To start, an explanation of the types of reviews I do here on The Heartless Gamer Girl:
—Game Review—
Reviews of full games only. These will be new games as well as old ones.
—Demo Review—
Game demos. These are only reviewed separately prior to a game's release, never after.
—Beta Review—
Some game betas are worth reviewing. There won't be very many of these reviews, but when I get in on a beta and there isn't an NDA (non-disclosure agreement), I'll review it here.
—DLC Review—
DLC that adds additional chapters/missions/quests, never cosmetic. Though a mention might be made in regard to DLC weapons for certain games. Some DLC reviews may appear on this blog before the game reviews, as some DLC reviews are just easier/quicker to write than the full game review.
—Movie Review—
Movies and shows based on video games or somehow associated with video games.
—Book Review—
Books based on games, or books that were the inspiration for games, maybe even books that just feature games/gaming as the main theme. Possibly strategy guides as well.
—Music Review—
Game soundtracks, music inspired by games, other things like that. (I really LOVE game soundtracks. I wants them all!!)
—Hardware Review—
Consoles, controllers, PC guts, tablets, and anything else that directly effects my gameplay experience.
Here is a breakdown of my ratings and the likelihood of me giving a game/demo/DLC that particular rating.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ - 10 hearts. Perfect.
This one is rare and reserved only for those games that I seriously love. Games I play over and over, ones that offer fun/interesting gameplay, a great story, and/or aren't so frustratingly hard as to be more work than play.
This one is rare and reserved only for those games that I seriously love. Games I play over and over, ones that offer fun/interesting gameplay, a great story, and/or aren't so frustratingly hard as to be more work than play.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ - 9 hearts. Excellent.
Close to a perfect game. Issues are only minor and easily ignored. Gameplay is challenging without being insanely difficult.
Close to a perfect game. Issues are only minor and easily ignored. Gameplay is challenging without being insanely difficult.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ - 8 hearts. Great.
A solid, enjoyable game. Has an issue or two, which can be overlooked in favor of all the other, better aspects of the game. Might be a great game, with a great story, but so frustratingly hard as to be major work just to beat it.
A solid, enjoyable game. Has an issue or two, which can be overlooked in favor of all the other, better aspects of the game. Might be a great game, with a great story, but so frustratingly hard as to be major work just to beat it.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ - 7 hearts. Very good.
Humorous, interesting story, and/or entertaining gameplay. Good enough to be considered better than average, but too many flaws to be considered great. Flaws present enough of a problem to detract a bit from the other enjoyable aspects of the game. Still, definitely replayable.
Humorous, interesting story, and/or entertaining gameplay. Good enough to be considered better than average, but too many flaws to be considered great. Flaws present enough of a problem to detract a bit from the other enjoyable aspects of the game. Still, definitely replayable.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ - 6 hearts. Good.
Better than average with some enjoyable moments, but the flaws are too numerous to fully ignore. A playable game, maybe even replayable, but also frustrating or lacking a compelling story.
Better than average with some enjoyable moments, but the flaws are too numerous to fully ignore. A playable game, maybe even replayable, but also frustrating or lacking a compelling story.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ - 5 hearts. Average.
Your typical, run-of-the-mill, ho-hum game, demo, or DLC. As a game, pretty lackluster, almost unplayable. As a demo, doesn't really sell the full game unless you're a diehard fan. As a DLC, adds little to the enjoyment of the base game. (This might end up the rating on demos or DLCs more often than games.)
Your typical, run-of-the-mill, ho-hum game, demo, or DLC. As a game, pretty lackluster, almost unplayable. As a demo, doesn't really sell the full game unless you're a diehard fan. As a DLC, adds little to the enjoyment of the base game. (This might end up the rating on demos or DLCs more often than games.)
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ - 4 hearts. OK.
Possibly one I didn't finish but still enjoyed what I did play. A replay would depend on the game's connection to other games I liked better. A replay would be highly unlikely, however. Could be a demo that lacks the oomph it needs to sell the full game, or a DLC that almost detracts from the base game.
Possibly one I didn't finish but still enjoyed what I did play. A replay would depend on the game's connection to other games I liked better. A replay would be highly unlikely, however. Could be a demo that lacks the oomph it needs to sell the full game, or a DLC that almost detracts from the base game.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ - 3 hearts. Not quite OK.
One I didn't finish, or finished but couldn't connect with for some reason. A demo that made no sense but had something to offer on its own, or a DLC that doesn't add to a game but isn't completely without merit.
One I didn't finish, or finished but couldn't connect with for some reason. A demo that made no sense but had something to offer on its own, or a DLC that doesn't add to a game but isn't completely without merit.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ - 2 hearts. Did not finish.
Kinda self-explanatory. I will always include the fact that I didn't finish the game, why I didn't finish it, and what I liked about it. This could also be a DLC that wasn't worth it, or a demo that does NOTHING for the game.
Kinda self-explanatory. I will always include the fact that I didn't finish the game, why I didn't finish it, and what I liked about it. This could also be a DLC that wasn't worth it, or a demo that does NOTHING for the game.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ - 1 heart. WTF?
I've come across a few indie games that deserved this rating. I doubt I'll bother reviewing anything on this blog that deserves this, however. It could occasionally be a DLC that was just filler, nothing more than a way to get more money out of diehard fans.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ - 0 hearts. DOA.
A game so lacking in forethought as to be completely devoid of story, depth, and/or gameplay. Possibly released too early. Possibly a bad idea from the very start. (I honestly can't see myself ever using this particular rating.)
I've come across a few indie games that deserved this rating. I doubt I'll bother reviewing anything on this blog that deserves this, however. It could occasionally be a DLC that was just filler, nothing more than a way to get more money out of diehard fans.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ - 0 hearts. DOA.
A game so lacking in forethought as to be completely devoid of story, depth, and/or gameplay. Possibly released too early. Possibly a bad idea from the very start. (I honestly can't see myself ever using this particular rating.)
