Do review scores determine which games are good, and which are not?

As an avid gamer, I'm also an avid reader of gaming media. I regularly check N4G for material to satisfy my insatiable hunger for gaming media. I also regularly visit sites like IGN, Gamespot, Kotaku and more.

This lends itself to being a game review junkie. I love reading game reviews and finding out which games are worth my money, and which games aren't. I regularly base purchasing decisions on reading reviews. Some people might say 'how retarded- game reviews don't mean squat'. Believe me, I know. I often purchase games only to find out this point. I've been slowly learning this lesson too. For example, some major gripes a reviewer has won't annoy me too much or some elements they consider a weakness I consider a strength, and so on.

So naturally with the release of GT5 recently, I was a little perturbed at the scores it was getting. This was one of the most hyped games of the decade, with one of the longest production schedules and it got mostly 8's. In context, that seems like a let down. I have to admit here, that I have what I consider to be a fair sized PS3 library at 23 games (most of my friends don't have close to 10 games), and most of them I've purchased based on reading reviews.

Gran Turismo 5 I purchased without reading its review, as I pre-oredered it- not something I do often. A pre-order locks in your decision to purchase a game, and once it arrives at your door there's no turning back. So a game I figured I'd hold out on, I ended up getting. Reviews I read the night previous had me believing I'd be more than a little disappointed with GT5. But how wrong I've been.

I personally am loving GT5 right now. I'm really into just about every aspect of the game. The standard/premium car divide isn't bothering me that much at all (one of my favourite cars to drive right now is a 'standard' Mugen/Motul Honda Civic), I think the graphics are stunning and the driving experience is just unrivalled. I personally like the course editor and the way it creates tracks, I really dig photo mode and I think the way online is set out is actually a good thing. I can see where a lot of the criticisms lie, but the point is- I really don't care about them. I'm not bothered by loading screens, jagged shadows. In a day and age where every big release game seems centered around killing or maiming people, aliens or monsters in some way or another, GT5 has been a breath of fresh air for me.

Then it got me thinking. Those review scores. Did they matter? Not in the slightest. What matters is how much I like the game. Not how much some guy does, who is paid to play games and write good and bad things about it.

Then how about all the other games I own? Well many that have had great review scores didn't turn out so good. Heavy Rain for example. The reviews I read labeled it as revolutionary and a great game. I played it and found it was just poorly executed and I never finished it. I just didn't like it. One day I might try at it again- but that's just my opinion of it.

Another game I previously owned, NBA2K10, was reviewed very highly at the time. But I found it to be horrible, and wished I had not traded NBA2K9 for it (sports games are the only ones I trade). It was full of glitches and issues and really pissed me off. Luckily 2K11 saved the franchise.

Black Ops is another classic example. Gamespot's review in particular is that it's a tremendous game worth every accolade, and many sites gave this game a glowing endorsement. Yet to me its the most disappointing release of the year. It's buggy, it has worse graphics than its predecessors and its campaign is confusing and at times very boring. This isn't to mention its near unplayable (on PS3 at least) multiplayer, which is plagued with issues, glitches and bugs. I loved Modern Warfare 2 (online at least, I didn't touch the campaign), and in comparison Black Ops is just a let down to me.

The point is, reviews in many cases don't matter. For someone who bases a lot of decisions on reviews, I often come to a different conclusion to the reviewers. It's not to say I don't agree with all reviews either. Many encapsulate exactly how I feel about a game too. Yet what needs to be remembered is they're just opinions, and opinions will always differ.

Phineas And Ferb 3D Game – Disney XD Games 63

New Disney Game – Phineas and Ferb

Disney released a new game. Phineas and Ferb 3D online game. Klick here to read the complete review.

The new game is available at the Disney XD discovery channel. Get ahead of the game before its officially released next week!

Disney is introducing the brand new DisneyXD game. Phineas and Ferb in: The Transport inators of Doooom!

Doofenschmitz is up to his old tricks again, and who has gone missing? Phineas! Help Ferb find his brother and try to help Agent P thwarth Doofenschmitz evil plans!

Check out this new exciting Disney XD online game before all others do at the Disney Cartoon network games website!

Check out Disney’s cartoon network to find a lot of amazing games and news. Disney offers a lot of cartoon games on their site. So head over to the Disney XD site and play the new Phineas and Ferb – The Transport-inators of Doooom! game!

Will Ninja Gaiden 3 lose the feel from its predecessors?

Everyone knows the Ninja Gaiden series for its blood, gore, great gameplay that makes you rage quit a thousand times and so many sexual themes. To this day Ninja Gaiden from the last decade is still my favorite Ninja Gaiden next to it is sigma for the ps3.

