Support NeoGAF

[Primethius]

If the version they reviewed was a console version, the score makes perfect sense.

Even if it doesn't, the score makes plenty of sense.

Hell, I'm a huge fan of TW3 and think it's one of the better games I've played in recent times. But the game has pretty clear flaws which for others, might detract from the overall experience.

And the story about the advertisement deal is worthless without names.

 

[CapitalismSucks DonkeyBalls]

"Of course" it's a decent score, but you still posted a 'facepalm' reaction?

Did you not read the second line of that same post? C'mon...

 

[TheGeordie]

Edge have given plenty of games with average scores in the 90s much lower than 8 in the past. Your guess seems to based on some residual bitterness.

Not at all - it was a long time ago and in the great scheme of things, a single poor score from a specialist mag means nothing. As I said, everyone else went wild for it.

There's plenty of examples of games getting odd scores in edge - Fallout NV as above.
GTA3 got a 6 which was later ret-conned to an 8 in the following issue IIRC (you can make your own mind up if it was an honest mistake or not) (and GTA3 isn't the game I worked on).

 

[Triggerhappytel]

On a really big game I worked on back in the day, Edge and Official Playstation Magazine came to us and offered us a front cover in return for an exclusive.

Edge had a readership of about 70,000
Official Playstation Magazine had a readership of about 3 million.

You can guess which one we went with.

When the game came out, everyone gave it a 9+ and Edge gave it a 6.

My guess is there's advertising revenue or something else going on with that Witcher score.

I think you're gonna need to tell us what the game was to corroborate that story.

Also, you started out saying Edge was trying to be controversial and have moved on to saying Edge gives low scores out of spite. Sounds to me like you dislike the publication.

Did you not read the second line of that same post? C'mon...

Of course I did. But because you subjectively think it's a 10/10 game does not mean that a score you admit is decent deserves a facepalm reaction.

 

[Curufinwe]

Not at all - it was a long time ago and in the great scheme of things, a single poor score from a specialist mag means nothing. As I said, everyone else went wild for it.

There's plenty of examples of games getting odd scores in edge - Fallout NV as above.
GTA3 got a 6 which was later ret-conned to an 8 in the following issue IIRC (you can make your own mind up if it was an honest mistake or not) (and GTA3 isn't the game I worked on).

And you think all these scores were based on payback for advertising deals that didn't happen?

8 is a good score in Edge, and other sites have given the Witcher 3 the same score. I don't think there's anything going on with it.

 

[Primethius]

People really hating on Edge for the TW1/TW2 scores?

Come on. I love those games. But they have very clear issues that could result in those scores.

Hint: The biggest one is the atrocious combat system in both games.

 

[Phat Michael]

Without reading the review....

Given that it's been declared as one of the best games of the last few years and a strong contender for best RPG ever almost unanimously across the board, an 8/10 smells of a deliberate low score to stand out from the crowd which Edge frequently do. They have a very "A game isn't great unless Edge says it is" attitude.

Having played it myself, while it's still early days, I think it's amazing and haven't been grabbed by a game so hard in a long time.

So you haven't read the review, yet you are accusing them of giving a deliberately low score in order to be edgy.

In no way is an 8 a bad score.

Maybe you should read the review before accusing them of struggling to be relevant because their opinion doesn't gel with yours?

 

[TheGeordie]

And you think all these scores were based on payback for advertising deals that didn't happen?

No. I think Edge like to stand out from the crowd on occasion and deliberately give games scores that don't accurately reflect the quality of the final product or experience.

 

[Anarkin]

Edge almost never gives high scores to WRPGs. The 8 is a great score if you compare it to other WRPGs:

Dragon Age - 5/10
Mass Effect - 7/10
Jade Empire - 7/10
KotOR - 9/10
Neverwinter Nights - 9/10
Baldur's Gate 2 - 8/10
Fallout 3 - 7/10
Oblivion - 8/10
Morrowind - 6/10
Fallout - 7/10
The Witcher - 5/10
The Witcher 2: Assassin's of Kings - 6/10
Arcanum - 5/10
Temple of Elemental Evil - 4/10
Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines - 6/10
KotOR 2 - 7/10
Neverwinter Nights 2 - 8/10
Diablo - 7/10
Diablo 2 - 6/10

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=18567151&postcount=148

The 9/10 for NWN is the most surprising, what a shit game.

