Anyone else really surprised at the reviews spore got?

[Maximilian]

PC gamer UK gave it 91%.... What?! They always rate games lower than the US PC gamer which is why i usually trust those guys but they gave it 91%!! I dont get it... this game is up in the 90's with half life and half life 2? Its up there with the likes of GTA and the sims? No i dont think so. I despise EA but if i was to forget they owned maxis and just give spore a rating based on the game alone i would have given it 70%. Its not anywhere near as bad as some games are (big rigs anyone? ) but its still not really a very good game, its so shallow. The zero punctuation guy made a good analogy, spin one plate on a stick and its impressive but spin 5 at the same time and mess it up and you end up digging porcelain out of your face and looking like a tool, thats spores problem it tries to do too much, 1 good game is much better than 5 lousy minigames.

Its totally crazy to consider it up there with GTA.... i know they are different genres but comparing them as games, ones amazingly fun and the others pretty damn shallow and not as much fun.

Does EA really bribe reviewers is that what happens? What were they smoking when they gave spore a 91%?

 

[Auryg]

I don't get it either. Spore wasn't revolutionary nor was it fun. The creature creator was definitely cool but past that it's just a blah game nobody will remember even a year from now.

That and I think reviewers should start holding developers accountable when they hype up their game saying it has all these cool features and you don't find out it's a totally different game until it gets released. Fable (1) and Spore both really come to mind for that, Halo 2 to a much lesser extent.

 

[CP5670]

It seems like all of the major magazines and review sites are controlled by advertising money these days. I don't bother with them at all. There have been far too many games in the last few years that got uniformly high reviews but where the general opinion on forums was quite different.

 

[dj2004]

Originally posted by: CP5670
It seems like all of the major magazines and review sites are controlled by advertising money these days. I don't bother with them at all. There have been far too many games in the last few years that got uniformly high reviews but where the general opinion on forums was quite different.

Agreed. I do still read them and watch the videos though.

 

[geoffry]

Ya, I was very surprised...it was getting 9's and higher for graphics which was the most surprising, lol.

And the lack of a story kills it for me as well.

 

[Maximilian]

Although i dont think it shows the dates of reviews on metacritic ill bet the worse reviews were the ones that came out after spore was released. The later reviewers probably saw that people werent that into the game and it was getting a lot of bad press for being shallow and boring and that influenced their review score. Theyre just sheep it seems, and the other reviewers praising it as te perfect game are either bribed/ondrugs or trying to be psychic sheep by predicting the game will be a massive hit and everyone will love it.

 

[Dumac]

The reviewer I read gave it a B, which is what I would give it.

I think the game is very fun and polished, but I wouldn't find it engaging enough to give an A.

 

[pontifex]

and you guys make fun of me for not liking many games? 90% of them are overhyped turds.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Originally posted by: pontifex
and you guys make fun of me for not liking many games? 90% of them are overhyped turds.

Not most of the ones that you talk about.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Most of the major gaming sites are in the pockets of the publishers. It's a joke. Read the reviews from actual gamers. Sure they'll often be poorly written but at least they are real views.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante

Originally posted by: pontifex
and you guys make fun of me for not liking many games? 90% of them are overhyped turds.

Not most of the ones that you talk about.

that's your opinion

 

[Zenoth]

The so called professional reviews shouldn't influence anyone, they are subjective reviews, they don't ask our opinions and then compile the results for their final given score, it's restricted to the personal tastes of the author of the article/review. And besides that no one no where forces anybody to consider those reviews seriously. The best way to know if you like a game or not is to try it yourself, rent it or buy it, if you buy it and you don't like it just return it for a refund, the process is very simple... we you think about it.

 

[dj2004]

Originally posted by: Zenoth
The best way to know if you like a game or not is to try it yourself, rent it or buy it, if you buy it and you don't like it just return it for a refund, the process is very simple... we you think about it.

Since when can PC games be rented or be returned for a refund?

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante

Originally posted by: pontifex
and you guys make fun of me for not liking many games? 90% of them are overhyped turds.

