∎ FAQ ( major wip sorry ) ∎
Q: what is a "game journal"?
A: it's a collection of writings about games with an emphasis on my personal experiences & thoughts for each entry. the big point is that this is not supposed to be authoritative.
Q: why'd you want to make this?
A: i love video games! and as i've gotten older, i've wanted to try better articulating the how's and why's of this love. i'm no critic or writer, but i figured assembling a body of casual reviews would be a great way to start exploring these feelings.
i originally made an account on backloggd with the intent of doing this all there, but ultimately felt too anxious about the social aspects of that site. so i decided to build my own database here on neocities! i feel i can speak more honestly now, which is naturally important to the goal. while i do hope other people end up finding these reviews useful or entertaining in some way, my ultimate plan is to just see as much as i can, better understand what i value in video games, and make sure i don't lose all these good ( and bad ) memories i had playing them!Q: can you explain your rating system more in-depth?
A: sure. here:
DIDN'T LIKE AT ALL
★
(1) absolutely despicable game. very likely actively harming me through a combination of presentation, aesthetics, gameplay, and subject matter. there is basically nothing about a 1-star game that i like. you have to do a truly wretched job to earn such a rating.
★
(1) absolutely despicable game. very likely actively harming me through a combination of presentation, aesthetics, gameplay, and subject matter. there is basically nothing about a 1-star game that i like. you have to do a truly wretched job to earn such a rating.
BORDERLINE INTOLERABLE
★☆
(1.5) everything about a 1-star game, but with slightly less of an edge. has one or two things that i find appealing -- likely on a conceptual level rather than a tangible / applied one -- but is still ultimately too at odds with my values to be viewed favorably.
★☆
(1.5) everything about a 1-star game, but with slightly less of an edge. has one or two things that i find appealing -- likely on a conceptual level rather than a tangible / applied one -- but is still ultimately too at odds with my values to be viewed favorably.
ENJOYED A BIT, MOSTLY UNPLEASANT
★★
(2) no vitriol in this experience, but still a poor one. fails to capture me on one level or another, but is not inherently a bad game, just one i did not enjoy. does not personally attack me, as 1-star ratings do.
★★
(2) no vitriol in this experience, but still a poor one. fails to capture me on one level or another, but is not inherently a bad game, just one i did not enjoy. does not personally attack me, as 1-star ratings do.
ALMOST OK, STILL NOT GOOD
★★☆
(2.5) a mostly neutral experience, but there's a slight lean towards "bad". something about these games feels off or unpleasant to me in ways that leave a very mild, but lasting bitter taste in my mouth.
★★☆
(2.5) a mostly neutral experience, but there's a slight lean towards "bad". something about these games feels off or unpleasant to me in ways that leave a very mild, but lasting bitter taste in my mouth.
GOOD, BUT NOTHING TOO AMAZING
★★★
(3) this is a TRUE NEUTRAL rating. i don't hate it, i don't love it, i feel mostly nothing after having played it. it's good enough to play through, but not good enough for me to have any strong thoughts on the matter.
★★★
(3) this is a TRUE NEUTRAL rating. i don't hate it, i don't love it, i feel mostly nothing after having played it. it's good enough to play through, but not good enough for me to have any strong thoughts on the matter.
BETTER, BUT MISSING SOMETHING
★★★☆
(3.5) piques my interest & has me thinking about it fondly, but ultimately didn't bring me a full experience. often these games have the most heart & soul, but lack a level of polish for me to consider them truly "good". this is a very favorable & compelling rating, IMO.
★★★☆
(3.5) piques my interest & has me thinking about it fondly, but ultimately didn't bring me a full experience. often these games have the most heart & soul, but lack a level of polish for me to consider them truly "good". this is a very favorable & compelling rating, IMO.
HAD A GREAT TIME
★★★★
(4) activates my neurons. fun to play, good aesthetics, good story. very similar to 3.5-stars, but went the extra mile in impressing or delighting me personally. still missing something, but makes up for it in other interesting ways. i unequivocally "like" these games.
★★★★
(4) activates my neurons. fun to play, good aesthetics, good story. very similar to 3.5-stars, but went the extra mile in impressing or delighting me personally. still missing something, but makes up for it in other interesting ways. i unequivocally "like" these games.
HAD AN AMAZING TIME
★★★★☆
(4.5) goes beyond just being well-made & fun to play. is something i both personally really click with, but also has nearly everything i'm looking for in a video game. displays some very, very minute "issues", but they're easily looked aside because of how fantastic the experience is overall. i unequivocally "love" these games.
★★★★☆
(4.5) goes beyond just being well-made & fun to play. is something i both personally really click with, but also has nearly everything i'm looking for in a video game. displays some very, very minute "issues", but they're easily looked aside because of how fantastic the experience is overall. i unequivocally "love" these games.
ESSENTIALLY A PERFECT EXPERIENCE
★★★★★
(5) the epitome of what a video game can be. meaningfully integrates story, aesthetics, and gameplay into each other to convey its vision. intelligently utilizes the interactivity of the medium as part of the experience. each design element strengthens the others. leaves me wanting nothing more after i'm done. 5-stars very likely appeal to me personally on some level, but may just be so impressive that i hand them this rating regardless of my taste. these games are few & far between.
★★★★★
(5) the epitome of what a video game can be. meaningfully integrates story, aesthetics, and gameplay into each other to convey its vision. intelligently utilizes the interactivity of the medium as part of the experience. each design element strengthens the others. leaves me wanting nothing more after i'm done. 5-stars very likely appeal to me personally on some level, but may just be so impressive that i hand them this rating regardless of my taste. these games are few & far between.