@Ohvee @BearishSun If reviews are not meant to be objective, then how can you trust them? You cannot expect the reviewer to have exact same taste as you, so in some cases your tastes will agree, and in some will disagree. So when the next review comes out, how can you judge if you should buy that game. He might have hated the story, but you would have found it amazing, yet you would have missed out on it.
The best thing the reviewer can do is try to be objective as much as possible and lay out the facts, not his personal opinion.
That's why most reviews focus on functionality, polish, quality and technical aspects of the game and just skim over the art bits. It's not the best solution, but it's certainly better than being completely subjective and possibly getting the entirely wrong message.
Another thing regarding rating art. In general I agree rating art objectively is nigh impossible. But games are very technical pieces of art, and most reviews will in fact focus on functionality, polish and quality, and skim over the art bits. Which is something that I find perfectly fine - since it's not something that would be helpful anyway. As soon as you start rating art it becomes subjective.
@Musicsvictim @BearishSun I already said in a comment above objectivity by a human being is not possible. However it is possible to strive for it, and come close to it (by someone who is actually good at it).
For example in judicial system we have jury for the reason of getting an objective (as much as possible) verdict.
For that same reason the reviewer should try to look at different perspectives (or if he can't himself, ask him fellow colleagues for comment) to try to reach an objective (again, as much as possible) review.
Reviews should be objective (and are, by most reviewers) simply because you cannot expect anyones taste to be exactly like yours. So while I might enjoy a subjective review by McShea at one point I cannot rely on his opinion because we will disagree at some point (NO ONE will have the same taste as you). So how can I visit GameSpot and expect McShea to advise me if I should buy the next game he reviews if I don't trust his opinion? I can't. Reviewers should be objective as much as possible and lay out the facts, not their personal opinion.
If you enjoy reading reading dozen of subjective reviews to come to conclusion about a game before buying it, then please go ahead (It is a better solution overall if you have time - I don't). But that's not what professional reviews are for.
@Musicsvictim @BearishSun If you want a summation of what most people think then visit metacritic. I want an objective look at a game written in words, not an average score. And no I don't want to read 15 subjective reviews to get a good idea of what the game is like.
Reason for objective reviews is that you cannot know how your taste overlaps with the reviewers when they're subjective. Which to me makes subjective reviews useless unless you read dozens of them.
@Musicsvictim @BearishSun @Ohvee I never said he needs to be fully objective -and it's stupid to think human being could be fully objective. I said he is far from it. That's a big difference - he should at least make an effort to be somewhat objective, and he failed in it.
@Ohvee @BearishSun Lets agree to disagree. I have enough experience to know that this review is far from objective, which is what I expect from a reviewer. Maybe we have different standards, but if I want subjective reviews I ask my friends.
@Cordliss @BearishSun Of course there is a right and a wrong way to review something. Like I wrote in a comment below, professional reviewer should consider multiple perspectives. That's where objectivity comes from.
Subjective reviews belong in the user review section.
Or maybe gamespot changed the definition of what professional review means.
@Musicsvictim @BearishSun (Good) reviewers should attempt to understand the topic from different perspectives, not just their own. That's in the dictionary definition of a critical review. He seems to have missed 90% of those perspectives.
@Cordliss User score tells me people loved it. He doesn't have to agree with the majority but I'm saying it's in GameSpots interests not to hire people with niche taste if they want to keep their big audience. If 90% know they cannot rely on the reviewers taste they will move to another site. And now it's in my interest for him to leave since I cannot rely on his reviews anymore.
But the main source of my frustration is that objectively this game is not 4/10. 6/10 worst case scenario if you thought the story was terrible and gameplay average, audio and visual design are both very high, so in no way can I see that averaging out to 4/10.
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