Now I bet everyone knows that Ninja Gaiden 3 is coming out and I officially announced but after viewing the gameplay trailer I felt very disappointing that it was greatly dumbed down for the casual gamer and this will make Ninja Gaiden veterans hate this and so do yes the game is hard but it gave skill and its such a relief that you beat the game and can feel so accomplished about the challenge you faced during the order. Reports from Team Ninja showed that only 13% of owners of Ninja Gaiden 2 beat while the rest have it sitting collecting dust and scared to pick it up and try and beat the first boss and only 507 people beat it on master ninja difficulty, this shows that a change is great to help out the franchise.

The Ninja Gaiden franchise will be remembered in the past for its brutal difficulty and challenge but change is needed for people to try out the game and have fun. Now ive seen the gameplay and it looks extremely easy I mean none of the enemies have swords just guns that barely do anything to Ryu and the AI is just mediocre I mean every time you're close to an enemy he just begs you to not kill him. Also when a large mech tank came instead of fighting the game tells you to run away from it now that's a little too much hand holding there. Now for the violence the gameplay looks fun and smooth but I don't see any body parts? Just lost off blood and corpses in solid condition.

I might get this game there's a chance that an average terrible story might be there, I can confirm the terrible voice acting but people we gotta admit would you rather play the game and have some fun or have a few busted TV's trying to beat the first level. I just hope the weird red arm helps the game and the action

Is the rise of smartphone and tablet gaming actually good for console gaming?

I have been thinking slightly differently to most of the doom and gloomers out there. While most are thinking that I-phone/pad and android gaming will spell the end of console gaming, I think the reality is very different.

The way I see it is that they will actually help console and PC gaming. How? By getting rid of all the devs and publishers who are only interested in making a quick buck off the back of the casual market. As they defect to flogging their wares on smartphones and tablets it clears up our market. Along with those developing the games, also the casual gamers disappear from our market thus taking their drivel with them.
Devs will be able to stop making games that have to be accessible to morons and go back to making games that don't hold your hand the whole way through. I mean seriously, before this gen of consoles games were soo much harder (or maybe I just didn't try hard enough?) did anyone complete Desert Strike on the Mega Drive (Genesis for the Americans)? I know I did, but it took me forever, and bucket loads of sweat and tears! I put so much effort into that my Dad took me shopping for a new game as a reward! Nowadays the only requirement to finish a game is time, not skill.

I don't want games to be overly difficult just for the sake of it though, I mean they are still supposed to be fun not frustrating. But at least give me a challenge! Killzone on the PS2 for example took me ages to finish, Killzone Liberation on the PSP was even harder! But KZ2, easy peasy and KZ3? There were moments of difficulty but nah, it wasn't that taxing. Even the COD games used to be hard, hard to believe considering they were the first games to have regenerating health! Something I hate in shooters but it is pretty much the standard now. I mean really, can anyone remember the last time they played a shooter where you're health didn't re generate just by hiding for a few seconds? At least in Bad Company 1 you had to inject yourself. The injection pens might have been infinite, but at least you had to do something other than hide behind cover for 5 seconds. Being on the brink of death brings new excitement to a game, always praying there will be a health pack in the next room, edge of the seat stuff.
There are a few games on the horizon which seem to be going back to the old school (Hard Reset being one) and I for one am quite happy about that. Old school is the new, new school?

It's not just about difficulty and hand holding though. The overall quality of games will improve too, story, graphics, new gameplay ideas the lot. It'll all be better without the butt loads of shovelware on our shelves and publishers who just want to milk old tired casual franchises. As they leave for the money mounds of smartphone gaming only the serious devs and pubs who actually care about creating a quality gaming experience will remain.

Anyway, what do you think? Is casual gaming leaving our market good for us the core gamers? I think it is. It might not be good for the money men in suits, but I'm not one of those I'm a gamer and from our side of the desk things are looking up.

(My) Resident Evil 6 weapon list, and system.

I have for awhile now talked to my friends about my thoughts on a new weapon system and guns to be used in this system, I feel if you really try to understand where im coming from with this it will inject some tension and suspense back into a once proud horror series.

First the System:
The system in itself is easy to graps once you think about it, first drop the 3by3 squares deal, and also drop the suitcase system. My system I call the pouch system this restricts the player on how much gear he can not only carry but what type of gear. for example in Resident Evil 5 when we first see Chris Redfield he is carrying a back fannypack with pockets on each side and a dual mag clip. so my system would allow 3 slots plus the ability to carry 2 spare clips plus one in the gun.

Now before you Huff and Puff this system brings Horror ..persay back I feel at least suspense cause you cannot load down the charater with tons of items, healing aids, and clips. and the system works well into WHAT guns you carry...but I will explain that in a bit.

So now I have limited you in the carrying system and it leaves you to think do I want to carry so amount of eaither extra clips, grenades, or aid sprays/herbs, you will be able to pick items up as you move along but I also hamperd you there as well. for example say u carried grenades, and aid spray but your on your last clip and see a 9mm ammo box you can pick it up load your clips up ..but thats it you cannot carry that box with you unless your already carrying spare mags. because in realife Nobody would run around with ammo boxes it would make to much seneless noise.

