Fetch Quest

Although not necessarily the focus of the blog, from time to time I will be posting game reviews. Before I put up the first one (likely this Monday), I wanted to do a quick meta post to explain how these will be done. In general, I'm not a big fan of scores. I don't really mind someone giving a game a thumbs up or thumbs down, or rating on a five star scale. Start using numbers though, eh, that's pushing it. Add in decimal places, okay, you've gone too far now. Is there really a big difference between a 7.7 and an 8.1? Couldn't both games just be an 8? And most of the time, these scores are further broken down into subscores, giving just as arbitrary ratings to graphics and sound and replay value. These areas are certainly important, but if I can't fully grasp a 0.4 difference in an overall game score, I certainly am not going to get it in a single specific aspect of a game.

My reviews are much more simplified, and reflect the way I personally view games. I'll rate a game's graphics, sound, control, innovation, and replay value; rather than give these a numeric score however, I'll rate them as either Excellent, Satisfactory, or Unsatisfactory. Here's a more detailed explanation for what those ratings mean in regards to each category:

Control

• Excellent: from the opening cut scene to final credit roll, I never once questioned anything related to the controls. In general, when I hand out this score, I probably won't have a whole lot to say. After all, when control is done right, it's not on your mind very much. If the game does something especially interesting control-wise though, I may take a line or two out to praise that.
  
• Satisfactory: there were a few areas which threw me off a bit when I first started the game, though I eventually got used to them. Possibly one or two things never felt quite right throughout the game, though they weren't a detriment to the overall enjoyment factor.
  
• Unsatisfactory: numerous questionable control decisions from the get-go. A new title in an established genre not using established norms, for example. Very likely that these choices are something I never fully get used to, though even if I do get the hang of them, I can still ding a game here if there is no apparent reason why they were so difficult. One or more control-related areas were a legitimate detriment to the fun I would otherwise be having.
  

Graphics

• Excellent: the game looks so good that I'll want to show it off to somebody. If I want to demonstrate the power of the system, this is a game I'll use as an example. Or, on the flip side, the graphics may not necessarily be cutting edge for the system, but they do exude so much style that I probably like the game more than I would if it were using something more standardized.
  
• Satisfactory: everything looks like what it's supposed to look like. The interface is clean and understandable. Compared to other games on similar systems with similar release windows, it looks fair. Basically, anything that is functional yet lacking any sort of wow factor would fall in here.
  
• Unsatisfactory: in some way, shape, or form, the graphics actually hinder gameplay. Maybe it's difficult to tell enemies from allies, for instance. Another possibility is that the graphics simply aren't up to snuff for the platform and time period in which they are released.
  

Innovation

• Excellent: whether it's a zany twist on an established formula or something completely new, I feel like I'm playing something I've never quite played before. It'll be years before any similarly-styled game can come out without this game being referenced as a likely inspiration. It's quite possible that I have a difficult time expressing exactly what the gameplay is like, if only because I have little to compare it to.
  
• Satisfactory: same old, same old. That's not necessarily a bad thing though, as standard gameplay traits are usually standard for a good reason. Games can get away with this without much fuss from me so long as they inject their own bit of personality into things.
  
• Unsatisfactory: derivative. Offers absolutely nothing that other games in the genre don't do as well. A surefire way to get this rating is if at any point during play, I wonder why I'm still playing when I could get everything I'm getting now and more from another game.
  

Replay Value

• Excellent: without question, I'm playing the game way past the initial end of the story or career mode, whether it's to complete unfinished objectives or just to go through some of the more interesting missions a second time. I almost certainly will play through the whole game a second time, and quite possibly again after that. Occasionally, I may even play through the game again right after beating it.
  
• Satisfactory: the game was good fun, and I probably will spend some time trying to up my completion percentage before finishing up the initial playthough. After beating it though, odds are it'll go back on my shelf to collect dust for the next year plus. Eventually though, there's a pretty decent chance I'll pop it back in the system to have a second go round, though not likely before the memory of the original playthough has started to fade.
  
• Unsatisfactory: if at any point during play, I make the decision to do whatever it takes to just get through the game so I can be done with it. If this happens, not only is it a near-certainty that I won't play through the game again, but I just barely want to play entirely through it the first time. I'm probably skipping over cut scenes or ignoring sidequests.
  

