So, as I've stated in the past, I am both a fan of ign and the modern day gaming review system. I know I am probably not in the majority with my feelings but whatever. With spore getting "slammed" with an 8.8 and gta 4 "undeservedly" snagging a 10 (from ign pc and ps3/360 respectively), there has been all sorts of upheaval about how game editors are all dumb, biases, whatever. The simple fact of the matter is, I'm 23, I've been gaming probably since the age of 5, and have long since stopped taking reviews quite as personally as some people seem to. So, here we go:
Did GTA 4 deserve a 10? To be honest, up until the release of GTA 4, I hadn't had much hands on experience since that 3rd installment of the series (though I did have extensive 'eyes on' viewing as my old college roommate played through San Andras'). In the past 7 years, the game hasn't seen any mind blowing alterations. However, there have been hundreds of refinements and additions that have helped to make GTA the experience it is today. Do I think the game deserves a 10 for merely refining a 7 year old formula? Sure, why not? After all, what is mario galaxy? It's mario 64 with some new bells and whistles. It holds the same visual style, same collect 120 stars to complete the game, same lack of story, same half working camera, same stage select hub (conceptually), same lead character, same villain, same health system. Yet, despite all these things staying the same, I, and many others consider it one of the best games of the last decade. Why? Cause some things just work. Even if I may not personally think GTA 4 should have received a 10, I can sure understand why someone would feel that way. However, even if it wasn't scored a 10, would it matter? Cause really, at the end of the day, there is no difference between a 9.0, a 9.5, and a 10. If someone likes a game enough to slap it with a 9.0, that means 'buy this game.' Heck, most reviewers think that any game that scores at least an 8.0 out of 10 is worth buying (with games scoring between a 6.0-7.9 being more cautionary purchases).
Yet, even with that, gamers everywhere have been throwing a fit over the spore 8.8. OMG, Megaton fail, an 8.8. Since when did an 8.8 become bad score? The fact is it's not, people just take things too personally. You see people on the boards saying "if GTA 4 got a 10, and MGS 4 got a 10, then spore should too. Spore is far more original then those 2 games." First of all, Jason Ocampo (who reviewed spore), reviewed neither GTA 4 nor MGS 4. So, apparently, gamers want him to score spore a certain way based upon what other reviewers said about other games. 2nd of all, originality isn't everything (sadly). If it were, 'magic pengal: the quest for color' would have seen 10's when it hit the ps2 5 years ago.
At the end of the day, like it or not, you should know how you feel about a certain type of game. Anyone who has been a gamer for at least 10 years should know whether or not they're going to be interested in a game like GTA 4. If they are, they should way the pros vs the cons of picking up said game. Go to gamerankings.com, read several reviews. See if any of the cons listed bug you as much as they do other people. Think for yourself and don't freak out when a game doesn't score the exact number that you had in your mind.
On one last thought, consider this. One of my guilty pleasures on the ps2 was a little title called "mr mosquito." The game scored a decent 7.5/10 on ign and a less impressive 68% on gamerankings.com. Now, how would I have scored "mr mosquito?" Probably around a 7.5. So, how could I give a game I liked so much such a medicore score? Cause, It's flawed. It's flawed in many of the ways review articles say it is. The graphics are drab, the game is too short, and there isn't much in terms of stage variety, yet at the same time, I get a kick out of it. Seeing the scores were helpful. I certainly would have been less likely to pick up the game had it scored a 5/10. What's more helpful though is knowning your own tastes as a gamer and yet being able to understand and respect the tastes of others.
