1059 replies to this topic

[Uncle Ben]

 

Game Dev Tycoon: 8.5/10

 

Prison Architect: 7/10

 

Okay...I thought we were suppose to explain why we give the scores we give.

 

 

Too Lazy

 

Really? 8.5? I wouldn't give Game Dev Tycoon more than 6/10.

 

Probably its high because i'm getting 8-10s on all the games i do

[RedAuthar]

The point five thing is bugging me though.

The reason for a scale 1-10, is that there are ten different grades of quality. If you can't decide between two grades you need to use a larger scale.

Also note you nearly gave the game an A

[furrykef]

The reason for a scale 1-10, is that there are ten different grades of quality. If you can't decide between two grades you need to use a larger scale.

But what scale would it be? 1 to 100 allows way too much granularity (can we really distinguish a 76 from a 77?). 1 to 50 and 1 to 25 are awkward. 1 to 10 feels just right, but sometimes it's not quite enough granularity and so we feel the need to wedge one in between.

[RedAuthar]

You found up or down depending on what you feel is more accurate. For example is game Dev Tycoon really B or A material? If it is worth the A round up, if not round down.

[furrykef]

Yes, but the problem is when we don't know which way to round.

[Uncle Ben]

Or you could just keep it in the middle

[RedAuthar]

Then why bother using a 10base if you're going to use the 1/2 anyways? If you need those halves use a 20base. Use percentiles. Use letter grades. Why specifically establish a 10base grade and not stick to it?

[furrykef]

Because 1-10 is a conventional and intuitive scale. I already explained that 1-100 has too much granularity and something like 1-20 is too awkward. I think letter grades are a little too unconventional, though it's admittedly probably a better system.

[RedAuthar]

Most online reviewers either stick with 5 or 10, or go without a system.

[TheRedStranger]

Because 1-10 is a conventional and intuitive scale. I already explained that 1-100 has too much granularity and something like 1-20 is too awkward. I think letter grades are a little too unconventional, though it's admittedly probably a better system.

 

Actually...I think words are the best and should take up presidence. Just communicate your thoughts and use a simple 1-10 scale to recap. 'Tis all you need. And make it engaging.

 

Here is an excellent example of just sayin' it as it is and being fun with it:

 

[RedAuthar]

Heh, Brutalmoose

[doesthings]

I began using a 1 to 100 scale with movies because of how big the list grew over the years. Then I discovered that the 5.0 to 5.9 area became so saturated with mediocre movies that, for that area, I had to implement a 1 to 1000 scale (The Beach, for example, getting a 5.57). Higher up the list, that scale loses meaning, so I revert back to the 1 to 100 (Jaws gets a 9.3, or if you like, covers the entire 9.30 area like a blob). Zooming into my own habits creates an infinite fractal of insanity.

 

I'm so happy we're talking about this!

[GamemasterAnthony]

And with that...I present this:

 

South Park - The Stick of Truth

 

Oh my sweet God...THIS GAME IS SICK AND WRONG, BUT IN THE MOST AWESOME WAY POSSIBLE!

 

They finally made a good South park game...by doing what they should have done in the first place and have Trey Parker and Matt Stone direct how it's made.  This game is very faithful to the series, right down to the classic look of "Let's use Colorforms to make the characters" vibe.  It's not really a graphical specticle, but it doesn't have to be...and in this case it's a good thing because it allows for perfect representation of the South Park world.

 

Best part is that you create your own kid character to play in the world, and that character (albeit playing on the "silent protagonist" trope) is integrated perfectly in the cutscenes.  You can even acquire different costume parts throughout the city to custome your character's look...or spend some money at Tom's Rhinoplasty to make yourself look like Hasselhoff.

 

This game references and plays off of everything that's been in the series so far...and then goes far and beyond to make it sick and wrong in the most humorous way possible.  Seriously...if you are easily offended and can't laugh at yourself, DO NOT BUY THIS GAME!  They even take a shot at the old 8-bit games when you go into Canada.

 

Being an RPG, you can choose your class at the beginning, be it a Warrior, Thief, Magician, or...Jew.  (Don't worry...that last one isn't played offensively as you might think.)  The game utilizes classic turn based RPG style, and they even work that into the story when Cartman actually has to tell people "it's not your turn yet".  The battles are played very much like a Mario RPG where you can power up your attacks by timed button presses for both regular and special attacks.  And...this is where my only gripe comes up.  The timing for the attacks is persnickity...and for some of the specials, there's no real way of telling when you have to press the button sometimes.  As such, you may get a "too early" or "too late" at a critical time.

 

Overall, though...the presentation is great.  Definitely a game to get if you are a South Park fan!

 

Graphics - 10

Sound - 10

Gameplay - 8

Presentation - 10

 

Gamemaster Anthony gives this game:  9.5/10

[Uncle Ben]

So far a lot of sites are calling The Stick of Truth the front runner of GotY

[ILOVEVHS]

Does the PC Version require Internet?

[Uncle Ben]

Doubt it

[ILOVEVHS]

It does. You need Steam.

[Uncle Ben]

Mass Effect 1- 7/10

 

Mass Effect 2- 9.5/10

[Raven]

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift: Extend

 

Story(8/10)

Gameplay(5/10)

 

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift is another installment in the BlazBlue franchise. BlazBlue is a series of fighting games that focus primarily on the story mode, greatly lacking in the actual fighting. The fighting has two modes, Normal and Stylish. Normal mode is a mess of different and complicated mechanics, frustrating controls, and counter intuitive combo system. I give the developers some credit, they were trying something new, but they wound up over complicating things by trying to reinvent the wheel. 

 

The story mode is also complicated, but with a flow chart, its no big deal. If you can wrap your mind around the Multiverse Theory and multiple timelines with multiple possibilities, you'll do well with the story. However the story contains many cliches and moments where you find yourself saying, "Yeah, I get it." 

 

Despite these frustrating flaws, there is one aspect of BlazBlue that all players can agree on, the soundtrack is LEGENDARY. Music artist Daisuke Ishiwatari is the mastermind behind BlazBlue's famous soundtrack. He is also the man who composed the music for Hard Corps: Uprising and the Guilty Gear series.

[Uncle Ben]

Mass Effect 3- 8/10