The Problem with Game Reviews
There is something inherently wrong with the way games and other media are being reviewed. I've said this before, there have been tons of games that I have loved that this mass group of elitist 30 minute YouTube video essay reviewers like to slam for strange reasons.
Their videos are often full of bugs compiled users on Twitter, attempting to showcase minor bugs or funny glitches as a deeply flawed game. These reviews are carefully tailored and edited to show a biased version of many games that most gamers, given a more unbiased review, with some semblance of journalistic integrity, would actually give a chance and perhaps come to enjoy.
For example in 2013, Batman Arkham Origins was hated because Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy were not involved in this prequel to the Arkham Trilogy. It was a story of the origins of a younger Batman and Joker, calling for younger voice actors. It told a dark and thrilling story around Christmastime. Winter in Gotham City set the scene for a vengeful story of Batman's large gallery of rogues putting out a hit on him, and everyone was here to cash in. It features some of the best boss fights in the series, the boss fight with Deathstroke on Penguin's cargo ship is a martial arts masterclass in counter attacks and beatdowns. Once again Mr. Freeze gets a chance to show how AI can adapt to the players strategies and actions as the boss reacts to your choices and won't allow you to pull off the same attack or use of a gadget twice. It also introduced enemies, high skilled martial arts enemies that could counter attack Batman, and that the Dark Knight would have to have quick reflexes to deal with their flurry of attacks that the Bat would have to counter with twice!
Marvel's Avengers is also a game I've sunk thousands of hours in that was misunderstood and hated on for childish reasons. There was a barrage of videos hating on the tutorial in game that was showcasing all the heroes and teaching you the basics of how to play as each one. It was a linear tutorial placed in an awesome cinematic battle on the Avengers Helicarrier and on Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Gamers have played hundreds of tutorials in their time that are all linear, this is no exception, yet it was mocked for doing so. They disguised it with great cinematics and dynamic scenes switching between each of our beloved heroes as they saved people, battled bad guys, and attempted to save the day. Reviewers mocked the character designs before launched, which although looks like they could use refinement, were later changed. People were also upset that the developers had not spent their entire budget and then some to hire the likes of Robert Downey Jr, Christ Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, and so on. Instead, Crystal Dynamics hired some of the best voice actors across gaming and animation, some often seen on the set of Critical Role, to voice the Avengers. Nolan North as Iron Man, Jeff Schine as Captain America, Laura Bailey as Black Widow, Travis Willingham as Thor, Troy Baker as Bruce Banner, and newbie Sandra Saad as Ms. Marvel, the glue that pulls the team to ReAssemble. These actors have often played these characters in animation and were incredibly skilled in voice acting and motion capture, they did a really great job in capturing these heroes and the combat team also managed to make the best gameplay for each respective hero that we have ever seen in gaming.
The past two years, Avengers has released lots of content and new heroes vastly improving over time as most live service games do. They added Kate Bishop, Hawkeye, Black Panther, Spider-Man on PlayStation, and the Mighty Thor Jane Foster.
Back 4 Blood is a spiritual successor to the Left 4 Dead game and is made by the same studio, Turtle Rock, with a team of some of the original developers. This game introduces modern shooter mechanics such as: sprinting, aim down sights, weapon attachments, clambering, and platforming as well as a plethora of weapons to choose from, both melee and ranged. The game also has several updates and expansions adding to its cast of cleaners, each with unique personalities, customizable outfits, and perks. Along with the usual director, which dictates the various elements that effect the gameplay session, cards are introduced for variety. This was met with skepticism and outright hatred by some. I've realized that the cards were always there in previous titles, but the game is really showing you what it's doing. Whether it's adding fog, enemies that explode leaving trails of acidic blood, or other penalties the cards add a lot to replayability and allow you to create a build for your character to withstand the hordes of "ridden."
There are many underrated games and the culture around reviews being the new tool of cancel culture is unacceptable. The slightest flaw or disagreement in game design leads to these reviewers going down the war path and trying to make sure that even people that enjoy the game cannot. They wish to fight against communities of fans and demonize them for enjoying games.
Their videos are often full of bugs compiled users on Twitter, attempting to showcase minor bugs or funny glitches as a deeply flawed game. These reviews are carefully tailored and edited to show a biased version of many games that most gamers, given a more unbiased review, with some semblance of journalistic integrity, would actually give a chance and perhaps come to enjoy.
