Topic: Nintendo Life reviews

Look, Chrono_Cross is as welcome to his opinion as anyone else about our reviews here at Nintendo Life — just as we're welcome to our own opinions about anything under the sun. It's not like he goes around harassing our staff (which is absolutely not kosher, of course), and at least he's comfortable expressing how he feels directly to our faces as well as elsewhere on the internet... some people won't even give you that courtesy. There's no need to get nasty over it like that at all just because he also reviews games for another website.

The bottom line is that he and others like him may think their own work is the bees' knees and that they're being as unbiased as possible, but I guarantee you no matter how hard you work to be fair and balanced in your reviewing style, you're still going to get people who disagree with you and think you're lower than dirt for daring to publish whatever review(s) you've done regarding (insert thing here). It's the nature of the beast, and it's okay. So long as someone is giving an honest opinion of what they've played, they're still helping some other guy out there who thinks the same way they do. It's why I love Metacritic and recommend it to everyone — not for the big fat number, but because it puts a gaggle of reviews at my fingertips for damn near any given game out there, and I can easily go down the list and see what other reviewers picked out as faults, handy features, and I can get a much bigger picture regarding whether I'll like a game than from just one review.

It's just weird that NL didn't give a game that deserves a 9, a 9. I also disagree with the review itself. But maybe that's my opinion?

But you guys do rate too many Nintendo games (and other "highly anticipated" titles), way too high. You guys seem to be afraid of being honest which is a real shame if true. I also highly recommend a .5 rating scale. I can't say that enough.

Also, keep me out of this "What really is bias" discussion or whatever. Already had this week long debate years ago. lol

When I use to use NL as a referrence I'd read their reviews. Of course not anymore. The score never meant anything, but it's ust easy to talk about rather than bringing up a wall of text and saying "This is where blah blah blah...".

@TBD
Thank you.

Okay, @theblackdragon, I was actually trying to defend the Nintendo Life staff, because even if someone has a nasty opinion on that, I think he should keep it in. I just thought it was a bit rude. I was trying to defend you guys, because you run the best damn Nintendo site in the whole of the internet! You just didn't deserve it!

You don't think www.nintenturtle.com is the best Nintendo site in the whole of the internets?

Dunno, haven't heard of it...

I just searched it, and nothing came up!

It's not weird, it's — as you said — opinion. And that's what you need to keep in mind. What I found weird was that you said we rate Nintendo published titles too high, and invited folks to "look around" to see evidence of that. Then you provided your own counter-example!

It's not worth pasting URLs of reviews I've done of Nintendo-published games that got less than stellar reviews, because the point isn't that we do or don't rate them too highly...the point is that we rate them in ways that are in line with our opinions as critics, and with the scoring policy of the site. I've unquestionably been honest, I doubt that's ever been up for debate, and I don't think it'd be easy to provide examples of when other's haven't been either. It's not that Nintendo Life rates titles too highly...it's that a Nintendo-focused site is likely to attract writers who personally enjoy Nintendo games. (Go figure.) As long as they are expressing themselves intelligently and honestly, they're doing their job.

EDIT: Also, I didn't mean to wrap you into the bias discussion. Just wanted to respond to that in a general sense without posting twice. Sorry if that was misleading.

Have you guys have thought of adding the pros and cons in your reviews. I can barely remember a review word for word, and I don't have the time to read some of your reviews.

Some NLife reviews feature grade A writing and analysis regardless of if I agree with the review. Some other wtiters consistently do nothing more than list the features on the back of the box and don't write very well. So I base my dependence on NLife reviews more specifically, on who writes the review. Nintendo Power is the only source I trust almost 100%, but they're going away soon... And for the record NP is usually more harsh in analysis than NLife.

@Chicken
Like I said, i know that reviews are just opinions and it doesn't bother me if a game I dislike gets a great review or vice versa (Except Animal Crossing. I'll admit I'm biased against anything AC related). It's the fact that NL pats too many games on the back just to keep the community happy. Or so it seems. I'm not saying this idea of mine is completely true but it seems to be from my side of the world.

Everyone who writes reviews for this site do a great job, especially you CB. I'll be the first one to say I enjoy your writing even if you review games I would never, ever purchase. But I respect everyone's dedication to this site even if I'm a very negative poster.

I just want everyone to know I'm not bad mouthing NL nor am I trying to be rude. It's just a concern most Nintendo only sites contain.

This is probably water under the bridge by now, but...it's only inconsiderate if he was rude about it and didn't provide any constructive criticism (i.e. why the reviews are bad). If you worked hard on something, but in the end you didn't really do a good job, what would be worse, people going to you and basically saying "This is needs work" or people simply not saying anything and letting your work fester? Personally, I think the latter is way worse.

Was Crono_cross rude about it? erm, kinda? I've seen worse, I've certainly said worse, but yeah, it was pretty rude, I'll give you that. He could've toned it down some, and made it sound far less accusational. In fact, I could nitpick it quite a bit and break it down if need be, but right now I think I've made my point. I just wanted to correct you on the fact that it's not necessarily rude to criticize, so long as its constructive.

that's because it's infested with turtles — wire-chewing, server-killing, site-bring-down-ing-y turtles. >:[

on-topic... haha, we appreciate your enthusiasm, PoshSnivy, but I assure you, we're more than capable of defending ourselves when necessary. We're glad you enjoy NL! :3

Who even reads reviews nowadays. All you have to do is buy a game with Call of Duty or Halo in the title.

I would also like a Pros and Cons section.

I also think that there is occasionally bias in the reviews against certain companies. BPlus is all I can think of ATM, but there are more. It's not a major problem though, because there's definitely an overwhelmingly fair tone overall (They could've easily given SMB20th a 9/10).
It seemed to be odder back in the days of WiiWare World, where games by companies like Gameloft (shovelware) and High Voltage Software (not shovelware due to clear effort, but overall not so good) were quite hyped.

Words, talking

Please no "pros and cons" section. The scores are bad enough, let's not give people yet another excuse to judge a review without actually reading the review first.

In an ideal world NintendoLife would get rid of scores too. I hate that people care about those more than the hundreds of words above them.

I like Pros and Cons, but only so I know what to skim for when I'm in a hurry.

Well put. Glad we're on the same wavelength after all, and I appreciate the feedback. We all do. It's helpful, and it's nice to hear from may viewpoints.

I see a lot of requests for a pros and cons list. While I personally think that a score is sufficient, anyone who really wants one should voice their opinion in our feedback forum.

https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/feedback