 

[Curufinwe]

No. I think Edge like to stand out from the crowd on occasion and deliberately give games scores that don't accurately reflect the quality of the final product or experience.

An 8 for Witcher 3 is not the Edge review you want to use to base that argument on. 8 is a good score.

 

[Phat Michael]

No. I think Edge like to stand out from the crowd on occasion and deliberately give games scores that don't accurately reflect the quality of the final product or experience.

What is this based on and why accuse them of linking advertising revenue with review scores? Where is your proof of this besides the fact they didn't like your game?

 

[Primethius]

No. I think Edge like to stand out from the crowd on occasion and deliberately give games scores that don't accurately reflect the quality of the final product or experience.

How can you say this without reading the review?

It's pretty easy to justify an 8/10 score for TW3.

It's a game with fantastic writing, quest design and a beautiful world. It's brought down by a poor to serviceable implementation of various gameplay mechanics.

That could be the Edge review and would easily justify the score.

Perhaps you should wait on the assumptions a bit.

 

[reKon]

Without reading the review....

Given that it's been declared as one of the best games of the last few years and a strong contender for best RPG ever almost unanimously across the board, an 8/10 smells of a deliberate low score to stand out from the crowd which Edge frequently do. They have a very "A game isn't great unless Edge says it is" attitude.

Having played it myself, while it's still early days, I think it's amazing and haven't been grabbed by a game so hard in a long time.

Lol you have much to learn here. Re-read your post and tell me you think all this is true. If so, which widely acclaimed games has Edge purposely rated lower? Besides, 8 means the game is very good according to them.

 

[CapitalismSucks DonkeyBalls]

I think you're gonna need to tell us what the game was to corroborate that story.

Also, you started out saying Edge was trying to be controversial and have moved on to saying Edge gives low scores out of spite. Sounds to me like you dislike the publication.



Of course I did. But because you subjectively think it's a 10/10 game does not mean that a score you admit is decent deserves a facepalm reaction.

I apologize for hurting the number 8's feelings with my opinion. 8/10 is a good score in general, doesn't mean I like it when it comes to a preferred game. They're called opinions for a reason.

 

[TheGeordie]

Lol you have much to learn here.

lol - indeed I do

 

[Usobuko]

Without reading the review....

Given that it's been declared as one of the best games of the last few years and a strong contender for best RPG ever almost unanimously across the board, an 8/10 smells of a deliberate low score to stand out from the crowd which Edge frequently do. They have a very "A game isn't great unless Edge says it is" attitude.

Having played it myself, while it's still early days, I think it's amazing and haven't been grabbed by a game so hard in a long time.

Please don't turn this into the Uncharted 3 mess.

 

[reKon]

Edge almost never gives high scores to WRPGs. The 8 is a great score if you compare it to other WRPGs:

Dragon Age - 5/10
Mass Effect - 7/10
Jade Empire - 7/10
KotOR - 9/10
Neverwinter Nights - 9/10
Baldur's Gate 2 - 8/10
Fallout 3 - 7/10
Oblivion - 8/10
Morrowind - 6/10
Fallout - 7/10
The Witcher - 5/10
The Witcher 2: Assassin's of Kings - 6/10
Arcanum - 5/10
Temple of Elemental Evil - 4/10
Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines - 6/10
KotOR 2 - 7/10
Neverwinter Nights 2 - 8/10
Diablo - 7/10
Diablo 2 - 6/10

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=18567151&postcount=148

The 9/10 for NWN is the most surprising, what a shit game.

TheGeordie, explain these scores with your infinite wisdom!

 

[Donos]

Edge almost never gives high scores to WRPGs. The 8 is a great score if you compare it to other WRPGs:

Dragon Age - 5/10
Mass Effect - 7/10
Jade Empire - 7/10
KotOR - 9/10
Neverwinter Nights - 9/10
Baldur's Gate 2 - 8/10
Fallout 3 - 7/10
Oblivion - 8/10
Morrowind - 6/10
Fallout - 7/10
The Witcher - 5/10
The Witcher 2: Assassin's of Kings - 6/10
Arcanum - 5/10
Temple of Elemental Evil - 4/10
Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines - 6/10
KotOR 2 - 7/10
Neverwinter Nights 2 - 8/10
Diablo - 7/10
Diablo 2 - 6/10

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=18567151&postcount=148

The 9/10 for NWN is the most surprising, what a shit game.

