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This post relates to: Spore
Well, Spore's been out for a while, and with the exception of people complaining about DRM, there seems to be a huge divide, at least if Meta Critic is to be believed. Meta Critic has the game at 85% based on 45 reviews, but the game rates 4.7 with users. Now, we're going to be liberal and give the game a full extra point to excuse people ranting solely on the DRM without having played the game. So that's 85% with reviewers and 57% with users. Why the incredible gulf? Looking at Meta Critic, it seems that many reviewers are willing to excuse the overly simplified gameplay because the game's so darn creative. Which of course is a nice way of saying that they all worship Will Wright and don't dare give the game a poor rating.
Now I'm going to go back to something I discussed when Bioshock was still the big topic of the day, but I really hate the idea of trying to create celebrities. A lot of the reviews listed on the Meta Critic site are very open in their willingness to excuse bad gameplay.
Gametrailers – Score 88: Spore will leave you in a state of wide-eyed wonderment one minute, and disappointed the next. The limited online interaction and surprisingly short campaign make it easy to think about what could have been. The fact is, there’s no other game like it, and a lot of things that will be hated by some, will be just as liked by others.
IGN – Score 88: While Spore is an amazing product, it's just not quite an amazing game. I can't help but feel that Spore is ambitious and memorable, but I also admit that, save for the cool Space Stage, there's not a lot of depth here. Rookie gamers are going to feel at home here, but veteran gamers may feel like they need more.
1UP – Score 83 (B+): Strictly as a game, Spore's a flawed effort in five different genres, smushed together in a casual-player-friendly manner. But as a tangible representation of intelligent design, with an emphasis on creation and sharing, it falls perfectly in line with the rest of Will Wright's work. It's not a perfect game, but it's definitely one that any serious gamer should try.
Giant Bomb – Score 80 (****):Spore's most positive traits are so uniquely satisfying that it's disappointing the gameplay which underpins them isn't more engrossing.
I think you all get the picture. Many of the most respected outlets have made the game out to be an amazing experience despite the gameplay being watered down. Again, I can't help but wonder if this is exclusively because of everyone's fanatical love of Will Wright. I really hope it's not that, but I can't help but shake the feeling that all this praise and the open willingness to all but ignore the most important part of any game simply because it was helmed by the creator of The Sims. Indeed, it's an absolute shame that the only review that dares cross paths with His Holiness Will Wright is from a pathetic troll. That's a sad statement for the state of the gaming media, if you ask me.
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not here to worship at the heels of anyone. I'm here because I'm a gamer who enjoys playing games. I'm no gossip hound, and I firmly reject any attempt to make the gaming industry into another Hollywood, where the celebrities are more important than the works they are involved in. I can't play Will Wright, damn you. Well I could, but he's not exactly the hottest guy ever...
