• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

EDGE #203 Review Scores (Infamous, Punch-Out & Ghostbusters)

What's funny about this is that other mediums like film and music are very inconsistent with their reviewers scores and judgment because they actually express their opinions instead of following the crowd..

Reviews and especially scores really fluctuate between reviewer. So much that sites like RottenTomatoes are usually used to measure their quality as those sites don't measure score averages but more so whether or not the reviewer just recommends them. And even then so its VERY rare to get a film that reaches the high bar of 80% let alone 90.

Yet in this industry review scores are as homogeneous as possible. Reviewers don't really give their opinions but instead follow other sites due to them being terrorized that they'll loose their respect due to angry nerds. And what's the result of this? Games like Grand Theft Auto 4 and Bioshock rank amazingly high (top 10 videogames of all-time even) despite arguably being the most hypebole over-rated titles of this generation. I mean just look at the reception these games have gotten on this and most gaming sites. Do you really think that GTA IV should be the #2 highest rated video game of all-time on Gamerankings? If people want this industry to start being taken seriously they have to put behind these kindergarten bitch fests of disagreeing with a review and even go as far as fetching for any conspiracy to as of why the game go that score (lulz Edge biased against PS exclusives, funny how you excluded a fair share of titles from that list, lulz and MotorStorm comparison, did it ever occur to you that MotorStorm 2 came out later in this generation where standards for current gen games are much higher then before?).

I may not always agree with Edge's reviews (Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations, Odin Sphere) but I do respect that they actually have balls to speak their minds and critic their games by their own criteria instead of constantly turning their heads to see what everyone else is scoring the games and what they are saying about them.
 
Flying_Phoenix said:
What's funny about this is that other mediums like film and music are very inconsistent with their reviewers scores and judgment because they actually express their opinions instead of following the crowd..

Reviews and especially scores really fluctuate between reviewer. So much that sites like RottenTomatoes are usually used to measure their quality as those sites don't measure score averages but more so whether or not the reviewer just recommends them. And even then so its VERY rare to get a film that reaches the high bar of 80% let alone 90.

Yet in this industry review scores are as homogeneous as possible. Reviewers don't really give their opinions but instead follow other sites due to them being terrorized that they'll loose their respect due to angry nerds. And what's the result of this? Games like Grand Theft Auto 4 and Bioshock rank amazingly high (top 10 videogames of all-time even) despite arguably being the most hypebole over-rated titles of this generation. I mean just look at the reception these games have gotten on this and most gaming sites. Do you really think that GTA IV should be the #2 highest rated video game of all-time on Gamerankings? If people want this industry to start being taken seriously they have to put behind these kindergarten bitch fests of disagreeing with a review and even go as far as fetching for any conspiracy to as of why the game go that score (lulz Edge biased against PS exclusives, funny how you excluded a fair share of titles from that list, lulz and MotorStorm comparison, did it ever occur to you that MotorStorm 2 came out later in this generation where standards for current gen games are much higher then before?).

I may not always agree with Edge's reviews (Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations, Odin Sphere) but I do respect that they actually have balls to speak their minds and critic their games by their own criteria instead of constantly turning their heads to see what everyone else is scoring the games and what they are saying about them.
intelligent post alert!
 
Gokurakumaru said:
I came into this thread for the backlash over another Sony exclusive getting a mediocre score from Edge. I stayed for the backlash over Excitebots. Exitebots ffs. It's a concept that's completely unappealing to the mass market. It's a retail bomb. Why do any of you care what Edge thinks about it? The ship has sailed. Just enjoy the game.

I don't want to speak for Edge because I haven't read their review, but I personally skipped over Bots because I enjoyed Excite Truck until it became all about pulling tricks to get higher scores. When it was fast, exciting racing I was all over it. And then they stuffed it up by making you drive through trees and get jump combos and do all sorts of things which had nothing to do with coming first. Maybe Edge just wants to race? Certainly sounds like it.

Well it's clear that you just don't GET IT.
 
