View Full Version : Impressive (for new Xbox owners especially)


deveng
08-23-08, 04:23 PM
I use gamerscores to get an idea of the 'quality' of a game. There are games that I like that have gotten poor ratings, but I have consistently aggreed (for the most part) with the average rating that a game gets. To me, anything that scores an average rating of 80% or better, is a really, really good game (provided that you like the genre). Of course, individuals may not like a particular game (there are people that do not like Gears of War or Halo, but that makes sense as the scores are not 100%.).

A good starting point would be this website: http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/simpleratings.asp

The 360 has 14 games with a score of 90% or better (with 4 more games in the 89% range). I would say that if you like the genre, these are blind buys, do not even think about it, just get it. The only one I question is GTA4 (I have it, it is good, but not 96% good, but then maybe I do not like the genre).

The 360 has 95 games with a score of 80% or better. I have many of these games, and I agree with the score for the most part. Almost every genre is available in this range, and if you like a particular genre, these to can be blind buys. The best part, is that many of these games can be had for very cheap. The only limitiation may be on-line play, but unless the server is closed (*cough EA cough*) there will still be a comminity, be it small, that still plays that particular game on line.

The 360 has 150 games with a score of 75% or better. There are some real gems in here based on play type. A FPS game in this range is pretty good, but for the most part, after playing Halo3, CoD4, or GoW, it just cannot compare. It is not fair, but that is the reality, the games in themselves are pretty good, pretty fun, but just not as polished (Lost Planet, Prey, BF:MC, Stranglehold, Frontlines) etc. All really fun games and if you are a 'junkie' in that genre, you will like it. This range also has many other games from other genres (JRPG (Blue Dragon, Eternal Sonata, Lost Odessy for example)) which are great games in themselves, if you like the genre.

The point of this post is remind people on the fence, or are not sure what to get, that there is too much variety, too much choice, and not enough time. I for one have played many of the games in the top 150, and do not dislike any of them and can easily recommend any of them. I have played many games that have scored below 75% and have like them for what they are (there are some great games like chromehounds (71.7%), which some people may still claim to be the best multiplayer game on the Xbox) but a niche game and I understand why it gets that rating. The worst games on the list I played was Eragon (49.85%) Fusion Frenzy 2 (51.56%) and I am not going to lie and say these were good games, but with an open mind, they really were not bad (for the price I paid which was <$10). But with the wealth of great games, there is no need to play these games (unless you are a 'gamerscore whore' like me), or you just like to play different things, which is reasonable. Similarly there are games like Viva Pinata Party animals (57%) which to me is a 'better' game than Mario Cart Wii (82%) but gets an unfair rating for what it is.

Anyways, it really is a good time to be a gamer.;)

celluloideyes
08-24-08, 02:47 PM
...or use Metacritic.com

http://www.metacritic.com/games/

Same thing. It compiles reviews and gives the average. This is the site I use--it also gives brief reviews from publications and their score.

I feel that Metacritic is than gamerankings.com

darklordjames
08-24-08, 05:01 PM
"Similarly there are games like Viva Pinata Party animals (57%) which to me is a 'better' game than Mario Cart Wii (82%) but gets an unfair rating for what it is."

You were talking some sense, but then ended up hopping on the Crazy Bus to Crazy Town. The Rare produced Viva Pinata games are amazing, but anyone who thinks that Party Animals was anything short of a flaming pile of crap might need to have their internet license taken away, especially when they try to compare it to Mario Kart Wii. :)

formulanerd
08-24-08, 05:25 PM
I have to agree, VP:PA is better than mk:wii, but then again i paid ~12 bucks for VP, and 50 for mk

sirjonsnow
08-25-08, 08:22 AM
The only one I question is GTA4 (I have it, it is good, but not 96% good, but then maybe I do not like the genre).

I think the general consensus here is that it was WAY overrated - most mags/sites gave it 95-100% or some other "near perfect" score. Good, but not nearly that good.

munkyxtc
08-25-08, 08:59 AM
I think the general consensus here is that it was WAY overrated - most mags/sites gave it 95-100% or some other "near perfect" score. Good, but not nearly that good.

Yeah, GTA is certainly a reviewing conundrum; the game is fun; however, "professional" reviewers almost unanimously rated the game 95% and up; while the average gamer says meh, this game is ok. Usually if you drop the high & low score of reviews you'll find a good honest rating, but not so with GTA.

bdwright77
08-25-08, 03:13 PM
agreed. Not to turn this into a GTA discussion thread (we've got enough of those), but I sold that game back immediately after beating it, and a couple weeks of multiplayer. It just did not stand out for me. I loved San Andreas and still own it. Not so with 4.

Lookilook
08-25-08, 05:16 PM
The Orange box is ranked too high, conversely GOW and H3 is too low. GTA4 should be around 4th or 5th..IMO.

Trebuken
08-25-08, 05:31 PM
Yeah I use the same thought process. 90% or more means buy it new, 80-90% means buy it as soon as you have extra time or money. What is interesting is that there are roughly 260 Xbox 360 games out now and your saying 150 of them are rated above 75%, that's 57%. I suspect that is higher than in previous console generations. The cost of producing games has forced a certain quality control. I presume many of the games below 75% are simply being released in hopes of getting some return on the development of those game even if it is a net loss for the developer/publisher.

GTA is 'been there done that' but it is an incredible achievement in many technical elements which reviewers are more attentive to than gamers and I think it warrants its score, though GOW appeals to me much more...I suspect GOW2 will take over that first spot so let's let GTA4 enjoy it's place for now...

I most recently came across Viking Battle for Asgard which received a 69.9% and believe it to be underrated, but I notice that it takes only a couple reviews to yank the scores down...

Lookilook
08-25-08, 06:06 PM
Also Fable 2, fallout 3 and COD5: World at war will all be out around the same time. I agree that GOW2 will take over the #1 spot for ranking and for most active game on the Major Nelson list pretty soon.