[Multiplatform] Bayonetta Non Stop Climax Action

Famitsu gave it a perfect score, too.

Funny how both outlets used to be renowned for their stringency and now they hand out 100% scores like condoms at reasonable high schools.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Bigblah

Yeah, how could a stupid game like Bayonetta possibly score 100%, right

Don't get me wrong; shit looks awesome and I'm probably going to buy it sometime in '10. With the abundance of A++++ 10/10 BEST GAME EVER reviews from the past few years, though, I won't have any way of knowing if it legitimately stands out without checking it out myself.

Originally Posted by OmagnusPrime

11 condoms in 16 years, or 13 in 23 years (Edge and Famitsu respectively).

True, but they're getting a whole lot more liberal with the overly-positive reviews. Nine of Famitsu's thirteen perfect scores have been given out in the past two years. I'm really not sure if games these days are that much better-crafted than they were a decade ago, given overall industry changes.

Originally Posted by OmagnusPrime

This of course ignores the fact that you're putting entirely too much stock in a pure score anyway.

Nah, my point is that I'm not. Quantitative review systems are utter bunk—I take issue with the fact that they're standing in the way of games being reasonably assessed. My skepticism over Bayonetta being HOLY SHIT THAT FUCKING GOOD is in that such an assessment from outlets like Famitsu and Edge is increasingly less meaningful. Review score inflation is the main reason I don't put much trust in that kind of games journalism anymore.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by OmagnusPrime

Either you put stock in review scores or you don't, which is it?

I used to. Now I do not. I believe review scores used to be useful, accurate, fair and worthwhile indicators of the quality of a game, but now that there's an expectation of review outlets to award every big-budget title a score somewhere between "pretty damned good" and "perfect", it's difficult to see what actually does stand out these days. Is pointing out that review scores are less important than descriptive appraisals really that controversial?

Right now I don't have any way of deciding how worthwhile either mag's review is seeing as aside from a few excerpts I found Edge's is only available in print, and Famitsu's isn't in a language I speak. I'm leaning towards a purchase, but I'm going to base whether or not I do pick it up on how much I like the demo.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by OmagnusPrime

And no, "pointing out that review scores are less important than descriptive appraisals" is in no way controversial, but that's not the point I'm picking up on. Right now you seem to be making a snap decision about the quality of Edge's and Famitsu's reviews based on an arbitary score assigned that you've indicated numerous times now that you don't put any faith in.

Quote:

So tell me, if you can't really judge the quality of the game on the review score, why is it you can cast doubts on the quality of the review?

I opined that either games have seen a massive leap in relative quality over the past few years, or reviewers' standards are slipping. I believe the latter, but I'm not going to push that. It wasn't so much a snap decision as it was voicing concern for the way they've both been assessing new releases lately—I've not dismissed either review completely, but that a nebulous, arbitrary score is readily available and the text accompanying it is not is another frustrating part of this, and a damning indicator of the state of games journalism as a whole.

I'll hold off on passing judgement on whether or not Edge's review is worth heeding until I've read the full thing. Shall probably buy the issue tonight in light of all this. tl;dr: I am skeptical about the review because Famitsu and Edge seem to have lowered their standards in recent years, but I'm reserving judgement.

Originally Posted by Shin

I'd love to know which other game to have got a ten from Edge you thought didn't deserve it, Krel.

Halo 3 and Littlebigplanet are the only two I don't agree with (although, that said, Q pointed out in chat that Edge's reasons for giving Halo that score were better laid out than those of most other review outlets).

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?