Not most of the ones that you talk about.

that's your opinion

Heh you do have kind of a rep for hating most games

 

[Zenoth]

Originally posted by: dj2004

Originally posted by: Zenoth
The best way to know if you like a game or not is to try it yourself, rent it or buy it, if you buy it and you don't like it just return it for a refund, the process is very simple... we you think about it.

Since when can PC games be rented or be returned for a refund?

Since some independent stores do that? If there aren't any such places where you live it doesn't suddenly mean there's none elsewhere. What am I supposed to type exactly, pirate them and then buy them?

Edit: And now that I think of it I've already returned F.E.A.R. last year at my local FutureShop for a refund and that isn't an independent store. I told them it wasn't working well and since they don't have the time to test it they just gave my money back.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Maximilian

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante

Originally posted by: pontifex
and you guys make fun of me for not liking many games? 90% of them are overhyped turds.

Not most of the ones that you talk about.

that's your opinion

Heh you do have kind of a rep for hating most games

an unwarranted rep

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: Maximilian

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante

Originally posted by: pontifex
and you guys make fun of me for not liking many games? 90% of them are overhyped turds.

Not most of the ones that you talk about.

that's your opinion

Heh you do have kind of a rep for hating most games

an unwarranted rep

bullshit...all i've ever seen you do is bitch and moan.

 

[DefRef]

I love the anti-critic attitudes of some people: "No one should listen to critics cuz they're just giving their opinions!" And what are all the "real gamers" on message boards doing? GIVING THEIR OPINIONS!!!!" For some reason, the snots think that their opinion >>>>>>>>>>>> critics opinion because they aren't getting "bribed", as if they don't wish to bash the game because they hate the publisher. (Or stranger; I actually saw a comment on a blog that someone was going to pirate The Witcher because "I was considering buying this then I remembered Poland is just as busy killing Iraqis as other countries whose goods I refuse to pay for until they stop their murdering ways." WTF?!? CDProjekt is behind being in Iraq? Moron!) You see the opposite complaints when the reviews are as good as people think they should be? Gee, if they're bribed to give good reviews, what are the bad review from? Lack of a bribe check?

Most of the reviews I saw were in the 8/10 range. PC Gamer (US) gave it a 91% despite constant comments about the repetitive nature, but they've been a declining credibility slope as they clearly are so geeked about getting the first reviews that they award an extra 5-10 points over the eventual average in their enthusiasm. (Hellgate: London anyone?) I don't think they're consciously skewing the scores in a quid pro quo; they just are so happy to be first, they don't really look hard at what they saw.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Inspector Jihad

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: Maximilian

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante

Originally posted by: pontifex
and you guys make fun of me for not liking many games? 90% of them are overhyped turds.

Not most of the ones that you talk about.

that's your opinion

Heh you do have kind of a rep for hating most games

an unwarranted rep

bullshit...all i've ever seen you do is bitch and moan.

no, that's bullshit.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: DefRef
I love the anti-critic attitudes of some people: "No one should listen to critics cuz they're just giving their opinions!" And what are all the "real gamers" on message boards doing? GIVING THEIR OPINIONS!!!!" For some reason, the snots think that their opinion >>>>>>>>>>>> critics opinion because they aren't getting "bribed", as if they don't wish to bash the game because they hate the publisher. (Or stranger; I actually saw a comment on a blog that someone was going to pirate The Witcher because "I was considering buying this then I remembered Poland is just as busy killing Iraqis as other countries whose goods I refuse to pay for until they stop their murdering ways." WTF?!? CDProjekt is behind being in Iraq? Moron!) You see the opposite complaints when the reviews are as good as people think they should be? Gee, if they're bribed to give good reviews, what are the bad review from? Lack of a bribe check?

