How serious do you take user reviews?

   Recenlty I've been reading a lot of user reviews, mostly for games that aren't reviewed on Giantbomb (pre-site games mostly). I can take some user reviews seriuosly (I am not bashing Duder's or any other user of any other website here), but for games like Final Fantasy XIII people might review the game at the point where their nostaglia gets in the way of the game's quality, something I am guilty for myself (Pokemon Heartgold is no longer perfect, but still really damn good). If it's not a user a 100% can trust (remember you can't beat 100%) I just take all the user reviews' and average them together then imagine that's what Ryan, Jeff or any other staff member would give the game. Yet I agree with users more frequenlty than some "official" magazines.

Not at all. 
 
Unless I have a photograph to prove they have the game, and a history of reviews so I can make some sense of perspective, then it is completely useless.

If it's well written, I take it just as seriously as I do any review on any website. Opinions are opinions, and they're valuable if I'm looking for different takes on a game. Any bias maintained by the reviewer can generally be assessed by reading carefully.
 
If it's poorly written, I'm usually quick to dismiss it.

Never actually, i do get into game on advice of people who I know share the same tastes as me though. Actually I don't even take "professional" reviews seriously except when they all give it an insanely low score.

Dudes don't get paid so I don't expect them to be any good, but the recommended reviews situated on the front page garner a visit from me from time to time.

I write and read a lot of them. So... seriously.... seriously.

Oh damn, that's serious.

"  
this serious "

" @Ryax said:

"  
this serious "

I want a floating kitty. "

I don't take reviews of any kind seriously. I use them to extrapolate the basic gameplay mechanics and features and disregard any and all outside opinion.
 
Because sadly people seem to think "Preview" = "Reworded Press Release". This is why I like GiantBomb and it's Quick Looks - it actually contains information instead of  the fluffy bullshit of other outlets.

" @Ryax said:

"  
this serious "

I want a floating kitty. "

" @oldschool said:

" @Ryax said:

" this  serious "

I want a floating kitty. "

only if your serious! "

" @Ryax said:

" @oldschool said:

" @Ryax said:

" this  serious "

I want a floating kitty. "

only if your serious! "

Man, believe, I am VERY serious. Do their legs drop down for landing like a plane, or are they legless. "

Lol, user reviews. Totally unprofessional, uncredible and non objective.

With a grain of salt, user reviews are infested with fanboys.

Never even read one.

This so serious!!  
 
  

it all depends on the review.  if its a "FFXIII SUX BEYOND BELIEF!!11!  THERE NO TOWNZ!11!" review, not even a little.  if its written well and articulate, then I pay attention, even if I personally don't agree with it.

" @oldschool said:

" @Ryax said:

"  
this serious "

I want a floating kitty. "

You can't be serious?... "

i dont really look at user reviews unless i'm really having a hard time deciding whether or not i should buy a game, then i look at as many reviews as possible for that game. that way i can see who of those people are most similar to my style of the kinds of games i like to play and whether or not those people like the game

good to know ive dominated this thread with my floating kitty picture

Not at all. The reason I read professional reviews is that I know beforehand what the reviewer's likes and dislikes are, and armed with that knowledge, I can glean from the review how it may fit with my own game preferences. With a user review, it's completely a shot in the dark. Also... most user reviews are poorly written, so I don't have time to sift through until I find something worth reading.

Something I've learned is NEVER use the word "serious" you can't get a serious answer from people on this site.

A lot.  Even the flamebait ones, everything holds a piece of truth...and it's easier to find it from user reviews and the fanboys who make pure flamebait reviews.

if they seem well written and if it sounds like they actually played the game, then pretty seriously. but only in conjunction with other reviews.

I used to not even look at them, but I'm starting to take them a little more seriously. I think it's more a reflection of the fact that I'm starting to distrust professional reviews more and more. Gaming journalism is pretty infested with bias and corporate influence. The reviews seem watered down and antiseptic anymore. But user reviews are usually horseshit, too. They're very reactionary and over-the-top, everything is either a 1 or a 10. I've just learned how to read between the lines. And I stay away from Metacritic. The user reviews on there are simply idiotic; for games and films. I guess I'm just sick of reviews period. I think gamers and moviegoers have become too dependent on them. I like going into a game cold more. I probably wouldn't put $60 down without some idea, but it's fine for a rental 

I NEVER use user reviews.

I read many user reviews. I can get an overview of a game and its mechanics from preview material that is readily available so I don't pay any attention to these descriptions. I look for key issues such as controls, stability, frame-rate, etc. Opinions about graphics and difficulty are relative so, unless the writer gives some reference of previous gaming experience, I ignore this. I will also ignore the review completely, whether it's a user or professional review, if I sense any jadedness or fanboyism.

I don't even acknowledge them. They're less than worthless.

" If it's well written, I take it just as seriously as I do any review on any website. Opinions are opinions, and they're valuable if I'm looking for different takes on a game. Any bias maintained by the reviewer can generally be assessed by reading carefully.  If it's poorly written, I'm usually quick to dismiss it. "

As seriously as the care, thought, and rationale put into them.

I never take them seriously unless they were well written and the person who wrote it showed that they played the game.

so not cereal, don't think I've read more than 5 on here.

I never read user reviews.  It takes way too much time to find the ones worth reading.

" If it's well written, I take it just as seriously as I do any review on any website."

not in the least bit 
I barely take any review by anyone seriously because anyone that knows my giantbomb career I tend to enjoy crap

The only user reviews I take seriously are from users I know and trust.

" not in the least bit  I barely take any review by anyone seriously because anyone that knows my giantbomb career I tend to talk crap "

" @trophyhunter said:

" not in the least bit  I barely take any review by anyone seriously because anyone that knows my giantbomb career I tend to talk crap "

 Fixed. Hey look at me, I'm on a roll.  :-) "

" @oldschool said:

" @trophyhunter said:

" not in the least bit  I barely take any review by anyone seriously because anyone that knows my giantbomb career I tend to talk crap "

 Fixed. Hey look at me, I'm on a roll.  :-) "

*gasp* what kind of example is that for the wii captain to be setting "

If it is well written, coherent, and non biased then I can take a user review as seriously as a 'professional review'.

" @trophyhunter said:

" @oldschool said:

" @trophyhunter said:

" not in the least bit  I barely take any review by anyone seriously because anyone that knows my giantbomb career I tend to talk crap "

 Fixed. Hey look at me, I'm on a roll.  :-) "

*gasp* what kind of example is that for the wii captain to be setting "

A poor one?  A very poor one indeed. "

I like user reviews. I've read enough so-called professional reviews to create my own opinion if a user review is worth its price in words written.

As serious as the person who writes it takes it. 
If it's well-written and makes valid points, I'll at least take it as credible.  Doesn't mean I'll agree with it.

Its nice to read someone else opinion. I like to check them out.

Take it from a sense of perspective. If there are reviews that oppose professional reviewers, I'm really hoping that they can explain where they're coming from and exactly why they feel that way. When IGN reviewed Bad Company 2 and explicitly stated that he wasn't a fan of the first one, it's valuable information to keep in mind while you're listening to the review. If it's just a collection of bashing and profanities, then I'd be depressed for wasting my time looking at such a web page.

I take user reviews by people on my friend's list seriously. Otherwise, maybe the featured review if it's well written. But otherwise, no. I find that with a professional reviewer, I at least can recognize and track their bias throughout all their reviews.

"user reviews"

Well considering the bulk of them come out before the fucking game does, in response to reviews from people who get the game early, cus they're reviewers, I would say user reviews are only slightly more significant than gamer boycott petitions.