Slightly off topic but this post reminds of something important. Not targeted at you specifically but people please give "mid" 8/10 games chances, don't always buy into hype of scores. Scores in my opinion reflect objective polish discerned by reviewers but not necessarily how much you will enjoy an experience.

My favourite game of the generation has actually been Guardians of the Galaxy, I picked it up after watching the DF tech review and realised that I was really craving a good sci-fi romp. Gameplay was "mid" by many accounts but fun and incorporated some nice team mechanics into puzzle solving and combat. The story telling however was easily amongst the best we've in the industry in terms of script writing and performances. It's both playful but gets serious when it needs to. Visually the art direction was great and highly distinct for Sci-fi. Then as Sci-fi was concerned it was able to scratch an itch that simply isn't being touched by other AAA games and was the closest I got to feeling Mass Effect had current gen cousin.

Everyone I've recommended it to has come away with the same sentiments and have been surprised by how much they enjoyed. For sure, lean into whatever is pulling you from your back catalogue but I think our generation has gotten a bit obsessed over numbers when it comes to reviews. Focus more on what sort of experience may bring you joy. All the RPGS released this year are highly distinct, so I don't even think they're in direct competition. What you get from one, you won't necessarily get from another. 

*queue Guardians of the Galaxy propaganda*

 

Same with me at the moment but droughts do eventually always come or periods where only a certain type of game will get you out of a rut and playing games again. This seems like it'd be one of those, a palette cleanser from really good games, fun core gameplay but shit around the edges and it'll make you enjoy the next 10/10 more tourghly knowing what the bar is set at. It allows perspective to be gained. You're highs are only measured against your lows in life and same goes for gaming. 

I agree, it's important to dive into these games once and a while when you're in a rut or indecisive they fill a void and it gives you perspective on what's quality or not, where the bar is set and so on. My completion list would just be ten outta tens at the end of the year if not and that might be a good thing but I'd not be able to tell if there was a true masterpiece among them or critique them accurately if it wasn't for trying out and sometimes completing the average 5 or 6 outta tens on my scale. I know 7or 8 outta 10's are the new average game which is silly. 

It is a reference to it indeed but Sera didn't talk like that, it was more appealing to hear her speak and the personality quirks. She wouldn't come and say "... also bees" in conversation. 

Guardians of the Galaxy is an awesome game. I have finished it on Playstation but bought the PC version a few months back when it was dirt cheap. Looks stellar on PC. I'll go back through it again on PC at some point. I blame The Avengers game for people not giving the game a chance. I still think that it would have been a hit if it released before The Avengers game.

"You see?  A number of early critic reviews used 'return to form' in their text!  Obviously EA's PR suggested they use such generic terminology.  What lazy writer would do so otherwise?"

Me, who likes to use that cliché on occasion:  

You're not the average crtitic based on your tag. Those look like scores that are reflective of game and not in the margin of 6-10 being the scale and the game gets bonus points for just being a game. 

I appreciate it.

I'm more responding to the surrounding hysteria over "return to form" in a few reviews.  Even though I'm trying to mentally block out the glut of controversy surrounding Veilguard, it's wild just how widespread that particular meme became.  It's sorta like building a conspiracy around several reviewers saying Arkham whatever "makes you feel like Batman."  It's been a cliché for ages, but it's also easy shorthand to describe how those game mechanics fuse so well with Batman's traits and abilities.   

Return to form is quite a niche expression though. Regardless, are you reviewing this?

I wouldn't have played Guardian of the Galaxy if it wasn't on Playstation + (not sure if it's still on there) I'm glad I did play it, once I started I didn't put it down until I beat it.  I had a lot of fun playing it and felt the reviews were a bit harsh on it.  I've played quite a few games on PS + and Gamepass with lower scores that I enjoyed more than some bigger games like Red Dead Redemption 2 or Souls games.