Is an overhaul of Games Reviews Needed???

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

With the upcoming release of Killzone 3 i was disappointed that no major Gaming websites went into detail regarding the implementation of PlayStation Move

KZ3 was the main reason i bought the Move, the launch games were rubbish and i was having the buyers' remorse.

With the release of KZ3 coming up i was excited to see what the major Games News and Review Websites were gonna think of the Move controls in the game, especially since these same websites started the war between Move and Kinect and basically hyped the hell out of each control method for months before each release.

So I've talked about this ins the Killzone 3 thread, but i believe that games sites need to overhaul their reviewing system to fully inform the consumer about every facet of the game. Sales after all, can be at stake the end of a review.

Below is my ideal way of reviewing games.

Certain games need a far more comprehensive review and detailing every aspect.

Gamplay Element Review

Graphics
Sound
Controls
Settings and options available
Additional features: DLC, Future Planned DLC, Motion Control options, 3DTV options and other such additional information.

Review Score for Gameplay Elements: ?/10

Single-Player & CO-OP Review

Voice Acting
Story
Pacing
Features/details about the single player and co-op experience

Review Score for Single Player: ?/10

Online Multiplayer Review

Gamplay features (what's on offer in this game that set's it apart from other games of the same genre)
Setup/Lobby type
Unlocking system/Class sytem
Connection/LAG experience

Review for Multiplayer: ?/10


Combined Review Score: ?/10


Reviewing Games and hyping games are these sites bread-and-butter, why not go all out and give the consumer every bit of info about the game,
They spend enough time teasing about it for years ahead of time, give us the climax in style, not a single thrust and peck on the cheek.

 

[Starkiller]

https://kotaku.com/5750957/killzone-3-makes-me-a-believer-in-motion-control

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

https://kotaku.com/5750957/killzone-3-makes-me-a-believer-in-motion-control

From the comments of the article you linked...

"You know why i read Kotaku? Because IGNs full review boiled Move control down to a footnote tacked to the ass end of a mediocre review. Then the discussion boiled down to meat-fisted fanboy bashing"

"I don't know what the hell 1up.com is talking about in their review but Brian nailed it."

 

[plasmid303]

No, I don't feel that game reviews need an overhaul. I think on average reviews today do a fair job of offering critiques of important features without becoming a long deconstruction of the entire game. In all fairness if coverage of the PS Move controls in the game is lacking, it could be due to the perceived lack of interest from the gaming audience.

I think I absorbed enough from going to Metacritic and reading through 4-5 Killzone 3 reviews spread out on the score spectrum that I feel as if I could make an informed purchase if I were interested in doing so. Anything else I'd need, I'd click on a 'related stories' tag on the review page for most of these publications.

So no I don't think reviews need to change, but I think what people expect from reviews need to change.

 

[Kabukiman]

I absolutely think reviews need an overhaul. People read to much into the final score and often don't bother to read the review, and based on the quality of many reviews, the reviewers know this. The only reviews I bother to read anymore are from Kotaku.

 

[hairlesswookiee]

No, I don't feel that game reviews need an overhaul. I think on average reviews today do a fair job of offering critiques of important features without becoming a long deconstruction of the entire game. In all fairness if coverage of the PS Move controls in the game is lacking, it could be due to the perceived lack of interest from the gaming audience.

I think I absorbed enough from going to Metacritic and reading through 4-5 Killzone 3 reviews spread out on the score spectrum that I feel as if I could make an informed purchase if I were interested in doing so. Anything else I'd need, I'd click on a 'related stories' tag on the review page for most of these publications.

So no I don't think reviews need to change, but I think what people expect from reviews need to change.

Good post. I usually read 3-4 reviews before coming to any conclusion. Then I usually look for user reviews before I actually spend $$ on anything. I think Kotaku did a great job by having an exclusive Move review for Killzone 3. Hopefully they'll continue this trend, and more sites will see a need for this and follow.

 

[plasmid303]

Yeah I liked Kotaku's separate review for the Move controls on Killzone. Although I'm not particularly interested in Killzone 3, I did read a bunch of reviews for the sake of this thread, and I really disliked the IGN one. I didn't like the author's writing style and the way he ended the review was not better than your average internet message board review.

On a related note, I haven't been following the Killzone 3 thread at all so I was surprised by the scores. I thought it would've scored higher like it's predecessor.

 

[hairlesswookiee]

I haven't read any of the reviews yet, but aren't they averaging in the 9s??

 

[Starkiller]

KZ3 was the main reason i bought the Move, the launch games were rubbish and i was having the buyers' remorse.

I think that's the main problem though. Just buying a Playstation Move with no good launch titles out (and still none) and before KZ3 even launched.

That way you wouldn't have been stuck with a PS Move and would be able to research if it was worth getting with KZ3.

 

[plasmid303]

I haven't read any of the reviews yet, but aren't they averaging in the 9s??

The reviews ultimately are more important than scores, but I noticed that most of the bigger, more trafficked publications (such as IGN, 1UP, Edge, Eurogamer, Gamespot ) are grading with 7's and 8's. Not that I don't appreciate the opinions and reviews of the smaller sites, but the ones I read most aren't being as kind to the game.

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

I think that's the main problem though. Just buying a Playstation Move with no good launch titles out (and still none) and before KZ3 even launched.

That way you wouldn't have been stuck with a PS Move and would be able to research if it was worth getting with KZ3.

I bought into the hype that was shovelled on by loads of gaming websites since it was announced, sue me.

I wanted to see for myself, Besides i used it with heavy rain.

 

[Starkiller]

I bought into the hype that was shovelled on by loads of gaming websites since it was announced, sue me.

I wanted to see for myself, Besides i used it with heavy rain.

Well I'm not saying I myself never bought into hype. Just stating that's half you're problem. Buying whatever it is and waiting for games to come out..