Forums

Topic: Quality of NintendoLife game reviews

Posts 41 to 53 of 53

Shiryu

@NEStalgia If you would like to have an Official Nintendo Life Gameplay Channel, make yourself heard to the editorial staff.

"No Surrender, No Retreat."

Nintendo Network ID: Shiryu | Twitter:

NEStalgia

@Yosheel Oh please no, we don't need more Alex videos playing games....

@Shiryu It would be a pretty cool feature. I'm not fixated on it as necessary for NL, I was just chiming in on the issue of the current reviews and their associated screens being from the can, not pointing out a need for additional content, but I certainly support the idea if it's anything they're considering.

For the review screens, I'd support text-only, no images beyond box art more than the canned PR shots. No screens provide no information. Canned screens provide false information as they're often not from the platform in question and are, as the nature of marketing goes, idealized shots rather than authentic, with whatever post-processing is required to achieve a desired look. Not NL's fault, but the kit images are pure marketing and often taken from cutscenes rather than gameplay.

NEStalgia

Shiryu

This is also part of the issue: No matter what we do, people will complain. There is no right or wrong, just different strokes for different folks. Reminds me of my very first non-retro review a couple of years ago: It did not matter a single word I wrote, I was going to take a ton of flak either way. If you don't know what review I'm talking about, let me refresh your memories.

Trust me: On the other side of the screen it always looks so easy...

Edited on by Shiryu

"No Surrender, No Retreat."

Nintendo Network ID: Shiryu | Twitter:

NEStalgia

@Shiryu You realize you were set up to take a fall for that one, right? I'm pretty sure Thomas expected you'd be gone by now

I know how it all goes. Still, package screens....I mean just one real screen is better than the PR screens. Have Damo draw pictures with crayons. Anything other than what the studio polishes to a shine.

NEStalgia

Shiryu

@NEStalgia I miss Thomas as much as everyone else... but he is gone to bigger, better things. xP

Edited on by Shiryu

"No Surrender, No Retreat."

Nintendo Network ID: Shiryu | Twitter:

NEStalgia

@Shiryu But not before he stuck you with holding the bag for the FF review

NEStalgia

Tyranexx

Just to be clear, my original comment wasn't meant to be taken negatively about the reviews here in any way. I understand that a lot of work goes into the reviews done by journalists and by others who seriously critique a game (or any form of media really); I was more disliking the opinionated tarts who vote-bomb for petty things (like the recent Amazon JP Let's Go P/E debacle) without offering any meaningful criticism.

At the end of the day, it's really up to each individual's opinions, their likes and dislikes. I'm not a big fan of Pikmin 3 for example, but I wouldn't say it was a bad game and would still give it a solid 8. Some of its gameplay just seemed to grate on me a little more than others, it seems.

Shiryu wrote:

This is also part of the issue: No matter what we do, people will complain. There is no right or wrong, just different stroke for different folks. Reminds me of my very first non-retro review a couple of years ago: It did not matter a single word I wrote, I was going to take a ton of flak either way. If you don't know what review I'm talking about, let me refresh your memories.

This. So much this....This isn't just true for gaming journalism either. Our development team gets this a lot. "One size fits all" isn't always easy to pull off.

Currently playing: Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr's Journey, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (Switch)

"Love your neighbor as yourself." Mark 12:31

StephenYap3

I think Nintendo Life is okay. There are a few reviews I absolutely disagree with (the DS Mario & Luigi games, The Legend of Dark Witch 2, Touhou Genso Wanderer Reloaded, Atelier Lydie & Suelle, etc.), but I'd say they're fair overall.

@subpopz Looking at the picture...the hey!? Final Fight 3 stomps all over Toy Story, and it's not because the latter is a "movie-based" game. I actually played it back in the day as a demo disc I got from a cereal box and...wow, I can't say I'm enjoying it at all.

StephenYap3

the8thark

I do thank @shiryu for his comments. He knows, I do support the work he does. I think it's amazing, so keep it up - well done. I am serious here.

I think the issue here is well @PikPi nailed it.
"In short, I take reviews here about as seriously as I do a PR letter from a game developer."

At times the reviews sound just like that. An example of this is the MegaMan 11 review.
I literally imported the game based on the NL review. As it was not released on cart here. I am a huge Mega Man fan. I expected an amazing as the NL review was full of praise. What I received was the exact opposite. A game that was so bad I had to force myself to finish it. It's only redeeming features was the silky smooth 60fps.
Now as I re-read this review it does indeed sound like a PR letter from the developer.

Of cause the terrible reviews here are in the minority. I am sure we could all cherry pick out a terrible NL review or two. However the majority of the reviews here are fine. Apart from adding in more information like how the game actually performs. Even if that's just a qualitative statement. The Double Cross review does that well. That review is actually a well done review. It gets all the basics right.

Most game reviews in the industry are just terrible and their purpose is everything but sharing honest opinions of the games reviewed. Nintendo Life on the other hand has a better than 50% strike rate, much better. As in way more than 50% of the NL reviews are worth their salt and are good recommendation to people on the fence about said game.
In saying this the minority that are not good reviews do stand out like a sore thumb. That's what I don't get. Why do people who clearly know how to write proper reviews get so very wrong on the odd occassion.

I do think no review will please everyone. However if all the basics that all reviews need is there and the review reads like a review and not a developer PR letter, then I think that's the best you can do. Do this more often and I think most people will appreciate it.

the8thark

LadyCharlie

it's so freakin aggravating to see people cry for "objective" reviews, when what they really mean is:
"I want your reviews to reflect my perception of this game."

LadyCharlie

Switch Friend Code: SW-1787-3887-5088 | 3DS Friend Code: 3883-6315-2933

ralphdibny

I like most of the reviews. I like the site. I take issue with one review that was for Sega Mega Drive collection which says the emulation was good. On a surface level it looks ok but playing Sonic? The input delay is so bad that when you land on a short platform and try to jump on to the next, you roll into a spike pit -_-

See ya!

ralphdibny

You could adjust to play this way I suppose...but then are you actually playing these games...or are you playing Sega mega drive collection: take it slow because we can't emulate the games properly edition (wish I'd come up with something catchier) . Either way to remain on topic, the review praised the emulation which led to me buying the game which I was disappointed with

See ya!

This topic has been archived, no further posts can be added.