Why a high rated game can be unenjoyable and lower rated game can be more enjoyable

I see a lot of people, myself included talking about scores this, reviews that and blah, blah, blah, but does any of that shit really mean anything?

After taking a spin on my Dreamcast tonight and playing a few hours of Blue Stinger it dawned on me, this is a completely mediocre, janky and corny game and I'm aware that it is, but the entire time I was playing I was completely enthralled with what was going on and my involvement in it. It was entertaining, I didn't want to stop playing and I was thoroughly enjoying it.

Then you have a game like Uncharted 4, and don't start, this isn't about Uncharted 4 but rather an example due to its acclaim, relevance and general appeal. It's a well made game, it's got high production values, great acting, good graphics, decent enough gameplay but throughout the numerous hours I spent with it I didn't actually enjoy it or have any want to continue, in general I was thinking about when I was going to stop playing while playing, as if I were at work staring at the clock.

The Order: 1886, Dead Rising 4, The Great Escape, Smuggler's Run, The Thing, Quantum Break, Dead or Alive Xtreme 3, Armed and Dangerous, Blood Wake etc..

Is there something beautiful in the so called "mundane", the "average", something that games praised to the high heavens simply do not and cannot capture because they are too "perfect"? As if a picture of a model devalues her natural and beautiful features because she has been photoshopped to remove all her imperfections which actually define her. Is there something meaningful in the flaws, something human, something certain people are only able to see worth in and appreciate with these "lesser" games?

Playing games like the above invokes a deep seated connection to what games are and have been, imperfect, flawed, mundane, much like many of us as people and the world around us, there's something humanizing about it..

I don't know about you guys, but it caused me to think and reflect, and I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

Wow.. Haven't heard this thread before... Get original.

There's been many a time where a game has been reviewed/received poorly, where I have thoroughly enjoyed it more than your 9/10 or 10/10s. That's they beauty of personal preference. I only check reviews to see if there is any glaring technical issues. If the game seems reasonably on point, ill give it a shot at least.

I like a lot of indie games much more than high end aaa games usually. I'm into unique games and not the same gameplay rehashed with slightly better grapgics over and over again.

It's all about expectations. Many people claim Uncharted 2 is a masterpiece but I honestly didn't like it that much, I thought TLOU was a much better game from Naughty Dog.

You are way overthinking this. The answer is: Opinions. That's all that a review score is, and reviewers are just people. That's really all there is to it. It's hilarious that you're trying to make it into an almost philosophical debate. There are very well made games that you won't actually like that much, but their perceived lack of flaws is not the reason. Likewise, there are flawed games that you'll like, but their flaws are not the reason for that, either. As the old sayings go, different strokes for different folks. Whatever floats your boat. Whatever blows your skirt up. Whatever. It really isn't any deeper than that.

Shouldn't this be in the Games discussion ?

I think it has more to do with execution than overall flare. Excellent gameplay mechanics, emergent gameplay, even just some stunning colorful graphics can be a deciding factor.

Of course it doesn't mean anything but when you're posting on a forum section called System Wars, not taking scores into consideration would be dumb.

Maybe I'm not overthinking this at all, maybe you're underthinking the philosophical realities to everything about life in general and the way in which it equally applies to gaming.

Maybe there's something to it, something to it that causes you to be more attracted to the girl next door rather than a super model, something with a flaw that builds character or is defining about another person, something about your car that is off but you wouldn't trade it for one that is perfect. Take the turing test for example, the reason AI has continually failed it is due to the oddities in the replies that set the AI apart from humans, there's a distinction in the answers given that do not reflect human traits, answers conceived too quickly, too perfectly, without enough or proper emotion, you can tell it's foreign just by talking to it. Maybe this translates into games that have more and more of the human traits and flaws of development eradicated to seek perfection, and it becomes foreign itself.

When something is made perfect or seeks perfection it is by definition less defined because its flaws and faults are more and more removed, in a game this can dehumanize the experience and like the turing test cause a disconnect between the player and the software.

I just finished Front Mission Evolved not 5 minutes ago and greatly enjoyed it. Pretty generic story (it leaves a lot to be desired considering the IP it comes from) but some fantastic mech combat. Scored 5.5/10 on Gamespot. Certainly a solid 8/10 game. It runs smoothly and does what it advertises.

I hope it's not the last Front Mission game because we need more "realistic" 'mech stuff in gaming and less of this over the top anime mecha stuff.

Commando is fun. Citizen Kane is boring.

Lol somehow I knew you were going to bash UC here. So predictable...

But yeah I've had some of my greatest game experiences with small indie and flawed games. Experiences where you can not stop playing because of how much fun you're having. But I've also had that experience with UC2 for example and it's one of my most cherished gaming experiences of last gen. So highly acclaimed games can also induce such a thing. There's nothing on the score of a game that says you will or not enjoy it, that's why people are different and enjoy different things.

Now for SW purposes UC4 owns all those games you listed.

I quite like Citizen Kane but was expecting a lot more from the so-called best film of all time.

