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Saturday, March 05, 2022
Git Gud
I don't do numerical review scores on my blog, because I do believe that different games are the right choice for different people. Having said that, there are a lot of publications out there that do give review scores. And it would be in all of our interests if there was some sort of honesty to these review scores. If you have a PS5 and want an open world, action adventure RPG that came out this year, which one should you take? If you take a look at review scores, you might think that Elden Ring with a Metacritic score of 97 is a better choice than Horizon Forbidden West, with a score of 88. However, unless you are a fan of Dark Souls games, you are probably more likely to have fun with Forbidden West.
If you take 1,000 random gamers with a PS5 and let them play both Elden Ring and Forbidden West, a greater number will enjoy Forbidden West, and a smaller number will prefer Elden Ring. If you take 1,000 die-hard Dark Souls fans with a PS5 and let them play both Elden Ring and Forbidden West, now a majority will say they prefer Elden Ring. But that is due to pre-selection bias. And I don't think review scores should have this sort of pre-selection bias. Because the people who actually need a review score to decide which of these games they want are obviously not die-hard fans. The extremely high review score of Elden Ring is a trap, that will lead some people to buy the game who will not enjoy it very much.
The Dark Souls games have a very toxic fanbase whose response to any sort of criticism is that anybody who doesn't absolutely love these games needs to "git gud". They do not *want* Elden Ring to be accessible. Average gamers failing to have fun and to succeed at Elden Ring is considered a feature, not a flaw. This is indicative of people who derive some sort of self-worth from being "gud" at video games. Which is pretty sad, actually, because video games are way down the list of things that a reasonable person should strive to "git gud" at.
It is kind of disappointing how game journalists succumb to the pressure of trolls and aggressive fans, so that very few of them dare to honestly review Elden Ring. By any sort of system that actually looks at different parts of game, like graphics, performance, user interface, etc., there is no way that Elden Ring would score a perfect 100%. It is a good game, but it certainly has a number of serious flaws as well. It seems that game journalists were more afraid to be scorned by people shouting "git gud" at them than actually "gud" at reviewing games.
- posted by Tobold @ 2:13 PM Permanent Link
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I don't believe now, nor have I ever believed, that the function of a review is to provide guidance on whether or not to purchase anything. A review should exist purely to be entertaining in and of its own right.
As soon as reviewers begin assigning scores, however, whether it be marks out of ten or percentages or alphabetic grades, it begins an unavoidable process of ranking. Review score aggregators like Metacritic attempt to formalize this unfortunate occurence into some kind of authorative, "objective" framework. There is and cannot be any way for any of these processes to provide true objectivity and they should never be assumed to do so.
Consumers should do their own research, ample opportunities for which exist. Relying on review scores, particularly aggregates, is doomed to failure. Just don't do it but if you do, take responsibility for your own decision, that of following the numbers.
As soon as reviewers begin assigning scores, however, whether it be marks out of ten or percentages or alphabetic grades, it begins an unavoidable process of ranking. Review score aggregators like Metacritic attempt to formalize this unfortunate occurence into some kind of authorative, "objective" framework. There is and cannot be any way for any of these processes to provide true objectivity and they should never be assumed to do so.
Consumers should do their own research, ample opportunities for which exist. Relying on review scores, particularly aggregates, is doomed to failure. Just don't do it but if you do, take responsibility for your own decision, that of following the numbers.
I would argue that "this is the greatest game ever, 10 out of 10!" reviews fails *both* to be informative *and* to be thoughtful entertainment.
If a game is 10/10, it better not have any bugs on release. Period. You want perfection, you shouldn't have bugs.
Elden Ring had a good release, true, but it's not a bug free release by any means. So to those who say it's perfect, I'd point out that if you think that you're likely blind to the bugs.
And for those who want you to Git Gud, add 20 years to your age and see if you still are 'gud' as you think you are. Elden Ring video advertisements with the grandmother to the contrary. Doesn't mean you can't like a game, but it does mean that you're not going to be as physically adept at it as you think.
Elden Ring had a good release, true, but it's not a bug free release by any means. So to those who say it's perfect, I'd point out that if you think that you're likely blind to the bugs.
And for those who want you to Git Gud, add 20 years to your age and see if you still are 'gud' as you think you are. Elden Ring video advertisements with the grandmother to the contrary. Doesn't mean you can't like a game, but it does mean that you're not going to be as physically adept at it as you think.
