You may have already read my reviews, or maybe you haven't. Either way, reading this page will help you understand the way that I rate reviewed games.
Gameplay: Overall Experience as a Video Game
I rate the gameplay based on the overall experience. Basically, this is a fun meter. A game that I am drawn into every single second I am playing will score high. A game with high points scattered around a wasteland of boredom will score lower. A zero would pretty much have to be the worst game ever, much like Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing.
Playability: Ease of Play
The playability is essentially how easy the game is to play. Now, this grading does go beyond the essentials however, and I take into consideration how easy it would be play for both a newbie and game veteran, so I take a closer at how the game actually operates instead of how easily I play it. The easier it is to play doesn't always grant a high score however. The game must also be challenging, balanced, and not confusing.
Story: Why I'm Playing
Nobody likes a game that just gives you a gun and tells you to shoot. Well, I'm sure some people do, but they don't count. I judge the story on several levels. The actual plot, of course, is the main thing. I judge whether or not it is some generic, cliche, save the world plot or something deeper. Plot development, or how the plot is sewn together is also huge. In most cases, I also judge the game based on character development, although some games really are better off with no characters. A more immersive story that leaves me begging to find what will happen next will score much higher than a run and gun with no destination.
Graphics: How it Looks
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that good graphics are everything, because they aren't. I firmly believe that the graphics must fit the game however. Minecraft wouldn't be nearly as interesting if it were in high definition with realistic effects. But if the Battlefield games were stuck as 8-Bit sidescrollers, I would be extremely disappointed. The better the effects, graphics engine, and art style fit the game, the higher the score will be.
Sound: BOOM!
In my humble opinion, this is one of the most overlooked aspects of video games. So much time and effort is put into crafting the perfect sound for each game, yet honor is rarely given. When I rate the sound, I rate it based on how much time and effort it seemed was put into making sounds and effects. If I hear the same dialogue time and time again, the score goes down. Another plus is how crisp and defined the sounds are. Also judged is how well voiceovers are done. If the character moves their mouth off key with the voice, like in the old Japanese movies, then bye-bye good score.
Overall: The Summary
This is the section where I summarize what was good and what was bad. Its pretty simple, and just may be all you need to read. Also, this is where I add all of the points for an overall score. If one of the sections is excluded (for various reasons), then I will round the total to be out of fifty.
0-10/50 = Complete crap
11-20/50 = Pretty much worthless with few high points
21-30/50 = Slightly flawed but good in concept
31-40/50 = Average with more pros than cons
41-45/50 = Good with a few general problems, but nothing to get upset about
46-50/50 = Very good with little to no problems at all
