So I've been seeing a lot of reviews and such for early access games, the hades 2 early access reviews just came out. This isn't a bad thing, but when you think about it, these so called early access games get off lightly compared to games that don't have the early access label.
Baldurs gate 3 was early access since 2012 and the initial launch was complete trash. GS gave that game a 6/10 originally. Yet, 10 years later it's considered GOTY. Another game like hell blade doesn't have that early access label, but still gets updates and fixes anyways over time. Yet the only score that matters is the launch review.
I think there's a difference between a game that gets released with the idea that it's complete, versus a game that outright tells you that it's not finished.
BG3 wasn't early access until 2020, it wasn't even in development in 2012. I'm also not sure how giving an incomplete act 1 a 6/10 is going easy on it. Are HB2 patches going to add gameplay? A new story? These are the complaints I've seen regarding the game, from everything I've read it runs well with few bugs. The likelihood of HB2 doing anything major via patches is slim to none. But to your question, reviews matter to some and don't to others.
Just like anything in life.... whether reviews matter or not comes down to the amount of fucks being given. So, go by how many fucks you personally give about them and you will have the answer you seek.
They do matter as they can point out problems with the game as well as giving you an idea how it plays.
A great example of this is Cyberpunk. It was initially released in a bad state for some platforms and that needed to be pointed out. When fixes are made which improve the game then the review can be revisited.
There was a Batman game that was released on PC with bad framerates.
The reviews should be to warn people about things objective like this.
For Hellblade it is a six hour hour average game and that should be pointed out. Probably along the lines if you liked the first one you'll like this one but it won't change the minds of people who did not like the first.
They matter to me. Sometimes I want to know what I'm getting into because there are too many games to play and I want to use my time on the ones that suit me most. I also want to know if the game is going to be consistent with expectations I have throughout the game including later sections, and reviews are good for getting that info without spoiling much.
If it's review scores specifically, then those matter less because I'm going to be making up my own mind about what I see/hear/read and I may disagree with the review.
Honestly I wish there were more of them and I don't think there are enough reviews.
there's nothing wrong with taking in outside opinions (which is essentially what reviews are).. but ultimately, if you're truly invested/interested and have the opportunity, it's best to go form your own opinion..
in terms of System Wars, reviews still matter for bragging rights and fanboy arguments.. that's a key part of this forum..
I do still read reviews and they can influence my purchasing decisions. Depending on the source, they can be a good source of info. I don't agree that games in early access should be getting reviews though (and certainly not getting a score). It's early access. The game is not finished. A preview to give people a heads up on the state of the game in EA is no harm. but no final judgement should be made on it.
As for SW: Reviews are gospel. Specifically Gamespots reviews are gospel. They are the one source used for determining of something is a flop or not.
Like anything, it's yes and no. Yes they CAN be useful, but they can also lead you astray. The last few games I bought were highly rated, but were not actually fun to me. Obviously, playing the game for yourself is the best way to find out about a game. But with the ocean of games available, who has time to try them all? And even watching a video of gameplay isn't necessarily the same as playing. I avoided Darksiders and Fallout 3 after watching my roommate play, but really enjoyed them when I did. So in some regard, they are a necessity. As much as I don't like the idea of gamepass, it does offer a fairly low barrier to entry for trying certain games. I just wish they (all gaming companies) would have it to where you could rent any game. Charge a few bucks for two or three hours of gameplay, and have what you've already paid apply to the purchase of the game. If a game like HB2 can be finished in five hours, then it's worth $10.
But you hit on a topic I always wonder about. Are early access/perpetual development games a benefit, or bane? Having a game grow and improve over time is great, but has it helped add to the practice of releasing broken/unfinished games? Would you pay full price for a meal, only to be served a third of what was on the menu? And then have to return a month later for what was left out? That is, if the restaurant doesn't close in that time. The acceptance of buying incomplete products is one of the myriad reasons why modern gaming sucks, but I guess it works out sometimes. So the question becomes, is the overall practice worth the risk?
Yeah, I think they matter. You have to go in with the understanding that they are done by a person with preferences that might be different from yours, so it's good to read/watch multiple reviews, actually pay attention to what they describe and don't worry so much about the number at the end.
As for changes made to games later on, user reviews and some YouTubers will often go into that stuff. Look that up later.
I dunno. Some people see Senua's Sage getting a 6/10 and think that means GS gave it a 6/10. I see GS gave Senua's Saga and objectively I know an Xbox tax was applied. Disregarding my own experience entirely I know just seeing that it's AT LEAST an 8/10. Xbox tax is a wild card variable, seems to be directly correlate to the demoralizarion of Sony fanboys. And Sony fanboys have been pretty salty lately.
Does it matter?
Not for me, I got Game Pass I was going to see for myself and I absolutely loved it.