I think punchout scored too high. Not enough boxers, and from what I played it seemed like a rental at best. Excite bots was a little harsh but probably justified. inFamous was too low but oh well. Ghostbusters was a maybe buy for me but it got a 7... but then again I enjoyed the hell out of inFamous so I might just take the plunge.
 
How is complaining about an EDGE review any worse than complaining about someones posts on a message board? You're both complaining about someone else's thoughts and words. I don't see the difference.
 
Gokurakumaru said:
I came into this thread for the backlash over another Sony exclusive getting a mediocre score from Edge. I stayed for the backlash over Excitebots. Exitebots ffs. It's a concept that's completely unappealing to the mass market. It's a retail bomb. Why do any of you care what Edge thinks about it? The ship has sailed. Just enjoy the game.

I don't want to speak for Edge because I haven't read their review, but I personally skipped over Bots because I enjoyed Excite Truck until it became all about pulling tricks to get higher scores. When it was fast, exciting racing I was all over it. And then they stuffed it up by making you drive through trees and get jump combos and do all sorts of things which had nothing to do with coming first. Maybe Edge just wants to race? Certainly sounds like it.


I don't care about the ExciteBot review, because I haven't played it. But what you're saying here get's us into the tricky area of reviewing what a game is, or what you want it to be.
 
legend166 said:
I don't care about the ExciteBot review, because I haven't played it. But what you're saying here get's us into the tricky area of reviewing what a game is, or what you want it to be.

Well clearly, they didn't like what ever the hell Excitebots is supposed to be.
 
Gokurakumaru said:
but I personally skipped over Bots because I enjoyed Excite Truck until it became all about pulling tricks to get higher scores. When it was fast, exciting racing I was all over it. And then they stuffed it up by making you drive through trees and get jump combos and do all sorts of things which had nothing to do with coming first. Maybe Edge just wants to race? Certainly sounds like it.
.


actually tree runs are short cuts (and especially in Truck, which have a lot more POW items within them) and jump combos greatly increase your speed... but only like ten of us hear actually know anything about these games...
 
legend166 said:
I don't care about the ExciteBot review, because I haven't played it. But what you're saying here get's us into the tricky area of reviewing what a game is, or what you want it to be.

Yeah, but reviewers review games based on how much they enjoy it, not based on what a game is trying to achieve. It doesn't matter how arty your cutscenes are if the player would prefer to be playing. It doesn't matter how intricate your point and click adventure's story is if the player wants to control or shape the character. And it doesn't matter how simple and accessible you were trying to make your shovelware title if it doesn't offer the depth the player is looking for. Execution counts for naught if your audience just ends up wishing they were playing someone else's game.

levious said:
actually tree runs are short cuts and jump combos greatly increase your speed... but only like ten of us hear actually know anything about these games...

I played a lot of Excite Truck about a year and a half ago when I got it and sold it off a few months ago after it sat on my shelf for an age, so don't try to discredit me for not being an expert on the game just because I haven't touched it in 18 months. It doesn't make my opinion any less valid.

So what if tree runs make you go faster? It's not much good if you crash because of it and lose (x) stars as a result of dropping into second place from first. And it's not much fun to beat the entire pack and still discover you're a few completely arbitrary tricks away from actually getting the stars you need to unlock the next series of races.

I had a great time with the game because at first because I didn't even realise winning had nothing to do with progressing. But when I did I discovered I was spending less time racing and more time looking for dumb but high scoring driving lines and doing things I didn't want to do just to get stars.

Excite Truck is a time trial masquerading as a racing game. The other cars might as well not be there. Some people love doing speed runs and score attacks in games. I don't.
 
Doubledex said:
bwahahahahahahahahaha
Crappy EDGE as always

Dallas-Cowboys.gif
 
Gokurakumaru said:
So what if tree runs make you go faster? It's not much good if you crash because of it and lose (x) stars as a result of dropping into second place from first.

Its called risk-reward. It's present in pretty much every game EVER. Taking the risk of driving through the trees on a narrow path gets you a speed boost and stars. Attempting it and crashing nets you maybe one star for the crash, and a loss of speed and position. Avoiding it altogether will let you keep your position but you'll have to try some other way at getting stars.

