Crispy Gamer's Scott Jones didn't really like Fallout 3.
I tried very hard to convince myself that I was having fun, that I was intrigued, that I was moved in some profound way.
I wasn't.
So how did he rate it?
Weak fool that I am, I voted for Fallout 3 as GotY [Game of the Year], wondering as I did so whether or not I'd be able to look myself in the mirror the next morning.
Make no mistake: Fallout 3 is a remarkable game. Yet the question is, do I crown it with laurels and start up the "Chariots of Fire" theme simply because I admire it? Or, do I vote for what might be perceived as a less ambitious game; a game that, regardless of its limitations, sucked me in, and held my attention for weeks on end, at the risk of tarnishing my reputation?
The latter, you spineless hack. That's what criticism is. Everyone knows Fallout is a revered series and everyone knows that Bethesda is one of the most acclaimed studios. Your job as a critic is to cut through the marketing morass and tell readers whether or not the game is fun. That's it.
For your reference, here's a blurb from Crispy Gamer's "About Us" page:
Crispy Gamer is a web site dedicated to the serious videogamer who wants news, reviews and information that is unaffected by game publisher advertising and fan boy reporting. Our Game Trust is the largest collection of independent writers in the industry, dedicated to bringing you their unadulterated views on the games they play and the business they cover.
Lulz upon lulz.
I suppose Scott wants a pat on the back for being so honest. Not from me. All this article does is illustrate a bankrupt rationale for his reviewing philosophy, one that he seems just as likely to draw from in the future. There isn't even an apology here! The navel gazing article is just as worthless as his original rating.
That this guy has a full time, senior writing position in games journalism is a testament to how fundamentally broken the press is. These bloggers are supposed to be the outsiders. If we can't expect an ounce of journalistic integrity from the little guys, who aren't beholden to special interests, why are we surprised when the major players drop the ball?
Related Links:
Whose Side are You On?
1UP and the State of Games Journalism
People Who Get It: Alex Kierkegaard