Tobold: "They do not *want* Elden Ring to be accessible."
I don't know if that is what they want or if they don't like what accessibility would entail.
Perhaps it can be compared to a marathon: it's also challenging and not everyone will succeed but I'm pretty sure that making it more accessible by having a "story mode" where you drive the 42km instead and still call it a marathon would be considered ridiculous.
The difficulty IS the game and you need the required skills to overcome the challenge in the same way as you need other skills for the Times crossword or the university exam.
What if someone suggested to fill out half of the crossword or lower the passing score to help those who can't beat the 'difficulty'?
I don't know if that is what they want or if they don't like what accessibility would entail.
Perhaps it can be compared to a marathon: it's also challenging and not everyone will succeed but I'm pretty sure that making it more accessible by having a "story mode" where you drive the 42km instead and still call it a marathon would be considered ridiculous.
The difficulty IS the game and you need the required skills to overcome the challenge in the same way as you need other skills for the Times crossword or the university exam.
What if someone suggested to fill out half of the crossword or lower the passing score to help those who can't beat the 'difficulty'?
I don't know what it's like on PS, but on PC I always head for Steam and check out some positive and negative reviews. Or Gog, but Steam reviews are better organised. The score doesn't really count except I'm going to be a bit wary of anything less than 'Mostly Positive'.
The other thing about scores is that they could reflect how well a game fills its niche. For example, maybe Elden Ring gets 97% for being an exceptionally good 'dark-souls-like gitgudathon' which is a niche interest. While Forbidden West gets 88% for being a very good open world action adventure. Those figures could be valid even if a lot more people like the second type.
The other thing about scores is that they could reflect how well a game fills its niche. For example, maybe Elden Ring gets 97% for being an exceptionally good 'dark-souls-like gitgudathon' which is a niche interest. While Forbidden West gets 88% for being a very good open world action adventure. Those figures could be valid even if a lot more people like the second type.
Camo: "Perhaps it can be compared to a marathon: it's also challenging and not everyone will succeed but I'm pretty sure that making it more accessible by having a "story mode" where you drive the 42km instead and still call it a marathon would be considered ridiculous."
You are comparing apples to automobiles here. A video game is not a marathon. Elden Ring is advertised as a massive open world experience. It's pushed that George R.R. Martin helped designed the setting. If the game is gated behind the boss dance of reaction speed, then the advertising is false because it is not an open world experience anymore, it's a brutal twitch experience.
If you want to claim a marathon experience, point to a game that is advertised as a hardcore platformer or FPS. Those are games where "git gud" is the answer because they, like a marathon, are about specific skills and training. You don't need a story mode because there is no story or open world to see.
You are comparing apples to automobiles here. A video game is not a marathon. Elden Ring is advertised as a massive open world experience. It's pushed that George R.R. Martin helped designed the setting. If the game is gated behind the boss dance of reaction speed, then the advertising is false because it is not an open world experience anymore, it's a brutal twitch experience.
If you want to claim a marathon experience, point to a game that is advertised as a hardcore platformer or FPS. Those are games where "git gud" is the answer because they, like a marathon, are about specific skills and training. You don't need a story mode because there is no story or open world to see.
I don't think your analogies are accurate. For the marathon analogy, I think that for someone who is less fit to accomplish a 5k run is still valuable. While it might not have the bragging rights, it still is admirable and worth doing. Or better yet, it might be like walking or riding a bike for the marathon. You get to experience the full route, but it doesn't require the same level of fitness to go a marathon. In addition, if the marathon goes through a beautiful location, why would it be bad for someone to drive through it to see its beauty. Yes it would take out a major element of the experience, but it is a multilayered experience as it is.
As far as the crossword puzzle is concerned, some people like the challenge, but sometimes there are very obtuse clues. Using hints, helps in those crossword puzzles can help you to grow and learn and enjoy the puzzle.
The example of a university exam is something very different. Exams are not meant for entertainment but to judge skill and knowledge. It is right for them to be a challenge. But I don't know about you, but I don't want a game to take me back to the experiences I had prepping for tests in school.
As far as the crossword puzzle is concerned, some people like the challenge, but sometimes there are very obtuse clues. Using hints, helps in those crossword puzzles can help you to grow and learn and enjoy the puzzle.
