Topic: What Do You Want Out of Gaming Reviews?

Basically, when you read a review of a game, what do you generally look for? Also, do you think game reviews should change to meet what you look for?

Personally, I just look for what's in the game so I can decide for myself whether or not it would interest me. More importantly, though, I look to see whether or not something is completely and utterly broken, since I can't get that from a video game trailer (usually). As for the second question, no, I don't think reviews should change, since that's already what most reviewers focus on.

Depends on the game.

OMG GRAPHICS. but seriously I see if the game play is amazing and will draw me in, if it is 8-bit an awesome gameplay ill buy it, if its REAL but is to repetitive I wont, basicly I review it myself I cant really trust anyone these days except MAYBE NL, NP, and Famitsu

Usually I read them to get an idea about the game if I dont know about it to see if its something that peaks my interests. I rarely look at the scores given since most of the time I disagree with them. I like the read the summery of the game more than anything.

I read reviews that take more of a player standpoint than a reviewer standpoint. Oftentimes, reviews will talk about technical things and other stuff that I really don't care about (I.E. framerate, engines, long recaps of previous history of the game or studio). When reading a review I mainly want these things:

• What is the game about?
• How does it play?
• Features
• Is it fun? Revolutionary? Awe inspiring?
• Rundown of graphical, sound, playability etc. capabilities
• And ultimately: Is it worth the money?
  Other things are nice to add in also, but this is what I care most about.

I read them for an analysis of the game - What is it like themetically/ philisophically, how it fits into the broader gaming industry/ picture, and an analysis of how the writer feels the pieces come together to create a bit of interactive art.

Only Edge really does that, mind.

Otherwise, I'll flick through a lot of reviews to get an idea of a game I'm on the fence about, to see second opinions of games I've already played, or just get a sense for what kind of games are popular with critics at that point in time, and which aren't.

The one thing I always want to know but isn't always mentioned is the music. I want to know if it's actually good enough to make me want to play the game just to hear it or if it's more of an annoyance that will make me want to turn the volume off (and if there is an option to turn off the music but keep the sound effects in that case).

I also want to know if the game has bugs or long loading screens or anything annoying like that, because I have very little patience for that sort of thing.

I read reviews to stop me from buying mediocre or awful games all the time. The most important thing to look for in a review in my opinion is whether the game will be groundbreaking or perhaps game play length (since it's always nice to have something to do the very next day). Another important factor would be replayability!

Not going to lie unless I'm REALLY interested in the game being reviewed I only read the "Conclusion" paragraph and look at the score. That said replay value is a huge selling point for me when it comes to games. I hate buying a game and beating it once and then it just sits there collecting dust.

Basically i want to know how it feels to play the game.
While gameplay videos give me some basic idea about it written reviews can go more in depth with that. If parts of the game don't feel slick it pushes me off a bit.

If there is a demo i'd like the review to tell me if the demo gives a good impression of the the full game.
I'd like to see if it'll give me a fair challenge, if there are any major flaws in the game, long loading times mentioned and roughly how long it takes to complete the game.
What would also be great is an impression on how hard it would be to pick it up again if you haven't played it for a while.

I've got a problem with reviews of "casual" games. There are some games i only want to play in short bursts. I'd like the review to keep that in mind. So aside from a "hardcore" review there could also be a "casual" version.

Agreed with @briunj04.

A lot of things but one thing is a score that accurately reflects the review. If as reviewer only talks about the positive and makes it sound like a game has no negatives but gives it 6/10 anyway, then thats no good. It may well deserve 6/10 but the review needs to be appropriately written too.

No, I can't play every game to find out whether its good or not. I'm not going to go buying games that are potentially bad. So reviews have to be trustworthy.

I've had much more fun with a game rated 5/10 on NintendoLife than I have a game rated 10/10 on NintendoLife on the same service. The 10/10 game may be technically better and more original but still, the 5/10 game appealed to me more and gave me many more hours playtime and enjoyment despite being just a port of a game I never played before.

I read reviews to make sure its a game I would want to buy and something I often find is missing from reviews is the games length, I think that more reviews should talk about this especially with rpgs. When I read a review of an rpg, I'll want to know specifically how many hours long it is and what would how different play styles make the game longer or shorter. I like to know this with most games but rpgs especially as they're often long games and I'd want to how long it is so that I have an idea of how much time I would need to beat it and when would be a good time to get it to make it easier for me to compete it without leaving it for ages.

Although, I often like to just read reviews to see what different people think of different games even if its a game I don't care about. For example, I read every review in each issue of Official Nintendo Magazine and then look at other reviews of those games on the internet, I don't just do this for games I read reviews of in ONM though. Does that sound a little weird?

@Bass_X0 I agree with the first paragraph, its annoying when a review gives a game a score that doesn't reflect what they said about the game even if it deserves the score. For example, the reviewer of Mario kart wii on this site gave it a 9/10 which I agree with but they were so negative about it and made it seem like it didn't deserve that score. Reviews like that seem pretty rare on this site though.

Well, if I see a picture or video of the game online and it looks fun I then set in my mind that it is a good game. Then I go around to sites that reviewed the game. If the game looked fun in the video and got a bad review I typically insult the reviewer, claim they are biased and quit visiting the site.

Luckily Nintendolife will never stoop that low, right?

I don't want opinions. Just the facts. Then I'll draw my own conclusions. I'm not hung up on the numbers (5.4/10) or letters (B+). In fact, I'd rather they not be listed at all.

I will, however, take opinions from friends, coworkers, etc when I KNOW we share similar interests and I can trust their perspective. Random guys on teh interweb? Not so much. (sorry random guys).

It's not to much of a problem on this site but I hate when I read a review and they keep comparing a game to what it's like on another console.

puns, people taking offence at the scores and textual stimulation.

Well, one thing I DON'T like is when the reviewer is excessively critical about everything.

Basically just say why it's good or bad, have the score make sense considering the review (unlike that one Super Mario Galaxy review that was half complaining despite being a 9.5) and for it to be explained well and in general to not be stupid or filled with hilarious contradictions (the last 2 things are the leading killer of a reviewer's credibility).

And for the reviewer to be willing to explain his or herself for the controversial games. Especially if they are willing to look at things from a fan's perspective of something they don't like or vice versa.

...in theory. In theory, this is what I want. In reality I listen to fans and friends FAAAAR more often than even the few non-comedic reviewers I consistently like. That's how I got into World of Goo and Muramasa, my two favorite Wii games not published by Nintendo. So I think that works.