Your probbly sitting there and wondering so what only 3 clips plus if we decide to bring extra empties along the way is the only way to get extra ammo? and the anweser is no, just like in RE3-5 the lead has beenable to uprade their item count you can do that in my system as well..but with a trade off( And the point of the trade off is I never want you to feel the game is to action or easy.) so with the trade you can customize your extra load out on your character so there will be customisation but say you want to carry extra items of A well that means you cannot of B or C. and if your carrying extra ammo/grenade pouches then you cannot wear bulletproofing armor so there is a trade.

And the reason for that is, say you want to co-op(optional NOT a must in my game) it makes you work as a unit to say lets trade this and this or you carry such and such. as Teamwork is always been key in Zombie/Horror films.

A quick refresher that means optional co-op, customizing riggings so not everybody will look the same least in clothing.

Now for the Gun system and this i think pleases Old and New fans alike. The system drops gun upgrading, im sorry if you liked it but this makes 1 the guns limited so your not ramboing your through the game but 2. bring a sense of realism and by that I mean the guns will be based off their real life counter parts in clip size and power(which i would need to sit down and map out.) also they will all have their pros and cons to using them.

Not only that but im bringing something back from re3 that was touched on but i feel was never fully used is custom ammunition, and this will serve as a new strategy and also will mix up the guns and not make them seem dull. Example: for the 9mm you will have Millitary parabelum, Hollowpoints, FMJ, starbusrt, and incinerary(yes its real.), and what will be known as the common rounds practice range rounds, and while these will be the common round you find laying around they will also have the ability to jam your gun under constant use.(such as in real life.) this will not only train you to shoot with more accuracy but also weed out those who drain rounds and their teammates rounds.(You know what im talking about.

All of this is to bring strategy back into the game, and once again I hope to create a sense of tension cause you will not be the most badass on the field you will be HUMAN.

Now that I have coverd my Weapon/ammo/ and slot-rigging system I want to move onto the actual gun list( btw I would like your thoughts and ideas on it.)

Gun List:
1.Beretta 92A1 9mm/15round/Jams the least.
2.Beretta PX4 Storm Inox 9mm/17round/Critical Headshot.
3.HK VP70 9mm/18round/uprade with stock to go into 3round burst.
4.Kimber Warrior 1911 .45acp/10round/quickest to reload.
5.Glock 18 9mm/33round/full auto but you loose accuary when laying down on the trigger.
6.TDI Vector .45acp/30round/Great knockdown.
7.HK MP7 4.6x30mm/40round/ammo pericing goes through armor/metal/and most other objects.
8.HK 416 with surefire grip, and aimpoint CompM4(upaded version of jills rifle in RE3)5.56Nato/30round/med to low power
9.AK-47 7.62/30round/***Headshot
10.AA12 30round drum/changeable rounds: Lead Slug/Buck/incinerary
11.Hydra 12gauge/3 barrel
12.The Crossbow from RE2/upgrade to 3 arrow spread.
13.The four barrel green launcher from RE1(upgrades to infinite launcher after beating game under set difficulty and hours.)
14.The Flame thrower from RE1
15.Albert Wesker M9 Samuri Edge II/high fire speed with releade and infinite ammo(though its infinite ammo you still have to relead.)
16.Barry Burtons .44magnum Colt Anaconda/6 round.
17.500 Magnum round
18.RE4 Chicago Type writter .45acp/50round/upgrades to infinit ammo

So those are my guns,yes somewhat ruff but it mixes real life guns with some classics from Resident evil universe.

Also inclosing I want to say you can only carry 1 handgun and 1 firearm at any given time unless you upgrade say to a shoulder holster to carry 2 handguns and by now if you read all this you get the point. and the Assult Rifles,SMG,and shotguns will have slings no more floating on my back.

*Update* after reading what some of the user have posted YALL gave me a interesting idea, what if the Merchent came back but instead of just buying guns from him we could also just buy gun parts as well to customize are own guns.

Phineas And Ferb 3D Game – Disney XD Games 63

New Disney Game – Phineas and Ferb

Disney released a new game. Phineas and Ferb 3D online game. Klick here to read the complete review.

The new game is available at the Disney XD discovery channel. Get ahead of the game before its officially released next week!

Disney is introducing the brand new DisneyXD game. Phineas and Ferb in: The Transport inators of Doooom!

Doofenschmitz is up to his old tricks again, and who has gone missing? Phineas! Help Ferb find his brother and try to help Agent P thwarth Doofenschmitz evil plans!

Check out this new exciting Disney XD online game before all others do at the Disney Cartoon network games website!

Check out Disney’s cartoon network to find a lot of amazing games and news. Disney offers a lot of cartoon games on their site. So head over to the Disney XD site and play the new Phineas and Ferb – The Transport-inators of Doooom! game!

Have Fun!