Edge 213 scores

[rmoxon]

I'm not sure how they can say its boring yet then go on to say it is visualy stunning, has the best battle system ever and delivers loads of things fans want... But maybe they just dont like the series in general? Didnt they give FFX a 6?

But ok well if you dont see my point i suggest we just shut up about it, becuase I made it very clear.

[Brad]

Oh, so this is where it boils down to.

You're not talking about if the score reflects the review, you're talking about how in your opinion EDGE got the whole review wrong.

Why have chosen to ignore over half of what rmoxon posted? That's a rhetorical question by the way.

[Charlie]

Well I gotta say the review reads like a 5 to me too.

This isn't directed at anybody in particular but, reading these threads each month, the impression I get is a lot of players see Edge or Games TM criticising a game they enjoyed and translate that into a criticism of their personal gaming tastes, and so, feeling under attack, they attack the magazine.

[rmoxon]

Ive actualy been through this before, I was a bit upset when edge and games tm gave Darksiders a 6. It annoyed me becuase I think it is a fantastic game that deserves recognition and good review scores can only help it to reach more people.

This is final fantasy though, people will buy it regardless, I'm simply saying I think its a rubbish review.

[Brats]

No, The game got plenty of good scores elsewhere and many people just laugh at edge reviews these days, I dont think many people are actualy that bothered other than they like to have a little moan in threads like these to pass the time.

Edge has definitely had it's low patches, but it's last few issues have been back on form imo. A lot of people don't like Edge simply because it uses words of more than few sylables and it's okay with printing a review that doesn't agree with the general opinion.

I just think its a poorly written review really, I'm entitled to my opinion brats, even though i know you like to try and stuff yours down my throat.

I didn't say you weren't entitled to your opinion. It's just that a number of us on this forum happen to think that it's an excellent review, which is why we are discussing it.

I'm not sure how they can say its boring yet then go on to say it is visualy stunning, has the best battle system ever and delivers loads of things fans want... But maybe they just dont like the series in general? Didnt they give FFX a 6?

They did, but they also gave FFXII a 9/10 and awarded it the best game of the year.

I really can't understand how you can not even contemplate that a game could be visually excellent, have a great battle system and deliver lots of fan service, yet still be spoiled by poor pacing and too much handholding. Scores aren't dished out like a GCSE test - games don't earn 2 points for visuals, 3 points for the battle system and 2 points for fan service. It's the overall experience that matters and a game can have many elements that are brilliant yet still have be average overall.

This isn't directed at anybody in particular but, reading these threads each month, the impression I get is a lot of players see Edge or Games TM criticising a game they enjoyed and translate that into a criticism of their personal gaming tastes, and so, feeling under attack, they attack the magazine.

I agree, it does feel that way. The amount of venom directed at some magazines and reviewers is way over the top. By all means, put forward an argument as to why you disagree with a review, but a lot of discussion simply seems to be 'that's wrong', 'they're just doing it to get attention', picking holes with poor arguments or worse.

[fuse]

I must admit I find reading these threads as a bit of a guilty pleasure, as the circus that comes whenever a big game gets reviewed is always quite funny. Generally speaking I understand and respect Edge and find their reviews brilliantly written, but that doesn't mean we always see eye-to-eye in what I would like to actually play. I agree with their points in the FFXIII review, can see how it lead them to that score, and yet still I'm having a wail of a time with it.

It says some bad things about it, but it also says things like " the fanbase, certainly, will find Lightning to be the Cloud substitute they’ve been yearning for, and in the hunting side-quests the grinding fix they’re after. For anyone less dedicated – who wouldn’t really care if a Chocobo makes an appearance or not – it’s more troubling. FFXIII is uncommonly beautiful, with a background fiction as rich as its story is poor, and at its beating heart is a battle system that stands among the genre’s finest."

Now thats a horribley written excert that sounds like at one point its going to tell us somthing bad about the game and actualy never does

I don't find it that horribly written at all, and to me the majority of it reads as if to say "Unless you're a Final Fantasy fan that likes grinding, poor story and interchangable lead characters you won't like it" - which is a perhaps a bit harsh but a valid point to raise.

I know you had an issue with the Darksiders score straying people away from trying out a new game you loved and wanted to see do well, but you're reacting the same way here to a game which surely doesn't need the same level of consumer support to sell bucketloads. If anything I'd say that it's more important that people challenge DO conventions instead of just stamping down a top score on the basis of it being a new FF with shinier graphics and improved battle system.

