All games are competing against each other for your time and money and have an overall quality to them. You evaluate the individual elements of each game and how they come together as a package. You compare the overall quality of a game to the overall quality of other games, regardless of genre. That is why there is an overall game of the year and not just awards for each genre.

Anybody who gives Hellblade 2 a very high score, I seriously have to question their ability to evaluate games and how easily they are impressed. Not all reviewers are equal, just like not all games are created equal. I don't trust your opinion when it comes to reviewing games. Others may feel the same way about me. It is what it is.

Yes, you should be comparing it to those games as well. If you are going to give a game high score, not only does it have to be great in its genre, but great compared to all other games. Hellblade 2 is neither. A 9/10 indicates an amazing game that delivers a package with very few flaws and very little room for improvement. Hellblade 2 does not have any strengths other than the presentation (visuals, audio, animations, performances). The story was not very good, the plot was lacking, the combat is lame, many of the environments were not that interesting, very limited interactivity and exploration, puzzles were alright at best. It is just OK as a walking sim and doesn't stack up to the best games out there.

I gave it a 6/10 and the GS review was bang on. Again, I am someone who enjoys walking simulators, played the original and knew what to expect. The game just isn't very good. That doesn't mean the game sucks. I enjoyed it, but I am going to rate it properly on a 1-10 scale. The same scale I use for the thousands of games I have played, regardless of genre.

Yeah, the reboot as it has a similar setting and is also a cinematic experience. Wow though, you would actually rate this game better than God of War when that game is significantly better in every way except for graphics. Everybody enjoys games in different ways, but damn, I can't trust your opinion if you give HB2 a 9/10.

So, if this game gets a 9/10, what does God of War get?

Really guys? 9/10? The only real strength is the presentation. Everything else is alright at best. Not even close to a 9.

I am all for it as Astro's Playroom was a solid little platformer oozing with personality and charm. It was also a fantastic tribute to the history of PlayStation. An ideal pack-in game.

Well, the 30fps is a deterrent from playing on Xbox right away. I agree that they fucked up the art direction with the blurry trash. This also plagues the PC version unless you edit the Engine.ini and then it looks glorious....

That's not true. Especially when people are already filthy rich and can pretty much do whatever they want. Also, a 16 billion dollars offer would just give Gabe a good chuckle.