How should I make a game review?

Gammadile

Gammadile

Active Member
I've been uploading gaming commentaries on my channel for awhile now, but I really want to start uploading some more substantial and scripted videos occasionally.
To do this, I've been considering reviewing games that I've played, but I'd like some opinions.

When it comes to games to review, I have a LOT that I want to say and I tend to have a lot of trouble organizing my thoughts, so the video would run the risk of being waaay to long.

So, if you were to watch a review of a video game, movie, etc, what would be some key points that you'd want to hear about it?
I want to start focusing my thoughts down to what people are really interested, so any input would be very helpful!
 
My advice would be to watch other people's reviews of games (AVGN, JonTron, PBG ect. ect) and look for a style that you like, and kind of base yours off of that as a starting point, but be sure to use it mostly as inspiration not copy them. The goal is to make it unique, make it entertaining, and make it your own.

My style of review is to make a video about games that I absolutely LOVE and make a video of why they should go play that game right now; not so much on whether or not it's a good game. And, since it's biased in nature, (Only mention the good; intentionally leave out the bad) they're definitely comedic reviews and aren't super-serious.
 
Gammadile said:
I've been uploading gaming commentaries on my channel for awhile now, but I really want to start uploading some more substantial and scripted videos occasionally.
To do this, I've been considering reviewing games that I've played, but I'd like some opinions.

When it comes to games to review, I have a LOT that I want to say and I tend to have a lot of trouble organizing my thoughts, so the video would run the risk of being waaay to long.

So, if you were to watch a review of a video game, movie, etc, what would be some key points that you'd want to hear about it?
I want to start focusing my thoughts down to what people are really interested, so any input would be very helpful!
Click to expand...
Usually for games/media, you usually want to divide the review into different parts.
For example;
Graphics/Aesthetics
Story/Theme
Gameplay/Playability
Music/Voice-Acting

Those are the kinds of things I would center my review around. :)
Then, you give each a rating out of ten for each category (for that game/media), and add up each rating. Let's say you gave Graphics/Aesthetics an 8, Story/Theme a 7, Gameplay/Playability a 9, and Music/Voice-Acting a 6.

You can go into further detail as to why you rated them the way you did, as you come across each category.

You add the numbers 8, 7, 9, and 6 together. That equals 30. Now what you do is you multiply the number of categories (in this case, four) by 10. That should give you 40, if it's really four categories. So the overall rating is 30/40. Divide 30 by 40, and you will get .75/1, 7.5/10, or 75%. You can choose which of the three you would like to use, and that's how you do that. Whew, that was a lot of words.
Some things you could do in your game review is include a little bit of gameplay from the game you are reviewing to help add to the video. You could also try to use some good music, as well.

I know that was a long explanation, but that's how I like to break it down. :)
Hope this helps a little bit!
 
TotalBiscuit did a critique on Shadow of Mordor that lasted 50mins. Just to give you an idea of how long you can go lol reviews are a little different they should be shorter yes but if someone's going to do a review it's something they need to do responsibly because consumers are effected the most by them and if there's something that needs to be said say it.
 
TundraZer0 said:
My advice would be to watch other people's reviews of games (AVGN, JonTron, PBG ect. ect) and look for a style that you like, and kind of base yours off of that as a starting point, but be sure to use it mostly as inspiration not copy them. The goal is to make it unique, make it entertaining, and make it your own.

My style of review is to make a video about games that I absolutely LOVE and make a video of why they should go play that game right now; not so much on whether or not it's a good game. And, since it's biased in nature, (Only mention the good; intentionally leave out the bad) they're definitely comedic reviews and aren't super-serious.
Click to expand...

Good advice :D Thank you![DOUBLEPOST=1412228679,1412228594][/DOUBLEPOST]
Joel Is InstantGS said:
Usually for games/media, you usually want to divide the review into different parts.
For example;
Graphics/Aesthetics
Story/Theme
Gameplay/Playability
Music/Voice-Acting

Those are the kinds of things I would center my review around. :)
Then, you give each a rating out of ten for each category (for that game/media), and add up each rating. Let's say you gave Graphics/Aesthetics an 8, Story/Theme a 7, Gameplay/Playability a 9, and Music/Voice-Acting a 6.

You can go into further detail as to why you rated them the way you did, as you come across each category.

You add the numbers 8, 7, 9, and 6 together. That equals 30. Now what you do is you multiply the number of categories (in this case, four) by 10. That should give you 40, if it's really four categories. So the overall rating is 30/40. Divide 30 by 40, and you will get .75/1, 7.5/10, or 75%. You can choose which of the three you would like to use, and that's how you do that. Whew, that was a lot of words.
Some things you could do in your game review is include a little bit of gameplay from the game you are reviewing to help add to the video. You could also try to use some good music, as well.

I know that was a long explanation, but that's how I like to break it down. :)
Hope this helps a little bit!
Click to expand...

That's a completely different approach than I was considering, but I actually like the sound of it a lot. Thanks a bunch![DOUBLEPOST=1412228753][/DOUBLEPOST]
WolfWraith said:
TotalBiscuit did a critique on Shadow of Mordor that lasted 50mins. Just to give you an idea of how long you can go lol reviews are a little different they should be shorter yes but if someone's going to do a review it's something they need to do responsibly because consumers are effected the most by them and if there's something that needs to be said say it.
Click to expand...

Well that's a really good point, actually. Though, I don't have Total Biscuit's dedicated fans that would sit through a 50 minute review, I definitely shouldn't limit what needs to be said too much c:
 
Gammadile said:
Good advice :D Thank you![DOUBLEPOST=1412228679,1412228594][/DOUBLEPOST]

That's a completely different approach than I was considering, but I actually like the sound of it a lot. Thanks a bunch![DOUBLEPOST=1412228753][/DOUBLEPOST]

Well that's a really good point, actually. Though, I don't have Total Biscuit's dedicated fans that would sit through a 50 minute review, I definitely shouldn't limit what needs to be said too much c:
Click to expand...
I generally don't do reviews anymore because reading off a script resulted in the commentary being sub par, that's just me though, there are some people who can read of a script and sound normal or others go that extra mile and try to remember it off by heart which I have tried but I rage if I make too many mistakes. I'll be getting back into them soon but I won't be scripting them too heavily and being way more natural than before. It's not always about fan base when it comes to reviews. I didn't sit through TB's 50min video because I watch his content, in fact majority of the time I rarely watch his videos, I watched it because I wanted an honest critique that was flat out and that wasn't coming from people who were sponsored by WB and possibly influenced into saying positve more than negative. I'd say find another name for it if you feel like you want to leave things out/take a more casual approach it, like an impressions or something. Structure is a whole other obstacle though xD Joel's was what you want to target but I prefer to do them in this order: story, characters (optional), gameplay, graphics, audio, value ($/hr), conclusion/summary. You could even start with gameplay if you like or mix it in whatever order you feel is better.
 
I'm not a gaming channel, so I can't give you tips on that. But as far as the video portion of it I would say to make yourself a script so you make sure to hit the important points. Then I would also say to do practice videos so you can learn to organize your thoughts, as you said was a problem, so the video doesn't end up being way too long.
 
I'd recommend focusing more on your experience. Touch on the objective stuff too, but those don't always showcase the game in the right light. There are plenty of games that would be rated low in many objective standpoints and yet for some reason still plays fun and is addictive.

Find your own pattern, have fun, don't be afraid of being yourself - have it scripted, but no need to try and be a tv news host with a fake voice and horrible forced acting xD

Anyways - good luck man :)
 
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