Quality of Gamespot

Is it just me, or have the quality of reviews on this site gone to poop since Kasavin left?

The additional multimedia content, downloads and various other initiatives on the siteare all great. I like the amount of info, and general coverage of events in the industry, but the reviews, just, well suck. I am not talking about disagreeing with scores here or anything, but just the quality of the reviews themselves overall, from the weird graphical icons that just seem like some abortive attempt at a dashboard-type interface and, well, lacklustre reviewing overall that seems not to delve too deep into quite a few games, and seems an underlying fear to cut against preconceived public opinion of a title.

Anyway, just a feeling I have. I have been subscribing additionally to other magazines for better quality reviews, and find myself coming here more for community and multimedia and up to date news.

Anyonehave any similar feelings?

Personally I like the new review system and scoring, but I agree with you that there is a feel of degradation of reviews quality, I can't pinpoint a specific aspect but I just don't enjoy reading GS reviews as much as before (and I've been a round for many many years).
I do feel that Gamespot are much more affected by hype than before, which I find a bit disappointing.

There are two sites that I like their reviews more. One is IGN (I don't like the site in general but the occasional reviews I read there are quality) and specially Eurogamer.net which are number one today in quality of reviews in the gaming world. They successfully blend professional quallity writing with often a lighter tone.

I haven't really noticed a dip in quality. However, I always do tend to read more than one site's reviews as a general rule, in case certain biases might be present. Gamespot's reviews always seem accurate, concise, and point out the necessities without tending to go overboard on plot details or frills, which I appreciate.

an underlying fear to cut against preconceived public opinion of a title.blueness

There was lots of backlash against GS for certain review scores lately, so I'm not quite sure where you got this impression.

I'm not sure if it's a dip in quality or that a lot of people just expect to much. I find most of the GS reviews are pretty good, they normally have good content and do a good job explaing up, downs and overall feel for the games. I will be the first to say that I do not really read any reviews on other sites, might not know what I am missing?

This is just me, but I have a hard time believing a game such as this http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/puzzle/puzzlequestchallenge/review.html?sid=6180836 deserves a 9.0GameEpic

Why do you have a hard time believeing that? I am just curious is it because it dosent have Gow graphics or is just an arcade game. Seeing as i own about 28 or so 360 games lol and like 15 arcade games they are all great i dont understand why some people believe arcade games dont deserve high scores. If you can give a good reason why it doesnt deserve a 9.0 i will listen. btw i havent actually played the game i am just curious as to your reasoning.

This is just me, but I have a hard time believing a game such as this http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/puzzle/puzzlequestchallenge/review.html?sid=6180836 deserves a 9.0GameEpic

I have the game, for the DS, and it is one of the best puzzle game ever done. Bewejeled but with the depth of a rpg? it was pure genius!

Of course, grades must be considered in relation to their genre. Puzzle quest is a puzzle, it get 9.0 as a puzzle game. So do not expect super graphics cause that is not needed for a puzzle game, what you need is compelling gameplay that is varied, interesting and will suck people in. Puzzle quest with all its spells, spell research, monsters you can capure, mounts and so on definitly has that.

as for other reviews, I can't say much, they still seems quite informative, my beef is another, when they will re start doing humorous video reviews for the crappy games??

Come on! some of those videos are really great!