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When one takes on the task of writing a review for a video game, they will most likely follow a general format depending on the game genre being reviewed. //Through the use of// specific examples in the game, descriptive adjectives describing elements of the game, and a number based scoring system, the reader receives an overall summary of whether the game is amazing, passable, or completely terrible. While searching for a video game review that embodied all that is a stereotypical game review, I came upon a review for the most recent Halo game, “Halo: Reach”. The review was found at IGN.com and is three pages in length. This review was particularly long, yet when a review is being written for a game, the popularity of the game and anticipation for its release plays a major role in how lengthy the review is. “Halo: Reach” is one of the most anticipated games of 2010, and so the three-page review of the game is very normal for a game of its stature. When an editor sits down to begin writing their review on any particular game, he/she almost always begins with some kind of summary of the game; whether it be a summary of the history of the game, the development team, or any other aspect of the game. In the specific article I looked at, the review summarized the history of the Halo franchise and gave informative background information regarding the game that readers may or may not have know. Yet this background information ties into the article, and the review then ties this information full circle back to the game being reviewed. This is a tactic that the editor uses to break the ice with the reader and intrigue them at the same time with facts about the game so that the reader wants to continue to read more of the review.

After the background of the review has been set, it moves on to the actual discussion of the game. It starts with either a negative tone or a positive tone and this tone sets the feel of the review from then on. If the game is going to get a good rating, the review will sound enthusiastic. If the game didn’t quiet live up to the expectations of the editor, then the beginning tone will be negative of derogatory. //The following is an example of// the opening statement in the review of the game Halo: Reach, “Now, though the Halo formula is intact and there are plenty of wink-and-a-nod references to past games, Reach is a big step forward” (IGN.com). The positive tone that is portrayed by saying that the game is a “big step forward” implies that the game is good and that the review will be optimistic. If the editor were to instead write something very negative such as saying the game was lacking in many areas and didn’t live up to the hype, then the reader would know that the game isn’t very good and that the following review will be negative and address many of the cons of playing the game. This is a very important tool for writing video game reviews, because it sets the tone for the rest of the review.

After the introduction, the review moves on to judge the major four things that can make or break a video game. It talks about the graphics, sound, gameplay, and lasting impression. These four things can usually provide a complete review of any video game and will tell the reader if the game will be good or bad and if they may or may not enjoy playing the game. These four genres of the game are also very important because everyone who plays video games cares about certain elements in a game more than others. When the review breaks down the game into these four major genres and then goes into detail about each one; it gives each reader details about a specific part of the game that is important to them. If the graphics are the most important aspect to a “gamer,” then they can judge the game based off of the review whether the graphics are up to par or not and if the game will be a good fit for them. At the same time, if the gameplay is the most important aspect to another player, then the detail that the review discusses regarding the gameplay will help the reader choose whether they want to purchase the game or not. These four aspects of a game are not explicitly written about in each review however, it simply addresses them throughout, adding negative or positive comments depending on the game.

When these four aspects of the game have been explained and reviewed in detail, the review then adds any other information it believes the reader will want to know regarding the game, whether it be positive or negative. For example, in the review of “Halo: Reach” the author was done with his review of the four major point, yet he went on to describe what the multiplayer experience was like and how it shaped the overall game as a whole. The review also included information on the developer of the game and put in a good word for them and how well they did with creating such a “masterpiece” of a game. This is an area of the review that becomes the most personal and it will usually use sly word choice and possibly tongue in cheek humor to lighten the ending mood of the review. These closing comments have a surprising effect on the reader being that they are the last things the reader will remember. If the tone from the beginning of the review is still present in the closing comments, that feeling will stick with the reader as they ponder whether or not to buy the game or wait for it to go on sale at a later time.

//While many may believe// that writing a video game review is simple and requires no thought on the topic//, that belief is entirely untrue//. The editor must review all aspects of the game and then culminate all of their findings, finally coming to a conclusion on how to rate the final product. Through the process of: creating a background on the game, writing an introduction, delving into the "big four" points regarding the game, and wrapping up the review with any last minute thoughts; one can write a complete review of any video game.

Link to IGN Review:

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/111/1117228p1.html