Forums > Contributor Zone > Review of the Week, 23-29 October 2011 (bloomer)

Review of the Week, 23-29 October 2011

There were a lot of hyperbolic-praise-leaning reviews this week. This isn't a bad thing in itself, and apparently an Arkham City doesn't come along every day, for instance, but I noticed that my own response was to tend towards more moderate reviews, because they tend to be more interesting in their own right.

First Place

JoeTheDestroyer's Koudelka review (PSX)

The critical wheels tumble as Joe addresses his initial negative response to the game and works out - before your eyes! - his own longer term response of positivity towards something unusual.

Second Place

Lewis's Deadly Premonition review (XBOX 360)

Lewis describes the scatter-brainedness of Deadly Premonition, and his review sometimes reflects that scatter-brainedness in its own flightiness. This is potentially a good match of medium to message. I still had the sense that sometimes one paragraph would pull the rug from underneath what the previous one had said, or just act as if it was in a new review, so while my own preference would be that this review was somehow more 'together', it does succeed in describing a confused response to a confusing game.

Third Place

honestgamer's Blood Stone: 007 review (PS3)

A perfectly good and detailed review of a game assessed as possessing "general competency". A review of a game like this can sometimes end up being boring, or entering into an equivocating fight with itself, and HG's review avoided those traps. It speaks to the dedication involved in consistently doing a quality job of reviewing new titles that don't necessarily cause fireworks to go off in one's brain.

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Way to get this thing up so promptly. And nice job, Joe.

I don't have to prove I'm refined - that's what makes me refined!

Wow. What an underwhelming response from the community on this one. Either way, thanks, bloomer, as always for doing this, and being so prompt with it.

[Eating EmP's brain] probably isn't a good idea. I mean... He's British, which means his brain's wired for PAL and your eyes are NTSC. - Will

More damning evidence as against bothering to do this thing. If a RotW falls in the forest, will the people who place hear?

I don't have to prove I'm refined - that's what makes me refined!

Remember that where the site is right now is not where it will hopefully be in a few weeks or months, in terms of traffic and participation. Feedback on the topic was light and those who placed didn't comment, but that doesn't mean that the results weren't read or appreciated.

"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." - John F. Kennedy on reality

"What if everything you see is more than what you see--the person next to you is a warrior and the space that appears empty is a secret door to another world? What if something appears that shouldn't? You either dismiss it, or you accept that there is much more to the world than you think. Perhaps it really is a doorway, and if you choose to go inside, you'll find many unexpected things." - Shigeru Miyamoto on secret doors to another world2

I hate to be this guy, but my Gears of War 3 review, which Masters awarded RotW, has not been made featured.

You exist because we allow it. And you will end because we demand it.

It's featured now.

"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." - John F. Kennedy on reality

"What if everything you see is more than what you see--the person next to you is a warrior and the space that appears empty is a secret door to another world? What if something appears that shouldn't? You either dismiss it, or you accept that there is much more to the world than you think. Perhaps it really is a doorway, and if you choose to go inside, you'll find many unexpected things." - Shigeru Miyamoto on secret doors to another world2

:D

You exist because we allow it. And you will end because we demand it.

Holy crap, I didn't even notice I won! Thanks blooms! Congrats to our other placers as well.

EDIT:
I would also hate to be the guy that Suskie described, but my Koudelka review isn't featured either.

The only thing my milkshake brings to the yard is a subpoena.

Feedback on the topic was light...

Feedback on the topic was nonexistent. The only post for over a week was mine, complimenting bloomer on getting the results up so quickly, and congratulating Joe.

...those who placed didn't comment, but that doesn't mean that the results weren't read or appreciated.

In the real world, that's EXACTLY what it means. Actions speak: if there aren't comments, there's no appreciation.

I don't have to prove I'm refined - that's what makes me refined!

Koudelka is now featured.

I don't have to prove I'm refined - that's what makes me refined!

I'VE BEEN BUSY!!!!

Er, maybe not...but I honestly just saw the topic, read who placed and never thought to comment, as I didn't make the top three. BUT I READ IT!!!

I'm not afraid to die because I am invincible
Viva la muerte, that's my goddamn principle

Thanks, Marc!

The only thing my milkshake brings to the yard is a subpoena.