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[#1]

Last week I picked up a new game that I had heard some pretty good things about. I didn’t know much about the title except for its genre and basic plot, but it looked interesting. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until I had invested 2+ hours of my time into it that I realized the game just wouldn't be able to keep my interest. This wasn’t just the standard, run-of-the-mill ambivalence I feel towards most video games though - it was bordering on genuine disdain. Sure, it had a unique look and the latest graphics…but it played exactly like five other games I already owned. Had I been forewarned, I would not have made the purchase.

Most gamers have probably found themselves in a similar situation at one point or another, discovering that their latest investment relies heavily upon the same tired mechanics as older titles in their library. But how can you avoid that kind of disappointment? How do you avoid the feeling that you’ve thrown money at your game console (or computer), only to receive a mediocre experience in return? Most major retailers do not accept returns of opened software unless it is defective, so how do you ensure that you’re getting your money’s worth when you purchase a new game?

Renting games before you buy them is certainly one solution, but renting can prove to be quite difficult if the place you turn to simply doesn’t carry the game you’re looking for or if you have to wait for someone else to return it first. Playing a demo can also help, but demos aren’t always available for every game. Additionally, they can differ significantly from the full release if they’re simply tech demos or early beta versions.

What’s left then? Written and word of mouth reviews. Most entertainment industry magazines and newspapers have them. Some websites even serve as shrines to the professional critic and their work. Regardless of where they are found though they provide gamers a way to learn about what works - and what doesn’t work - in a fairly wide variety of titles. Readers can also expect a sense of consistency in written reviews, as they are often created by the same authors time after time.

There is, however, a danger in relying upon only one or two sources for all critical reviews: you rarely hear multiple sides of the same story. On top of that, reviews may be swayed by personal preferences, partial or outdated information, and sometimes even ulterior motives (such as the reviewer being affiliated with the game’s publisher). Editorial comments aren’t just limited to the frequent use of the words “good,” “bad,” or their variants – they can often be seen in how entire genres and games by a specific studio are “scored.” To avoid this pitfall then it’s always recommended to read as many reviews as possible before making any kind of purchase.

Personally, I’ve always felt that simply reading professional reviews is not always enough. Read customer reviews. Read the comments those reviews generate. Visit forums where games are discussed by the people play them. Ask your friends. Ask store associates what they know about specific games. Hey, why not watch a review online? The more research you do before walking out of a store fists full of goodies, the more likely you are to avoid unnecessary disappointment.