Holy ... like to read their Baldurs Gate II review. What was missing for a 10/10

 

[Noaloha]

I apologize for hurting the number 8's feelings with my opinion. 8/10 is a good score in general, doesn't mean I like it when it comes to a preferred game. They're called opinions for a reason.

So you want us to respect your opinion, but for us also to leave you free to lambast Edge's. Got it.

 

[CapitalismSucks DonkeyBalls]

TheGeordie, explain these scores with your infinite wisdom!

Yo, don't be snarky. It's hard enough to have Junior Members who can take criticism without being an ass. TheGeordie seems like a decent poster.

So you want us to respect your opinion, but for us also to leave you free to lambast Edge's. Got it.

Kind of hyperbolic, don't you think? How is a facepalm reaction in any way crucifying Edge's score? I don't expect people to respect my opinion. However, I'm free as shit to post my opinion about the score, regardless of if you agree or not.

 

[Salvadora]

Horrible reactions in here to the Witcher scores, embarrassing, as always.

 

[Servbot24]

I'd go 7 or so for Witcher 3. A game can be as beautiful and vast as you can imagine, but if it sucks to play then that's just wasted potential.

 

[reKon]

Horrible reactions in here to the Witcher scores, embarrassing, as always.

You should have probhbly read through the thread before posting this lol.

 

[dragonfart28]

TOO MUCH BEARD

 

[Carn82]

E
The Witcher - 5/10
The Witcher 2: Assassin's of Kings - 6/10

Without reading the actual review one could say that Edge considers TW3 the best entry in the series.

 

[Salvadora]

You should have probhbly read through the thread before posting this lol.

?

I see the usual overreaction to a review score without actually reading it. Even people who love Witcher 3 (like me) admit it has some considerable rough edges.

 

[Cave Johnson]

Edge almost never gives high scores to WRPGs. The 8 is a great score if you compare it to other WRPGs:

Dragon Age - 5/10
Mass Effect - 7/10
Jade Empire - 7/10
KotOR - 9/10
Neverwinter Nights - 9/10
Baldur's Gate 2 - 8/10
Fallout 3 - 7/10
Oblivion - 8/10
Morrowind - 6/10
Fallout - 7/10
The Witcher - 5/10
The Witcher 2: Assassin's of Kings - 6/10
Arcanum - 5/10
Temple of Elemental Evil - 4/10
Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines - 6/10
KotOR 2 - 7/10
Neverwinter Nights 2 - 8/10
Diablo - 7/10
Diablo 2 - 6/10

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=18567151&postcount=148

The 9/10 for NWN is the most surprising, what a shit game.

This is the most surprising considering the state of the game. One can only imagine what the score would be had the game been allowed to be baked in the oven till ready.

 

[mclem]

TOO MUCH BEARD

Are they reviewing ZZ Top now?

 

[Percy]

lol at butthurt over Witcher 3 getting a more than fair score.

 

[Durante]

Edge almost never gives high scores to WRPGs. The 8 is a great score if you compare it to other WRPGs:

Dragon Age - 5/10
Mass Effect - 7/10
Jade Empire - 7/10
KotOR - 9/10
Neverwinter Nights - 9/10
Baldur's Gate 2 - 8/10
Fallout 3 - 7/10
Oblivion - 8/10
Morrowind - 6/10
Fallout - 7/10
The Witcher - 5/10
The Witcher 2: Assassin's of Kings - 6/10
Arcanum - 5/10
Temple of Elemental Evil - 4/10
Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines - 6/10
KotOR 2 - 7/10
Neverwinter Nights 2 - 8/10
Diablo - 7/10
Diablo 2 - 6/10

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=18567151&postcount=148

The 9/10 for NWN is the most surprising, what a shit game.

HOLY CRAP that list really drives home that they are absolutely fucking terrible at judging WRPGs.

Witcher 3 can be happy it only got an 8 really.

 

[Sayad]

Awesome Deus Ex render, awful mag cover.

