GAME CRITIQUE IS DEAD: Why Reviewers SHOULD Be Skilled Players | The Definitive Discussion

Electric Underground Podcast

GAME CRITIQUE IS DEAD: Why Reviewers SHOULD Be Skilled Players | The Definitive Discussion. Today is a very special video where @boghogSTG and I discuss the current (and awful) state of video game reviews and critique. This isn't just a bunch of empty complaining, however (at least I hope so). Instead we discuss the nature of what is good critique, what is the role of the critic vs reviewer, what forces influence critics and reviewers, both conscious and unconscious. We also make our strongest case for why video game reviewers SHOULD be skilled players, why this is an important value a critic should strive for, and how being a skilled player not only improves reviews, but also is an important asset for game developers as well. We also get into the topic of access journalism that we see IGN and the major game publishers engaging in (such as IGN infamously "forgetting" to review Cyber Punk 2077) and how the video game review space has more in common with the Yakuza than it does open artistic discourse. Sphere Hunter may be invited to Capcom events, but she's not at the IGN level of access to be allowed to review the game before the release date. Imagine all the NDA's that level of access would involve. Talking about IGN, eurogamer, Polygon, Kotaku, and Gamespot is one thing, but we also get into what is the role of the youtuber in this equation and how even if the youtuber is not directly being contacted by game publishers, he is still being indirectly shaped by the marketing of AAA games and their vocal fan bases. As a result, we see a cyclical trend of hype marketing around releases like Resident Evil 4 Remake, The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild (and soon to be Tears of the Kingdom), and Bayonetta 3, where all the reviews are going to fall in line with the marketing. And if you are more critical of these games during their release window, prepare to be hit by the hype train, which is not going to be a fun experience. As a result, I think we've seen a shift in the youtubing meta away from the over the top reviews that we saw in the Angry Video Game Nerd era of gaming youtube. Instead, we are now in the fluf**** era, where youtubers take games that are already hyped and highly anticipated, and then just dial the hype levels up even higher (as we see on Maxamillion Dood's channel). So now all average games are *amazing* and all good games are modern masterpieces.