This is the unavoidable blog on the Twilight Princess review. To summize, this compounds the exact reasons why I had problems I stated I had already.

To begin with, the message is mixed at best.

The Good: Compelling characters and story; outstanding world and puzzle design; longer than most action adventure games; terrific graphics, from an artistic perspective.
The Bad: Wii-specific elements feel tacked on; graphics and sound sometimes go from nostalgic to dated.

And graphics score 9/10. I really have no idea what he's talking about here. Seeing that Graphics scored 9/10 (higher than I would have expected), that leaves "Wii-specific elements" and dated audio. Let's move on to audio.

"Unfortunately, this speaker is cheap and tinny, making everything that comes out of it sound distorted and poor ... some sounds are either only played through the Wii Remote speaker or they're played so quietly on the TV that they lose impact."

Well, one problem is Wii specific -- the speaker quality. Is every single game that makes use of the Wiimote speaker going to score a 7/10 in audio? Ignoring that, you can have the sounds without the speaker, but they don't have the same impact? You just said the quality wasn't good enough, so that's why you even tested the TV playback in the first place. If it doesn't have the same impact, the Wiimote must be doing something right.

"Given that the Wii is running discs on a greater storage capacity than Nintendo games have had in the past, and advances in standards for video game music, it's disappointing that the series hasn't finally moved to full digital recordings. After all, these songs are worthy of an orchestra."

Wait, why have I then been told it was orchestral? Such as this quote from GameSpy, "Twilight Princess utilizes a full orchestra for its score, giving each musical piece the ability to tap into players' emotions and drawing them into a genuinely epic experience." (UPDATE: IGN also states it is not orchestral. Point retracted)

Now I will move into the most important section--the Wii-specific portions, which is his main complaint (which seems to be the entire reasoning behind the 8/10 gameplay score).

"Twilight Princess seems like it could have been so much more with a few presentational updates and more effective and interesting uses of the Wii's unique control scheme."

For one, "presentational updates"? Given he gave graphics 9/10, "so much more", really? Clearly there wasn't going to be a complete overhaul to the game. Suggesting there be more use of the Wii's controller when it already had sword swinging, aiming, shield usage, fishing and more, I do wish he had given some sort of example.

"at times you'll wish that you could just hit a button to swing the sword instead of dealing with all the motion-sensing nonsense ... The combat controls using the Wii Remote may feel somewhat different from past games, but it doesn't draw you into the experience any more than using a standard controller would"

Well thank you for calling the fundamental concept of the entire system "nonsense" perhaps that's the problem for him in the first place. And the second is really strange to say that the control system is different but not necessarily better (he doesn't say worse, nor mention the precision of the aiming). Perhaps he just wanted a traditional Zelda game...oh wait, "Objectively speaking, it's still a little disappointing that the series hasn't evolved much at all with this latest installment."

By the way, Jeff, I think you mean "subjectively speaking".

Essentially what the entire review seems to say is that he doesn't like using the Wiimote. But guess what, that's not an option, because this is the Wii.

If you're going to review a game, make it based on what people who own only Wii are going to think of it. I really don't care if the speaker's low quality for, "receiving audio cues and select sound effects" (IGN) when in fact, I doubt my TV's speaker is any better in the first place.

I have only one request then, if the sound quality on the Wii remote isn't good enough and the motion sensing isn't immersive enough -- start taking off points from PS3 games for not having precise enough motion sensing and Xbox 360 for not having it at all. Twilight Princess may be an obscure case in that it's a port from a GameCube game and standards change, but you have to demonstrate where those standards changed, and not piss and moan about menial UNCHANGEABLE problems that are ultimately part of the system itself. Write a review on Wii and berate that for a failed concept, but I have little doubt as to the relative greatness Twilight Princess is bound to have. Keyword, GameSpot, relative.

NOTE: I still stand by not saying that a review is crap because of merely score. Reviews need to vary in opinion for different reviews to have any point to exist. I do however, see the need to critique reviews to make sure we're getting quality information.