It'll probably matter more to those with low self-esteem that let other people's opinions about games dictate not only what they play but whether they'll be allowed to enjoy it. Why people would ever want to conform to such a miserable lot, I've no clue, just it probably has something to do with that low self esteem and lacking of independent critical thought.
Anyhow, I tried Hades when it was on Game Pass, got bored wirh it quickly, surprised given all the praise it got. There are other roguelikes I'd rather tackle, still never beat Enter The Gungeon and I'd rather get back to tackling that.
No. I've noticed looking at games myself tells me way more about them than what random people on the internet thinks.
It also doesn't help that 99.9% of reviewers have no fucking clue how to review.
It matters for sales though. They wouldn't be so keen about buying their game good scores from websites which they then spam all over their game ads otherwise.
Yes they matter, but only so far as the people who ACTUALLY review games instead of those who underhandedly promote or selectively cherry pick what to reveal to users about the game.
In that aspect, I'll say, reviews matter, but there aren't that many ACTUAL reviewers delivering the information these days.
You have to sift thru dishonest platform/Brand loyalists, franchise junkies & paid spokesmen before you can even take what a person says seriously in a game review, THAT is the hard part.
Is it just me, or does Xbox have the highest concentration of "reviews don't matter" peeps?
My fellow cows ignore the fact PS has a ton of PS exclusive reviews as well, inflating trash tier titles such as Stellar Blade.
People who say "reviews don't matter" miss the fact sometimes we're on the fence about something and not sure if something will be worth our time, so we "wait for the reviews" before making a decision.
If an Xbox player says they're never on the fence over making a decision, they're just in denial of the fact they may lean into reviews at times before making that decision.
Sure, it's wrong to lean on reviews entirely, but there are times when they are useful. Xbox has the highest concentration of "reviews don't matter" peeps because their own games consistently get the lowest reviews these days, and it's a coping mechanism to deny the relevance of such reviews.
Is it just me, or does Xbox have the highest concentration of "reviews don't matter" peeps?
Reviews don't matter, until something gets 85+ then they'll totally matter again
While we all fling shit at each other for the lulz, you really don't see as many people from Playstation, Nintendo or PC championing the "reviews don't matter" narrative, to the extent Xbox fannies champion it these days.
Gamepass is just becoming a daycare center for mediocrity tolerance.
You leave it here to spread how accurate my prediction were? Looks like you're my new Adoring Fan.
See the image, I understand any attention for you is good but one day you would learn contradicting yourself isn't a good thing.
My predictions were nearly spot on. You creating your fake reality of not understanding what i said, or take it out of context is your own issue, your own problems. Problems you should keep to yourself.
"Haunting, confrontational, and deeply cathartic all at once, Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is a stunning feat of video game art. Ninja Theory doesn't tiptoe around its heavy themes but welcomes them with well-honed empathy, tempered by an even keener creative edge this time around to deliver an unforgettable narrative adventure experience that's hard to watch, yet harder to turn away from." -- Jasmine Gould-Wilson [Full review]
Press Start Australia -- 9/10
"Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is the only first-party Xbox game this generation that has screamed, with any confidence, 'next-gen' to me. All at once it’s an audiovisual tour de force, a tremendous next chapter in Senua's battle that strikes many disparate moods, and although it doesn't take enormous swings to reinvent itself, its refinements make Saga a worthwhile successor to Senua's Sacrifice." -- Brodie Gibbons [Full review]
Game Informer -- 9/10
"Senua's Saga: Hellblade II's conclusion ends on another strong note, and despite my initial reservations about continuing Senua's story, I walked away happy to see her conquer new monsters, both literal and metaphorical. I'm pleased Ninja Theory avoided the temptation to blow up this formula into something far bigger than needed--this isn't Xbox's God of War; it's a better Hellblade. The first game is a famous example of not needing to be fun in the traditional sense to be engaging. This sequel sprinkles more broadly appealing thrills while retaining the thoughtful storytelling and artistry few triple-A games possess." -- Marcus Stewart [Full review]
IGN -- 8/10
"Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is another Viking-worthy feast for the senses that meets the high bar set by its predecessor, even if it never really manages to clear it." -- Tristan Ogilvie [Full review]
You leave it here to spread how accurate my prediction were? Looks like you're my new Adoring Fan.
See the image, I understand any attention for you is good but one day you would learn contradicting yourself isn't a good thing.
My predictions were nearly spot on. You creating your fake reality of not understanding what i said, or take it out of context is your own issue, your own problems. Problems you should keep to yourself.
I know its getting to you, own up to losing the bet and I'll stop. You make statement without evidence (because the evidence speaks for itself) and I have this.
Each time you reply to me, its just another opportunity to remind you and world how WRONG you are.