Seriously, it's a basic game choice. Why have shortcuts and things in games at all?

And it's not much fun to beat the entire pack and still discover you're a few completely arbitrary tricks away from actually getting the stars you need to unlock the next series of races

You know going in that stars are what determines your score for the race. Coming in first nets you a pretty big 50 stars, so you have plenty of incentive to go fast in the race.

Do you get mad when you do a slalom in a skiing game, and after you race to the bottom you find out they wanted you to go through the flags? I mean, that must be pretty frustrating for you to find out they want you to do something as arbitrary as that.


I had a great time with the game because at first because I didn't even realise winning had nothing to do with progressing. But when I did I discovered I was spending less time racing and more time looking for dumb but high scoring driving lines and doing things I didn't want to do just to get stars.

It's fine if you don't like doing the tricks necessary to get stars, and if you didn't like the game. But if you didn't realize that the game was about that, considering the constant reinforcement of getting stars and needing them to progress... well.. you really only have yourself to blame there.

Excite Truck is a time trial masquerading as a racing game. The other cars might as well not be there. Some people love doing speed runs and score attacks in games. I don't.

You get more stars for smashing other cars, or launching them, etc. There's plenty of reasons for them to be there in the game, especially with the "getting stars" mechanic of the game.
 
Gokurakumaru said:
Excite Truck is a time trial masquerading as a racing game. The other cars might as well not be there. Some people love doing speed runs and score attacks in games. I don't.
In single player, sure. Online changes the game entirely, and the races do matter (unless you're Nicktals and manage to net 400 stars and get 6th place, WTF).
 
Flying_Phoenix said:
What's funny about this is that other mediums like film and music are very inconsistent with their reviewers scores and judgment because they actually express their opinions instead of following the crowd..

Yeah right
 
JonathanEx said:
For me, it's because the game has a structure pretty close to the first game: I played the shit out of Excitetruck, every nook and cranny, and even though I think ExciteBots is a stronger game, it's got less appeal for longer play the second time.

How's the online connection/lag wise?
Mario Kartish (awesome) or Smash Brosish (poor)?

What about cheaters?
 
Prine said:
Edge are the real Gs of the gaming world. Their hold on all of us is quite evident.

Just look at these 4 pages of tears.

The only tears worth nothing are mine. POST THE MURAMASA REVIEW, FOR GOD'S SAKE.
 
The irony with a lot of Edge reviews is that those massively hyped games which receive 9+ from IGN and 'only ' 7 from them provoke massive controversy when the hype burns brightest on and around release. If you scrutinse some of the threads dedicated to such titles you'll often notice that as the veneer strips away, people aren't quite as defensive of the final product as they were before they'd actually played it.

That does not stop them from coming back and doing exactly the same thing when something else receives a review that isn't quite to their liking.:lol
 
GhaleonQ said:
The only tears worth nothing are mine. POST THE MURAMASA REVIEW, FOR GOD'S SAKE.

Champion of 2D design Vanillaware has both outdone and undone itself with its first Wii title. Adopting the same rich, inky style last seen in Odin Sphere, its intricate layers of background and foreground blending into dazzling vistas, incidental animated detail has been pushed further, however, with swaying crops and crashing waveas adding much-needed energy to landscapes too delicate and painterly for any direct interaction.

This withdrawn feeling isn't helped by limiting combat to pockets of action. Ambushed at predetermined moments, swordplay is quick and nimble, taking Ninja Gaiden's punchy block and attack format and adding a liberal splash of Dante's floaty acrobatics. Physically enclosed and bookended with a match report, no effort is made to tie these flashes of energy with the otherwise empty world. Exploration is lonely, with just a handful of pick-ups and thousands of animation cels for company.

It's testament to the satisfying fighting that the lulls are as melancholic as this. Combat finally finds a use for all that beauty, using Okami-like ink slashes and grand cartoon pyrotechnics to inject ferocity into the dash-heavy moveset.
Movement that feels floaty during basic platforming (as in Smash Bros, jumping is performed with upward analogue prods) adds a touch of wirework magic to encounters, with double jumps and zippy aerial dashes making full use of the screen as you juggle enemies for a hexty XP payoff.

