement go over agent_plang's head???

[psiom]

What statement?

[WhoaMan]

people should honestly
put aside the console hate
and review it as if though its a game not an exclusive

[Firstkn1ghT]

Nothing wrong with Game Reviews. Every reviewer has an opinion. That's why it's nice to have a site like metacritic where they tally every reviewer for the average. Majority rules.

The real problem is that sony fans complain about every ps3 exclusive not getting a perfect 10. KZ2 got a few 8's and all of a sudden you get wah wah wah* It's just an opinion. Get over it.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

Opinion only counts for so much, kid.

Do you not find it a little odd that amazing games like Ratchet and Clank, Uncharted, Warhawk, and Heavenly Sword don't have closer to 100 percent on metacritic? What about that screams OPINION to you?

[Firstkn1ghT]

Thank you for proving my point!

[Tiberium]

yeah If you want to examine a review: READ IT!!!!! The score is just a number that represents a quick estimate of quality.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

Oh, come on...

The gaming media's just as bias as the news media...

...oh...

...I see your point.

[Graphics Whore]

You know what I do with all these reviews? Get industrial toiler paper and print all the reviews on it.... You know what comes next.

It's funny because you know Resident Evil 5 is gonna score so high when every one knows there's serious problems with the game.

[marichuu]

Only reviews I "care" about are the ones on gametrailers.com
Their video reviews are both amusing and give me the info I'm looking for along with gameplay footage of what they hate/like. However, I rarely buy anything just because of a review... Most important for me is that I find the gameplay footage attractive and controls are decent.

[Slinger420]

There's definitely a problem when you have a game like Resistance 2 scoring a 9.5 from IGN and then Killzone 2 scoring a 9.4. I definitely don't feel that R2 deserved that score and I haven't played Killzone 2 but I'm sure it's better than R2. That game felt so forced, guns were placed so badly and some sections were incredibly boring, like the retarded swarm, that was horrible. I have a feeling I will be blown away by Killzone so that gives me the sense that reviews are definitely broken.

[KKanjiAnkh]

Aliens baby.

It's bad that I have to change, #'ed ratings to
R for Rent
B for Buy
People, need to stop selling wolf tickets ratings

[komp]

Nice to see some decent commentary on this subject. In the long run its best for us all if they do standardise the process. If a game deserves good reviews then give it.

I think most of us agree reviews needs some work.

[ChickeyCantor]

While it goes for any reviewer/media source, you see idiots here blame each other (xbox fanboys this, ps3 fanboys that).

Can it get more pathetic around here? seriously.

MEHHHHHH

[Cajun Chicken]

Games need to reviewed in according the the visuals (note, NOT graphics, the actual artistic stance of the game), the quality of animation, character design/background appeal, story and strong concepts in how it trie to set itself apart.

In other words, I think people should review games in

Visuals (The overall artwork and style, not the power behind it)
Animation (How strong is the animation and attention to small details that make the game more immersive)
Appeal of characters (Character design, likability)
Narrative (How the game presents itself in story)
Originality (Being different from the crowd)
Concepts (Not enough games get reviewed depending on what concept its trying to introduce/use)

All this no matter on whatever system it's on.

[Cajun Chicken]

-

[Voiceofreason]

Yes the current review system is broken. Mainly due to "journalists" who grew up with PS brand giving anything on PS3 a great score regardless of whether it actually deserves it or not. And reviews do nothing to sales. Just look at PS3 and Wii as an example. Great scoring PS3 games recieve low sales and low scoring Wii games recieve great sales. Most reviews rated Wii Music low because they couldnt understand the "game" wasnt made for them. But they give LBP a high score based off of what could be in the game, not what actually is. And then look at sales. Wii Music is nearing 3m and LBP took 3 months to hit 2 million and that's with most places selling it at 29.99.

Gaming Journalist no longer represent the average gamer, so of course their reviews are kinda pointless. Their reviews typically represent the minority of gamers. Why else would sales so completely contradict reviews today? Most have some grudge against the Wii and will openly say not to support it, yet they have the most software sales this gen. How can that be if gaming journalists today actually represented the opinion of the majority?

[Cajun Chicken]

In regard to LBP and Wii Music, you haven't got a clue what you're talking about, LBP set out to do what its purpose was and did it well. Just check out the community for the game, its got a great following.

The concept of Wii Music was lost in translation as it was announced.

[Voiceofreason]

I'm not sure why you are posting your opinion like I care about it. You just back up what I said by doing exactly what I said PS era people do. Give anything Sony a perfect score and trash a game that wasnt even meant for your age group.. Great job... That post will put you in a special spot reserved only for the thickest of Sony fans. That place is my ignore list. Enjoy your time there and please refrain from ever replying to any of my posts.

[Cajun Chicken]

Oh, get real. That didn't happen, funny you choose to block the guy who is more like your username then you. Many a PS3 game didn't get the correct review scores it deserved, you would actually know that if you have a PS3 and many games on 360 get 10/10's handed out like free candy.

Ironic, that makes you an oxy-'moron', you have to be the most rudest and oxy-'moronic' person on N4G and that's a lot, welcome to my ignore list too.
Not many people have the high calibur for that.

[XPC HARDonE]

lets have websites that review other websites game reviews
that way everything in life will be fair and unbiased, and websites like N4G can go back to not existing. You see before the Internets, we had gaming magazines, those magazines had a letter to the editor section in them, and readers of that magazine could comment there. Now we have the internets and every single mind dropping that has to do with gaming is available and scrutinized. This is a killzone 2 advertisement disguised as an article about gaming review fairness.

The PS3 is now the underdog console (most expensive as the underdog, the end is nigh). The underdog attitude is to be overly defensive and ready for a fight from all your percieved enemies. Killzone 2 is being treated badly thus the PS3 fanboys (not the majority of rational PS3 owners) come in a blah blah blah.

Perhaps PS3 fanboys should call the ACLU killzone 2's civil rights are being violated. The game looks amazing I'm sure it will be fun.

[NoBullsh1t]

Has this got something to do with the recent surge of Killzone 2 reviews? I think we got some p*ssed Xbots trying to now make out that the reviews are all wrong. They should have really brought this up when Halo 3 was getting reviewed. I know that was a load of bullsh1t.

[laaakokaracha]

reviewing a game has been and always will be a subjective matter.

I wonder what this article is trying to express.

Personal opinions always include bias.

best is to rent a game or ask trusted friends about it.