Most of the reviews I saw were in the 8/10 range. PC Gamer (US) gave it a 91% despite constant comments about the repetitive nature, but they've been a declining credibility slope as they clearly are so geeked about getting the first reviews that they award an extra 5-10 points over the eventual average in their enthusiasm. (Hellgate: London anyone?) I don't think they're consciously skewing the scores in a quid pro quo; they just are so happy to be first, they don't really look hard at what they saw.

I've gotta lean toward DefRef here. The problem is that this board is filled more predominantly with hardcore/avid gamers. That is not the population that Spore was marketed/geared toward. I enjoy Spore BECAUSE it's so simple, it's a nice easy change of pace from more intense games, but it's hardly something at which to marvel.

 

[coloumb]

Originally posted by: TheVrolok

I've gotta lean toward DefRef here. The problem is that this board is filled more predominantly with hardcore/avid gamers. That is not the population that Spore was marketed/geared toward. I enjoy Spore BECAUSE it's so simple, it's a nice easy change of pace from more intense games, but it's hardly something at which to marvel.

Yup - SPORE is of the same genre as the SIMS franchise - a franchise that most hard core gamers despise.

 

[40sTheme]

Has anyone played the game here that says it sucks? Just wondering. Oh, and the Creature Creator is in NO WAY indicative of the real gameplay. It's a fun game that has lots of replay value and is quite relaxing. I agree with Vrolok; it's nothing to go nuts over and marvel at, but it is certainly not the horrible piece of shit people seem to think it is.

EDIT: Oh, and by the way, I don't know what people consider a 'hardcore' or 'avid' gamer, but I like most of the games other people on this board like, so don't try to chastise me for not being 'hardcore'. YES I've played through Deus Ex, PS:T, Baldur's Gate, Fallout 1 & 2, and all the other 'OMG AT PC GAMING LOVES THESE' games.

And guess what?
I like Spore.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: CP5670
It seems like all of the major magazines and review sites are controlled by advertising money these days. I don't bother with them at all. There have been far too many games in the last few years that got uniformly high reviews but where the general opinion on forums was quite different.

I think it started way back with Doom 3 and has gone downhill ever since.

 

[zerogear]

Originally posted by: 40sTheme
Has anyone played the game here that says it sucks? Just wondering. Oh, and the Creature Creator is in NO WAY indicative of the real gameplay. It's a fun game that has lots of replay value and is quite relaxing. I agree with Vrolok; it's nothing to go nuts over and marvel at, but it is certainly not the horrible piece of shit people seem to think it is.

EDIT: Oh, and by the way, I don't know what people consider a 'hardcore' or 'avid' gamer, but I like most of the games other people on this board like, so don't try to chastise me for not being 'hardcore'. YES I've played through Deus Ex, PS:T, Baldur's Gate, Fallout 1 & 2, and all the other 'OMG AT PC GAMING LOVES THESE' games.

And guess what?
I like Spore.

The game is not bad, its just not all that good. Mediocre game which entertains you for a little bit then gets a bit boring. It is definitely not the revolutionary game that was promised to us years ago.

I spent more time creating new creatures than actually playing the game. The space age is a bit better, but you lose all control of your cities (though the city building was 'meh' to begin with). This game could've done better, but chose not to.

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: 40sTheme
Has anyone played the game here that says it sucks? Just wondering. Oh, and the Creature Creator is in NO WAY indicative of the real gameplay. It's a fun game that has lots of replay value and is quite relaxing. I agree with Vrolok; it's nothing to go nuts over and marvel at, but it is certainly not the horrible piece of shit people seem to think it is.

EDIT: Oh, and by the way, I don't know what people consider a 'hardcore' or 'avid' gamer, but I like most of the games other people on this board like, so don't try to chastise me for not being 'hardcore'. YES I've played through Deus Ex, PS:T, Baldur's Gate, Fallout 1 & 2, and all the other 'OMG AT PC GAMING LOVES THESE' games.

And guess what?
I like Spore.

It's not that spore absolutely sucks although some think so, it's just that it was built up so much that it fell on its face when we found out how little there was to the actual game. I like it enough, but I don't like enough of it. Both RTS stages are boring and awful, and I just skipped them.