How to avoid getting disappointing games?

I've gotten a lot of disappointing games ("Sonic Heroes" - PS2, "Mortal Kombat Deception" - PS2, "Mario Kart Double Dash" - GC, "Super Mario Sunshine" - GC ...).

Maybe If I'd:
Looked on online game review sites, Been friends with people who had the games, or Been with one of those monthly fee video game rental sites I'd have seen the true nature of those games and avoid some regretted purchases.

Does anyone here have Tips or Advise on how to avoid getting disappointing games?

Ignore the above posters...

The best bet is to use a site like metacritic.com to get a comprehensive set of reviews that you can read and decide if any of them sound like the kind of game you're looking for. One review should not warrant either a purchase or a non-purchase of a game, especially if you're on the fence about it.

learn what game developers you like.....also read player reviews......not editorial reviews because as we have seen, they can be biased.

btw, i think metacritic is owned by cnet....which is who owns gamespot :-/

learn what game developers you like.....also read player reviews......not editorial reviews because as we have seen, they can be biased.

btw, i think metacritic is owned by cnet....which is who owns gamespot :-/

rock_solid

Yeah, i think you're right... but they merely collect reviews and post them here... they don't alter them at all.

[QUOTE="rock_solid"]

learn what game developers you like.....also read player reviews......not editorial reviews because as we have seen, they can be biased.

btw, i think metacritic is owned by cnet....which is who owns gamespot :-/

Arborescence

Yeah, i think you're right... but they merely collect reviews and post them here... they don't alter them at all.

true, but how do we know other site's reviews aren't biased too? what if metacric is a collection of biased reviews? it may be better than nothing, but i still trust player reviews more.

[QUOTE="Arborescence"][QUOTE="rock_solid"]

learn what game developers you like.....also read player reviews......not editorial reviews because as we have seen, they can be biased.

btw, i think metacritic is owned by cnet....which is who owns gamespot :-/

rock_solid

Yeah, i think you're right... but they merely collect reviews and post them here... they don't alter them at all.

true, but how do we know other site's reviews aren't biased too? what if metacric is a collection of biased reviews? it may be better than nothing, but i still trust player reviews more.

Also an interesting point, but player reviews usually are more biased towards what genres of games they like best. For example, would you really want a hardcore RPG gamer's review of a game like Halo 3 or Gran Turismo 4, or would you want a review that states basically what the game offers, what it delivers, and what to expect?

I've gotten a lot of disappointing games ("Sonic Heroes" - PS2, "Mortal Kombat Deception" - PS2, "Mario Kart Double Dash" - GC, "Super Mario Sunshine" - GC ...).

Maybe If I'd:
Looked on online game review sites, Been friends with people who had the games, or Been with one of those monthly fee video game rental sites I'd have seen the true nature of those games and avoid some regretted purchases.

Does anyone here have Tips or Advise on how to avoid getting disappointing games?