Namco probably told publications that if you're going to give the game above a certain score, you can post your review early. Happens all the time.

Well, they did do this article after all...

I'm sure IGN just cut a deal with Namco for exclusive early coverage. Having the first review and their 24 live marathon gave IGN a lot of traffic. It's not like anyone is clamoring for Rage coverage; that game seems like it's going to bomb.

IGN gave Demon's Souls 9.4. What happened to the 0.4? rageface.jpg

Please can we stop making threads about IGN reviews. They're often poor quality and it would probably just be better to have a general review thread instead.

Whats the overlap of people who play Dark Souls and people who take IGN reviews seriously?

@BeachThunder said:

Please can we stop making threads about IGN reviews. They're often poor quality and it would probably just be better to have a general review thread instead.

Exactly.

Also, there already IS a review thread. Why the fuck are people still opening threads for IGN reviews? Is IGN paying or what? Sigh...

They do have an exclusive on this. The image for the video review says "Exclusive review" on it. I don't agree with the way sites and publishers do this, but the publishers want coverage on a large site and IGN wants the hits, so what can you do

I don't come to Giant Bomb to read about shitty IGN articles, please don't post them here (or if you do don't commit an entirely new thread for each one of them).

Whats the overlap of people who play Dark Souls and people who take IGN reviews seriously?

@jkuc316 said:

Well, they did do this article after all...

This whole ordeal has a lot of money-grubbing-stank to it. Positive articles / coverage in favour for early review embargo? Ugh.

ign may have some of the worst written articles but their reviews are generally accurate.

I don't come to Giant Bomb to read about shitty IGN articles, please don't post them here (or if you do don't commit an entirely new thread for each one of them).

@BeachThunder said:

Please can we stop making threads about IGN reviews. They're often poor quality and it would probably just be better to have a general review thread instead.

Exactly.

Also, there al ready IS a review thread. Why the fuck are people still opening threads for IGN reviews? Is IGN paying or what? Sigh...

Comparing Dark Souls to Skyrim is like comparing FIFA to Uncharted.

They're nowhere near alike.

Both will be good in their own right. However, I have to say that Skyrim will always be favoured above it, as most 'gamers' are after entertainment these days rather than opting for thumb blistering difficulty.

The IGN review appears to be rushed. They just wanted to be the first one set a score.

Both stream and review are ridden with misinformation and general lack of competence.

The review was well written and backed up the score just fine. People need to get over "BIG SITE MEANS BAD! BAAAAAD!"

@Grissefar: Clogging up the "site activity" section of the front page is what annoys me.

@tonnous24 said:

The review was well written and backed up the score just fine. People need to get over "BIG SITE MEANS BAD! BAAAAAD!"

big site doesn't mean bad, but IGN means bad; they really are quite terrible.

Whats the overlap of people who play Dark Souls and people who take IGN reviews seriously?

I don't know jack about Dark Souls, but how hard are we talking about here? Are we talking Super Meat Boy/Ninja Gaiden hard?

Or are we talking, just don't play stupidly, take your time and you'll be alright?

I don't know jack about Dark Souls, but how hard are we talking about here? Are we talking Super Meat Boy/Ninja Gaiden hard?

Or are we talking, just don't play stupidly, take your time and you'll be alright?

After the stupid headline grab driven article their new "editor in chief" put up, I don´t think an early review comes as a surprise. Dudes are getting paid by the publishers. Otherwise this shit wouldn´t fly.

That does not mean that Dark Souls is a bad game, not at all. Just IGN´s way of doing this whole "professional journalism" thing- they´re doing it wrong.

Not necessary that big of a problem, but the stream made it clear the reviewer only got through about 60% of the game (their own words).

So, did anyone notice in the video review, toward the end, that there was a sort of skull where the humanity counter is? It is kinda brief and only comes up a couple of times. What's up with that?

Did people actually read the review? I thought it was pretty good and fairly informative, since I learned about some mechanics I didn't know about, etc. Though it's IGN so everyone immediately disregards them.

The review was well written and backed up the score just fine. People need to get over "BIG SITE MEANS BAD! BAAAAAD!"

I read the review. I laughed. If it's anything like they said and the review accuratly reflects the game, there is going to be a tsunami of epic NERD proportions engulf this site. NOTHING else will be worthy. I've already seen the tide creep up, it's going to over shadow everything. (not to memtion I might try it also at some point)...BTW, a giant site might have it's reputation, but these days with the attitudes displayed I feel I have to ask if it's not half hipster angst. (hate that term)

I don't care what site it is..... A obviously great game got a great score, so I'm hoping sales will reflect that. I want From Software to be successful and keep these types of games in my hands.

Seems fine to me.

Some people need to get over themselves and read the review, it's actually well written and informative. Not everything that IGN does is inherently bad.

@jkuc316 said:

Well, they did do this article after all...

Tha fuck? I haven't seen this till now. This is kinda gross.

IGN is owned by News Corp(Rupert Murdock, Fox News), which likely reflects the websites appearance and MO.

I wonder if people ever realized that

With that said, I like the Beyond team...