Marvel's Avengers is also a game I've sunk thousands of hours in that was misunderstood and hated on for childish reasons. There was a barrage of videos hating on the tutorial in game that was showcasing all the heroes and teaching you the basics of how to play as each one. It was a linear tutorial placed in an awesome cinematic battle on the Avengers Helicarrier and on Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Gamers have played hundreds of tutorials in their time that are all linear, this is no exception, yet it was mocked for doing so. They disguised it with great cinematics and dynamic scenes switching between each of our beloved heroes as they saved people, battled bad guys, and attempted to save the day. Reviewers mocked the character designs before launched, which although looks like they could use refinement, were later changed. People were also upset that the developers had not spent their entire budget and then some to hire the likes of Robert Downey Jr, Christ Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, and so on. Instead, Crystal Dynamics hired some of the best voice actors across gaming and animation, some often seen on the set of Critical Role, to voice the Avengers. Nolan North as Iron Man, Jeff Schine as Captain America, Laura Bailey as Black Widow, Travis Willingham as Thor, Troy Baker as Bruce Banner, and newbie Sandra Saad as Ms. Marvel, the glue that pulls the team to ReAssemble. These actors have often played these characters in animation and were incredibly skilled in voice acting and motion capture, they did a really great job in capturing these heroes and the combat team also managed to make the best gameplay for each respective hero that we have ever seen in gaming.
The past two years, Avengers has released lots of content and new heroes vastly improving over time as most live service games do. They added Kate Bishop, Hawkeye, Black Panther, Spider-Man on PlayStation, and the Mighty Thor Jane Foster.
Back 4 Blood is a spiritual successor to the Left 4 Dead game and is made by the same studio, Turtle Rock, with a team of some of the original developers. This game introduces modern shooter mechanics such as: sprinting, aim down sights, weapon attachments, clambering, and platforming as well as a plethora of weapons to choose from, both melee and ranged. The game also has several updates and expansions adding to its cast of cleaners, each with unique personalities, customizable outfits, and perks. Along with the usual director, which dictates the various elements that effect the gameplay session, cards are introduced for variety. This was met with skepticism and outright hatred by some. I've realized that the cards were always there in previous titles, but the game is really showing you what it's doing. Whether it's adding fog, enemies that explode leaving trails of acidic blood, or other penalties the cards add a lot to replayability and allow you to create a build for your character to withstand the hordes of "ridden."
There are many underrated games and the culture around reviews being the new tool of cancel culture is unacceptable. The slightest flaw or disagreement in game design leads to these reviewers going down the war path and trying to make sure that even people that enjoy the game cannot. They wish to fight against communities of fans and demonize them for enjoying games.
People can think for themselves, we should think more about the content of the game and who it is for when we are reviewing a game or other forms of media. Sometimes we have to set aside our personal bias and experience. For example, I never encountered bugs in Assassin's Creed Unity on the Xbox One when the game launched. A lot of other players and reviewers said they did, and the results were eye popping. Of course the game patched these bugs and Assassin's Creed Unity is experiencing a revival now that it's been rediscovered as one of the last good parkour/stealth games in the series with a beautiful world and interesting story set in the French Revolution, people skipped the game for tiny flaws that not all players had, because reviewers amplified the flaws.
We have to step into the shoes of fans of the game, look into what they might want an expect. Recent reviews on Saints Row (2022) are clearly not written by fans or people that generally enjoyed the first three games, Saints Row 4 was a major departure into wackiness and is clearly the cause for reboot. Making a hate review because you "just don't get" what other people like about a game you do not find fun does not make you look enlightened. It makes you look elitist, petty, and only what you like can live to see the light of another day.
There's something broader to look at here using a journalistic approach with something called integrity. It's easy to hate on media rather than find a way that even if something is not for you, others might actually enjoy it. That's what a review should be. Having the understanding and foresight to refer something to people that might enjoy it. It does not mean we cannot highlight the flaws of games or that there are no bad games. Most developers are people like us: fathers, mothers, people that provide for families, they genuinely work hard and enjoy their work much like we do. Nobody puts out a bad game on purpose, no one seeks out to fail or put out poor work. There are circumstances not available to the general public and the gaming press that can hinder a game in development.
There's something broader to look at here using a journalistic approach with something called integrity. It's easy to hate on media rather than find a way that even if something is not for you, others might actually enjoy it. That's what a review should be. Having the understanding and foresight to refer something to people that might enjoy it. It does not mean we cannot highlight the flaws of games or that there are no bad games. Most developers are people like us: fathers, mothers, people that provide for families, they genuinely work hard and enjoy their work much like we do. Nobody puts out a bad game on purpose, no one seeks out to fail or put out poor work. There are circumstances not available to the general public and the gaming press that can hinder a game in development.
