Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The gaming press = a bunch of Trolls? *Update*


Many people are crying foul after seeing some of the reviews for Metroid Other M this weekend. There were many seemingly biased reviews but mainly the one from G4, saying the game is sexist and that the story ruins the experience while failing to number very much wrong with the actual game. The review and especially the video review was 17 minutes of pretty much bashing this game into the ground focusing so much on the character of Samus that the game itself got lost in the shuffle.

So my question to you guys: Is the gaming press a bunch of Trolls when it comes to anything Wii related? Do you think that people that are already biased against a game/system should be even allowed to review games for them?

This seems to happen a lot with Nintendo games from many sites. Games on PS3/Xbox 360 which have worse flaws seem to get passed over and not talked about while Wii games get bashed for not only the graphics (obviously) but for everything else they can think of. For me, I know this kind of thing has been happening since the end of the SNES era, but for a while I thought these people were starting to be more fair but I guess I could be wrong after seeing tripe like that.

*Update* Here is the review being talked about:

G4 Metroid Other M review

10 comments:

paq said...

I think the term "review" has become very loose compared to the old days when video game reviews almost only existed in magazines. Back then a review could be the only way for you to decide on a game compared to now when there is the possibility to download demos, watch game clips on Youtube or read any of the impressions written by a random blogger, aka a "video game journalist".

So, at the same time as a single review doesn't hold the same impact value as back then it seems that there are less demands on every single reviewer, along with that now anyone who can comment on a forum or has a blog can do a review. And here is where the term review loosens up a bit as impressions, opinions, previews and reviews slowly are becoming the same.

And maybe because the Wii has the largest user-base is why so many people bash it, because that is where their opinion/review is most likely to be heard.

I hope to see more smart reviews in the future though, where they actually discuss WHY the gameplay is good/bad, WHY the music is good/bad etc and less of those "this game sucks, don't buy it". More analysis, less trolling.

Travis Hendricks said...

For the most part, media as a whole is full of bias and trolling. Once a story even starts to get going, everyone jumps on the wagon and goes for a ride.

As for the game itself, I'm really looking forward to it. After playing it at E3, I am really excited for the final project. Just another day or two and the journey begins.

game on said...

Dude I totally disagree with the G4 review..... Read my review and let me know what you think! I don;t think the title is sexist at all. I mean, the game takes place just after the events of super metroid so maybe samus needs a kind of break from her crazy life. I am very mad at some of the reviewers and I believe that they are trolls like you said.

hows it going metal btw??

Biohazard said...

Wait a minute. I haven't seen G4's review of Metroid: Other M, but I'm incredibly baffled by their analysis and review of the game. "Sexist"? I haven't been to G4 for over six years, but I hardly credit that network with any semblance of feminism. Nintendo's games usually pass the smell test for the vast majority of reviewers because they know they can expect gold from them. But, the reception for Other M really makes my head scratch.

Metaldave said...

Hey Biohazard, here is the G4 review:
http://g4tv.com/games/wii/61992/metroid-other-m/index/

If you look down you'll see the Metroid Other M video review (the one with the "thumbs down" in the picture....

Anonymous said...

I suggest anyone that thinks G4 is "fair and balanced" to read that site's Bayonetta review. Said game had a terrible story and craptacular voice over acting. And not only was the game considered sexist by the reviewer but also misogynist. There was a problem also with how the gameplay plays out. Practically the same problems they had with Metroid Other M. Now, you would think that they would've given Bayonetta a thumbs down, right? WRONG. Having a crap storyline and being sexist was a non-issue with them. I guess the difference here is that Bayonetta was not on a Nintendo console. BTW, G4 has some big Liberty Bell size balls to make an issue of sexism in games. Considering that they have a bunch of hot chicks working for the network for no other reason than to keep the gaming nerds glued to their screens. G4 can sell sex but Nintendo better not do that.

Anonymous said...

i understand what your saying metal-dude lol.... but there's reasons for it this time!!! LOOK IM NOT SIDING WITH THESE FOOLS BUT THERE DELIBERATELY RIDING THE "SEAN MALSTROM" TRAIN A GUY WHO HAS POINTED OUT FACTS ABOUT THIS GAME AND IDIOT SEKONODO AT NINTENDO !!!!!

SO THEY have used a pro nintendo guy to go overboard on nintendo hating the points are valid and anti nintendo web sites are abusing it

the facts sean malstrom points out are valid and true and seko at nintendo is a insane idiot destoying the metroid series with his BULLSHIT

metroid is about whats going on out side the suit not inside the suit

metroid is about the adventures and loneliness of this hard bounty hunter on her own kicking ass it is weird and wonderful alien planets and amassing gameplay it is about space metroids and the risks she takes

metroid/super metroid/metoid prime all exel at this

other m is some dooch bay GAY story of a womans feelings for gods sake that is gay as hell and makes no sense metroid is about the envirements and the gameplay

not samus and her girly feelings about little babys ITS PATHETIC

and metroid is about weird planets not holo-decks and pretend planets

i want to control samus in weird and wonderful alein settings

i dont want to play samus as she her self plays in a holo-deck THAT DEFEATS THE POINT

A HOLO-DECK IS SAMUS HER SELF IN A VIDEOGAME WILST I PLAY HER

SO IM PLAYING A GAME AS SAMUS AND SAMUS HERSELF IS PLAYING IN A HUGE HOLO DECK

THAT IS SERIOUSLY DERANGED IM PLAYING A CHARACTOR WHO HERSELF IS PLAYING IN A HOLO-DECK

MAKES NO SENSE WHATS SO EVER

THIS IS THE 3RD TIME SEKO THE INSANE HAS USED HOLODECKS WHATS WITH THIS GUY AND HOLO DECKS

SAMUS KICKS ALL ASS THEN I HAVE TO WATCH HER BITCH OUT AND CRY AS HER HAND IS AGAINST A PAIN OF GLASS OR BEING CRADLED IN A DUDES ARMS

ITS MINDLESS RUBBISH AND AS SEAN MALSTROM SAYS IN HIS ARTICLE

SEKOMANDO TIME TO GO

Metaldave said...

X-Play has their review up for Metroid Other M and guess who reviewed it? The Wii hater herself, Morgan Webb. Why do they waste their time?

Anonymous said...

I don't know why G4 lets morgan of her leash She doesn't like anything nintendo so why bother with her.

GingerCorruption said...

Lol @ Anonymous Caps Guy - Hey, even Ripley had a sensitive side! Is that "gay" too?

I stayed clear of all reviews until I finished the game but this one that you brought my attention to was the first I checked straight after because the whole sexist thing by G4 is completely off the mark.

Team Ninja and Nintendo went about creating a game that show's more of Samus' history and connection with the Galactic Federation and they did that brilliantly, that woman from G4 claims to be a Metroid super fan but she obviously hasn't even read the Wiki -

*possible spoilers*

- I mean one of her main issues is when Ridley shows up and you see Samus suddenly surprised, shell-shocked and then in a sort of flashback reduced to the image of a little girl even though she's faced him countless times before - it's not because she just alittle lady, it's because Ridley killed her parents infront of her along with her entire home planet! She's suddenly so shocked because she thought he was dead, killed at the end of super metroid like the space pirates and metroids themselves. I'm almost sure that no matter how strong a character is, that sort of trauma is going to make you hesitate with sudden flashbacks!

Anyway, that's just one of the many problems with what the G4 review is saying about Other M and looking at the comments under the review and the video of them talking about why they hated it, they're being called out on it so bad by the real Metroid fans.

Infact I'm so annoyed at how far off the mark they are I'll probably update my own blog with this - and that's a rarity!