This eye for action jars heavily with the remaining game, sometimes mystifyingly so. Some level segments recycle backgrounds and feature no combat encounters, proving nothing more than five-second padding to dash through - inoffensive in themselves, but baffling from a design point of view. Is Muramasa a luscious concept art gallery rudgely interrupted by swordplay, or just a ponderous Ninja Gaiden clone? Whatever the case, it doesn't wholly succeed. (6)
 
TheDrowningMan said:
Champion of 2D design Vanillaware has both outdone and undonre itself with its first Wii title. Adopting the same rich, inky style last seen in Odin Sphere, its intricate layers of background and foreground blending into dazzling vistas, incidental animated detail has been pushed further, however, with swaying crops and crashing waveas adding much-needed energy to landscapes too delicate and painterly for any direct interaction.

This withdrawn feeling isn't helped by limiting combat to pockets of action. Ambushed at predetermined moments, swordplay is quick and nimble, taking Ninja Gaiden's punchy block and attack format and adding a liberal splash of Dante's floaty acrobatics. Physically enclosed and bookended with a match report, no effort is made to tie these flashes of energy with the otherwise empty world. Exploration is lonely, with just a handful of pick-ups and thousands of animation cels for company.

It's testament to the satisfying fighting that the lulls are as melancholic as this. Combat finally finds a use for all that beauty, using Okami-like ink slashes and grand cartoon pyrotechnics to inject ferocity into the dash-heavy moveset.
Movement that feels floaty during basic platforming (as in Smash Bros, jumping is performed with upward analogue prods) adds a touch of wirework magic to encounters, with double jumps and zippy aerial dashes making full use of the screen as you juggle enemies for a hexty XP payoff.

This eye for action jars heavily with the remaining game, sometimes mystifyingly so. Some level segments recycle backgrounds and feature no combat encounters, proving nothing more than five-second padding to dash through - inoffensive in themselves, but baffling from a design point of view. Is Muramasa a luscious concept art gallery rudgely interrupted by swordplay, or just a ponderous Ninja Gaiden clone? Whatever the case, it doesn't wholly succeed. (6)


Edge reviews are always a joy to read. Try to beat that haters.
 
TheDrowningMan said:
Review (6)

Ah, total disconnect between review and score. As long as they didn't actually find problems with the game, I don't mind if they didn't like it. The score doesn't matter to me. I just thought a 6 might indicate a problem with the gameplay's core. Phew. Thanks for posting it.
 
timetokill said:
Its called risk-reward. It's present in pretty much every game EVER.

In driving games going off road and into hazards is not called risk reward, it's called stupid. Excite Truck forces you to do stupid things that your competition are not remotely concerned with doing to win.

timetokill said:
It's fine if you don't like doing the tricks necessary to get stars, and if you didn't like the game. But if you didn't realize that the game was about that, considering the constant reinforcement of getting stars and needing them to progress... well.. you really only have yourself to blame there.

Most games have a point system where you do well in a series of races and unlock the next league which is what I thought this game was doing. I then realised otherwise when the points were off the chart and stopped playing. I'm not sure how the word blame should even come up when we're talking about liking a game or not. Nobody's at fault here.
 
karasu said:
Yeah right

Let's see you back this up. Just go to RottonTomatoes or Metacritic to see how homogeneous movies reviews are.

TheDrowningMan said:
Champion of 2D design Vanillaware has both outdone and undone itself with its first Wii title. Adopting the same rich, inky style last seen in Odin Sphere, its intricate layers of background and foreground blending into dazzling vistas, incidental animated detail has been pushed further, however, with swaying crops and crashing waveas adding much-needed energy to landscapes too delicate and painterly for any direct interaction.

This withdrawn feeling isn't helped by limiting combat to pockets of action. Ambushed at predetermined moments, swordplay is quick and nimble, taking Ninja Gaiden's punchy block and attack format and adding a liberal splash of Dante's floaty acrobatics. Physically enclosed and bookended with a match report, no effort is made to tie these flashes of energy with the otherwise empty world. Exploration is lonely, with just a handful of pick-ups and thousands of animation cels for company.

