When I first started reviewing games on this website, it was fun to stick a number to a game, and (as the old scale went) to try and figure out the math behind each point you put into a certain category. But as of late I've really found myself disliking using the scoring system. Putting a simple number to sum up how I feel about an entire game dumbs down the reviewing process (for me, anyway) to an incredible degree. Not only will I come into a review with preconceptions as to the number I'd slap on it because of reviews I've previously read, but also, the readers may just look at the scores, and then click on the recommended or unrecommended button without actually reading the review (though you all hopefully don't).

There are also some pretty fundamental flaws with the number or letter scoring system. As I said before, it dumbs down the review process, and is, in many situations, inconsistent. GameTrailers recently caught some flak because of their Uncharted 2 review. They said that while it was a great game that was more than the sum of its parts, every one of those individual parts had been done before, basically saying the game was completely unoriginal, yet turned around and gave it a AAA score (a 9.3 or so if I remember correctly). To myself, and to a lot of other people, it doesn't add up that one could say a game is totally unoriginal, but give it a AAA score. This is probably an example of a reviewer being influenced (even if sub-conciously) by another. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe IGN and PSM got exclusive early reviews and both gave the game AAA scores, and the reviewers at GameTrailers followed suit even though the score completely contradicts what they said.

Reviewers can also come in to review a game with preconceptions that can ultimately effect the score to a great degree. To give another very recent example, Brutal Legend has been getting AA-AAA scores, but a main complaint against the game is that it has uneven gameplay. You'd think a game consistently docked for having problems in its core essence (the gameplay) would get lower reviews than AA-AAA scores, but I think that almost every single reviewer went into that game knowing one thing. It was made by Tim Schafer. There's no denying that Tim Schafer is a great developer, and pretty much every title attributed to him has received high critical acclaim, and therefore I think most reviewers were so excited for a new Tim Schafer game that they didn't really stop to think of whether their score matched their statements about the game.

So after all that, the point of this blog is to state the inconsistencies in the number/letter grading system used for games. I should say, too, that those inconsistencies aren't necessarily the critics' faults, but rather arise from problems within the very foundations of the reviewing systems. A person should be able to say what they think about a game without having to put a score on it because it not only detracts from the points they make in their review, but, as in the instances I wrote about, problems can occur. I feel reviews now are simply one person passing judgement on a game, and readers can choose to simply agree or disagree. Reviews should be more of a discussion of sorts because one's opinions on a game can change from play session to play session. Readers should be able to comment on the reviewers comments, and the reviewers should be able to respond. Even beyond the intelligent, nerdy side of that kind of system, it's also more practical for those simply looking as to whether or not to buy a certain game as one could see not only the opinions of the "official reviewer" but all the other players in one place.

What I'm getting at from all this is that I want to use the system I mentioned above. I know my reviews don't have a wide audience, but I'd like to do it anyway. From here on out, I will post reviews only on my blog, and not use a scoring system of any kind besides what you can make from my words. Most importantly, though, I'd like for you all to comment on, discuss, and share your opinions on whatever games I review (which is possible through the blog post system). So anyway, I'll probably start this system with an Uncharted 2 review.