Persuasive Reviews

[Ginkasa]

Video game reviews seem to be in a strange state of being these days. It seems that hardly anyone ever seems to use them for their original purpose: helping them to decide on whether to buy a game or not. Nowadays, most people know way beforehand whether they're going to buy a game or not, and only read the reviews to re-enforce their own opinions.

However, occasionally a reader will start browsing around IGN or GameSpot or some other gaming website and stumble onto a review of a lesser known title. This review will praise the game and advise that the anyone who enjoys games must play the game. The reader, having read such a glowing review, will then proceed to buy the game.

Has this ever happened to you? Basically, have you ever actually been persuaded to buy a game you had never heard of or weren't interested in by a review of that game? If so, what game?

I bought Chessmaster for the XBox a week or so ago. IGN had posted a review and praised it far more than one would expect a chess game to be praised. I've always had a fair interest in chess, but never really learned how to play it. I knew how to move the pieces and such, but not how to maneuver them. Get my meaning? The reviewer of the game raved about how Chessmaster has these great tutorials that teach everything from the basics to master stragtegies in ways that even chess newbies can understand. The reviewer noted that he felt he became a much more competent chess player. Then he went on about the tournaments and games and stuff.

Basically, he liked it so much that I went and bought it. I really haven't sat down and played it, yet. I went through a couple of tutorials and thought they were interesting. Anyway, any similar experiences?


*shrugs and walks away*