EGM's question of the month

[RedCoKid]

Have you ever bought a game based on a positive EGM review (or other magazine) and ended up hating it?

I bought Viewtiful Joe based on just about every review from all gaming media sources. EGM had said something like, "VJ's difficulty can be frustrating, but in the end it's worth it." It wasn't. I should've been content with the demo disk level.

[Mamoscott]

staying off topic, unfortunately - I wasn't on any GTA or KOTOR reviews, so I can't address any of those specific issues.

However, I know where the problem is. We review "reviewable code," i.e., a build of the game that the publisher says is in a reviewable state. That doesn't mean it's 100% bug free -- it means the game is in its final round of bug fixes, usually. When we come across bugs, we ask about them. Invariably, the publisher tells us they are going to be fixed. 98% of the time they are. Sometimes they aren't. Now before you queue up the "EGM should only review boxed copies OMG!!!" rant, know that then all of our reviews would be two to three months late. And none of our competitors would follow suit.

Incidentally I never came across any "game stopping" glitches in either GTA. Mission stopping maybe, but not game stopping. Now, kotor...#!$#@ Carth bug got me good.

Fair enough, but that still doesn't explain why EGM glossed over KOTOR and Vice City in a "buggy games" feature that ran months after both games were released. I don't mean to bust your balls or anything, but I thought my rant sort of tied in with the thread's topic (instances where a publication loses credibility in the eyes of a reader). I don't want to derail the thread any further, so I'll drop the off-topic stuff now. Thanks for clarifying some of that stuff though.

Now for another on-topic contribution:

I thought Super Monkey Ball 2 got unnecessarily positive reviews from most places, perhaps because it was a sequel to a "sleeper" launch title. The single player mode had tons of gimmicky, overly frustrating stages (like the one where you must launch yourself onto the super tall platform in the middle and then roll off into the circling exit), Amusement Vision bastardized Monkey Golf, and I disliked a lot of the changes to Monkey Target as well. The original SMB was difficult as well, but I at least thought that I could pass each stage with enough practice. In the sequel, I felt as though I was simply taking a shot in the dark on most levels, and I found most of the new party games to be disappointing.

On GameRankings, SMB2 is hovering in the 86% range.

Also, that was a great call by DjRocca on Perfect Dark. That one totally slipped my mind.

[Mzo]

I bought Viewtiful Joe based on just about every review from all gaming media sources. EGM had said something like, "VJ's difficulty can be frustrating, but in the end it's worth it." It wasn't. I should've been content with the demo disk level.

Trust me, you're a special case, unique in your lack of hand-eye coordination, and should never take remarks made to the general gaming public at face value.

[MechDeus]

There was no mentioning of the rampant glitches in EGM's reviews of Knights of the Old Republic either.

Actually, if I had reviewed KOTOR I'd have given it a 10 and wouldn't have mentioned the bugs either. Know why? Because I played through 1.5 times and never encountered a single bug. I didn't even know the game was glitchy until I came back to being online after my binge and saw tons of other people complaining.

[Mamoscott]

Actually, if I had reviewed KOTOR I'd have given it a 10 and wouldn't have mentioned the bugs either. Know why? Because I played through 1.5 times and never encountered a single bug. I didn't even know the game was glitchy until I came back to being online after my binge and saw tons of other people complaining.

Fair enough, but that still doesn't explain why EGM glossed over KOTOR and Vice City in a "buggy games" feature that ran months after both games were released.

[blackmesa]

i conquered Stuntman and I thought it sucked

[RedCoKid]

Trust me, you're a special case, unique in your lack of hand-eye coordination, and should never take remarks made to the general gaming public at face value.

I'm sick of your personal attacks. Ignore list +1. Congrats!

[Mzo]

The last two statements make me sad

I conquered Stuntman and I thought it sucked.

Sounds like you played a lot of a game you didn't like. That's weird.

I thought Stuntman was just swimming in class... looked to me like they put tons of effort into the game: great controls, graphics, missions, AWESOME extras, and a little playground to make your own crashes.

My only complaint is that it was too short... I could've gone on for a couple more movies. There is also little to no replay value. Matter of fact, once I got 100% I threw the thing on my shelf and swore never to touch the damned game again. Good times.

[Dripdry]

I'm ignoring you too, now, Mzo.

[Mzo]

I'd LOVE to respond in some no-doubt hilarious way, but I appreciate the opportunity offered to this board to answer the monthly EGM question too much to derail the thread. I like the fact that I can see a TNLer or two's lame picture in EGM. It's great. Thank you, dlinn.

Plus, Dripdry, you're on my ignore list anyway.