 

[Pepin]

On a really big game I worked on back in the day, Edge and Official Playstation Magazine came to us and offered us a front cover in return for an exclusive.

Edge had a readership of about 70,000
Official Playstation Magazine had a readership of about 3 million.

You can guess which one we went with.

When the game came out, everyone gave it a 9+ and Edge gave it a 6.

My guess is there's advertising revenue or something else going on with that Witcher score.

But Edge and OPM are owned by the same publisher (Future), so as a collective your decision to go with OPM would have had NO impact on the Edge score?

 

[TheGeordie]

TheGeordie, explain these scores with your infinite wisdom!

Not sure what you're asking? If I agree with the scores?

Of the ones I've played, (Dragon Age, Mass Effect, KOTOR, Fallout 3) I think other than KOTOR, they are all wrong and between 2 and 4 points lower than what they should be. There are some shockingly bad scores there.

Using the very first example, Dragon Age - 5/10 - there is simply no way in the world that game deserved a 5 - Personally I thought it was a 9/10 and looking at the metacritic score http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/dragon-age-origins, it appears everyone else agreed.

So why did it score so low? Well one possible reason is spite for advertising. As I've said, it does happen although that's not necessarily the case. My example was one from personal experience and I mentioned it because it's a reason people don't think happens but it does.

(Incidentally, every.single.media.outlet offers positive scores and (p)reviews in return for exclusives - they are a business and that's how the business works.)

Problems with the review copy? I'm not convinced - reviewers have an understanding that their copy might have a few bugs in it that will be fixed for release - that's how the industry works. So what else?

Personal preference? They had someone who hates RPGS review it? Doubtful. Again, as professional reviewers they are supposed to look past that. It's not just about how much they enjoyed it but how much the _target audience_ will enjoy it. If you send me to review 50 Shades of grey, you're going to get a bad score but I'm not the target audience. And that's before taking into account that they appear to judge RPGs very harshly.

Even accounting for taste, there is no way it should be four points below so who knows why - but the logical reasons above don't seem to apply.

I was wrong to suggest the Witcher "only" got an 8 for possible advertising / dodgy reasons without reading the review. An 8 is a decent score but from my own experience it doesn't match what I'd give it and doesn't appear to match what other people are saying about it either.

http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt

 

[Count of Monte Sawed-Off]

Holy ... like to read their Baldurs Gate II review. What was missing for a 10/10

I just find it crazy that NWN was scored higher.

 

[Magic Mushroom]

8/10 for the Witcher 3 - oh edge - always going for the controversial opinion and getting less and less relevant as each day passes.

Have you even read the review?

It's hardly a perfect game, especially in terms of controls, movement and combat design.

I find Edge reviews generally well-written and it's good that they have a voice of their own.

 

[CHC]

Jensen looks so.... blue. Excited to hear more about Mankind Divided, Dues Ex HR was almost a truly great game, so hopefully they can improve what needs to be improved and really pull it off.

 

[Fdkn]

Witcher 3 is just barely better than Steins Gate.

Actually that made me realize that a 7 for Steins Gate is the real injustice

 

[lcap]

How's the Deus Ex article? As an international subscriber I usually have to wait for 6 to 7 weeks for my issue to arrive. I know, I could go digital but I like the print one much more.

 

[thelatestmodel]

Edge almost never gives high scores to WRPGs. The 8 is a great score if you compare it to other WRPGs:

Dragon Age - 5/10
Mass Effect - 7/10
Jade Empire - 7/10
Baldur's Gate 2 - 8/10
Fallout 3 - 7/10
Morrowind - 6/10
Fallout - 7/10
The Witcher - 5/10
The Witcher 2: Assassin's of Kings - 6/10
Arcanum - 5/10
Temple of Elemental Evil - 4/10
Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines - 6/10
Diablo - 7/10
Diablo 2 - 6/10

The 9/10 for NWN is the most surprising, what a shit game.

I'm amazed by this list. Every single one of these is wrong. They really do hate RPGs.

 

[Auctopus]

Between 8 and 9 is pretty much bang on. Game has its issues despite being fantastic, not to mention it's littered with bugs.

 

[Ratrat]

Witcher 3 is just barely better than Steins Gate.

