Edge - Enthusiasm - Gone?

[chrisp]

Nah, O.O.T didn't. Ever. Did it?

Zora's Domain... snowed outside IIRC...

See, I thought that but no, it turns out that it's just icy inside. I think, anyway...no snow falling or on the ground. I'm sure. Just ice. So, sort-of snow, if you will.

Shiznit. Silly me; Ice Cave had snow on the ground didn't it? But not falling...same for MM. Never falling. Maybe they meant that?

[Leynos]

And as for people not knowing what's before them... well, who's fault's that? People don't complain about that about most other genre's do they?

On the contrary. I think the situation is exactly the same for 2D shoot 'em ups. I don't think Edge has ever said anything of significance about this genre, even in the early issues, where beat 'em ups were I think at least given a fair hearing. Their constant ignorance of scoring systems is particularly irritating. This problem is compounded by their use of half page reviews to cover games whose play mechanics really need at least a page to be done justice. Although, even then they manage to screw up. Muteki Otaku's two page Ikaruga review even felt dumbed down and lacking in substance.

Later.

[lordcookie]

I never bought Edge for the reviews, because by and large I never agree with them. But I did used to buy it for the features, and even that has gone down hill over the last 3 or 4 months. I enjoy the specials they do on each console, but I dont know if that can warrant to keep my subscription.
Another thing that annoys me is the fact they disregard practically every shmup that isn't made by Treasure. It's a small niggle, but until I came to this forum I would have missed out on loads of top class shmups.

[e_visible]

Blah blah blah on this subject for the umpteenth time.

The analogy that works for me is the News. The parallels are clear. 99% of magazines are ITN News. Edge is Newsnight. Both have their place.

[chrisp]

Blah blah blah on this subject for the umpteenth time.

The analogy that works for me is the News. The parallels are clear. 99% of magazines are ITN News. Edge is Newsnight. Both have their place.

In that case, GamesTM is Tonight With Trevor McDonald. Rip off, and not as good.

[Treble]

Blah blah blah on this subject for the umpteenth time.

The analogy that works for me is the News. The parallels are clear. 99% of magazines are ITN News. Edge is Newsnight. Both have their place.

Ah, but that's the point - Edge self-consciously promote themselves as a cut above ('Newsnight'), but often their reviews miss the point so badly, and fail to cover the salient and key points (witness Psyvariar and VF4e), that they are as bad as the tabloids ('The Sun').

:|

[ThoseOfTheUnlight]

[quote="kona"]

Well the negative points that the review mentioned were:
1. The backgrounds are not as nice as DOA3
2. The moves are a bit off compared to DOA3
quote]

This is just plain funny.

[Sarkster]

I understand that you mean Treb. And I understand why Saurian is pissed about the comments made about VF4E but in fairness, they have to try and cater to everyone dont they?

I like fighting games as much as the next man, but not to the extent of Saurian, where he's all counting frames and mad **** like that.

People who are so into their fighting games (or any other genres) that they focus on totally mastering the game, will already know about the indepth stuff, or will find it out themselves.

If they spent an extra half a page or more explaining (in this instance) move priorities and stuff like that, it would most likely mean nothing to 90% of the readership.

Just my HO

[Bomberman UK]

They kept saying Blinx was a Sega title!

But it is! It's from Artoon, which is part of Sega, non? Or at least it used to be. Or at least it's made up of many ex-Sonic Team members. One of those.

Nah, Artoon just has some ex-Sonic Team staff members, but that doesn't mean it's a SEGA game. That's like saying Quantum Redshift is developed by Psygnosis.

GamesTM has just highlighted Edge's strong points. Namely: high quality writing, consistently revelatory and in-depth features, beautiful design, interesting and unique columnists and recently hilarious Out Theres.

I think Edge sees GAMES TM as competition (Sales-wise) as it's definately been putting more humour in their magazine since GAMES TM has started. You can't have failed to notice that lots of jokes started showing up in OutThere just as Paragons magazine started. They've also put a bigger focus on retro gaming... before GAMES TM they only had one single page.

Competition is good though.

[lordcookie]

Blah blah blah on this subject for the umpteenth time.

The analogy that works for me is the News. The parallels are clear. 99% of magazines are ITN News. Edge is Newsnight. Both have their place.

Ah, but that's the point - Edge self-consciously promote themselves as a cut above ('Newsnight'), but often their reviews miss the point so badly, and fail to cover the salient and key points (witness Psyvariar and VF4e), that they are as bad as the tabloids ('The Sun').

:|

In what issue did they review Psyvariar, because I must have missed it?

[Treble]

But aren't Edge 'speaking' to the kind of people who want to hear this detail, generally?

Also, I don't care if they give Psyvariar, or VF4e or whatever a 6 or a 4 or a 1 - they still have a obligation to explain the game's system in depth, or the reader is being sold short. Their PDO review was also missing important detail and failed to capture its essence, imo.

[Squirtle]

I don't think we'll see a high mark for a fighting game [in Edge] until something comes along which revolutionizes the genre. VF4Evo is a blatant evolution (well spotted, me thinks), even if it is the finest game in the 3d fighter genre.
If a fighter comes along that really introduces environmental interaction or adaptive animation, then I can see Edge giving out a 9 or 10 - whether or not they are good at the game or even understand the full extent of the depth is beside the point.

Thanks for writing this as this is the point i was trying to make. It's like trying to re-make the wheel. You can refine it and refine it, but at heart it's still the same thing.

I don't know where a revolution can come from in Beat-em-ups, but until then, don't expect edge to get too worked up about the genre.

[Sarkster]

I dont know..

I mean, yes, they market themselves as the "hardcore" gamers mag. But at the back of the organisation there is a publisher saying "more copies sold, more money in my bank balance"

Which is why, i imagine, they target the mag at people *really* into videogames, but dont target the content that exclusively so as to make it an impenetrable read should an "everyman" happen to buy it to have a look

[chrisp]

But aren't Edge 'speaking' to the kind of people who want to hear this detail, generally?

Also, I don't care if they give Psyvariar, or VF4e or whatever a 6 or a 4 or a 1 - they still have a obligation to explain the game's system in depth, or the reader is being sold short. Their PDO review was also missing important detail and failed to capture its essence, imo.

But owing to the very nature of magazines, they *can't* go into enormous, intricate detail about every game's system in every review. They have to give it an overall appraisal in a very small space. It's flawed, but there's no other way, unlike with websites which can go on for thousands of words.

[Treble]

Well, when Tokuda writes and publishes his review on here, you read it and tell me which you think manages to both explain it to the n00bs and understands the intricacies of the game better: his or Edge's. I know which my money's on.