It's mostly beret wearing assholes because ze art makes them feel important.

Commando is better.

Personal preference, my dear.

That's because the general consensus is that UC never deserved such a high score, and was way overrated

That's what it boils down to.

Many of those universally praised games end up being a massive disappointment, their popularity just feels artificial. Unpopular games have the ability to surprise you though because you have lower expectations and people generally wait to play them when they're much cheaper, which happens pretty quickly with lower commercially performing games. So, there's a tremendous sense of appreciation and value attached to some of those games when you find one you like.

Fixed.

Another uncharted hate thread by the same butthurt lemm.

Is not about Uncharted but out of all sony games from 4 different generations you have to pick Uncharted 4. Hahahaa

Way to justify Quantum Break scores,let me downplay Uncharted 4 high score and toss Quantum Break as something better than the score suggest...hahahaaa

No that is the general consensus around any one who HATE Uncharted lemmings in special,the fun part is how they defend Gears and Quantum Break trying to act as if they are better than the score suggest...hahahaha

The game won people choice here and outside as well wonder why if the general consensus was that it never deserve the high score..lol

One and done. Pack it up.

Prediction: Tales from fastrobby's lemmy ass

It's like people don't understand that these reviews are the opinion on a subjective matter in the enjoyment of a game.. Stop freaking putting these scores and reviews on a pedestal, they are meant to be a buyers guide.. Not some stupid fanboy squabbling argument on how good or bad the game you like is.

@dynamitecop: you simply get to use your imagination more in some medicore games.

High rated games can get you mad if the type of gameplay doesnt cater to your imagination , while playing cuase its easier to feel forced to follow their intended way of playing etc

Its why in a untechnical way destiny is one my fav shooting games even tho i agree it shuddnt be scored high

Score is always a outside looking in perpective.. well atleast it should be.

Its like how i rather drive around aimlessly in gta than actually progress somtimes

Or when i almost bought batman just fly around the city in nice graphics while i smoke my spliff

This would have been an awesome thread if you didn't bring your Uncharted butthurt into it. Reviews are personal opinions and obviously like every personal opinion you'll find people who disagree and that's fine.

Great when the next sony game flops i want to see you using this argument to defend the game.

Among who?

@dynamitecop:

Because a game with low reviews lets the player enjoy the game without feeling subconscious about the rating. Because the gamer who can't handle that the game got really great scores is a little bitch.

yeah,sometimes.That Rarely happens with me tho.

I liked his other 80s action movies (Terminator, Predator, Running Man, Conan)

...but Commando was just way too silly. One guy taking out a whole island of enemies...ugh.

general public. the gameplay was mediocre, read topics.

Link?

Read topics where? do you have quantifiable proof or are you talking out of your butthurt lem? UC4 won best 2016 game here by popular vote so that's a topic that contradicts your butthurted assessment. Also it has better user score in metacritic than the highest rated xbone game this year (Forza) so I guess that makes Forza even worse than mediocre.

@dakur:

The scores alone speak volumes of how awesome it is.

you could have just replaced the entirety of your original post with "personal opinion" and saved yourself and all of us the trouble.

JRPGs are rated too highly

If you're taking away that this thread has anything to do with Uncharted 4 itself beyond the clearly explained 'perfected' game example, what's being discussed is miles beyond your levels of mental comprehension.

Depends on how many sources you're looking at - a single source is unreliable, multiple sources are more reliable and form a consensus. There is no real absolute though, as I think OoT is actually not even the best Zelda game, never mind the best game.

I hardly take reviews seriously these days TBH.

... Huh? When have I attacked or defended a game to begin with on SW?

reminds me of watching Trump supporters being asked where they got their facts from and they say the twitters and the facebooks.

The bold is awesome. Who did you ask, your local shopkeeps? People on public transport? Guy behind the bar?

@dynamitecop: I get where you're coming from. For me, The Order 1886 was a perfect example. That being said, I only paid $10 for it so that likely made it more palpable

I agree with you except for blood wake. That game was shit. You may have a Picasso after all.

Really? You didn't like it, I thought it was great fun. When was the last time you played it?

When I got my xbox a few months after launch I believe? I remember having that and Halo: CE. Halo was amazing....Blood wake sucked.

That's usually the case actually. Gravity Rush 2 got a high rating but I'll bet you I won't enjoy it.

Strange, I've never actually met someone who had something negative to say about the game outside of reviews.

Long as you enjoy it who cares. The reason reviews take away from the game, as others opinions do, is because they tell you what your experience should be like. You know what you like, **** everything else.

this form, like I said read the topics here... Except for cows, most people thought the gameplay was mediocre, and mostly looked good. It was boring with times, and shouldn't have gotten a 10.

So the small vocal minority then. Gotcha. What happened to the general public? You never expanded on this. Is it because I also went out to the general public and they were telling me you were talking out your lem ass? Discuss, they seemed pretty confident though. This one bus driver had some lewd stories about you, lem.