I believe this cannot happen when we deal with a really good game. A game that "sells itself".

On the other hand, it is possible when the expectations are high for a new release (from screenshots, gameplay videos, ads...), but the final product is a bit of a disappointment (or doesn't meet the standards the players were hoping for).

If i was a publisher, i would know that a bad review would affect sales.

yes, i meant publishers (that makes sense) :-)

...or pay for strict reviews on competitive titles? (eg FIFA vs PES)