It's testament to the satisfying fighting that the lulls are as melancholic as this. Combat finally finds a use for all that beauty, using Okami-like ink slashes and grand cartoon pyrotechnics to inject ferocity into the dash-heavy moveset.
Movement that feels floaty during basic platforming (as in Smash Bros, jumping is performed with upward analogue prods) adds a touch of wirework magic to encounters, with double jumps and zippy aerial dashes making full use of the screen as you juggle enemies for a hexty XP payoff.

This eye for action jars heavily with the remaining game, sometimes mystifyingly so. Some level segments recycle backgrounds and feature no combat encounters, proving nothing more than five-second padding to dash through - inoffensive in themselves, but baffling from a design point of view. Is Muramasa a luscious concept art gallery rudgely interrupted by swordplay, or just a ponderous Ninja Gaiden clone? Whatever the case, it doesn't wholly succeed. (6)

Some very nice writing there. Doesn't sound that much like Odin Sphere (which is a shame) but still sounds good non-the-less. Will buy down the road.
 
TheDrowningMan said:
Champion of 2D design Vanillaware has both outdone and undone itself with its first Wii title. Adopting the same rich, inky style last seen in Odin Sphere, its intricate layers of background and foreground blending into dazzling vistas, incidental animated detail has been pushed further, however, with swaying crops and crashing waveas adding much-needed energy to landscapes too delicate and painterly for any direct interaction.

This withdrawn feeling isn't helped by limiting combat to pockets of action. Ambushed at predetermined moments, swordplay is quick and nimble, taking Ninja Gaiden's punchy block and attack format and adding a liberal splash of Dante's floaty acrobatics. Physically enclosed and bookended with a match report, no effort is made to tie these flashes of energy with the otherwise empty world. Exploration is lonely, with just a handful of pick-ups and thousands of animation cels for company.

It's testament to the satisfying fighting that the lulls are as melancholic as this. Combat finally finds a use for all that beauty, using Okami-like ink slashes and grand cartoon pyrotechnics to inject ferocity into the dash-heavy moveset.
Movement that feels floaty during basic platforming (as in Smash Bros, jumping is performed with upward analogue prods) adds a touch of wirework magic to encounters, with double jumps and zippy aerial dashes making full use of the screen as you juggle enemies for a hexty XP payoff.

This eye for action jars heavily with the remaining game, sometimes mystifyingly so. Some level segments recycle backgrounds and feature no combat encounters, proving nothing more than five-second padding to dash through - inoffensive in themselves, but baffling from a design point of view. Is Muramasa a luscious concept art gallery rudgely interrupted by swordplay, or just a ponderous Ninja Gaiden clone? Whatever the case, it doesn't wholly succeed. (6)
Thats actually pretty well written.

Nothing to stop others from buying the game though since none of the text says the gameplay is broken.
 
I'd really appreciate an excerpt from the Zeno Clash review, if anyone can be bothered typing some of it up. :)
 
Flying_Phoenix said:
What's funny about this is that other mediums like film and music are very inconsistent with their reviewers scores and judgment because they actually express their opinions instead of following the crowd..

Reviews and especially scores really fluctuate between reviewer. So much that sites like RottenTomatoes are usually used to measure their quality as those sites don't measure score averages but more so whether or not the reviewer just recommends them. And even then so its VERY rare to get a film that reaches the high bar of 80% let alone 90.

Yet in this industry review scores are as homogeneous as possible. Reviewers don't really give their opinions but instead follow other sites due to them being terrorized that they'll loose their respect due to angry nerds. And what's the result of this? Games like Grand Theft Auto 4 and Bioshock rank amazingly high (top 10 videogames of all-time even) despite arguably being the most hypebole over-rated titles of this generation. I mean just look at the reception these games have gotten on this and most gaming sites. Do you really think that GTA IV should be the #2 highest rated video game of all-time on Gamerankings? If people want this industry to start being taken seriously they have to put behind these kindergarten bitch fests of disagreeing with a review and even go as far as fetching for any conspiracy to as of why the game go that score (lulz Edge biased against PS exclusives, funny how you excluded a fair share of titles from that list, lulz and MotorStorm comparison, did it ever occur to you that MotorStorm 2 came out later in this generation where standards for current gen games are much higher then before?).