I haven't 'played' it but Steins; Gate is a highly regarded classic.

 

[cleveridea]

LOL complaints at 8 for Witcher 3

That is a good score for Edge

 

[cleveridea]

Edge almost never gives high scores to WRPGs. The 8 is a great score if you compare it to other WRPGs:

Dragon Age - 5/10
Mass Effect - 7/10
Jade Empire - 7/10
KotOR - 9/10
Neverwinter Nights - 9/10
Baldur's Gate 2 - 8/10
Fallout 3 - 7/10
Oblivion - 8/10
Morrowind - 6/10
Fallout - 7/10
The Witcher - 5/10
The Witcher 2: Assassin's of Kings - 6/10
Arcanum - 5/10
Temple of Elemental Evil - 4/10
Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines - 6/10
KotOR 2 - 7/10
Neverwinter Nights 2 - 8/10
Diablo - 7/10
Diablo 2 - 6/10

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=18567151&postcount=148

The 9/10 for NWN is the most surprising, what a shit game.

So basically the more ambitious the game us, the lower the score.

 

[Magic Mushroom]

People really hating on Edge for the TW1/TW2 scores?

Come on. I love those games. But they have very clear issues that could result in those scores.

Hint: The biggest one is the atrocious combat system in both games.

Yeah, I think Edge, and I have that in common with them, is generally very mechanics and gameplay driven. Hence the tens for games like Super Mario Galaxy (2), Bayonetta (2) and Bloodborne.

I don't think Edge have a beef with WRPG's in general. An eight is a very good score. Divinity got an eight as well for example.

But yeah, scores are meaningless without the context of the text.

 

[SmashN'Grab]

Yeah, I think Edge, and I have that in common with them, is generally very mechanics and gameplay driven. Hence the tens for games like Super Mario Galaxy (2), Bayonetta (2) and Bloodborne.

I don't think Edge have a beef with WRPG's in general. An eight is a very good score. Divinity got an eight as well for example.

But yeah, scores are meaningless without the context of the text.

WRPGs have a nasty habit of being unpleasant to control and move around in, filled with janky elements and poor 'game feel' - I'm on Edge's side here, I've been playing The Witcher 3 these past few days and it feels horrible to play. The writing, acting and world-building are very good, as they are in many of the WRPGs mentioned above, but the combat and traversal and tactile feedback from the controls are a huge negative.

I could never score a game like that more than a 7 or 8 out of 10. And that would only happen if they did everything else perfectly.

 

[reKon]

?

I see the usual overreaction to a review score without actually reading it. Even people who love Witcher 3 (like me) admit it has some considerable rough edges.

There has been a couple of over reactions and people have been critized for it...

This is nothing compared to the overreaction from Uncharted 3

 

[Primethius]

Yeah, I think Edge, and I have that in common with them, is generally very mechanics and gameplay driven. Hence the tens for games like Super Mario Galaxy (2), Bayonetta (2) and Bloodborne.

I don't think Edge have a beef with WRPG's in general. An eight is a very good score. Divinity got an eight as well for example.

But yeah, scores are meaningless without the context of the text.

Exactly. I'm not sure what people expect. Witcher 3 has many things it does wonderfully, with regards to quest design, story and writing.

Mechanically however, the game isn't that great. It's janky, controls awful and many of it's gameplay implementations aren't that great. My own score for the game wouldn't be much different then an 8 or a 9 out of 10 and I absolutely love TW3.

I love TW1 and TW2 too but those titles have some of the most dreadfully awful combat and gameplay sequences that others might not be able to ignore. The scores aren't surprising for someone who values mechanics and gameplay as you mention over something like story, writing and quest design.

 

[Applebite]

Does anyone know if Edge has score descriptions? Like 8 = great, 7 = good etc.

 

[Curufinwe]

Different genre, but last month's issue had a brilliantly written review of MKX which clearly explained why they gave that game (which has an average score of around 84) a 5/10.

 

[Curufinwe]

Does anyone know if Edge has score descriptions? Like 8 = great, 7 = good etc.

I think they used to have this at the start of their review section:

Edge's scoring system explained: 1 = one, 2 = two, 3 = three, 4 = four, 5 = five, 6 = six, 7 = seven, 8 = eight, 9 = nine, 10 = ten