Review scores and perceptions

[Erik_Twice]

While a more equitable coverage of games would be nice, I don't think it's an issue concerning coverage, rather, it's the poor quality of such coverage.

[Xeogred]

I'm basically on the same page as everyone else here. I probably haven't read a review in full since the magazine days (~2004?). I'll consider it when we have a scale that's not just 9-10.

It sucks how the average gamer buys into this though, on both ends. 9+'s are a must buy and if something gets a 5 or around there, the game will probably do horribly and everyone hates it.

[Violent By Design]

1) Out of ten, what score should be given to a good but unspectacular game?

6-7, 8 is kinda the middle point between what I'd consider a solid game and a spectacular game.

2) Out of ten, what score should be given to a really great game but not one of the best of gaming?

I'm a little confused by the wording of this question. A great game, but not one of the best in gaming? Wouldn't that describe what a 9/10 would be?

3) Out of ten, what score should be given to a technically competent but completely uninteresting game?

A 5/10 I suppose, though you've already given it a grade just by virtue of calling it uninteresting.


Ratings out of 10 are always messed up. I think a lot of people kinda think of ratings out of 10 the way they think of school. If something gets like a 6 or a 7, it is pretty bad because a 6 or a 7 on a test isn't very good. I give a lot of games that I would not call bad 5/10s, because to me a 5/10 really is just a an ok game, not bad but not something I'd recommend, but to most people a 5/10 is a disgraceful score.

Most gaming review sites and magazines are to blame for this as well of course, anything below a 7/10 is considered a bad game, and any major title is probably going to get an 8 or better.



I also rate games on how much I enjoy them because well, games are entertainment. I couldn't care less if a game had a high budget or not. If it's not fun, I'm giving it a 5 or less, which is why I'd have no problems calling Ocarina of Time a bad game, because I didn't like it at all.


A game I'd give a 5/10 would be something like Plants vs Zombies or Star Wars Angry Birds, not bad games, but I didn't love anything about them. They were decent ways to burn time, but it was rare I was having a lot of fun.