Review Philosophy ▼
I've long wanted to get granular over what constitutes a high and a low score in my mind and I've decided to write it out for my sixth Backloggiversy. Much like school grades, I assign a number and a letter, with the letters corresponding to the number of stars (5 stars = A, 4 stars = B, etc.) While I believe in gradients, something I do NOT use is half stars; I feel the stars themselves represent geometric levels of quality and you either earn all of one or not.
I judge games both on various subjective measures. Gameplay is the most important component and the quality of the narrative is typically second (if the game uses narrative); beginnings and especially endings also factor heavily. Originality, variety and aesthetic considerations are also judged, usually in that order.
I feel that reviews scores are, ultimately, reflections of opinions. There's no objective critique and I mean no offense to anyone with these scores – everyone is allowed their own opinion.
It's worth noting that 3 stars is not a "positive" score. While I don't see games in that category as flat out bad, they're mostly missable or inessential. They're so-so games that I would never recommend without caveats.
(Co-op) - Games where playing co-op feels like an essential part of the experience will be marked as such.
A++ = 100 - 95 (10): While this might seem like a generous range for the highest honor, I've played maybe 20 games in my life that I would grade this highly. While not "perfect", I feel these games are groundbreaking, refined and outstanding in multiple ways.
A+ = 94 - 91: Exceptional games that are a cut above everything else, lacking in a only a seminal quality that makes up the top grade.
A = 90 - 87 (9): I prefer the PCGamer grade system that awards Editor's Choice awards down to 87. Typically, these are solid games with a bit of that “je ne sais quoi” defining the subjective highest grade.
B++ = 86 (8): The Silver Award (S) is given to games that I think do most everything well, but lack a “spark” in the experience necessary for 5 stars or have a noticeable flaw holding it back from true excellence.
B+ = 85-83: Very well put together games on the whole, however they never stand out enough to really ever be considered for 5 stars, unlike B++ games.
B = 82-77: Solid and enjoyable games that are typically not very original or noticeably flawed to be considered truly top tier.
B- = 76-70 (7): Usually a good game with some niggling ongoing complaints.
C+ = 69-60 (6): Good games that I'm typically disappointed in some significant way. Be it a flaw in originality or variety, it's enough to bump it down to 3 stars.
C = 59-55 (5): Perfectly alright games, there's just not anything to really recommend them.
C- = 54-50: There's typically some alright ideas in the game, but that usually just makes it better than bad, not particularly good.
D+ = 49-40 (4): Nothing stands out about these games and they're typically too flawed for me to recommend under any circumstance.
D = 39-35 (3): Games that are dull, boring, repetitive and offer little fun but are not completely incompetent on the technical side usually come up here.
D- = 34-30: These games typically have one element holding them up for the abyss and are otherwise pretty bad.
E = 29 – 20 (2): The “Lead Medal” award – I was originality going to make this score range part of the “2 Star” category but thought better of it. While these games generally have some decent elements to them, I loathed my time with them.
E- = 19 – 10: Getting down to this level usually means obvious technical failings. The only nice thing that can usually be said is, “At least it's not Metal Mech.”
E-- = 09 – 00 (1): The Metal Mech score. Terrible looking, sounding, and playing - no fun at all.
(Updated 2019)
At first glance, this is a loot driven RPG like Diablo. A cursory play will reveal, however, that it is a mess of systems that have been layered over top the main game for years. The skill tree is terrifying to behold, and I can't fathom how anyone would make any progress without a guide. The mechanics are simple, designed around whatever you have choose to attack with and focusing on that almost exclusively. It's also an odd story, conveyed by text dumps. Just an odd game. C 
Ersatz's Status
Unfinished ?No significant accomplishments.
Beaten ?The main objective has been accomplished. Usually marked by the defeat of a final boss and/or viewing of credits.
Completed ?For games which are 100% done. All extras and modes have been unlocked and finished. All significant items have been collected.
Top-Rated 96 
Master Runs 8 
SNGP 49 - Steam Deck 
Dialogue Box 
you're right about being a US ally though
) money's worth out of it.
Hope you're enjoying Arkham Knight! Definite 9/10 game IMO.