Within the vastness of the video gaming universe, there’s a mixture of experience, quality and subjectivity that goes into the way games are reviewed. Today, we’re going to take a look at the current landscape of the market and the process that reviewers go through, whether they are making a video for their social media following or spending days constructing a long-form article that takes a deep dive into the pros and cons of the latest big-name gaming title.
Researching the Title in Full
Reviewers who are adept at their job will be able to strike a balance between reviewing enough of the game to form an informed opinion and not spending too much time exploring what the game has to offer. Obviously, it’s much easier to spend a day or two playing a sports game and reporting on what it entails, rather than playing a free-roam game, such as Grand Theft Auto (GTA), which can take weeks to review properly, given its size and scope.
As with anything in the online landscape, reviewers’ words should not be taken as gospel; they offer a small insight into what they believe a game does well and where they feel it could improve. Exploring the importance of video game research will stand you in good stead when it comes to deconstructing what the experts look for, but more importantly, how to form your own opinions by taking tips and pointers in specific areas of research.
Depending on the size of a review site, they have different tools at their disposal. For example, a site with an international presence in the gaming industry will instruct a small team of people to review a game, especially if it is a landmark, free-roam title, such as GTA or Red Dead Redemption. Different reviewers will critique various aspects of the gameplay, and all of this will contribute to the overall score of the review.
Breaking Down the Specifics of a Game
There are multiple levels at which a game can be accurately judged and reviewed. Here are some of the main components that apply right across the gaming universe:
- Graphic design – does the game use cutting-edge graphic features, or have any issues within the complexities of its world design?
- Replayability – is it a game title you can come back to again and again?
- Value – is the game overpriced, or does it involve too many costly microtransactions?
- Story mode – does it have a captivating story mode, or is it unoriginal?
- Online features – what are some of the advances for online play, and is it a game that can attract groups of people to play together online?
Again, there’s subjectivity here. For a sports game, the weight and quality of online capability are far more critical than games that do not have any emphasis on multi-player or online competitions. However, for reviewers, it’s about diving into these different questions and ensuring that the game ticks enough boxes, as and when relevant.
Sprinkle in a hint of opinion when it comes to sports games. I don’t like the new FIFA game, for instance. FC 25, especially in career mode, which is poorly constructed, has design limitations and an array of bizarre features that simply wouldn’t occur in the reality of modern soccer. Mainstream reviews of the game were more positive, so it’s not a black-and-white scenario.
Freelance Analyzing and Social Media Influencers
For freelance reviewers, this involves incorporating live shots of themselves playing the game and providing commentary while doing so. More than a third of Gen Z who follow influencers on YouTube follow gaming influencers. While not all reviewers employ this method when reviewing gaming titles, audiovisual interactivity has proved to be more effective than a conventional written breakdown of how a game or gaming console works.
Some reviewers will focus on specific types of games only. For instance, they may be loyal to PC gaming titles, or opt to play on the Xbox rather than the PlayStation. Different gamers will cite a dozen different reasons for their favorite gaming consoles of all time – and because of the subjectivity involved in writing a review, they have a range of valid points to draw upon.
In gaming, this is very much the same. However, social media influencers have other pressing issues that they often rank more important than putting together a sensible review. In the world of social media, the real currency is how many likes, subscribers and shares you can attract with your video.
For those who prefer written, well-sourced and balanced content, this often doesn’t attract the same attention as clickbait titles and controversial taglines, as well as comments that influencers come up with.
Although there are some fantastic reviewers out there who primarily use social media as a means of connecting with their audience, it’s essential to remember that they comprise only one part of the review sector. It’s always a good idea to combine their opinions with those of experts who also provide written reviews. It helps to provide balance and gives you a greater insight into the game.
Final Thoughts
As is the case with designing a game, there’s a mountain of factors that are taken into consideration. For reviewers, especially those with sufficient expertise and who value the information they share, the same principles apply.
You can’t judge a game based on one factor, and for those who review a game a few hours after it hits the shelves, there’s generally an ulterior motive, which involves being first rather than being right.
Suppose you spend long enough browsing through different reviews and gain a good understanding of the individuals and companies that frequent this space. In that case, you will be able to build a clearer picture of those reviewers who use their expertise to provide balanced and impartial opinions, and those who use it as a marketing strategy for their brand or to grow their social media channels.
Ultimately, the review boils down to the game’s inner mechanics, playability and its ranking alongside some of the other highest-rated games within the same genre. Sure, there are some nuances, and there’s an element of personal preference, but overall, this is the recipe for a game review that is insightful, fair and balanced.
