What Makes a Top-Quality Game Reviewer?
If you have ever been torn as to whether or not to download a new game, you might think about looking at reviews.
Game reviewers give us an insight into what to expect from a game, what the gameplay is like, and might even be the reason we decide to part with our hard-earned cash, or not. But what does it take to be a top-quality game reviewer? Is it all about having a million followers on your blog or YouTube? Or is it more about having a deep knowledge of the game industry, the technology, and the people involved?
There are literally thousands of game titles released every month, on different platforms, and in different genres. From the latest slot games to the brand new console game that everyone has been waiting years for, reviews can make or break a title before it is even released, in some cases.
Who Reviews Games?
In reality, anybody can review anything. There are no actual ‘rules’ about who can do it, but the question comes when considering whether the reviews are actually worth reading. If you are hoping for an advance copy of a game to play, then you will need to have made a name for yourself already in the gaming world, whether as a player or a reviewer, because game developers want to hand the early copies of their product to people who can get the word out and have opinions that other people can trust.
Good game reviewers know the industry and the genre to back them up. They are well-informed, from someone who has played the game all the way through, and understands the story, the characters, and the development. They know what constitutes a good game in terms of technology and design, and they are able to provide balanced and nuanced responses to the different facets of the game.
The best game reviewers, though, are the ones who recommend the games that you like, so you know you have similar tastes. That is often enough to build the trust that their opinion is valid and should be listened to–and that their reviews are likely to match your taste and understanding of specific games.
Could You Be a Game Reviewer?
With so many games available across so many platforms, the opportunity to share your views could help other people decide on whether a game is worth getting into, and it could save someone like you from making a terrible decision.
Reviews are only as good as the person posting them; when it comes to online casino game sites, for example, you have to look past the reviews that review a site poorly because they have lost the games they are playing (that is the nature of a gamble, of course) and look for the reviews that discuss the important things, like customer service, range of games, withdrawal simplicity and that sort of thing.
You should also consider the views of professionals, rather than people making emotional decisions. As an example, Jemma McColgan has worked within the gambling industry for over a decade, she reviews the best online casinos for Casino.org Alberta, this is a very crowded market so spotting the smallest details is vital. If you are considering following in her footsteps, check out her reviews and get an understanding of how to put across a professional viewpoint.
How to be a Good Reviewer?
It is useful to remember that to be a good reviewer, you have to be a fan first. Games are like all kinds of art; created to provide entertainment, to elicit emotion, and to be enjoyed by the audience. Not everyone will be the target audience of a piece of art, whether that is a painting, a novel, a poem, or a game, and that means that not everyone will enjoy the art produced.
Add to this the fact that what one game reviewer might love about a game, another one might detest. Some people prefer RPGs, while others are looking for straight shoot ‘em ups. There is no definitive answer about which game type is the best, because it is subjective. Action games are not the same as strategy games, and a fan of one might not be a fan of the other.
Objective reviews of a subjective art form are an impossibility. While there are specific aspects of games that can be measured scientifically (like the number of pixels, the frame rate, and the quality of the rendering), those points do not make a good game. There have been several occasions where a game has been scored poorly by critics despite having the latest in graphics and design, because that does not make a game good. Instead, it is the connection you have with the characters and the story, the way the action leaves you breathless, the heartbreak and intensity of the plot twist, or the simplicity of the hyper-casual game you are considering downloading on your smartphone to while away a few hours while you are bored at work. Ratings are often a good way to show whether it is worth it, without too much explanation needed.