I can name a handful of games that got 8.5 but are extremely great games. Of course, this is my opinion, but I'd like to think I'm a very very picky gamer and I watch where I spend my money. I dont just buy craptastic, shovelware, and things that get hype but dont deserve the praise. Borderlands, FF13, Condemned Series, are some seriously great games yet they still score an 8.5.. which isn't bad.. but remember to "people's minds" it's not AAA. People want to hear and see that "AAA." If a game doesn't get a majority of AAA ratings.. it's a flop.. I know.. sad.. Alan Wake, I believe falls into this category.
Reviewers/critics complain the combat is too simple and repetitive.. but why would you want an overtop combat system when the protagonist is just an author in a twin peaks setting.. This isn't silent hill with an axe.. or resident evil with a bazooka... let alone Alone in the Dark with a jacket full of tape, homemade products, ready to be thrown at monsters in the night. And 2/3 of those games flopped. So why would you want some over-the-top, overdone combat system? I think AW's combat system is just fine and suits the game well. Keep in mind, this game was developed like 5 years ago.. so Remedy defnitely had to adjust the best they could along with the technological times.. where games like Gears of War 2, Uncharted 2, MGS4 keep pushing the envelope constantly. I think they adapted well.. and a nearly 5 year old game, looks next-gen. How many games developed within the past 2 years.. coming out looking like garbage? Plenty of those games.. plenty see the life of the store shelf.. when they shouldn't. One will argue.. but but... it has been 5 years.. AW should be the next God Given Uncharted 2 calibur game.. It probably is, in the eyes of someone that can truly appreciate a game like Alan Wake.
I have been playing Borderlands heavily in the past few days.. and by golly.. this game only got an average of 8-8.5?If you notice.. a lot of reviewers/critics picked Borderlandsas one of their favorites of 2009, moreover the big titles like Uncharted 2. Level design, RPG/leveling system, presentation, gameplay are extremely well done. Sure, it lacks an impactful story like you would find in Mass Effect games.. but a game like this doesn't really need that kind of writing. More people should be researching, looking into games.. and giving them a shot.. not bashing it because an opinion of a reviewer said.. "hey.. this game has so many pros, so little cons..but I'm a bias.. stuck-up reviewer.. I'm gonna give it less than AAA.. just because I can." Looking back at some Gamespot scores, and other reviewers.. games back then were getting easy 10s.. even Soul Calibur which was awesome, but by no means a 10/10... I get why they're setting the bar high.. but give credit where it deserves. I shoulda blog this but hey.. I had to say it.. haha :P
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