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[Mushroomer25]

I'm guessing this is just the result of Bethesda not sending out review copies.
Seriously. Online journalism is all about first-to-publish. If you want to get any ad revenue, your impression of the latest & greatest needs to be up before anyone else. When an embargo is in place, there's time create something great - knowing you won't be scooped. But if there's no advance copies? It's a race to the subscription feed, and quality is going to suffer.

Gonna guess somebody was rushing through this, focusing on commentary.

 

[nekkid]

The entire video is terrible. It's like they didn't know you could move, shoot, and move the camera at the same time. Everything is so disjointed.

The player isn't much better at the 25 minute mark. Whoever is playing rarely uses the left and right analog sticks at the same time.

And hey, it's fine for someone to play like that. Everyone had to get used to a controller, but it's just silly and weird to put this out as a first impression video.

Yeah ok, that's fair enough. Carry on...

 

[Frostburn]

Don't be mad that the reviewer is letting their cat play the game while they type up the review at the same time, that is just good time management.

 

[Puruzi]

I don't see why this player would be unable to give his impressions on the graphics, performance, story, sound ect.... I don't see why his entire experience should be discounted because like the food critic he's still tasting and eating it.

Everything except the gameplay huh?

Unbelievable.

 

[Chinese Cartoons]

As a disabled "gamer" myself I would like to thank polygon for not discriminating in their employment.

 

[Mega]

Wow... that's like a Top 10 GIF of all Time contender.

 

[gunslikewhoa]

What is it about the idea of a casual review for casual gamers that offends you so much? It's not like you would be forced to read it.

Literally no one has said this. Now show me a gaming publication with a review that they have labeled as, 'casual review for casual gamers.' That label doesn't exist. Therefore, a reasonable competency is expected.

 

[Plywood]

let's talk more about burritos

Could Jesus microwave a burrito so hot he himself couldn't eat it?

 

[Gormless Noodle]

Could Jesus microwave a burrito so hot he himself couldn't eat it?

And could he do it whilst being nailed to the cross?





Too much? Too much.

 

[davepoobond]

a professional reviewer should be competent in the field they are working. everybody on the planet can have an opinion on something, but professional reviewers are good because they have an INFORMED opinion on something.

if someone is being paid to write about books/movies/art/food then they aren't going to be a random nobody with zero experience unless it's a case of nepotism and they just got the job cos they know someone.

i mean i guess these reviewers could pay someone more qualified to play the game for them and then write the review on that experience but that wouldn't be useful at all for conveying the experience of actually playing the game.

those standards arent even held to politicans. the only requirement for writing about games is if you can make coherent sentences, and that's how it should be.

whether or not you value those opinions is your deal.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

I don't see why this player would be unable to give his impressions on the graphics, performance, story, sound ect.... I don't see why his entire experience should be discounted because like the food critic he's still tasting and eating it.

He didnt give impressions on anything first off. It's a half hour of silence. All it is is bad gameplay.

I've already addressed your second point. Someone with little to no knowledge is a pointless person to provide a critical analysis of something. Or to even showcase it. Its a waste of time, money, and manpower that could be better used by having someone competent make the content. A veteran of something will always have the experience of what it was like to be a newcomer of something and them going back to that and contexualizing it is always going to be more useful than the impressions of someone who has little to no idea what they're doing.

If they want to make a video showcasing how to play a FPS to newcomers of the series (And I think it's pretty clear that this was not the intent of this video) it would have been far more useful to have someone educated on the subject come in and dumb the mechanics down in a way that a newcomer would understand.

Asking for someone with little to no experience to showcase a product is damn near pointless. Imagine if you were taking a trip to New York. If you had the option who would you ask for advice about what to do while you're there? A native who has lived there their whole life, or a tourist who spent a week there? Why would you ever pick the tourist? What information could that person possibly give you that the native couldn't?

 

[zoukka]

So there needs to be a skill threshold for reviews?

Yes. Most definitely yes.

 

[ebullientprism]

I haven't watched the video, but is the skill displayed in the gif persistent through the entire thing? Because honestly, my aiming can be quite a way off when I'm settling into a new game. It's probably quite easy to pick out moments that make anyone look like that.

It is.

The person playing is pretty poor at it at best. Straight up unfamiliar to FPS on consoles at worst.

It would be hilarious if they are actually reviewing it. Considering its Polygon, I wouldnt be surprised.

What is it about the idea of a casual review for casual gamers that offends you so much? It's not like you would be forced to read it.

Because

A) Nowhere is it ever mentioned in a review that the game was reviewed by a person completely incompetent (or casual) at it. So anyone basing their purchase decision on that would be absolutely misled.
B) There is nothing stopping a competent person to cater to the casual side by simple extrapolation. However if you are this bad at it then you can never cater to anyone who isnt this bad because you just dont have the gameplay knowledge to provide them with any meaningful information.

 

[jello44]

Could Jesus microwave a burrito so hot he himself couldn't eat it?

As mellon-scratchers go, that's a Honeydoodle.

