For those of you wondering what our Review Scores mean, we have provided an explanation below. We know our scale isn’t quite industry standard, so hopefully this clears things up. When choosing a review score we decided against too nuanced, since we didn’t want to attempt to rate games relative to one another, since it would become unmanageable, this is why we avoided the 100, and 20 points scales(9.1, 9.2, 9.3 is the 100-point scale and 8.5, 9.0, 9.5 is the 20-point). We also didn’t think there are enough distinctions of bad and good to justify a 10 point scale, whilst a 4 or 5 point scale did not offer enough ifferentiation.
There are some legacy reviews and those will stay the same, using their own individual scoring. However we will stick to the new format for all reviews going forward. We think the 7 point scale is just right, and we hope in time, our reviews will show you why.
Regular Reviews
The Bullet Point mumbers correspond to score numbers. We will only be using whole numbers, no .5 or .1.
- (Terrible) – Extremely poorly designed game that is likely unplayable and has severe flaws that make the experience simply awful. If it’s remembered at all, it will be as an example of something every developer should avoid. The game would be a walking technical disaster if it had a leg to stand on.
- (Bad) – Substandard in the strongest sense of the word. You can play it, but why would you want to? The game might have some redeeming qualities, but they might as well be Easter Eggs. It is likely riddled with technical issues.
- (Mediocre) – Close, but no cigar and most likely something you may want to take a pass on. A 3 could also mean that the game itself is good, but there are technical issues with it that really hamper the experience, and generally you should expect technical issues with these kinds of titles. These are typically the games that might be so bad they are good, but wait for the bargain bin before taking that gamble.
- (Average) – A solid game that has some issues that keep it from rising above and beyond. It won’t knock your socks off, and isn’t likely to win any awards, but if you’re a fan of the genre, it’s might be worth a look. Technical issues are likely.
- (Good) – A damn fine game. It’s not the kind of game that will make or break a console, but if you have the means to play it, you owe it to yourself to check it out. Only pass it up if you know this genre is not your cup of tea. Technical issues are likely minimal.
- (Great) – This is a system seller, no doubt about it, and you should definitely consider picking up whatever console it’s on to play it. Technical issues are minimal and most likely a non-issue because everything else in the game just overshadows any technical problems the game might have. This is a GoTY candidate and will be remembered in the years to come.
- (Outstanding) – This game is a life changer. It is the Gold standard by which all other games in the genre should be measured and even games from other genres should take note and learn lessons from this developer. Technical issues are virtually non-existent and the writing/visuals/sound and all other elements are near flawless. This game will go down in history.
Second Opinion Reviews
Sometimes, someone will post a review of a game and another Editor will wish to give a second opinion on, we will strive to meet the following criteria in these cases.
- The Titles will be Second Opinion: Review, to make it clear it is a second opinion
- It will have a clear link to the original review at the beginning or end of the review
- The will only be second opinions of original reviews from our site
- They will focus on information or opinions that differ from the original
- They will use the same scoring scale as the original review scale, posted above.
DLC Reviews
Reviewing DLC will use a different scale, posted below:
Buy – If you own the game, get this DLC as it significantly adds to the world/story/gameplay and may be essential for maximum enjoyment of the title.
Don’t Buy – The DLC adds nothing to the original title worth having and may be riddled with technical or other issues. This is more likely to detract from your experience with the game than anything else.
Fans Only – The DLC may add minor plot points or gameplay tweaks, or have some interesting items for the hardcore fans of the title. If you’re not obsessed with the universe or the gameplay, you may want to wait for a discount or avoid it altogether. You won’t miss anything essential.
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