How are we supposed to take review scores seriously?

I mean really, when Halo 3 gets 9.5 and CoD 4 gets 9.0 but the later gets the "best 360 game of the year" award.

I'm not saying that Halo 3 was more deserving, I just think it's curious that's all.

I see your point.

Perhaps because everyone expected Halo to be great, and CoD 4 was a surprise. That's the only thing I can think of.

I see your point.

Perhaps because everyone expected Halo to be great, and CoD 4 was a surprise. That's the only thing I can think of.

psymon_05

I don't see how that would affect their decision.

It does seem illogical. The answer probably lies in the fact that the review is written by a single editor, but the Game of the Year is chosen by a group, which may have a differing majority opinion to the one reviewer.rsiedelmann

That is exactly what I'm talking about which leads right back to my original question: " How are we supposed to take review scores seriously?"

It does seem illogical. The answer probably lies in the fact that the review is written by a single editor, but the Game of the Year is chosen by a group, which may have a differing majority opinion to the one reviewer.rsiedelmann

That is exactly what I'm talking about which leads right back to my original question: " How are we supposed to take review scores seriously?"

viggo27

Don't take them very seriously at all. Given that scores are given more or less based on a number of factors, a number of which can be viewed as time sensitive, scores really aren't as important to the whole thing as people make them out to be, anyways.

At least, that's how I feel.

Scores aside, the fact that Call of Duty 4 came out on top in a category with The Orange Box in it is mind-boggling. I didn't find Call of Duty that great back in 2003 and four years and four games later, I still don't get it. Especially considering that Call of Duty 4 plays exactly like the original. The Orange Box simply destroys it, I don't even find this an opinion.

People go nutty over numbers.fathoms_basic

are you supposed to take everyone's opinon seriously?

Games are no different and depending who the reviewer is could drastically change the score of a game. If someone that likes realistic shooters over sci fi things were to rate COD4 and Halo 3, you'd see scores slightly switched

it's up to you to decide who you trust

are you supposed to take everyone's opinon seriously?

Games are no different and depending who the reviewer is could drastically change the score of a game. If someone that likes realistic shooters over sci fi things were to rate COD4 and Halo 3, you'd see scores slightly switched

it's up to you to decide who you trust

smerlus

exactly these are people we are talking about not some authority who can be wrong or right about something. One person reviews the games but the group makes GOTY decisions.

Perhaps because everyone expected Halo to be great, and CoD 4 was a surprise. That's the only thing I can think of.

psymon_05

Scores aside, the fact that Call of Duty 4 came out on top in a category with The Orange Box in it is mind-boggling. I didn't find Call of Duty that great back in 2003 and four years and four games later, I still don't get it. Especially considering that Call of Duty 4 plays exactly like the original. The Orange Box simply destroys it, I don't even find this an opinion. UpInFlames

Agreed. I could see any one of the three new games in The Orange Box putting up an even fight against CoD4, but all of them combined? That's just an utter massacre. That CoD4 was still put on top simply boggles my mind.

Agreed. Numbers are silly, and I can't believe so many sites are still using them.

Gamespot had the right idea earlier this year to drop down to 0.5 increments, but I still think it's too much.

Ebert's four star reviews give enough sense of quality at a glance, though I don't think half stars are needed. Daily Radar, quality of their reviews notwithstanding, had the best idea years ago with their Dud/Miss/Hit/Direct Hit scores, since it also encouraged reading the review in question as well as acknowledging that a high score is a high score whether it happens to be 5% over another or not.

I mean, is there really that much difference between a game that gets an 8.5 or a game that gets a 10? I'd be just as happy lumping Mass Effect, Bioshock, Halo 3, CoD4, Forza 2 and Assassin's Creed together and slapping them with a Direct Hit, since they're all great games well worth playing, and having to quantify something subjective is silly, especially when you start narrowing that down.

"How are we supposed to take review scores seriously? "

I think you are taking them too seriously. They are just one guys opinion.

The numerical value isn't that important to me. I trust more a honest opinion from one of the many great posters around here than a score.

I don't take review scores seriously here. Any site that gives all the Halo series almost perfect scores, and Oblivion such high scores, instantly nullifies any credibility. I usually just read all the reviews, but I think the last one I read had some minor spoilers, so I'm dubious even to read the reviews now.

I like the forums here though!