[QUOTE=JustLikeHeaven]How much freedom do you guys think a editor has in the final score they give a game? I always figured that they came up with a score and discussed with the EIC and then went and finished the review. I figure this is true on especially high profile titles.[/QUOTE]
Normally, the reviewer in question get the final word. However, the EIC can step in at times when he becomes convinced that there are factual errors in the review. Kasavin did that with "Metroid Prime Hunters", after Bob Colayco made some glaring errors in his review. "Shenmue" was also corrected after the fact, as well as a few multiplatform versions of "Tetris Worlds".
[QUOTE=JustLikeHeaven]Anyways, I hear that Siren is a great, yet very flawed game...how can you be mad when she gave the game a 6.something while the game only scored a 7.0 on gamerankings? If you like it why does it matter what some critic says? Just curious.[/QUOTE]
My anger is more tongue-in-cheek than real. I loved "Siren". It's one of my favorite survival horror games of all time at this point. It took me MONTHS to finish that game. It was hard as all get out. It had Zombies (called Shibito) that were practically chess-players. It was hard to avoid their glare or outwit them. The game also throws you in with little to no training. One little session teaches you how to sight-jack your enemies, but that's it. So it's just a really really hard game, and I loved it for it. I felt really fulfilled after finishing that game completely.
Having said all of that, I can easily see why the average person wouldn't like it at all. It's sometimes too hard for its own good. It's not the kind of game that you can just brute-force your way through, either. It's all in the mind. You basically do several missions either alone or with a companion (whom you must lead with a list box of commands), trying to get from point A to point B, or accomplish some other minor task. The problem is that the area is chock full of these patrolling Shibito. They are extremely aware of their surroundings, and fast runners. They are also undying. You can't kill them, but only stun them. The only thing that you have at your disposal really is the odd weapon (which is usually worthless), and the sight-jacking ability. Sight-jacking allows you to tune in like a radio to see and hear through the eyes and ears of anyone in the vicinity, including your companion but usually just the shibito that you are trying to escape.
You have to basically find a good hiding place, and then watch through the each of the shibitos' eyes in that given level, memorizing their usual patterns, as well as the layout of the landscape. You have to figure out a good escape route all from this experience. Sometimes the level is so big, that you can't tune into all the shibito, so you have to do the same thing in several segments in the same level.
To make matters even worse, there are some levels that have a time limit. And some of those don't even show you the time limit on the screen. You have to count yourself 
It's done on purpose actually to make it just that much more difficult. It's very tough!
So, while I think it's one of the greatest games of all time, and one game that I am truly proud to have finished, I can easily see why it didn't get much love. Bethany's review actually miffed me a little more than the other poor reviews, partially because she tried to imply that the game was too easy. HUH? Did she get a different version of the game than I did? Cause I tell ya, it SURE wasn't easy!