Review Primer
I suppose before I post a review, I'd like all of you to know how and why I'm reviewing games I do. First things first, until companies send me hardware and software, the games I review will be predicated on those I (and my friends) chose to buy and rent, so the list won't be as expansive as most magazines / websites / TV networks. If people start to give me stuff for free, you'll all be the first to know.
Here are the categories I'll be using:
- Presentation - how does the game look and sound
- Mechanics - how does the game control and how does well the game flow
- Depth - how long can you play this game before you want something else
- Character - how does the game distinguish itself from similar games
- Multiplayer - how does it plays against other people
These are a bit different than you may be used to, and I'm sure some of you might even think that Depth and Multiplayer run together. Character may seem similar as well. Let me make these even clearer.
- Presentation - colors and sounds
- Mechanics - controls and plot
- Depth - replay value and length
- Character - innovation and refinement
- Multiplayer - coop, split screen and online
Now, I've gone back and forth about how to rate this, and I've decided that I'm going to treat these games like school kids. After all, this is a rating system that we've all used for at least a decade of our lives, and we all understand it.
Games will be graded on a 0 to 100 point scale, with each category worth 20 points. A is 100 to 95, A- is 94 to 90. The B+, B and B- range is 89 to 80, C+, C and C- is 79 to 70. D+, D and D- is 69 to 60. Below 60 is a failing grade. But I cannot express this enough, there will be extra credit. Each category has the potential for an additional 5 extra credit points, and from time to time, extra curricular achievements may be rewarded handsomely. I can guarantee that I will be rewarding at least one A+
So, be prepared readers; there will be reviews of whatever games I can get my hands on, and the good news for you is that I just doubled my "new/next-gen" console ownership.
Happy gaming.