 

[Blueboys1306]

That was so frustrating to watch. He's low on health, so pick up some armour or health, right? Nope. Just run around it! Need some shotgun amo as you're almost out? Pick up the red things on the floor that replenish your amo levels... Not interested in that? Ok cool, flick to the pistol and kill those hard enemies spawning all around you! And the jerky movements with the controller. Honestly feels like how my kids would play as their hands aren't big enough to use both analog sticks at once. Awful.

 

[Fantastapotamus]

That gif is hurting my eyes so much.

 

[pizzacat]

Did any of you guys "cringe" while watching lol

 

[psylah]

My theory:

"Hey dad! Remember that Doom game you used to play on your old PC? They made a new one!"
"I'd like to try that, son! What the hell is this?"
"It's a controller, dad! No one plays with keyboards anymore. By the way, I'm recording this."

 

[mikefrails]

When buying a new car, I'd prefer my test driver also have poor driving skills like myself.

 

[Rhanitan]

Literally no one has said this. Now show me a gaming publication with a review that they have labeled as, 'casual review for casual gamers.' That label doesn't exist. Therefore, a reasonable competency is expected.

I am talking about the IDEA of casual reviews. I was saying there is room for those to exist . The person I was responding too seemed upset at the idea of designated casual reviews existing.

 

[Freshmaker]

A blind man can not review paintings.
A deaf man can not review music.
An illiterate person can not review the written word.

This isn't a debate nor is it an argument, this is just the way it works. With a lack of understanding of the fundamentals of modern video games this reviewer lacks the necessary tools to evaluate the medium. There is no way to establish the quality or craftsmanship of the video game title presented due to the reviewer's apparent inability to evaluate the experience on any level.

A person who can't play video games can not review games.

Sure they can. Just look at this strangely recent Soulcalibur V review.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irQbqwxPXL8

Commentary on story mode, creation mode, arcade mode needing a story mode, and 5 seconds on game play.

Perfect review.

 

[J-Rzez]

So there needs to be a skill threshold for reviews?

When it's someone's job, I'd imagine they should have the skill to accomplish their task at hand. Keep in mind somebody doesn't have to be pro, but at least average, perhaps just below average skill should be required. This player in the video is playing like it's a poorly programmed macro/bot.

 

[GavinUK86]

Never change Polygon

 

[jwhit28]

I think this irks me just a little bit more because it's Doom. Watching people that can't handle strafing and distance in an iD shooter is like watching someone play Super Mario Bros without the run button. There has to have been someone more capable of playing a game in a cornerstone franchise working for the gaming publication right? That's what shooters full of shoulder high cover do to people.

I should start a YouTube series where Prius drivers review exotic sports cars.

 

[NavyPharaoh]

This is amazing

 

[red731]

I thought that gif in the OP was cherry picked but skipping around it's actually 30 mins of that. I really hope that isn't the reviewer playing.

Was going to post theexact same gif as my reaction to that video like wtf player dude.

 

[NinjamicWZ]

those standards arent even held to politicans

Yeah and that works out great.

 

[VibratingDonkey]

So a person plays a game badly for a video.
Why all the hoopla? I'd get it if this was the person reviewing the game for the platform, or otherwise attempting some authoritative criticism. But that's apparently not a thing.

There are already a bunch and will be plenty more videos of competent players. Don't see the harm in one video showing the experience of an incompetent one. You could question the usefulness of such a video for the intended audience, but unless this is a common theme with Polygon, ultimately it really doesn't seem like something worth getting bothered enough about to start making car analogies.

Car analogies are like Hitler.

 

[pastrami]

What is it about the idea of a casual review for casual gamers that offends you so much? It's not like you would be forced to read it.

This is a professional outlet. I expect a little professionalism. Imagine Car and Driver Magazine letting someone who has never driven before write a review for the latest car. It would be a farce, and diminish the credibility of Car and Driver Magazine. Now I'm not expecting reviewers to be professional racers, but they should have the skills required to adequately review the product at hand.

So at the very least, I would expect someone reviewing an FPS on a console for a professional site to have mastered the basics of dualstick controls, and be capable of moving and shooting at the same time.

 

[BennyBlanco]

This is a professional outlet. I expect a little professionalism. Imagine Car and Driver Magazine letting someone who has never driven before write a review for the latest car. It would be a farce, and diminish the credibility of Car and Driver Magazine. Now I'm not expecting reviewers to be professional racers, but they should have the skills required to adequately review the product at hand.

So at the very least, I would expect someone reviewing an FPS on a console to have mastered the basics of dualstick controls, and be capable of moving and shooting at the same time.

Well said, but they provided zero context for this footage. If it's actually the reviewer playing, holy shit. If it's not the reviewer, still not a good look but it's just some footage they threw on youtube to get some views while people still care.

 

[funking giblet]

Wow... that's like a Top 10 GIF of all Time contender.

Damn right! Amazing job!

 

[Adam_Vania]

those standards arent even held to politicans. the only requirement for writing about games is if you can make coherent sentences, and that's how it should be.

whether or not you value those opinions is your deal.

"make coherent sentences" is a pretty low bar. but hey if you want to value all opinions that pass that threshold knock yourself out.

also it is a standard not even held to politicians lol.

