tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4625171860671748699.post6650650805822625873..comments2024-01-30T18:06:40.312-08:00Comments on Up late talking games & writing? You're...: Burning The WitcherBrad Gallawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09452185302281177580noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4625171860671748699.post-19057596979823883742012-05-03T23:11:55.528-07:002012-05-03T23:11:55.528-07:00@Chalgyr
Thanks for the considered response, I mo...@Chalgyr<br /><br />Thanks for the considered response, I most certainly will check out your reviews. <br /><br />I was thinking over what I posted last night, and I think perhaps the best way for me to get my point across, and propose a notion which I'm pretty sure Brad is in complete agreement with, is as follows; it's all about the use of a scale.<br /><br />What I mean by that is that I too enjoy reading a heavily opinionated review, but in instances such as that, and Bissell's piece is a perfect example, don't grade the game. The second you assign a score, the implication is that you must therefore have a frame of reference to which you are measuring the game. <br /><br />I also don't enjoy highly technical reviews, or ones that overtly wear their component breakdown on their sleeves, but who said there isn't room for opinion and perspective to play nice? Not kissing Brad's ass here, and I'm sure it's a pleasant ass to kiss and all, but that's precisely what I enjoy about his reviews. His opinion always strongly flavours his take on a game, but I always get the sense that he's also trying to be as balanced and fair as possible, and keeping in mind his approach to similar games in the past.<br /><br />I get that it's a preference thing, I suppose I'm just toying still with the notion that, just sometimes, a reviewer can actually just be plain wrong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4625171860671748699.post-19630852938002210602012-05-03T10:34:27.378-07:002012-05-03T10:34:27.378-07:00@Anonymous -
As I first read that response, I fou...@Anonymous -<br /><br />As I first read that response, I found myself a bit conflicted. I agree with a good deal of what you said in there, but in the end - I do view myself as a typical gamer, average Joe sort. I write reviews (no clue if you'd like them - I wrote one for Kingdoms of Amular if you're curious) - and I do try to break them down ways that allow me to identify different parts of the game (graphics, sound/music, gameplay, intangibles) - but I've read plenty of others out there who strongly hate those kinds of technical breakdowns or numeric systems. I think what it boils down to is a matter of preference.<br /><br />That said, I do agree with your combat example as well. In my Skyrim review (I suddenly feel like I'm advertising my site here - I certainly don't mean to), I did compare and contrast elements of combat from Skyrim to Amular and what worked for me personally and what did not.<br /><br />However, Reviews are in fact opinions. A game may have technical proficiency in graphics, but maybe the colors or effects really bothered the gamer. I know I really enjoyed Amular's color scheme and graphics (despite the technical issues associated with lot and LOTS of texture pop-in), but I loved the vibrant colors and the activity I saw on screen - where as I know a few others referred to the game as a visually horrific love child of World of Warcraft and Fable.<br /><br />I did not mean for my reply to get so long - my apologies on that front. I do think you made some excellent points, and I'm glad to have read them. <br /><br />I guess I am saying I personally have no problem reading a review that is heavily opinionated, as long as reasons are given, because I realize that gaming experiences vary from one person to another, and I would much rather read what someone has to say than not, even if I don't agree with it.Chalgyrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10879608925209948366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4625171860671748699.post-68034782353228637672012-05-03T09:45:04.410-07:002012-05-03T09:45:04.410-07:00I think the crux of the issue is this; let's t...I think the crux of the issue is this; let's tread a little more carefully with this 'a review is just an opinion' notion. As tired as I am of reading the baseless and vitriolic response of the fanboys, so am I equally tired of reviewers hiding behind this convenient excuse. <br /><br />There is a clear difference between an opinion column, and a review, and it's something I'd like to see discussed far more frequently than it is. If we don't accept this, we are essentially admitting that nothing separates a reviewer from the opinion of the average Joe. Surely reviewers should hold themselves to a higher standard? Possess the ability to wield objectivity as keenly as they do language? How about consistency?<br /><br />Read the good Mr Hunter's review of TW2 and Amalur side by side. If you can convince me he used the same approach, the same scale; that he broke down both games into their components and weighed each fairly, then you are clearly a better man than I.<br /><br />How about a reviewer who is able to put his own personal view on a game into perspective, and recognise where his response to the game doesn't necessarily mean that game is objectively bad. Now there's a reviewer I'd like to meet. There's a difference between combat being broken, for example, and simply not in a particular style that you might enjoy. The best reviewers are able to recognise the difference between the two.<br /><br />Heaven forbid reviewers should ever admit to a modicum of accountability.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4625171860671748699.post-64680311009890309032012-05-02T13:03:54.716-07:002012-05-02T13:03:54.716-07:00Glad to see that I wasn't the only one to give...Glad to see that I wasn't the only one to give up on the game around the six hour mark. It looks beautiful, but I found it boring and overly complicated.<br /><br />Tom Bissell also wrote a good column about it this morning at the Grantland site.<br /><br />http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7878694/on-cd-projekt-game-witcher-2Jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02175303903143322254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4625171860671748699.post-67391262146271082422012-05-01T13:03:17.136-07:002012-05-01T13:03:17.136-07:00I think your statements are definitely fair. What...I think your statements are definitely fair. What a lot of people forget is that game reviews are opinions. Sometimes something clicks for the reviewer, sometimes it doesn't. I haven't played Witcher 2 yet - I did play and enjoy the first one, but I'll admit - at first it didn't click with me. Same thing with Mass Effect. I went back, gave them both a later try and found that I enjoyed them quite a bit. Some titles, like Risen, just never worked out for me for whatever reason.<br /><br />I do agree with Bales though too - that sometimes there is this added pressure of 'I have to get this review out'. Now, I don't do that - I play what I want, when I want, and then I share my reviews and thoughts on my blog as I see fit, but that's because I enjoy the hobbies of gaming and writing and do it all for fun. <br /><br />Just discovered your site, but if you don't mind, I'll be linking to it from mine - you have some good thoughts on here. :)Chalgyrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10879608925209948366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4625171860671748699.post-417553225661105322012-05-01T09:38:50.549-07:002012-05-01T09:38:50.549-07:00It's so much to do with the "review rush&...It's so much to do with the "review rush" cycle were on right now. Get a game review out aSaP to get clicks and views!!!!<br /><br />If people could be cool with that being off of the table, we'd all be a lot happier, more thoughtful, and more well-informed.Balesnoreply@blogger.com