{"id":79209,"date":"2025-01-09T08:35:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T08:35:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/?p=79209"},"modified":"2025-01-09T08:35:01","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T08:35:01","slug":"why-i-stopped-caring-about-mainstream-game-review-scores","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/why-i-stopped-caring-about-mainstream-game-review-scores\/","title":{"rendered":"Why I stopped caring about mainstream game review scores"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_68_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >\u062c\u062f\u0648\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u062d\u062a\u0648\u064a\u0627\u062a<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/why-i-stopped-caring-about-mainstream-game-review-scores\/#It_depends_on_how_low_the_scores_are\" title=\"It depends on how low the scores are\">It depends on how low the scores are<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/why-i-stopped-caring-about-mainstream-game-review-scores\/#A_bad_launch_isnt_always_a_death_knell\" title=\"A bad launch isn&#8217;t always a death knell\">A bad launch isn&#8217;t always a death knell<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/why-i-stopped-caring-about-mainstream-game-review-scores\/#Mid-range_reviews_can_be_a_sign_of_newness\" title=\"Mid-range reviews can be a sign of newness\">Mid-range reviews can be a sign of newness<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/why-i-stopped-caring-about-mainstream-game-review-scores\/#Loyalty_to_the_franchise_is_a_powerful_motivator\" title=\"Loyalty to the franchise is a powerful motivator\">Loyalty to the franchise is a powerful motivator<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/why-i-stopped-caring-about-mainstream-game-review-scores\/#User_reviews_are_helpful_with_a_pinch_of_salt\" title=\"User reviews are helpful with a pinch of salt\">User reviews are helpful with a pinch of salt<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div id=\"article-hidden-content\">\n<h2 id=\"it-depends-on-how-low-the-scores-are\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"It_depends_on_how_low_the_scores_are\"><\/span>    It depends on how low the scores are <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In general, a game that receives almost universally low scores across every port is a good warning to stay away. However, it also depends on how low it is and what the specific complaints are.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":1,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":1,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":1,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":199} --><\/p>\n<p>Something with mid-range reviews, like 50-60 on Metacritic or OpenCritic, is still likely to have some traction as evidenced by the fact that some reviewers found something they liked about it. Average reviews might prompt me to look into it more deeply than I would otherwise, out of curiosity about what people like about the game.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":1,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":1,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":1,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":547} --><\/p>\n<p>A lot of my favorite games are far from being critically loved, and I have a history of tolerating a lot of negatives if the gameplay is engaging enough.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":1,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":1,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":1,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":708} --><\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":1,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":1,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":1,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":708} --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-bad-launch-is-not-always-a-death-knell\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_bad_launch_isnt_always_a_death_knell\"><\/span>    A bad launch isn&#8217;t always a death knell <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It&#8217;s a tale as old as time at this point: a long-awaited game is released with technical glitches, lacks content, and as a result, gets average to poor reviews. Often times, this doesn&#8217;t mean that the game itself is bad, but rather that it was released too early, or simply didn&#8217;t deliver what fans expected (whether that&#8217;s fair or not).<\/p>\n<p><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"before\",\"adPosition\":1,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":1,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":1,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"isEarlyInjection\":false,\"actualCount\":1056} --><!-- Zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"after\",\"adPosition\":2,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":2,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":1,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"isEarlyInjection\":false,\"actualCount\":0} --><br \/>\n<!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"isEarlyInjection\":false,\"currentRuleCount\":1000,\"actualCount\":0,\"hasActualCountMetThreshold\":null,\"countRemainingForInjection\":null,\"nextBlockCount\":null,\"hasCountRemainingForInjectionMetThreshold\":null} --><\/p>\n<p>Nowadays, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldn&#8217;t admit it <em>Cyberpunk 2077 is<\/em> A top notch open world game or so <em>No sky man <\/em>It doesn&#8217;t have much to offer. This is because, despite the difficulties at launch, they were built with a solid foundation that simply needed more time in the oven, so to speak.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":2,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":2,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":2,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":304} --><\/p>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img image-expandable img-article-item\">\n<figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Screenshot of a sunny virtual city street in Cyberpunk 2077.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Why-I-stopped-caring-about-mainstream-game-review-scores.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Why-I-stopped-caring-about-mainstream-game-review-scores.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\">  <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":2,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":2,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":2,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":544} --><\/p>\n<p>    After the redemption arc is completed, even games with more difficult launches, e.g <em>assassin&#8217;s creed unit, <\/em>It could grow into a fan favorite in time. In this case, I&#8217;d still likely stop buying it at launch if I found the reviews to be less than stellar and the technical issues to be plentiful. But a hard start will never be something that turns me away forever.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":2,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":2,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":2,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":921} --><\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":2,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":2,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":2,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":921} --><br \/>\n<!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"isEarlyInjection\":true,\"currentRuleCount\":1000,\"actualCount\":921,\"hasActualCountMetThreshold\":true,\"countRemainingForInjection\":79,\"nextBlockCount\":189,\"hasCountRemainingForInjectionMetThreshold\":true,\"nextCount\":1110} --><\/p>\n<p><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"before\",\"adPosition\":2,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":2,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":2,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"isEarlyInjection\":true,\"actualCount\":1000} --><!-- Zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"after\",\"adPosition\":3,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":3,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":2,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"isEarlyInjection\":true,\"actualCount\":0} --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"mid-range-reviews-can-be-a-sign-of-novelty\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mid-range_reviews_can_be_a_sign_of_newness\"><\/span>    Mid-range reviews can be a sign of newness <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Sometimes mid-range review averages don&#8217;t come about because the game is bad or downright boring, but simply because it doesn&#8217;t follow the usual conventions the average gamer expects.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":3,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":3,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":3,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":110} --><\/p>\n<p>A lot of classic indie games or even more obscure entries in older franchises can take a direction that breaks with the usual core elements of modern games. This can sometimes lead to commercial failure, but that doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean the game doesn&#8217;t have a lot to offer.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":3,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":3,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":3,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":378} --><\/p>\n<p>Quite the opposite is true in many cases. Games with minimal corporate intervention that avoid sticking to a formula can thrive because of this.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":3,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":3,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":3,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":541} --><\/p>\n<p>Game designer Goichi Suda&#8217;s studio, Grasshopper Manufacture, comes to mind. The company focuses on making unique games, rather than prioritizing sales. Some of its games, such as survival horror <em>Michigan: Report from Hell <\/em>It failed to make a significant impact with critics and general audiences but still maintains a cult following due to its niche appeal.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":3,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":3,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":3,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":895} --><br \/>\n<!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"isEarlyInjection\":true,\"currentRuleCount\":1000,\"actualCount\":895,\"hasActualCountMetThreshold\":true,\"countRemainingForInjection\":105,\"nextBlockCount\":240,\"hasCountRemainingForInjectionMetThreshold\":true,\"nextCount\":1135} --><\/p>\n<p><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"before\",\"adPosition\":3,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":3,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":3,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"isEarlyInjection\":true,\"actualCount\":1000} --><!-- Zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"after\",\"adPosition\":4,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":4,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":3,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"isEarlyInjection\":true,\"actualCount\":0} --><\/p>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img image-expandable img-article-item\">\n<figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Personality from Michigan: Report from Hell is produced by Grasshopper Manufacture.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1736411695_478_Why-I-stopped-caring-about-mainstream-game-review-scores.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1736411695_478_Why-I-stopped-caring-about-mainstream-game-review-scores.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Grasshopper manufacturing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":4,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":4,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":4,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":135} --><\/p>\n<p>    In an industry dominated by live-service games, AAA cinematic story-driven experiences, and open-world RPGs, it can be a hard sell if you release a game that completely avoids these tropes.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":4,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":4,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":4,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":323} --><\/p>\n<p>As someone who&#8217;s tired of the usual gaming trends, seeing a game with somewhat divisive outcomes can be strangely reassuring. It might mean I found something completely original. What many consider to be negatives can become exactly what I&#8217;m looking for, and I&#8217;m always eager to try something new.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":4,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":4,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":4,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":618} --><\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":4,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":4,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":4,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":618} --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"franchise-loyalty-is-a-strong-motivator\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Loyalty_to_the_franchise_is_a_powerful_motivator\"><\/span>    Loyalty to the franchise is a powerful motivator <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This may not be the best practice as a consumer, but I&#8217;ll also admit that I&#8217;m more forgiving of reviews of games in series I already like.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":4,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":4,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":4,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":772} --><\/p>\n<p>Usually, there&#8217;s a specific reason that keeps me coming back to every subsequent game in the series. If I feel like a new entry achieves that, I rarely care about the review results. Even if major reviewers bundled a game into an ongoing series, I&#8217;d likely keep playing it just to satisfy my interest in the series.<\/p>\n<p><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"before\",\"adPosition\":4,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":4,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":4,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"isEarlyInjection\":false,\"actualCount\":1096} --><!-- Zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"after\",\"adPosition\":5,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":5,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":4,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"isEarlyInjection\":false,\"actualCount\":0} --><br \/>\n<!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"isEarlyInjection\":false,\"currentRuleCount\":1000,\"actualCount\":0,\"hasActualCountMetThreshold\":null,\"countRemainingForInjection\":null,\"nextBlockCount\":null,\"hasCountRemainingForInjectionMetThreshold\":null} --><\/p>\n<p>I am a devout advocate of <em>Resident Evil 6<\/em>which sits at a mediocre 67 on Metacritic, for many of the same reasons it was panned by many critics. While popular media criticized the story and focus on action rather than horror, it wasn&#8217;t enough to put me off, and as a franchise loyalist like myself, I ended up enjoying the film.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":5,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":5,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":5,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":338} --><\/p>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img image-expandable img-article-item\">\n<figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Jake and Helena escape from Ostanak in Resident Evil 6.