 

[ObiDin]

Wait, maybe we are looking at this wrong. What if the player actually thought left handed circle strafing was a way to kill enemies in the game? This game obviously released too soon and needed more focus testing!

 

[Freshmaker]

This is a professional outlet. I expect a little professionalism. Imagine Car and Driver Magazine letting someone who has never driven before write a review for the latest car. It would be a farce, and diminish the credibility of Car and Driver Magazine. Now I'm not expecting reviewers to be professional racers, but they should have the skills required to adequately review the product at hand.

So at the very least, I would expect someone reviewing an FPS on a console for a professional site to have mastered the basics of dualstick controls, and be capable of moving and shooting at the same time.

I for one would like Justin Wong to review more cars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF7pXp3lPF8

 

[DSN2K]

This is a professional outlet. I expect a little professionalism. Imagine Car and Driver Magazine letting someone who has never driven before write a review for the latest car. It would be a farce, and diminish the credibility of Car and Driver Magazine. Now I'm not expecting reviewers to be professional racers, but they should have the skills required to adequately review the product at hand.

So at the very least, I would expect someone reviewing an FPS on a console for a professional site to have mastered the basics of dualstick controls, and be capable of moving and shooting at the same time.

this is spot on frankly.

 

[pastrami]

Well said, but they provided zero context for this footage. If it's actually the reviewer playing, holy shit. If it's not the reviewer, still not a good look but it's just some footage they threw on youtube to get some views while people still care.

Fair point, and I didn't mean to criticize Polygon for the video. Only to point out why people should expect a professional reviewer to have some degree of skill.

 

[monadi]

Fire him/her

 

[Dimmle]

Fire him/her

okay, but this is crazy, right?

 

[Falchion]

Wow, that was terrible. That's, 'I've never played an FPS in my life' bad.

 

[Lil'DigiOp]

I saw the video and knew this would blow the fuck up soon as it hit GAF.

Not much to say that already has been said..

Doom looks fantastic btw... Really wanna play it.

 

[HueyFreeman]

This gif is stuff of legend. My god.

 

[Valkyr1983]

So wait, the footage in question that everyone is losing their shit over isn't even from a formal review?

Wow

 

[RefigeKru]

This is a professional outlet. I expect a little professionalism. Imagine Car and Driver Magazine letting someone who has never driven before write a review for the latest car. It would be a farce, and diminish the credibility of Car and Driver Magazine. Now I'm not expecting reviewers to be professional racers, but they should have the skills required to adequately review the product at hand.

So at the very least, I would expect someone reviewing an FPS on a console for a professional site to have mastered the basics of dualstick controls, and be capable of moving and shooting at the same time.

This is it.

That footage should have never been uploaded.

 

[samn]

The insane reaction I'm seeing to this out of context footage is incredibly disappointing.

I know for a fact you could take some of my gameplay (of any game) and post it as a gif and make me look like an idiot. Occasionally I'm moving around in TF2 with one hand so I can drink with the other. Doesn't make me a bad player just because I'm not 100% focused at all times.

 

[Rhanitan]

This is a professional outlet. I expect a little professionalism. Imagine Car and Driver Magazine letting someone who has never driven before write a review for the latest car. It would be a farce, and diminish the credibility of Car and Driver Magazine. Now I'm not expecting reviewers to be professional racers, but they should have the skills required to adequately review the product at hand.

So at the very least, I would expect someone reviewing an FPS on a console for a professional site to have mastered the basics of dualstick controls, and be capable of moving and shooting at the same time.

That isn't a good analogy at all. Everybody has to learn to drive before they are allowed to buy and drive a car. People do not have to learn how to play video games before they are allowed to buy and play them. There is an audience of people who would benefit from knowing if a game is fun even if it's your first time playing that sort of game. Not the case with cars.

I don't think they lose any professionalism as long as they label their reviews to show what kind of experience with the genre the reviewer had going into the review.

 

[petethepanda]

Yeah, it's a weird video. I still can't imagine why the hell anyone gives a shit, though, besides the usual urge to shit on Polygon at the drop of a hat.

 

[NoPiece]

My theory:

"Hey dad! Remember that Doom game you used to play on your old PC? They made a new one!"
"I'd like to try that, son! What the hell is this?"
"It's a controller, dad! No one plays with keyboards anymore. By the way, I'm recording this."

Maybe they are outsourcing video production to random people on Taskrabbit or Craigslist to save money. Pay $100 for a couple hours of video, then just add some VO and titles, then go for the YouTube ad revenue.

If that's not what they did, they might as well.

 

[StefanTheMongol]

So there needs to be a skill threshold for reviews?

A minimum perhaps.

I would say that Polygon would consider itself a video game site focusing on content for gamers. The person playing in the video is not a gamer, or at least anyone who has the "average" amount of skill for a gamer.

The video is embarrassing.

 

[TheAutomator]

I blame controllers. It can be pretty tough to aim when you're playing an FPS designed for KB/M in mind.

 

[monadi]

okay, but this is crazy, right?

The quality of video game journalism has been a joke for a while now ('is uncharted 4 more a walking simulator than action" from today) and its owes largely to the fact that they hire idiots.