My Review

[Moltke71]

Here:

http://www.gamesquad.com/index.php?opti ... m=&aid=164

[SMK-at-work]

nice conclusion - could have done with more of it!! [;)]
 
Why have to have lengthy descriptions of game mechanics that are boring to those who know them already and probably unintelligible to those who want to know about the game?[&:][&:]
 
3 pages of in depth description of everything, followed by 6 lines of useful and informative conclusion is just....well...unbalanced!!
 
 

[farlo]

Jim: I think you hit the rating just right.[;)]

[Moltke71]

ORIGINAL: SMK-at-work

nice conclusion - could have done with more of it!! [;)]

Why have to have lengthy descriptions of game mechanics that are boring to those who know them already and probably unintelligible to those who want to know about the game?[&:][&:]

3 pages of in depth description of everything, followed by 6 lines of useful and informative conclusion is just....well...unbalanced!!

I take your point but I truly believe description is more important than opinion. My conclusion indicated that I liked it and why. Anyway, a discerning reader - I'm positive some are out there - can see my enthusiasm in the description.

[flintlock]

I found it to be a concise, honest, and balanced review.


--

[SMK-at-work]

I take your point but I truly believe description is more important than opinion. My conclusion indicated that I liked it and why. Anyway, a discerning reader - I'm positive some are out there - can see my enthusiasm in the description.

 
Oh yes - you are certainly enthusiastic, and you came to the right conclusion eventually!! [:D]

[Munro]

I liked it !

[*Lava*]

ORIGINAL: SMK-at-work

Why have to have lengthy descriptions of game mechanics

Well...

I think if you look at most strategy game reviews on major sites you will find that the reviewers almost always go into a great deal of detail concerning game mechanics.

GoA deserves an equal treatment, even if it isn't made by a major studio, and possibly more so because it isn't. This is especially true because of the innovative command system that Frank Hunter has included in the game. It is obvious that the reviewer has played the game and understands all its major features and gameplay fundamentals. And that is important.

Indeed, for me, that is where I start with a review. I ask myself, did this person really play the game or not? Does this person really understand the game or not?

If it even appears that the reviewer has taken shortcuts, I bin the review as garbage, unless, of course, those shortcuts were taken because of a very badly bugged game.

It's pretty obvious that the reviewer did a thorough job of examining the game, accurately highlighting its weaknesses and strengths.

Well done, Jim.

Ray (alias Lava)

[39battalion]

Well IMHO this is an excellenty written review.

It is important to describe the game accurately so that potential buyers can make an informed choice. I'm not surprised at the quality of the writing or quality of the structure of the review as Bismarck has a well deserved reputation as a very professional reviewer. I may not always agree with his conclusions or recommendations ( well to be honest I nearly always do !) but I cannot fault his reviewing style.

Keep up the good work Bismarck

[Moltke71]

39battalion,

You Aussies keep making the Fosters Special Bitters in the green can; that's all the thanks I need.[:)]

[39battalion]

Well that's only one of our great beers.

Wait till you try Coopers Dark Ale ( a local south Aussie speciality that will blur your gunsights )

[Moltke71]

I'll keep an eye out.  Is it exported?  I hope it isn't really brewed in Canada for export like Fosters Blue.

[TheBlackhorse]

Coopers is fantastic.  You might not be able to find it, in which case their homebrew kit comes quite in handy (I have 5 gallons of Cooper's IPA fermenting in my basement as I type)

[TheBlackhorse]

Oh, and Excellent review Jim.

[SMK-at-work]

ORIGINAL: Bismarck

39battalion,

You Aussies keep making the Fosters Special Bitters in the green can; that's all the thanks I need.[:)]

Thank god there's somewhere it can be safely recycled!![:D][:D][:D]

[39battalion]

Not sure if Coopers DA is exported....maybe not as we don't like to see our local stocks get too low....imagine if we ran out of Coopers cos our American friends developed a liking for it !

But it is the real deal....brewed in South Australia ( and in Blackhorse's basement !)....and Coopers is a small family owned company, not one of those big multi-nationals like Fosters which is owned by one of the big brewers.

[Snowbart1943]

I like the 10 point scale, and a 9.1 score seems right on to me

[Bossy573]

ORIGINAL: Snowbart1943

I like the 10 point scale, and a 9.1 score seems right on to me

Indeed. [:)]

[Banquet]

Great review. It's how reviews should be done imo.

First, it's an example of the reviewer knowing and understanding the game. With wargames being such a niche industry it's disappointing when they don't get reviewed.. and very frustrating when they do - but it's obvious the reviewer isn't a wargamer and didn't bother to understand the game mechanics. It so often seems to be the case that the reviewer was picked to review a wargame because he is the RTS expert and seemed the best pick.

Secondly, I really like the fact that the review is heavy on game description and light on the opinion of the reviewer. No offense to any reviewer but I'm not overly bothered what their opinion on a certain aspect of the game is.. I'd rather they simply described it to me, and left me to decide. As I'm potentially paying for the game my opinion of it is all that matters to me! Of course if you get to know a reviewer and come to respect their views then their opinion may become significant but I don't think it should ever become the main focus of a review. I'm tired of reading reviews where, at the end, I still have no clear picture of how the game plays.. I'm simply very aware what the reviewer thinks of it.

Anyway, enough droning on from me (and all my opinions! [:D] ) I just wanted to voice my thoughts on the review. I'd rate it 10/10 [:)]

PS, Having read the review I'll probably buy GoA.

[Moltke71]

Thanks.