[Fineus]

I'm interested to see what catagories should be included in a games review... what do I mean by that? Well:

Cinematics
Graphics
Features
Bugs
Plot
Enjoyment
Conclusion

That's what I've got off the top of my head - but have I missed something?

[Stealth]

how about system specs... like minimum system requirements

[Stealth]

and price matters to some people who aren't willing to pay $60.00 for a game...

[wEvil]

make sure you have a set methology for your review - its no good if you use a totally different setup next time.

also try to use objective statements.  "enjoyment" is a very subjective concept, try to think of another way to put it thats less ambiguous.

[beatspete]

Learning Curve - ie how long it takes to learn the basics.
Replayability - can you play it again and again, ie a random map or skirmish setting, or can you only play the campaigns?

[an0n]

Graphics (along with the games theme, ie realism isn't exactly important in Mario-Kart)
Control/Interface
Story
Replay (is it a one-time story like HW, or is it an infinite game like Quake3?)
Theme (blow everything up, figure things out etc)
Mind-stuff (puzzles, tasks and such)
Addiction (will your girlfriend be leaving you? Will you notice that your computer is on fire, or will you ignore it and keep playing?)
Emotion (is it so engrossing that you'll cry when the Bastion goes down?)
Multi-play
Support
Price

[Stealth]

Originally posted by an0n

Support
Price

haha!!! see?  mine WERE good


also, that 'multiplay' ability you added is a very good option, a lot of people buy games just for multiplayer

[Kellan]

Originally posted by wEvil
make sure you have a set methology for your review - its no good if you use a totally different setup next time.

I actually prefer free-form reviews...[begin rant]...because structured revies hamstring the appreciation of games as an artform and denigrate the effort put into them.

Look at music and film reviews. The reviewer is free to talk about what they like and don't like, or anything else without resorting to a formula in most cases. Imagine giving music an 'enjoyability' rating out of 10, or a percentage score for musicianship. It wouldn't work, and what's more people would complain about the use of numbers like that.

IMO, the best way to go is with longer, flowing reviews that cover interesting aspects, not tread over ground for the sake of it. Otherwise it's like writing form letters or something. Ideally, they should be like book reviews or something.

[/end rant - for now....]

[Fineus]

Thanks very much for the response guys - it's certainly given me a lot of material to work with. I was thinking of chucking a few reviews on my latest site to give it a little bulk... but theres no point in getting started if you don't know what you're doing - hence me asking.

I have to say that from the start I'd point out that my reviews would be biased in nature. I'm not a particularly amazing writer and I'm not sure I could do an objective review of a game justice - besides there's a lot more people out there trying to give objective reviews than there are subjective ones as far as I can tell (although they sometimes end up being one and the same). Either way I'd write what I liked and didn't like - not what I think others might like and dislike (I'm not them.. how can I know?)

Anyways - thanks very much.

[Kitsune]

A good game!

[CP5670]

You guys forgot a very important one:

Modification ability (moddability)