For some people (not all) these scores (even 1 point) can be the difference between buying one game over an other...I am not one of these said people BTw.

@dsister44

Some people like to see something they enjoy do well. Some people want to see their latest favourite song get to no.1, or just released film they like do well at the box office, eventually win an oscar.

They want to see their console of choice do well.

Is wanting a game you like get a good score so different?

A games rating might not matter to you but to some people it does, that's life, we are all different.

It seems you think it strange that people could care about something like this, but they do.

Don't knock them for it.

BTW: I agree with your point about it doesn't matter the score if you enjoy a game, but as I said before, a lot of people look at the rating before buying a game.

@dsister44

Well you have your way of looking at this, I have mine. The fact that it went from 96 to 97, made Uncharted 2 the highest ranked exclusive title this generation and possibly of all times. (Ocarina has 98 with 22 reviews, they added some more a while ago and the game dropped, people whined so they removed them).

And there are differences in critical acclaimed titles. If a game has let's say 88-90 you would've assumed that it is a great, polished experience. But when some game is the highest rated title of all times? Well that sets it apart...

Yay! I was afraid I wouldn't be able to enjoy the game as the score dropped but now I know I can!

It's not that you enjoyed the game and it rated 67. Metacritic scores average the scores of a ton of reveiwers in an attempt to remove bias from a range of the reviewers. The point of looking at reviews is to help make the decision of whether you should buy or even play the game at all.

Some games have scores that range from 100 to 40, with an average somewhere in the 70s. Does that mean you won't enjoy the game? If you have the same tastes as the reviewer who gave it 100 you probably will like that game. If you agree with the reviewer who gave is a 40, probably not.

When a game like Uncharted 2 comes along, and has mostly perfet scores, with 9/10 as its lowest score, it means that it doesn't matter what review you look at or which reviewer you tend to agree with, you are going to like the game.

Meta-Goddam-Critic!

With this way of thinking there is absolutely no possible way I could enjoy it. If I buy this game with your logic it must be as good as Perfect Dark. There is no way that any game can be hyped as the "Greatest Game Ever" and not be a huge letdown. That is what happened to me and Gears, Killzone 2, and the original Uncharted.

Of course it matters. If my favourite game went up 1 point on metacritic I'd be in ecstacy. So leave them alone!

A little selfish, aren't we?

Now seriously... those scores are there for a reason, why bother checking metacritics if you think like this? So you buy games by the way they look on the shelf? Or by word of mouth? OH SNAP! Friend told you this is the greatest game he ever played! ... so he ruined it for you?

Common... have you actualy played Uncharted 2? If 3rd person action adventures are not your thing, than don't be surprised that you don't like the game. Same way I hate shooters on consoles (mouse anyone?), or platformers. I don't let hype and scores cloud my judgement, I just use them as a guide to games which might be to my taste. And with Uncharted 2 (and 1) I've scored jackpot. And yes, the game is THAT good. I've been disappointed previously by some other overhyped titles, but that is not the case here.

I'm going to make this easier for everyone.

I use Metacritic as a way to read a lot of reviews with out actually having to search through every individual site.

I do research online. I read previews, but do not put too much faith into. If the concept of the game interests me then I will pick it up. Yes, I have been burned several times, but I have also found some hidden gems

Yes, if one of my friends recomends me a shooter than I will pick it up. I have another friend that will constantly recomend me RPGs. Both these friends no what I like and have played the games that they are recommending to me

That is what I heard about Killzone 2 and Uncharted. Hated both of them. People on this site hype way too many games =P

Strangely this is basically what is happening with this thread

Nope, Hated the first. See no reason to pick up the second

Well that's why I don put up with hype, I'm beeing sceptical about every title that is in development. When the first reviews start pouring out and fanboy warcry roam through the web, I take it that positive feedback means I should check it out (if it copes with my taste).

So we are basicaly doing the same, with the exception that you have to bitch about meta ruining your experience :)