Reviews Getting Better or Worse?

[VideoGameCritic]

On another board (which will go unnamed), a reader (who will go unnamed) suggested the reviews on this site have been on the decline in terms of quality.   I'd like to hear your opinions on that!

[Funkmaster V]

Yep, U suck.

No, I think you are awesome and you have influenced how I write reviews a little bit, too. (shorter reviews, not rambling on sound and visuals when not important, etc.)

BUT

I think what has sucked is that recently there have been so many 8 year old sports titles reviewed and I really wish you can chime in on the Wii library, but I understand why you can't. The quality of your reviews I think is constant or better than three years ago or so.

Cousin Vinnie

[m0zart1]

Well, as I said on the unnamed board in reply to the unnamed reader, I don't think so.  I have enjoyed the reviews lately more than I have since I've been coming to this site.  And that's been quite a while now.

[feilong801]

Well darnit, I just spent the last 20 minutes googling in vain to try to find said unnamed board, so I can show some support!

Truly, the quality has actually gone up. I have particularly noticed Dave going back and fixing up older reviews.

One thing my search did find, however, was there is some stupid elitest opinion regarding the length of reviews here. As if a game review has to be of gargantuan length to have merit.

As I said somewhere before, Dave displays real talent in making a strong case for a game in such crisp, concise prose. That's a positive, not a negative.

-Rob

[MappyMousePD]

I find there are more unnecessary comments creeping into the reviews, like the inclusion of a female announcer in MLB 2K7 and the lack of "jiggle" effects if VF5, that detract from the rest of the review.  At least the homophobic remarks seem to be tapering off.  Overall, the reviews seem to be more of a rattling off of random thoughts concerning the game rather than a real succinct review of the gameplay. 

I think the cause for this is that both complex modern games and the more basic classic games get the same brief treatment in the reviews. 

[Sudz1]

If anything, your reviews have gotten better.  When I look back to reviews you posted like 5 years ago, they were short and pretty much straight down to business.  Your reviews over the past few years have evolved into being slightly longer (giving more detail about the game) and including more humor.  In short, you should be getting the Nobel Prize for Journalism if there were any justice in this world but since it's all political you'll end up being ignored by the Board again.
Sudz

[KanYozakura]

Critic, I mean this in the best possible way...

Go read some of the reviews from 2000/2001, then read some of the current reviews.  Try to say that the quality has actually gone down.

The quality leap over your early reviews isn't just noticable, it's astounding.  You're really nailing the reviews lately, regardless of what games you choose to review.  Nice job, and screw the naysayers.

[Alienblue]

Quality has improved, but I think length is getting a tad too long. I review games/movies too, so I know how sometimes its hard to stop Praising or Blasting a game, but-self control!

(insert here dirty joke about how we all are born with SELF controls...)

Seriously, you are only reviewing one or two games instead of three due to length? Better to spread the love and reveiw 3. 3 DIFFERENT games. You really are baseball nuts this season. There are other spring things besides baseball. I'm not saying DON'T review baseball games but spread them out more. You can't please everyone, I know, but personaly I'd like to see more really old game reviews and/or handheld reviews (like INTV Mousetrap!)

[voor]

They're definately much longer....is that intentional, or due to games having 'more' things to talk about these days?

[Roperious1]

There is no comparison to other review sites.  Your reviews are short, to the point are really drive key issues home to your readers.  You don't go back on previous statements and your grading system is much easier to go by.  Your reviews have proven invaluable to myself.