We can't really diss a title simply because of its genre. For example, a comedy movie deserves a great review if it is a great comedy. Ebert sometimes rates a Jim Carrey's movie higher than a drama about holocaust. In other words, we can't give a low score just because it is not a serious drama.
Likewise, a softcore game should not be dismissed just because it is a game for casual gamers. It should be evaluated based on how it appeals to its target audience. It is about how good it is given its genre.
Some of those softcore titles have somehow managed to capture the hearts of new gamers in an unprecedented way, have shown innovative ways to utilize new interfaces, and have contributed to the gaming industry through the expansion of audience.
The problem is that those reviewers don't really know how to categorize these new games because these audience-expansion titles aren't exactly "action-game" in a traditional sense. Unlike conventional shooting/sports titles, these games do not require very quick reflex to play. They don't necessarily have stunning graphics or rich storytelling. But some of those titles are just so much fun. Yet the reviewers don't really know how to (or want to) create a new game category or new evaluation schemes for those titles. It is simply easier for them to put complicated action games on the pedestal, and to undervalue casual games.
The effort to make gameplay look like simple by providing an easy entry for new gamers while making it quite entertaining for various audience groups (kids, adult, seniors / male, female / hardcore, softcore etc) simultaneously should not be easily dismissed. It is a work of talented developers. Great softcore titles deserve great scores as casual game, just like great comedy movies deserve great reviews.
No, it's not going to stop 'Til you wise up
No, it's not going to stop So just ... give up
- Aimee Mann
