Do Brand name games get inflated scores based on hype?

[Veknoid_Outcast]

I don't know about that. While I do think game scores in general are inflated (although I've noticed a recent move in the opposite direction), I'm not sure if they're inflated based on brand. I think it's only natural for critics to enjoy a title in a series that plays similarly to another highly-rated game in that series. For example, it makes sense that Modern Warfare 2, Super Mario Galaxy 2, and Halo 3 all receive high scores -- they play like other games in the series that were critical darlings.