If you have an issue with the way the review is written then that's a valid challenge, but if you're just upset because they've dissed a game you don't like then I think you need to learn to take these things on the chin a bit better.

(for my sins, I have made a serious post in an Edge thread )

[Wools]

Alice on DS is like my first ico. It gets stale in later levels tho

Any chance of a First Play thread? I'm very intrested in the game as it reminds me of A Boy & His Blob but the DS Version has been getting some quiet but positive feedback.

[Prototype]

Well I gotta say the review reads like a 5 to me too.

This isn't directed at anybody in particular but, reading these threads each month, the impression I get is a lot of players see Edge or Games TM criticising a game they enjoyed and translate that into a criticism of their personal gaming tastes, and so, feeling under attack, they attack the magazine.

I don't know. Sometimes Edge and GamesTM are guilty of giving low scores just to cause controversy. See their Assasins Creed 1 and Mirrors Edge reviews respectively. But to be fair even teamxbox and xbox world gave FF13 a low score.

[Malc]

I don't know. Sometimes Edge and GamesTM are guilty of giving low scores just to cause controversy. See their Assasins Creed 1 and Mirrors Edge reviews respectively.

Has it really ever been proved that Edge or Gamestm give a certain score purely for controversy?

[Brats]

Sometimes Edge and GamesTM are guilty of giving low scores just to cause controversy.

This type of comments irks me. It's a really rubbish accusation that has zero evidence to back it up. If an ex-writer had come out of the woodwork and 'fessed up, then I could partially believe it, but to my knowledge that has never happened in the entire lifetime of both magazines.

And Mirrors Edge is a terrible example of a game to cite as there are loads of people who hated the game. Assassins Creed is widely seen by many as being a boring game.

[Malc]

This type of comments irks me. It's a really rubbish accusation that has zero evidence to back it up. If an ex-writer had come out of the woodwork and 'fessed up, then I could partially believe it, but to my knowledge that has never happened in the entire lifetime of both magazines.

This is exactly what I was thinking, as far as I know it's never been proven that they give a score just to cause controversy.

[Brad]

I dunno what scores Edge gave AC and ME but I thought both games were crap. I see what brats is saying regarding there being no proof. I presumed that Prototype was just giving us his opinion though (one I happen to share - a gut feeling, I have no proof). It'll never be proved though because an ex-Edge writer who admits to that becomes an ex-writer full stop I'd imagine.

Edge win anyway. We've been discussing them for weeks now and will do so once more when their next batch of controversies hits the shelves.

[Charlie]

But to be fair even teamxbox and xbox world gave FF13 a low score.

And that validates Edge's score in your eyes?

[Prototype]

This type of comments irks me. It's a really rubbish accusation that has zero evidence to back it up. If an ex-writer had come out of the woodwork and 'fessed up, then I could partially believe it, but to my knowledge that has never happened in the entire lifetime of both magazines.

And Mirrors Edge is a terrible example of a game to cite as there are loads of people who hated the game. Assassins Creed is widely seen by many as being a boring game.

And where is proof to come from? Why are GamesTM and Edge the most talked about magazines on all forums? Because they hand out the most controversial scores. Assassins creed may have been boring to you, but it was no way a 4/10 game. Just like Mirrors Edge wasn't a 5/10 game.

Would we be discussing these reviews if they gave scores similar to OXM? No. What writer is going to come out and say oh look I just put these scores low so I can create some controversy. He won't have a job then and won't be trusted. Just like Eurogamer have had their reputation hit with the darkfall review.

[Brad]

GamesRadar gave it a 10/10 - That's wrong
Edge gave it a 5/10 - That's wrong

All personal opinion isn't it.

This whole discussion brings into question how you should review a game. Edge's approach (from reading the text and the final score) seems to have the following logic:

Best battle system in a JRPG, looks lovely, fans of the series have a lot to like, drags on for quite a while and some people might not be prepared to make that investment* [I'll come back to this bit].

Final score = 5 because I, personally, wasn't happy to make that investment.

The result is that if you read the text you can quite easily come away thinking that yes, this is a game you'll be pleased with. The 5 comes across as the reviewer's very personal feelings on the value of this game. Now, maybe my analysis is right, maybe it isn't. Point is, if we are able to read reviews knowing the logic behind everything we might be a bit more tolerant. Probably not though!