Waiting on reviews for an anticipated video game release is like nothing else. I find myself anxiously checking news sites, ready to hear if the hype has been worth it. This typically comes to fruition about a week before release, and then suddenly the floodgates (or media embargoes, if you will) lift and I can learn what the consensus is.
As you well know, one of the big releases of the Spring comes next month in the form of Dragon Age 2, and it seems that someone has already reviewed a copy of it. That’s right, PC Gamer’s got a Dragon Age 2 review in its next issue. While we don’t know what it scored yet, we do know that it has received the “Editor’s Choice” label, which I suppose is kind of like our S. For what it’s worth, PC Gamer’s Shogun 2 review receives the same thing, and that’s a game I’ve never heard mention of. The good news, however, is that PC Gamer calls Dragon Age 2 “darkier, sexier, better.”
It seems kind of odd to me that these two reviews have been released so far in advance. Dragon Age 2 is out on March 8, and Shogun 2 is out March 29. I remember a few years back, IGN’s GTA 4 review was an exclusive first look, and they scored the game a perfect 10 out of 10. I remember that this bothered quite a few people, and I’m not sure I can blame anybody that took exception. I’m not calling foul play here, I just see how it can rub the wrong way when places get reviews out so early. Seems like their copies of the game wouldn’t be the same quality as the release versions.
So what do you guys think of the idea of early reviews? Would you rather they were dished out closer to release? Do you not care? When’s the right time for a review? Go!
Thanks for sending these over, Wesley!
No problem. Personally I would rather the first review be released a week AT MOST before launch so one review does not taint my thoughts on the game, it also would not make me pre-order it while there is still time to get special bonuses with it. I will eventually get this game around July or August and after all the reviews are out but this is about #2 or #3 on my list of most wanted games coming out in the next few months.
Well Eddy, I’ve read both of these reviews (subscriber ftw) and neither of them mention any game breaking bugs. In fact, Shogun 2 seems to enjoy a much improved AI system than its predecessors.
Of course we’ll have to see on launch whether either of these games are bug-free (Total War launches are notoriously buggy) but it’s looking good so far.
Also, Editor’s Choice means a score of 90% or more. So yeah, these two are gonna be awesome
[quote comment=”15539″]No problem. Personally I would rather the first review be released a week AT MOST before launch so one review does not taint my thoughts on the game, it also would not make me pre-order it while there is still time to get special bonuses with it. I will eventually get this game around July or August and after all the reviews are out but this is about #2 or #3 on my list of most wanted games coming out in the next few months.[/quote]
I think what Eddy is getting it, and correct me if I am wrong, is that instead of EVERYONE releasing their reviews early, which is fine and awesome, only one or two get exclusive reviews early and lo and behold, they give the game an amazing score. Seems suspect.
I’m a little iffy on these really early reviews, but I will say that hearing that the liked it a lot makes me feel better. I’m so excited for DA2 but I’m still worried.
I’m with Anthony on this one. Anything to rev up the anticipation for a game release will be done. I’m sure the reviewer has some incentives to give the game a better score than perhaps they would normally. I try not to let early reviews convince me into buying a game right away. I find it’s best to just wait a bit and see what type of buzz it generates while its out.
Well I’m sure everyone remembers the Kane & Lynch fiasco over at Gamespot a while back. I don’t think it was an early review, but I can just see sites / magazines calling up the publishers and working out some slimy deal to get their hands on the game first. “we’ll score you high, and we get more readers! It’s a win win!”
It’s why the reviews I like are from friends, or here ;).
This was a difficult one for me, a month or 2 ago i would have said i didn’t like the idea but recently since i relocated i don’t have ready access to the net i would say i quite like the idea.
Rather than being able to piece everything together myself from the net its nice to have an early review that gives me all the info i need and lets me know if its really worth purchasing whilst not taking up hardly any time at all.
I don’t think any shady dealing is going on. Both of those games have strong cores and are sequels to strong games, and i would think that they deserved a 9. It also seems stupid to me that a magazine would give a game a better score for an early review, it wouldn’t generate that many new readers and would cost whatever publication credibility
[quote comment=”15553″]I don’t think any shady dealing is going on. Both of those games have strong cores and are sequels to strong games, and i would think that they deserved a 9. It also seems stupid to me that a magazine would give a game a better score for an early review, it wouldn’t generate that many new readers and would cost whatever publication credibility[/quote]
You would be shocked.