So how should we fix the broken review system? (VGC Brainstorming Battle!)

[psrock]

The Ghost of RubangB said:

 

 

I think reviewers need to explain exactly what their criteria are on their front page before you see any numbers at all, so that readers can at least hope to expect some consistency throughout the various reviews, so we don't see different games getting rewarded and punished for the same thing, or games getting the same exact review but different numbers at the end.

The graphics/sound/controls review system made sense in the 80s and 90s when graphics/sounds/controls were advancing in huge leaps and bounds, but I feel it is now obsolete.

Nowadays graphics and sound are almost always good enough, and should only be discussed when they particularly hold a game back or particularly push a game forward.  Now we just throw 10s at shiny bloomy HD games and throw 7s at Wii games.  Wii games are getting punished for not being HD, as if Wii gamers give a shit about HD.  Wii gamers bought Wiis for something new and are getting told their games are crap based on things they knowingly opted out of.

Handheld games have it the worst, as the DS, the PSP, and the GBA seem to be punished with bad scores across the board, simply for being handheld games.  Reviewers seem to hate the concept of gaming on the go.  I can grab a portable gaming device (tm) out of my pocket and play everything from Tetris to Nintendogs to God of War in short bursts on a bus or train, or my personal favorite, local wireless gaming in long lines.  Even though  the portability and local wireless gaming are advantages that console gaming is not capable of, reviewers seem to look at all handheld games as the inferior little bitch siblings of console games.  Handheld gamers bought handheld games for portable gaming and are being told their games are crap based on things they knowingly opted out of.

 

These are just a few ideas.  Anybody have any others?

 

 

graphic is important, the only reason you say it's not is because your console of choice is behind graphicly, i cant wait to hear you guys jumping for joy when a hd wii comes out. I cant wait.