Terrible Pocket Gamer Reviewer

I mean.. What kind of a reviewer that start a review stating he hates a game series, whining about that game series instead of reviewing it, and trying to defend his poor review by responding to every comment there.
Pocket gamer no more then.
Their credibility is lost to me because of this writer.
I'll go to Touch Arcade now for mobile game and Nintendolife for Switch.

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Full review : http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...l=1#post789271

His comments :

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Holy shit. That loser who wrote the review is no different than some of those YouTube "ranters" who act childish in comments at times. I could write reviews better than that clown on my blog.

Is there more to the review than what you've posted here? All I see is the disclaimer and two sentences about the game. Anyway, I think his title is pretty clever, 'Sonic Meh-nia.' That made me chuckle.

Here is the full review:

TITLE: Sonic Mania Nintendo Switch review - The mania stems from Sonic fans

AUTHOR: Glen Fox

SOURCE: http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Switc...ew.asp?c=75036

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Disclaimer: I don't like Sonic very much. I'd even go so far as to say that there has never been a truly great Sonic game.
Sure, he's had his moments, but overall his adventures have paled in comparison to the likes of Mario, Crash, and Rayman.

But why is a Sonic-denier reviewing Sonic Mania? After all, it was made by the fans, for the fans - not for utter cads like me. Well, if people only reviewed stuff they liked, criticism would become an echo chamber. No one wants that.

Sonic Mania

Sonic Mania is inspired by the Mega Drive classics where the blue hedgehog cut his teeth. The visuals, sound, and level design are all so strikingly similar to the originals, you'd be forgiven for thinking you were playing one of them.



And in a way, you are. A bunch of levels from those classics have been torn up and spliced together, creating remixed versions. Essentially, you're playing the best bits of the best Sonic games.

Of course, there are brand new levels and even some lovely easter eggs. There are hidden levels dotted about that contain snapshots of later Sonic games, and you get a Chaos Emerald for completing them.

And in a very real way, Sonic has never felt better. The spiky speedster handles as smooth as butter, and you always feel in complete control of each action.

Basically, Sonic Mania is a love letter. If you grew up playing Sonic, and have fond memories of the Mega Drive games, there's no way you won't fall head over heels in love with this. It's like a best of collection for your favourite artist.



Sonic Meh-nia

But therein lies Sonic Mania's biggest problem. These might be the best bits of the best Sonic games, but if you didn't like them in the first place, it isn't going to convince you otherwise.

Sonic has always felt unfocused, confused, and frustrating. The fun to be had in the series generally stems from learning a level in intricate detail in order to perform the perfect run, while its genre brethren focus on fun first, then rewarding expertise. I know which I'd rather opt for.
There's nothing wrong with making a Sonic game just to please the fans, but I also feel like there's a great Sonic game waiting to happen, and this feels like yet another missed opportunity.

Sonic Mania should have done for Sonic what Rayman Origins did for Rayman. Take the best bits of the franchise, zoom in on them with a laser focus, and build the entire experience around that.



Instead, we're left with that same confused experience that Sonic has always been - just slightly better. Sonic fans will be pleased, Sonic deniers will still feel justified in their scoffing, the world will continue to turn.

But Sonic was in desperate need of an evolution, and all we got was a celebration of something that wasn't very good to begin with. I think that's a shame for everyone.

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That's the ENTIRE review? Crazy.

He's clearly unfit to be reviewing the game. That said, I kinda agree with his take. The lack of focus from Sonic 3 on does diminish the fun for me. Still, that's not a failing of the game at all. It's just not what I want out of a Sonic game. I do feel that the game went overboard remixing old levels though. They're well designed and tweak things enough to not feel entirely copy-and-pasted, but having just went through the games preparing for my delayed Steam release, Sonic Mania was a real slog. It feels like a good game you've likely already played.

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Originally Posted by SEGA.GENESIS1989

Here is the full review:

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Thanks. I forgot to put the link.