I may not always agree with Edge's reviews (Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations, Odin Sphere) but I do respect that they actually have balls to speak their minds and critic their games by their own criteria instead of constantly turning their heads to see what everyone else is scoring the games and what they are saying about them.

No, other industries have troll/bought reviewers too. There are even fans who will bitch about it too.
 
I dont think anyone is butthurt over that inFamous score, we were predicting 6's in the official thread cause it was predictable it wouldnt get something high lol. Was the written text posted?
 
Lion Heart said:
I dont think anyone is butthurt over that inFamous score, we were predicting 6's in the official thread cause it was predictable it wouldnt get something high lol. Was the written text posted?

Whatever they say it's bullshit. Unless they scored Crackdown a 5. This is so much better in every way (except engine performance).
 
Rez said:
intelligent post alert!
fuck that. Lets compare review scores from different media outlets. Convert them all to a different scale than what the reviewer used. Then compare other games on all those scales to one another and rank them because that is the only way to figure out quality. Then we can bitch, moan and complain when all the review scores don't fall into place comparatively to every other game released.
TTP said:
Whatever they say it's bullshit. Unless they scored Crackdown a 5. This is so much better in every way (except engine performance).
ever think that the performance was a huge factor to them and it really detracted from the game? Some people can over look that.
 
bdouble said:
ever think that the performance was a huge factor to them and it really detracted from the game? Some people can over look that.

Nah. I know Edge and they don't bother with this stuff unless it affects gameplay (and it doesnt).

I'd love if they scored it lower due to engine performance. That would send a signal stronger than my bitching. But I doubt it.
 
TTP said:
Nah. I know Edge and they don't bother with this stuff unless it affects gameplay (and it doesnt).

I'd love if they scored it lower due to engine performance. That would send a signal stronger than my bitching. But I doubt it.

According to gamerankings EDGE gave Crackdown 8/10.
 
HocusPocus said:
According to Edge, Crackdown was better. Deal with it.

And they're wrong as usual, deal with it.

It's not a coincidence PS3 fans correctly predicted low scores specifically from the only two major publications that gave the low scores. There's a consistency in the scores of those two. It's not even a coincidence that many PS3 fans no longer target 1UP, it's because the shilling to Microsoft from them has decreased ever since the new management took over.
 
AniHawk said:
Nope. If it was, it wouldn't be any fun
(the racing genre is one of gaming's worst)

Worse than fishing and dating sims? Wait, probably not good examples since ExciteBots has fishing in it. I bet they would've tried to get a dating sim in there at one point too. But no pachinko. Nobody really likes pachinko.

Racing is definitely better than dating, fishing and pachinko on their own. In fact racing makes fishing a better videogame. So, HAH!
 
Scooter said:
And they're wrong as usual, deal with it.

It's not a coincidence PS3 fans correctly predicted low scores specifically from the only two major publications that gave the low scores. There's a consistency in the scores of those two. It's not even a coincidence that many PS3 fans no longer target 1UP, it's because the shilling to Microsoft from them has decreased ever since the new management took over.

Or maybe the rest of the major publications are PS3 fanboys?!

Or maybe 7/10 isn't a low score?

And what consistency are you talking about?
 
lowrider007 said:
When are people going to stop taking their review scores seriously, they are a complete joke,

Fear 2 - 8
Motorstorm - 8
Sega Rally - 7
Quake Wars - 8
Alone in the dark 7
Far Cry 2 - 8

VS

KZ2 - 7
Valkyrie chronicles - 7
God of War 2 - 7
Infamous - 7
Motorstorm 2 - 7
Fallout 3 - 7
Excitebots: Trick Racing - 4 (lol)
EDGE - XBOTS CONFIRMED.
 
Top Bottom