Ratings Explained

A quick explanation of how YFG ranks and evaluates games.

Important: On YFG, a 7-8 is a decent score and approval for the “recommended buy” list. Even a 6 is still okay (4 or 5 is probably where things get questionable). The reason for this is that when a game achieves a 9 or 10, it really and truly deserves it and means you should go to the store and buy it now :P

For a more detailed explanation, read on.

Review ratings are seemingly everything. A game in a numerical nutshell. However, no matter how much number crunching goes into reflecting a game’s measured amount of goodness, the scores easily can leave readers mystified by what exactly an “8.5” score for graphics means. So here’s reviews in a nutshell. I hope you can take a quick look at this, and easily understand my bizarre little scale. If there are any questions, comments, suggestions for improvement, my inbox is always open and always hungry (especially for something that’s not SPAM!).

YFG Review Ratings

All scores are out of 10.
Overall – The average of all 5 categories’ scores (Story/Concept, Graphics, Sound, Gameplay, Replay Value).

Story/Concept: Rates the overall story of a game—how creative is it? Does it avoid the usual clichés and pitfalls? Is it enjoyable? Does it make you want to play more? If the game doesn’t have the story, how is the concept of the game? Does it entice you to play more, or frustrate you to the point where you feed it to a lamprey?

0—WTF?
5—average story, nothing special
8—above average, solid stuff
10—absolutely everything is there! Dynamic dialogue, characters as enchanting as a Disney movie cast (a good Disney movie) and have evolved beyond one-dimensional, superb story that keeps you guessing and taking twists.

Note: I tend to be very critical of RPG/adventure storylines ^_^;;

Graphics: Evaluates how a game looks.
0—stands for 0 visibility, not even being able to tell what’s going on
5—average, nothing special
8—Graphics are visually befitting for the game**[This is will be a common rating here]
10—Congratulations, you have revolutionized game graphics. Michelangelo will now shake your hand.

Sound: The music, the sound effects, and all the other blips, beeps and buzzings from the game fall into this category.
5—listenable
8—I can put this on my iPod
10—I will pay $50 for this soundtrack and listen to it repeatedly on my iPod (yes, I’ve done this before)

Gameplay: Evaluates how the game handles. Are the controls clunky and complicated or do they play smoothly and lend a nice challenge? Also simultaneously looks at game mechanics and scenarios, and how the controls lend themselves to the situation.
0—Just don’t stand a chance
3—Definitely clunky, LOTS of bugs
5—it works, but may still be flawed a bit
8—Very nice
10—Hardly notice you even have a controller in your hands—it’s like second nature.

Replay Value: When games are going for $30-$50 apiece, you know you’re going to want your money’s worth. Replay value refers to how many times you can replay/keep playing a game before you tire of it and toss it aside for a new one. This is clutch when you’re on a budget.
0—Didn’t even want to play the game to begin with
5—Once is enough
8—Definitely a game you’ll want to revisit
10—Cant..stop… playing…….. save … yourself.

And there you have it :)