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Originally Posted by Benjamin

That's the ENTIRE review? Crazy.

He's clearly unfit to be reviewing the game. That said, I kinda agree with his take. The lack of focus from Sonic 3 on does diminish the fun for me. Still, that's not a failing of the game at all. It's just not what I want out of a Sonic game. I do feel that the game went overboard remixing old levels though. They're well designed and tweak things enough to not feel entirely copy-and-pasted, but having just went through the games preparing for my delayed Steam release, Sonic Mania was a real slog. It feels like a good game you've likely already played.

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For PC or PS4, may be the game feels okay, but on the Switch, trust me, the game feels magical on handheld mode.
That's kinda explained why the game has highest score on Metacritic compared to any other version.
Used to be 91 but thank to Pocket Gamer's score, it's down to 89 now.

As far as his review... all that I can really say about it is that it met the minimum 500 words that some companies require. If you add the "disclaimer", then it's 501 words. Of those 501 words, 90 of them were for the disclaimer instead of the actual review.

He was transparent about his own bias while reviewing the product, and stated what he liked as well as what he disliked. He provided constructive feedback about what he didn't like while stating that Sonic fans would most likely enjoy it. We also do not know if the review was longer but cut trimmed by an editor for some reason.

In terms of his replies, I can't blame him for reacting that way either. In an age where people feel the need to disgustingly attack anything that they don't like when it comes to the media, this is becoming a more commonplace thing. Reporters, anchors, athletes, celebrities, and even companies are fighting back against these ridiculous and frankly venomous personal comments over trivial things.

That said, people should ALWAYS get their reviews from multiple sources with varying degrees of bias. This will most likely provide a much better foundation on which to base a purchase decision.

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Originally Posted by avlon

In terms of his replies, I can't blame him for reacting that way either. In an age where people feel the need to disgustingly attack anything that they don't like when it comes to the media, this is becoming a more commonplace thing. Reporters, anchors, athletes, celebrities, and even companies are fighting back against these ridiculous and frankly venomous personal comments over trivial things.

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I can. It's unprofessional, and his comments display all the wit of a not particularly bright high schooler rather than a supposedly professional writer. If you're being unfairly criticised and are capable of a witty response, maybe a reply to your critics isn't too unreasonable. However, replying to each and every critic with insults or lame comebacks just makes you look childish and insecure, which is especially problematic in this case since the reviewer has written a review seemingly from the position of not liking the game before he's even played it.

As for the review itself; Sonic is unfocused and confused? Really? I'd like to see him try to define what he means by that because Sonic's gameplay is anything but.

Trilby, "Sonic was never good" narrative. Yeah, this is cookie-cutter urinalism.

Really not sure what people wanted from sonic mania. It has exploration, speed runs if u can work out the path and multiple characters with cool looking zones.

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Originally Posted by cabear

Really not sure what people wanted from sonic mania. It has exploration, speed runs if u can work out the path and multiple characters with cool looking zones.

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The people pissing on the game most often seem to be those who can't beat Green Hill Zone, and think that's all there is to Sonic Mania since it starts with that same level. The ones who truly believe that to win in Sonic, you must hold right.

^too much truth.

the game gives you 10 minutes per level. If you were supposed to race through the damn stage they would have given you less. Exploration has always been there since part 1, you're supposed to look around. the maps were always huge and had hidden caches of coins, shields, shoes or 1-ups.

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Originally Posted by Silanda

I can. It's unprofessional, and his comments display all the wit of a not particularly bright high schooler rather than a supposedly professional writer. If you're being unfairly criticised and are capable of a witty response, maybe a reply to your critics isn't too unreasonable.

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He has the right to express himself and respond to anyone that he feels like responding to. The comments that were shown weren't constructive criticism, they were also childish rants.

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Originally Posted by Silanda

However, replying to each and every critic with insults or lame comebacks just makes you look childish and insecure, which is especially problematic in this case since the reviewer has written a review seemingly from the position of not liking the game before he's even played it.