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1736411695_170_Why-I-stopped-caring-about-mainstream-game-review-scores.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1736411695_170_Why-I-stopped-caring-about-mainstream-game-review-scores.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"height:auto;max-width:100%\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"body-img-caption\">Capcom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":5,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":5,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":5,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":578} --><\/p>\n<p>    Ultimately, well-known titles and familiar characters are a surefire way to pique my interest, even if the end result doesn&#8217;t impress many critics. I&#8217;m always curious to see what new directions my favorite franchises might take. Whether I end up not being a fan or not is just part of the adventure.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":5,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":5,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":5,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":898} --><\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":5,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":5,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":5,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":898} --><br \/>\n<!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"isEarlyInjection\":true,\"currentRuleCount\":1000,\"actualCount\":898,\"hasActualCountMetThreshold\":true,\"countRemainingForInjection\":102,\"nextBlockCount\":294,\"hasCountRemainingForInjectionMetThreshold\":true,\"nextCount\":1192} --><\/p>\n<p><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"before\",\"adPosition\":5,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":5,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":5,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"isEarlyInjection\":true,\"actualCount\":1000} --><!-- Zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"after\",\"adPosition\":6,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":6,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":5,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"isEarlyInjection\":true,\"actualCount\":0} --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"user-reviews-are-useful-with-a-grain-of-salt\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"User_reviews_are_helpful_with_a_pinch_of_salt\"><\/span>    User reviews are helpful with a pinch of salt <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While popular review outlets may give you a good first impression of the overall quality of a game, they often fail to show you the bigger picture. User reviews from fans of all types tend to be more specific and can offer a more personal view of what it&#8217;s like to actually play a particular game.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":6,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":6,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":6,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":192} --><\/p>\n<p>Fellow fans are likely to have more clear opinions about the game&#8217;s pros and cons, as some of them may feel more invested in it than a professional reviewer. Some may be more willing to tolerate certain aspects if a particular part stands out to them, while others may be more harsh.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":6,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":6,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":6,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":481} --><\/p>\n<p>Games with turbulent launches benefit from this the most. Following up and looking at the latest reviews from fans on Steam and other platforms shows how much the game has improved since its initial reception (or whether the game has simply been abandoned).<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":6,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":6,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":6,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":735} --><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s important to put these reviews in context, since user reviews are not infallible. Some of them can be dishonest, malicious or not constructive at all. Some of them are negative due to a hardware issue on the user&#8217;s end, or something specific to the player and not a bug in the game itself.<\/p>\n<p><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"before\",\"adPosition\":6,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":6,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":6,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"isEarlyInjection\":false,\"actualCount\":1041} --><!-- Zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"after\",\"adPosition\":7,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":7,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":6,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"isEarlyInjection\":false,\"actualCount\":0} --><br \/>\n<!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"isEarlyInjection\":false,\"currentRuleCount\":1000,\"actualCount\":0,\"hasActualCountMetThreshold\":null,\"countRemainingForInjection\":null,\"nextBlockCount\":null,\"hasCountRemainingForInjectionMetThreshold\":null} --><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":7,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":7,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":7,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":0} --><\/p>\n<p>As you get older and take on more financial responsibilities, understanding what you&#8217;re getting out of a game is crucial, but that doesn&#8217;t mean you should let reviews define what&#8217;s fun for you.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":7,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":7,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":7,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":187} --><\/p>\n<p>Understanding the context behind potential negative reviews and your own tastes to paint a bigger picture can help make sure you don&#8217;t miss a potential diamond in the rough.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No repeatable ad for zone: character count repeatable. --><!-- Repeatable debug data: {\"injection\":\"none\",\"adPosition\":7,\"startingPoint\":0,\"skipEvery\":null,\"nbrPlacementFilledEachSkip\":7,\"nbrPlacementsScanned\":7,\"ruleCount\":1000,\"degradationStartingPoint\":1,\"stopAds\":null,\"actualCount\":368} -->\n <\/div>\n<p>        (Tags for translation) Video Games <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It depends on how low the scores are In general, a game that receives almost universally low scores across every port is a good warning to stay away. However, it also depends on how low it is and what the specific complaints are. Something with mid-range reviews, like 50-60 on Metacritic or OpenCritic, is still &#8230; <a title=\"Why I stopped caring about mainstream game review scores\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/why-i-stopped-caring-about-mainstream-game-review-scores\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Why I stopped caring about mainstream game review scores\">\u0625\u0642\u0631\u0623 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0632\u064a\u062f<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":79210,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[1723,86],"class_list":["post-79209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-video-games","tag-computer-games","tag-steam"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1736411695_Why-I-stopped-caring-about-mainstream-game-review-scores.jpg?fit=2400%2C1600&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79209"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79209\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79211,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79209\/revisions\/79211"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/79210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodwriterz.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}