Opinion// Game Reviews, Uh? What are they Good For?

Then there is the ever-present temptation for critics to be as savage as humanly possible. Everybody knows it’s easier to write a bad review than a good one. Scorn and bile are more entertaining to read than gushing praise: fact. The success of Zero Punctuation shows that there is a market for snarling game criticism.

But this is as much the fault of the audience as the reviewer. Yahtzee, the creator of ZP, has admitted on a number of occasions that he emphasises the bad aspects of games because that’s what his audience wants. But it’s hardly fair on the game developers to simply focus on a game’s bad points. As hilarious as that can be, it doesn’t help the industry to improve by screaming “THIS GAME’S NOT PERFECT, THEREFORE IT’S SHIT AND I WANT THE DEVELOPERS TO BE RAVAGED BY ELEPHANTS ON A BED OF SANDPAPER!”

The Great Hype Deflators
Nevertheless, reviews do serve a purpose, regardless of their flaws. I don’t have the time (or funds) to play every single game and form an opinion on each of them. At the most basic level, reviews help us to make informed decisions about what products are worth our hard-earned money. As a tight fisted Yorkshireman, I religiously check review sites before even considering lifting up the family’s sole mattress and parting with my money. To do otherwise is just plain daft.

Reviews are great hype deflators. In theory, all that should go into making a game review should be the game and the reviewer. When this works, it works beautifully.

Naughty Bear is an excellent example of when reviews get it right. When the trailers emerged on Youtube, I was in love. All the components seemed to be there: a twisted sense of humour; a narrator who sounded like Rik Mayall; and a truly original premise. I almost did the unthinkable and pre-ordered it. Thankfully I didn’t. When the reviews came out, it soon became apparent that it was terrible. A classic example of ‘good idea, piss-poor implementation’. Were it not for games reviews, I would have had myself a 40 quid coaster.

Democracy in Action
In theory, (notice I’m saying that a lot), reviews are also very democratic. In an ideal world, it doesn’t matter about the size of a game’s PR budget. What matters is the game itself. All games start out on an equal footing and are judged on their merits. This has enabled exemplary games to get more exposure than their humble budgets would allow.

Look at two recent breakthrough hits from small developers: Braid and Limbo. On paper, they don’t look promising. 2D platformers? Who’s thought that they were any cop since Donkey Kong Country 3? Well, reviewers did. They played these games and drew our attention to the staggering levels of creative thought and originality that went into these indie gems. Whilst they deserve every bit of their popularity, they owe a great deal of this to the glowing reviews that they received.

Constructive Debate & the Fanboy
Reviews can also stimulate constructive debate. I’m not talking about tedious fanboy squabbles here, but informed and reasonable debate. With online reviews, you often have the chance to leave a comment. By doing this you can engage with not only the review, but also with other readers and the author.

Perhaps you thought that a reviewer was too generous in their appraisal of Red Dead Redemption’s ending? Leave a comment. Wish to point out that you thought Halo 3’s Warthogs handled like four space hoppers strapped to a plank of wood? Leave a comment. I have a dream that one day the comment sections of the internet will be used for courteous and exciting debate, and that bell end fanboys everywhere will have had their IP numbers permanently blocked.

Imperfection
Reviews aren’t perfect, and you’re never going to agree with all of them. But they have a purpose, and they serve it well. Games reviews are no exception. When reviewers are allowed to write their opinions, free of external interference, the outcome is always good. Reviews aid us in separating the wheat from the chaff, but they don’t force us to agree with them. They provide informed opinions in concise and readable formats. Without them, we would simply be overwhelmed.

Plus the comment sections of games reviews give spambots a place to advertise $20 Nike Airs. And where would we be without them?