Reviewing a game without ever playing it.

I'd like to know about reviewing a game without ever playing it, by just watching gameplay videos and walkthroughs through youtube, will it be sufficient enough to be a the foundation and to deliver a concrete review for a game.

No. Video games are about playing them.

What you are describing is akin to watching a movie version of a book that you have to write a book report on.

@foxhound_fox:

I'd say specific genres could be reviewed in the manner OP describes. Would a review of a Telltale game, for example, suffer that much if the reviewer didn't experience the QTEs firsthand?

How can you review something you know nothing about? Critics are bad as is with the own political agendas without them also not even playing the games they review.

@Postosuchus: that doesn't account for any narrative branches you might miss out on in a playthrough.

Reviewing a game without playing it makes no sense. Videos aren't enough to get the feel of a game. Having a controller in your hands is the only way.

For most games no but if it's something like the walking dead games then sure

Absolutely not.

@comptimization: no, that would be a false review. That's like watching a trailer of a movie and review it based on that

No, you wouldn't be able to give it a proper review. That would be like reviewing a movie with no sound, assuming that movie wasn't a silent film of course.

Some games due to their overall lack of interactive or the need for user skill can effectively be reviewed from watching a lets play video. A game like Heavy Rain can be reviewed from just looking at the playthrough. For the folks who have played games for decades we already do this, we can tell simply by looking at the game whether or not we like it based on or gameplay experience.

Like others have said, I think it's doable for interactive stories...yeah, you might not experience all the choices but many reviewers don't replay a game 5 times to check all options anyway.

For the rest you can analyse graphics, mechanics, story but you wouldn't be able to give your opinion about the controls, immersion, or any of the other things you only experience first hand.

@comptimization: I'd say no because you don't really have the feel of the game by just watching (you can do it a little though like story, graphics and overall quallity of video and audio but not a full review)

Isn't that what game sites did with the PS3 version of Skyrim?

But... but... I only have a mouse and keyboard.

Nope. Play the game yourself. Check the mechanics, see if there are bugs or not, explore the world and see how immersive the game is etc. Also play it multiple times if possible to check its replay value. Games aren't movies.

in most cases no. it's like reviewing a dish in a restaurant by watching someone else eat. there's certain things you can pick up on but you don't get a true sense of the quality until you taste it yourself. having said i'm sure many people wade into threads on these forums with strong opinions about games they haven't played. i wonder how many vitriolic opinions i've read regarding the order 1886 for example are based on a personal play through and not the result of watching a few clips on youtube

I don't know why you would want to do that. I mean, I guess you could watch enough gameplay and read up on its Wikipedia page enough to bullshit a seemingly legitimate review. I think it kind of goes against what I review should be- a person's firsthand experience of whatever it is they're reviewing. But I guess that's not what you're asking.

@comptimization: You could probably get away with it, but what would be the use?

Impossible if the person is honest. Review of games is about playing it, and not watching it.

Some games trying to make a review just off a video will not work.

In some games i've seen videos of and thought they'd suck terribly and played them and ended up loving them. First time this happened was when i saw FF8 video ads on tv i was sure the game would be awful, and ended up playing it and getting sucked into it and buying the game after i rented it.

You can probably judge some games by videos like Call of Duty games because u know exactly how each one plays from year to year and there isn't much to them except linear gameplay and same graphics each year. I don't even bother reading reviews on them anymore, just a quick video and i know its the same junk as last year.

Nope.......

Not a review..... its only enough for an oppinion....

Funfact..... I reviewed Dark Souls without even seeing it....... :)