I will just reply with the image from now until tonight as I have work todo. So you choose if you want to keep seeing it.
"Haunting, confrontational, and deeply cathartic all at once, Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is a stunning feat of video game art. Ninja Theory doesn't tiptoe around its heavy themes but welcomes them with well-honed empathy, tempered by an even keener creative edge this time around to deliver an unforgettable narrative adventure experience that's hard to watch, yet harder to turn away from." -- Jasmine Gould-Wilson [Full review]
Press Start Australia -- 9/10
"Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is the only first-party Xbox game this generation that has screamed, with any confidence, 'next-gen' to me. All at once it’s an audiovisual tour de force, a tremendous next chapter in Senua's battle that strikes many disparate moods, and although it doesn't take enormous swings to reinvent itself, its refinements make Saga a worthwhile successor to Senua's Sacrifice." -- Brodie Gibbons [Full review]
Game Informer -- 9/10
"Senua's Saga: Hellblade II's conclusion ends on another strong note, and despite my initial reservations about continuing Senua's story, I walked away happy to see her conquer new monsters, both literal and metaphorical. I'm pleased Ninja Theory avoided the temptation to blow up this formula into something far bigger than needed--this isn't Xbox's God of War; it's a better Hellblade. The first game is a famous example of not needing to be fun in the traditional sense to be engaging. This sequel sprinkles more broadly appealing thrills while retaining the thoughtful storytelling and artistry few triple-A games possess." -- Marcus Stewart [Full review]
IGN -- 8/10
"Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is another Viking-worthy feast for the senses that meets the high bar set by its predecessor, even if it never really manages to clear it." -- Tristan Ogilvie [Full review]
You leave it here to spread how accurate my prediction were? Looks like you're my new Adoring Fan.
See the image, I understand any attention for you is good but one day you would learn contradicting yourself isn't a good thing.
My predictions were nearly spot on. You creating your fake reality of not understanding what i said, or take it out of context is your own issue, your own problems. Problems you should keep to yourself.
I know its getting to you, own up to losing the bet and I'll stop. You make statement without evidence (because the evidence speaks for itself) and I have this.
Each time you reply to me, its just another opportunity to remind you and world how WRONG you are.
I will just reply with the image from now until tonight as I have work todo. So you choose if you want to keep seeing it.
My score predictions were insanely close, and i was spot about it being minimal effort video game tech demo. At first we saw minimal effort video games made for gamepass, but in 2024 we began seeing tech demos. Kinda sad.
You leave it here to spread how accurate my prediction were? Looks like you're my new Adoring Fan.
See the image, I understand any attention for you is good but one day you would learn contradicting yourself isn't a good thing.
My predictions were nearly spot on. You creating your fake reality of not understanding what i said, or take it out of context is your own issue, your own problems. Problems you should keep to yourself.
I know its getting to you, own up to losing the bet and I'll stop. You make statement without evidence (because the evidence speaks for itself) and I have this.
Each time you reply to me, its just another opportunity to remind you and world how WRONG you are.
I will just reply with the image from now until tonight as I have work todo. So you choose if you want to keep seeing it.
My score predictions were insanely close, and i was spot about it being minimal effort video game tech demo. At first we saw minimal effort video games made for gamepass, but in 2024 we began seeing tech demos. Kinda sad.
See the image, I understand any attention for you is good but one day you would learn contradicting yourself isn't a good thing.
My predictions were nearly spot on. You creating your fake reality of not understanding what i said, or take it out of context is your own issue, your own problems. Problems you should keep to yourself.
I know its getting to you, own up to losing the bet and I'll stop. You make statement without evidence (because the evidence speaks for itself) and I have this.
Each time you reply to me, its just another opportunity to remind you and world how WRONG you are.
I will just reply with the image from now until tonight as I have work todo. So you choose if you want to keep seeing it.
My score predictions were insanely close, and i was spot about it being minimal effort video game tech demo. At first we saw minimal effort video games made for gamepass, but in 2024 we began seeing tech demos. Kinda sad.
see image
Nothing to see other than me being right, which has triggered you, and you've been shook for days now.
My predictions were nearly spot on. You creating your fake reality of not understanding what i said, or take it out of context is your own issue, your own problems. Problems you should keep to yourself.
I know its getting to you, own up to losing the bet and I'll stop. You make statement without evidence (because the evidence speaks for itself) and I have this.
Each time you reply to me, its just another opportunity to remind you and world how WRONG you are.
I will just reply with the image from now until tonight as I have work todo. So you choose if you want to keep seeing it.
My score predictions were insanely close, and i was spot about it being minimal effort video game tech demo. At first we saw minimal effort video games made for gamepass, but in 2024 we began seeing tech demos. Kinda sad.
see image
Nothing to see other than me being right, which has triggered you, and you've been shook for days now.
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