Sifting Through Reviews

(Just so you all know something screwy happened with the text in between the two Joystiq pictures so just highlight it if you want to read it, it's a formatting error I can't seem to fix.)

When it comes to the purchase of a video game the majority of customers want to know a few things before they hand over their money. It doesn't matter how much you have been anticipating the newest Halo game, if reviews say that after the third level your Xbox 360 catches fire are you really going to spend $60 on it? The answer for sane gamer would be no, so how do you know if a game is good? And which outlets are going to be to your benefit? Well there are probably close to, if not more than, a hundred different gaming sites and magazines that you can get your advice from. However, I have found that over the course of time some companies become more reviewing for the sake of garnering readers than telling the readers what they want to know.

There are three main sites that I have used for review purposes and any game related news as well. Sites like IGN, Gamespot, Gamespy, and 1UP are still common gaming sites that have huge fan bases but all of them seem to have fallen to a corporate feel. The reviews have lost some of the flare that they had back when certain staff members were around and the love for the common gamer appears to be dwindling. The three sites I mentioned before feel like they are written by video game players that know what other gamers like to play. Giant Bomb, Joystiq, and Destructoid are sites that allow gamers to read up on upcoming games they are interested in and get a gamer's opinion on the game, not a reviewer's.

Joystiq is probably the most well known of the three sites, although Giant Bomb is quickly gaining popularity. Joystiq follows a blog-like format that is updated on a consistent basis, usually every 30 minutes or so, and is filled with inside news, dirt, and random tidbits. Joystiq is usually one of the first sites I go to if there is a rumor floating around about any new game or system. The reason for that is because Joystiq usually has some sort of developing story up minutes after the news is released. But I am not here to sing the praises of Joystiq's fantastic reporting, instead I am going to talk about Joystiq's reviews. Joystiq is one of the very few media outlets that does not score its reviews of games. Instead Joystiq reviewers deliver a very colloquial and honest review of the game. Reviewers on Joystiq blatantly state what they enjoyed about the game and what they thought was in need of fixing. If a game was hyped up before its release Joystiq reviewers have no problem saying that it wasn't what they hoped it would be right in the opening statement.

I feel as though this gives readers an open look as to the thought process of the reviewer. Right of the bat a reader can understand where the reviewer is coming from and does not need to bog through the politically correct nonsense of "well if you take away the hype the game got, and its development time, and what makes it bad...". Readers can expect a much more comfortable review style than what you may find on IGN or 1UP. To me it has always felt that Joystiq reviews its games like any other outlet would but they interject thoughts that go through the minds of every gamer but are not usually PC to say during a review. Such as saying that they are not sure if Demon's Souls deserves a high score because of its brutal difficulty. Go ahead and check out Joystiq next time you're curious about a game and I am sure you'll walk away with a different insight than most reviews give.

Destructoid is another blog-esque website that always manages to provide insightful reviews that, similar to Joystiq, feel like they have been written by gamers not writers. I am not as dedicated to Destructoid as I am to Giant Bomb and Joystiq but from what I've read their reviews always seem to have very opinionated and justifiable stance on games. When they give a popular game a bad score their review is 100% able to back up the reasons why the reviewer disliked it. A perfect example of that is Brutal Legend, while some outlets dish out 8s and 9s for the game Destructoid gave it a 6 and provided ample reason why it deserved its average score. I also like the way Destructoid places a meaning next to every score as a way to allow people to know what a 6 means as opposed to an 8. Since many readers are lead to believe that a 6 is immediately a bad score it is nice to have a disclaimer saying that a 6 is by no means an awful score for a game to receive. From what I have read on Destructoid I would say they are a company of gamers who truly understand what gamers want to hear in their reviews, no bullshit and straightforward scores regardless of hype and advertising.

While Joystiq and Destructoid are both great sites filled with knowledgeable reviews no other site has astonished me more than Giant Bomb. Founded by Jeff Gerstmann and Ryan Davis, former Gamespot employees, Giant Bomb is quickly becoming one of the most popular, passionate, and dedicated video game websites I have ever had the pleasure of surfing. With the small yet somewhat famous staff of former Gamespot employees, that also includes Brad Shoemaker and Vinny Caravella, Giant Bomb offers some of the most entertaining video content such as their Quick Looks, Endurance Run, and hilarious behind the scenes footage. These videos all help you get to know the writers better and make you feel more comfortable when you read their reviews. The reviews on Giant Bomb are top notch and always seem to be able to sway my opinion on a game if I am on the fence about it.

Giant Bomb and its staff go out of their way to provided reviews only of games that people actually care about. There is no sifting through mediocre games that you have never heard of; instead there are the games you care about coupled by some interesting hidden gems and just plain awful releases. The simple scoring system on Giant Bomb makes it easy to see a score and immediately understand the reviewer's opinion. Giant Bomb operates on a 5 star system ; 1 star means stay away, 2 means only die hard fans will like it, 3 is a rental, 4 is great with flaws, and 5 is a must buy.

Like with the aforementioned sites Giant Bomb feels very colloquial in its writing which makes it easier to understand how you as a gamer would feel about whatever game they are reviewing. Giant Bomb is without a doubt my favorite site to check up on for reviews of new releases, and the entertaining video content just makes it that much better.

Of course there is more to making a decision about a game than simply reading someone else's opinion. After you read a review try to take into account your own opinions and preferences in video games. If you hate playing games that involve swords and shields don't go out buying a hack and slash game just because it got a great review. These reviews are written to help gamers make up their minds on games they do not want to immediately spend money on but want to buy eventually. If you are still unsure of a game's worth go out and rent it.