Sound

• Excellent: if the game includes some sort of jukebox mode, I'll probably spend some time with it. If no such bonus is included, I may search the net to see if there is a soundtrack available for download. One or more songs get stuck in my head. A sound effect is so cool, I repeatedly perform the action required to invoke it over and over just for kicks. Voices are so well done, they truly add to the characters' depth.
  
• Satisfactory: no emotion is invoked at all. Music is pleasant but not catchy. Sound effects are as expected. Voices are neither interesting or offensive. Overall, I just flat out didn't even notice the sound.
  
• Unsatisfactory: if I even once just consider pressing the mute button the remote, it's going in here. The music can be loud or tinny or plain annoying. Sound effects are obnoxious or don't make sense. Voices are unbelievable or wooden, and in turn actually decreased the depth of the characters.
  

Okay, so that was the somewhat long and in-depth explanation of the various specific aspects of games that I'll make note of in my reviews. Beyond that, I'll also give a final, overall grade to each game. As the name implies, these will be either an A, B, C, D, or F. This grade is not any sort of average of the previously rated items; they actually play a fairly minor role in this grade. What the grade is is more in regards to general fun factor. Basically, how much did I enjoy playing the game? I mean, that's what it all really comes down to, right? That question is so much more important than anything else, which is why I decided it'd be best to rate it on its own scale, rather than the one used for the other areas. Here's a quick explanation of each grade:

• A: first: a game that gets an A is not perfect. If that were the criteria for getting an A, then the grade would go unused. Instead, an A basically means that after having played the game, I can't imagine having not played it. I'll remember it for years, talk about it with friends, have a guaranteed interest in any sequels. This game alone would be a strong incentive for me to buy a system; put a few of these games on one console, and I almost certainly would buy the system if I didn't own it.
  
• B: I played the game, enjoyed it, considered it worth the time and money invested. However, it just didn't have that special something. I'd definitely want to own the game, but I may be fine with waiting for it to drop in price, rather than having to rush to the store to get it on release day. I'll probably never check out any fan sites on the internet for it. I'll keep my ears open for news on any sequels, but won't be crushed if nothing comes to pass.
  
• C: if I paid full price for the game, I'm probably feeling a little iffy about that decision. The game was enjoyable enough, but I probably could have skipped out on it and not been any worse for the wear. There was probably at least one area of the game that I considered flawed to the point where it hurt my overall appreciation for it. I'd probably recommend it to a fan of the genre after it hits the bargain bin.
  
• D: no two ways about it, I'm disappointed. Even if I got the game on the cheap, it wasn't a good use of my money. Heck, even if it was free, I still feel like I lost some time playing it that I'll never get back. Multiple areas of the game are broken in one way or another. There are flecks of redeeming qualities here and there, but they are overshadowed, whether it be by frustration or boredom. I might still play the game some if I don't really have anything else to do, though I'll be quick to ditch it when the opportunity comes along.
  
• F: as someone who spends a fair amount of time researching and is not at all compulsive with his game choices, I very rarely add absolute bombs in my collection. However, every now and again, it'll happen. Something will look pretty good, get generally okay reviews, I'll take a shot on it, and will feel sick to my stomach afterwards. I probably played the game for less than an hour before deciding I couldn't take anymore.
  

I'll also add that there are no pluses or minuses here; every game will get one of those five letters. At the very worst, if I'm truly torn between two grades, I'll choose one and note the tough choice in my review. Most games I pick up will fall into the B grade, with A's not being all that rare either. I do enjoy scrounging through the bargain bins, which does tend to bring a fair number of C's as well, along with the occasional D. The F grade is truly a rarity for someone who is as careful as I am with spending my money though; it wouldn't surprise me if I never write a review that forces me to bust that grade out.

So, that should just about sum up what I intend to do with my game reviews. Ironically enough, my goal is to try to keep my reviews fairly succinct, so odds are pretty good that this overview is going to be much longer than my average review post. I do feel it's important though to get across exactly how I'm rating my games; better to have too much detail in this situation than too little.