Sometimes we let others manipulate our point of view and "don't see the forest for the trees."
For more on this, check out my discussion with KongofBeast and LadiiGi on episode 19 of the Shackcast, my podcast available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Also see my Game Reviews Playlist on YouTube for continued updates on games I'm reviewing. You won't find rage reviews, hot takes, or hatred. Facts, my unique point of view, my ability to refer things, and see an experience through someone else's eyes. I should not have the final say either. I'm not saying only my reviews are the best and that I'm the final say. I'm out to change the culture here, a new way to review content. I'm working on refining this and I'm hoping to be more transparent moving forward. Links to said content are below.
Thanks for reading,
Aaron Shack
Game Reviews Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSiKflGZp7VpLqJb9iwGEOz9FmHyvDjem
Actor Caitlin Burt ! | Shackcast Episode 20: 🎥https://youtu.be/aPMw4YJ4NkA 🟢Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2yryk839Q1M2f9R0NLsUjq 🎤 🍏Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/actor-caitlin-burt-shackcast-episode-20/id1508902293?i=1000569068063 🎤 KongofBeast & LadiiGi on Game Reviews | Shackcast Episode 19 🎥YouTube: https://youtu.be/QRk_d0clkcY 🟢Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4QXEha6eA5WhbQ0FixvbVT 🎤 🍏Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kongofbeast-ladiigi-on-game-reviews-shackcast-episode-19/id1508902293?i=1000560427123 🎤 🎥TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aaronshack64 📱Twitter: https://twitter.com/aaronshack64TV 💬Discord Community: https://discord.gg/aA8R4EQ ☕Patreon (Music, Unboxings, Interviews and Photography): https://www.patreon.com/aaronshack64 🎤Shackcast Podcast Available on: 🟢Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0OGlvS7U1nl6L6dQyP9nkb?si=kqeI6oT3Q5mzWuPS-twFzQ 🎤 🍏Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shackcast/id1508902293 🎤 🎥YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSiKflGZp7Vo-OsWA5iG4Px7bNkV6ibMe 🎤 👕My Merch Store: https://www.designbyhumans.com/shop/aaronshack64/ 📝Amazon Wish List: http://a.co/0G0XWzC 📷Photography Blog: https://vizionphotographybyaaron.blogspot.com/ 📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronshack64 📷My Photography Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vizionphotographybyaaron
For more on this, check out my discussion with KongofBeast and LadiiGi on episode 19 of the Shackcast, my podcast available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Also see my Game Reviews Playlist on YouTube for continued updates on games I'm reviewing. You won't find rage reviews, hot takes, or hatred. Facts, my unique point of view, my ability to refer things, and see an experience through someone else's eyes. I should not have the final say either. I'm not saying only my reviews are the best and that I'm the final say. I'm out to change the culture here, a new way to review content. I'm working on refining this and I'm hoping to be more transparent moving forward. Links to said content are below.
Thanks for reading,
Aaron Shack
Game Reviews Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSiKflGZp7VpLqJb9iwGEOz9FmHyvDjem
Actor Caitlin Burt ! | Shackcast Episode 20: 🎥https://youtu.be/aPMw4YJ4NkA 🟢Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2yryk839Q1M2f9R0NLsUjq 🎤 🍏Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/actor-caitlin-burt-shackcast-episode-20/id1508902293?i=1000569068063 🎤 KongofBeast & LadiiGi on Game Reviews | Shackcast Episode 19 🎥YouTube: https://youtu.be/QRk_d0clkcY 🟢Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4QXEha6eA5WhbQ0FixvbVT 🎤 🍏Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kongofbeast-ladiigi-on-game-reviews-shackcast-episode-19/id1508902293?i=1000560427123 🎤 🎥TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aaronshack64 📱Twitter: https://twitter.com/aaronshack64TV 💬Discord Community: https://discord.gg/aA8R4EQ ☕Patreon (Music, Unboxings, Interviews and Photography): https://www.patreon.com/aaronshack64 🎤Shackcast Podcast Available on: 🟢Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0OGlvS7U1nl6L6dQyP9nkb?si=kqeI6oT3Q5mzWuPS-twFzQ 🎤 🍏Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shackcast/id1508902293 🎤 🎥YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSiKflGZp7Vo-OsWA5iG4Px7bNkV6ibMe 🎤 👕My Merch Store: https://www.designbyhumans.com/shop/aaronshack64/ 📝Amazon Wish List: http://a.co/0G0XWzC 📷Photography Blog: https://vizionphotographybyaaron.blogspot.com/ 📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronshack64 📷My Photography Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vizionphotographybyaaron
