A Guide to posting a review

To all those in need of help. To all those who feel like it's simply too much. To all those who've ever asked the question: Do I give it an 8 or a 9?
This, is for you.

Step 1: Don't overthink. I know, it's tempting to try to review every little detail about the game, but don't. Just type up what you know off the top of your head and, if needed, you can edit them later.
Step 2: Give an overview. No, people don't want a complete breakdown of the plot. People don't want a walkthrough of the game either. People want to read a quick blurb about what the game is about and move on. It's why a lot of people read the back of the game case, take lessons.
Step 3: Get in the basics. Once again, take a hint from the back of the case: give us something to think on. Tell people what the control system was like, how the music made you feel, whether or not it's a game that you can beat in 4 hours, or if you're going to be spending weeks playing to get to the midpoint. These may be simple things, but they're what everyone wants to hear.
Step 4: Don't only point out good or bad. Give people a balance. Yes, you may find the game wonderful and so uberly awesome that it's impossible to be better, but make sure to try to think of people who aren't hardcore gaming nerds (or who are, if you aren't) and give us both sides of the issue. Because if we all only listened to one side of the issue, we'd be pretty ignorant as to the truth.
Step 5: Summarize. If your review seems long, it probably is. As I said before, people don't want to spend time analyzing every little detail about a game*, just give overall impressions of the music, gameplay, etc. People will thank you for it.
Step 6: Leave people with a definite feeling. If you didn't like the game, and you don't think people should buy it, give them that impression. Make them feel like it's a waste of time and money and that even renting it might damn them to hell. On the other hand, if you like it, sing its praises and leave people craving the game, leaving halfway through the review just to buy a copy.

_{*There are people who want you to go over every detail, but if you do that most people won't read it.}


Back
- Game News
- Gamesmad