The review seemed fine, go outside and kick a fucking ball around or something..

jesus..

@Anwar said:

@TheInsider: I don't think Rupert Murdoch gives a rat's ass about IGN and what they do as long as they make money.

Yea, that's my point

Exclusive reviews aren't worth the bandwidth they're printed on.

@Floppypants said:

I'm sure IGN just cut a deal with Namco for exclusive early coverage. Having the first review and their 24 live marathon gave IGN a lot of traffic. It's not like anyone is clamoring for Rage coverage; that game seems like it's going to bomb.

What makes you think that? I was dismissive of RAGE at first, but after seeing/reading coverage of it's e3 demo, it's hard for me to imagine it not being good.

I watched a good chunk of the live stream, and the main people who played it, including Keza MacDonald who wrote the review, knew what they were doing. The review is fine. If they got an early review, who cares? It was a great score.

There is no Embargo. There are 3 reviews out already.

IGN - 9

, GamesTM - 9

Xbox 360 magazine.- 5/5

There is no Embargo. There are 3 reviews out already.

IGN - 9

, GamesTM - 9

Xbox 360 magazine.- 5/5

@Anwar said:

@TheInsider:

So it would be better if he would tell them what to do? Every company tries to make money, which is nothing special. I'm a lil bit confused and don't get what you are trying to say.

I'm the one who doesn't get what you're trying to say. >.>

When News Corp bought IGN a few years back, they started letting go of the long time popular editors and turned it into the Babeology/Askmen/Pornstars in Podcasts/Fox News style attention grabbing Headlines you see today. "Why Dark Souls will Devour Skyrim's Face"?

That's all I'm tryin to say. I still enjoy Podcast Beyond with all it's sillyness.

@JerichoBlyth said:

Comparing Dark Souls to Skyrim is like comparing FIFA to Uncharted.

They're nowhere near alike.

Both will be good in their own right. However, I have to say that Skyrim will always be favoured above it, as most 'gamers' are after entertainment these days rather than opting for thumb blistering difficulty.

I said it a 1000 times before and it seems I have to say it again. Demon's Souls is NOT blistering difficult. It's just has very strict rules. Most gamers think it's very difficult because the media made it seem that way. I will admit that it has a very steep learning curve but one you know what you are doing, which doesn't take that long to learn, you realize just how wrong that whole "unbelievably difficult" reputation this game got. The only reason it got it is because developers today keep making games easier because this ADHD generation of gamers can't play anything that challenges them.

I love the rpg's Bethesda make, save for Fallout 3, but I'll take Demon's Souls/Dark Souls any time of the day.

@IGN Reviewer said:

There's no way to repair weapons and armor once they've been completely destroyed, so it's possible to lose all your best gear in this battle.

Good job IGN.

i dont know what the hate is about if you dont like ign then fine but there are far worst sites you can go. i did not see anything weird about the review and in fact its a well written one at that. 9 seems to be a respectable rating and i dont even know if giantbomb will even review it unless matt rorie steps up and does a review

@huntad said:

@jkuc316 said:

Well, they did do this article after all...

Tha fuck? I haven't seen this till now. This is kinda gross.

Right? Are these supposed to be the professional voices to advise consumers? If I was on the Elder Scrolls team I'd be like fuck. that.

SHUT UP AND TAKE ALL OF MY SOULS!!!

I think the weird thing about the review at IGN was that it for practical purpose, described an exercise in sadomasochism. Mostly the self infliction of pain and frustration by playing this game, and the whipping tranny part being fullfilled by the game itself. Interestingly, only very occasionally by another player as a black phantom. It sounded a little past the pale, like if you considered the obstacle course for becoming a navy seal 'fun'. You would most certainly achieve something life important, but fun has nothing to do with it. In other words, Dark souls comes off as a sophisticated and intricate well-conceived and designed video game, but what the fuck were the state of the minds of the devs... Rubber hang suits and ball gags? But that's what the review kind of sounded like, while I rather liked the QL...

@CaLe said:

@TheInsider said:

@Anwar said:

@TheInsider:

So it would be better if he would tell them what to do? Every company tries to make money, which is nothing special. I'm a lil bit confused and don't get what you are trying to say.

I'm the one who doesn't get what your trying to say. >.>

When News Corp bought IGN a few years back, they started letting go of the long time popular editors and turned it into the Babeology/Askmen/Pornstars in Podcasts/Fox News style attention grabbing Headlines you see today. "Why Dark Souls will Devour Skyrim's Face"?

That's all I'm tryin to say. I still enjoy Podcast Beyond with all it's sillyness.

Yeah they still have some cool people working for them. Ryan Clements is so nice that it actually annoys me sometimes. It is possible to be too nice, he has proven.

People are dropping like flies from that place though. In just a few short years Goldstein, Bozon, Roeper, Gies, Reilly, Bromley, Scott, etc. have all left. Especially just this year alone. And the ones that leave are the cool dudes. And yet Greg Miller and Damon Hatfield still remain. Now we have Casey Lynch who is a complete tool running the show. They feel like such a frat boy site and you can really hear it on the podcasts.