Thread title. I thought the critical part was meant to be for video game reviewers. But as video game players, it seems like we're overly critical these days of things. Is it because negativity garners more attention on social media? What prompted this thread is when I came across a YT video called something like "how to fix KH3's combat." Like really, now Kingdom Heart's combat is considered "bad"? Cmon... this isn't even the first time I come across things like this. A similar attitude is held towards Bayonetta 2, which is looked down upon by a certain part of the fanbase for not being a technical enough game. While it's true Bayonetta 1 in comparison has several subtle superiorities, that doesn't take away the fun factor in the slightest from Bayo 2. It's still a really fun mechanically sound action game.
Tl:dr: I'm sick of coming across negativity regarding video games so frequently online. I wish the internet could be more positive regarding the medium we're supposed to enjoy.
I think there are a few factors.
On the lower end of the scale you have the fact that people like Zero Punctuation and Videogamedunkey criticize games in an entertaining and funny way. They are super popular even if their "critique" is absolute shite at times. You could maybe also include Jim Sterling and angry Joe in these to some extent. You don't really have a similar "positive" viewpoint. People would rather watch an Angry Video Game Nerd than "The Nintendo Enthusiasts Enthusiasm Hour".
I think this is borne out by the constant criticism of place like Nintendo Life for being too positive.
It's just cooler to be a critic it seems. Seriously not cool to be a fanboy.
The more serious problem I would say is the belief that all criticism is valid and that "it's just criticism" is a acceptable shield for people who are just talking rubbish. So maybe there is a game you like and you see some really dumbass opinion on the game. Well, it's just criticism so you need to stop being a fanboy shill and ignore it. Even decent criticism can still be subjective to some extent.
People think they have the nuclear bomb of criticism to drop on a game and then when the "fanboys" of that game fight back a little the critic usually goes away crying about "rabid fans" or whatever as if they thought that their criticism was untouchable and above criticism itself.
This usually just ends up with people who like things being branded as dumb idiots being swindled out of money by corporations and then begging for more.
I think it's just online culture in general. People seem to be a lot more mean spirited and negative in general. I can talk to people in work about movies and it's rare to ever hear real vitriol or hate directed towards a film. I think the range is mostly "it's awesome" to "meh it's OK". Probably because socially nobody really wants to deal with someone who aggressively dislikes everything.
I'd have a hard time taking someone seriously in the real world if they were legitimately pissed off about a 30 minute Nintendo Direct. Online though I kind of just see it as the norm. It's like a kind of socializing for anti-social people.
I remember watching AVGN review the NES Turtles game and thinking "wow I actually really loved that game as a kid".
I think adults do kind of move away from that basic joy of just playing and having a fun time.
Through all these various political lenses into the mix and it's just an excessively negative community.