The example of a university exam is something very different. Exams are not meant for entertainment but to judge skill and knowledge. It is right for them to be a challenge. But I don't know about you, but I don't want a game to take me back to the experiences I had prepping for tests in school.
"It is kind of disappointing how game journalists succumb to the pressure of trolls and aggressive fans, so that very few of them dare to honestly review Elden Ring."
What is more likely? That reviewers are scared to review the game honestly and all gave it 10s or that the people publications hired to review the game are souls fans or have previous experience with the games?
Review outlets often have go to people for certain games. Obviously those people for reviewed Eldenring likely are the go to people for souls like games.
What is more likely? That reviewers are scared to review the game honestly and all gave it 10s or that the people publications hired to review the game are souls fans or have previous experience with the games?
Review outlets often have go to people for certain games. Obviously those people for reviewed Eldenring likely are the go to people for souls like games.
SiderisAnon: "If the game is gated behind the boss dance of reaction speed, then the advertising is false because it is not an open world experience anymore, it's a brutal twitch experience."
Is it gated though? The trailer and website state that you can use different approaches like stealth or even fleeing, but also that some activities will require fighting for which then certain reactive skill might be necessary.
It's also not about a marathon as such, but about a challenging activity where any bigger deviation would change the character of said activity.
Newyearsproject: "a 5k run is still valuable[,] still is admirable and worth doing. [...] You get to experience the full route, but it doesn't require the same level of fitness to go a marathon. In addition, if the marathon goes through a beautiful location, why would it be bad for someone to drive through it to see its beauty."
While all nice, none of that is a marathon, which is a foot race over 42km. It isn't about a shorter distance, health aspects, different methods of movement (I guess walking and wheelchairs do have a place somewhere) or seeing the beauty of the route. Maybe it would be playing Civ or some other game when compared to Elden Ring.
"Exams are not meant for entertainment but to judge skill and knowledge. It is right for them to be a challenge. But I don't know about you, but I don't want a game to take me back to the experiences I had prepping for tests in school."
Sure, not everyone will enjoy that level of required preparation, stress and so on, that comes with exams, but there will be people that like those sorts of challenges.
I get that the financial side for a game for such a niche audience can be the disqualifying aspect, but why can't there be a game that caters to that audience?
I accept that I'm not the target audience for either a marathon or Elden Ring, so I don't play them instead of thinking that I am the target audience but the requirements need to be changed to match my skills.
I also get that playing the new hotness is a desire and I'm fine with Tobold's approach of using whatever method to extract enjoyment - but I wouldn't see it as playing the game how it was intended to be played.
Is it gated though? The trailer and website state that you can use different approaches like stealth or even fleeing, but also that some activities will require fighting for which then certain reactive skill might be necessary.
It's also not about a marathon as such, but about a challenging activity where any bigger deviation would change the character of said activity.
Newyearsproject: "a 5k run is still valuable[,] still is admirable and worth doing. [...] You get to experience the full route, but it doesn't require the same level of fitness to go a marathon. In addition, if the marathon goes through a beautiful location, why would it be bad for someone to drive through it to see its beauty."
While all nice, none of that is a marathon, which is a foot race over 42km. It isn't about a shorter distance, health aspects, different methods of movement (I guess walking and wheelchairs do have a place somewhere) or seeing the beauty of the route. Maybe it would be playing Civ or some other game when compared to Elden Ring.
"Exams are not meant for entertainment but to judge skill and knowledge. It is right for them to be a challenge. But I don't know about you, but I don't want a game to take me back to the experiences I had prepping for tests in school."
Sure, not everyone will enjoy that level of required preparation, stress and so on, that comes with exams, but there will be people that like those sorts of challenges.
I get that the financial side for a game for such a niche audience can be the disqualifying aspect, but why can't there be a game that caters to that audience?
I accept that I'm not the target audience for either a marathon or Elden Ring, so I don't play them instead of thinking that I am the target audience but the requirements need to be changed to match my skills.
I also get that playing the new hotness is a desire and I'm fine with Tobold's approach of using whatever method to extract enjoyment - but I wouldn't see it as playing the game how it was intended to be played.
I've not found anything that I couldn't beat by either over-levelling or summoning help.
This is a lot easier than the NES games I had as a kid - 3 lives or start over from the entire beginning!
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This is a lot easier than the NES games I had as a kid - 3 lives or start over from the entire beginning!
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