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Agreed, although I don't expect much journalistic integrity from a gaming blog. They aren't bound by the same rules. I'm not a fan of anyone posting useless and insulting dribble online, but I understand it's the internet which emboldens keyboard warriors to say things that they would never say to someones face in real life.

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Originally Posted by Silanda

As for the review itself; Sonic is unfocused and confused? Really? I'd like to see him try to define what he means by that because Sonic's gameplay is anything but.

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Why not directly ask him just like that (without insulting him) in his comments section that he is so active in? Maybe he'll give a satisfactory response, and maybe he won't. At best, you'll know that your opinions won't match, and look elsewhere for someone who has a similar taste in gaming. Game reviews are more opinion pieces than actual journalism.

Do people generally score a game based on how good they think it is or how much they enjoy it? It almost seems like this guy thinks the game isn't half bad but just doesn't like it.

Person with an opinion who has never seriously liked Sonic by his own admittance. I'm sure his words hold so much weight over everyone else.

He really makes no point why he dislikes Sonic other than the vague it felt "unfocused, confused, and frustrating" Sounds like he's just really bad at it or something. I understand "frustrating" aka he sucks at it but the rest I'm not sure what he really means. It's a side scrolling side scroller that uses one button. Can't be that. Personally I found SMW way more confusing with keys and such and even then it wasn't that confusing.

Really none of the above matters. The worst thing is his snotty responses. He's not doing himself or them any favors. If I were in charge of that site I'd let him go.

I have never liked green peppers, but I recognize them as healthy and flavorful vegetables that can be amazing when properly prepared. To me, no matter how they're steamed or fried, they taste like what burnt hair smells like. Doesn't mean I go around saying that green peppers are horrible and how no one should eat them.

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Originally Posted by Iron Lizard

He really makes no point why he dislikes Sonic other than the vague it felt "unfocused, confused, and frustrating" Sounds like he's just really bad at it or something. I understand "frustrating" aka he sucks at it but the rest I'm not sure what he really means. It's a side scrolling side scroller that uses one button. Can't be that. Personally I found SMW way more confusing with keys and such and even then it wasn't that confusing.

Really none of the above matters. The worst thing is his snotty responses. He's not doing himself or them any favors. If I were in charge of that site I'd let him go.

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It'd be hard to let him go since he's not just a reviewer /writer. He's an editor.

Glen Fox heads up Pocket Gamer as our new Editor
http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Other...ws.asp?c=71540

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Originally Posted by Raijin Z

I have never liked green peppers, but I recognize them as healthy and flavorful vegetables that can be amazing when properly prepared. To me, no matter how they're steamed or fried, they taste like what burnt hair smells like. Doesn't mean I go around saying that green peppers are horrible and how no one should eat them.

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You're referring to blue peppers surely?

Crappy, irrelevant reviews aren't new. If you want to see similar reviews just check any popular, highly rated product on Amazon, where you'll find plenty of reviews that say things like: "I haven't read this book but I still think it sucks, one star", or "This movie is great but I have to give it one star because the mailman dropped my copy and damaged the case".

Trollishly poor reviews are not a new occurrence, there will be many more of them in the future too. Just recognise them for what they are and continue to enjoy whichever games you like.

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Originally Posted by bertodecosta

It'd be hard to let him go since he's not just a reviewer /writer. He's an editor.

Glen Fox heads up Pocket Gamer as our new Editor
http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Other...ws.asp?c=71540

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Oh well. It's their deaths.

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Originally Posted by Mad Moham

"This movie is great but I have to give it one star because the mailman dropped my copy and damaged the case".

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Those are terrible. It's also bad when someone reviews the product in seller reviews, and give the seller a 1 star rating because they didn't like the product. Those are probably honest mistakes, but still crazy.

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Originally Posted by Iron Lizard

Oh well. It's their deaths.

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He deleted all of his comments.
All 18 of them, even one that's not offensive to others.
I wish I took more than two screenshots, lol.