Update: As of 1-27-2012 we have updated our review system to a 5 star system.
0 – Unplayable
.5 – Terrible
1 – Very Poor
1.5 – Poor
2 – Below Average
2.5 – Average
3 – Above Average
3.5 – Good
4 – Very Good
4.5 Excellent
5 – Breathtaking
Do we use .5?
Yes, we do. It doesn’t change the overall perception of a title though. For instance if a game gets a 5.5 it’s still average or if a title gets 1.5 it still remains unplayable. We add these values because it can showcases how close a title was to leveling up to another category.
How do we determine scores?
While we don’t use subscores, we do determine our scores based on a few key factors. Presentation, such as graphics, sound, and overall usability. Gameplay, which essentially boils down to how fun the game is and whether or not it copies and pastes elements from another title. Last and not least content and worth. Is the game worth you hard-earned cash? Does it have several game-modes? Easter-eggs? These are the key aspects that we cover in a review.
What if another writer doesn’t agree with the review?
Often times we will give a second opinion, however the first review is the official review for the site. People love second opinions though and we realize that, and for high-profile games we do sometimes give second–opinions along side our review. Do keep in mind that it’s nearly impossible for us to do one for every review.
How do you determine who reviews a title?
Reviewers are picked months in advance. We also randomly distribute review copies to keep everyone reviewing each genre.
What other things do you include in a review?
Update: The pros and cons are now included in the review meta box and not at the bottom of the review. As of late August we’ve included a Pros and Cons section. We do this because we’re aware that some readers prefer bite-sized pieces of information.
For any other questions or concerns, please email us at admin [at] theparanoidgamer.com
