Mysticallis Methadology for Scoring Video Games

This one's a simple post. For a long time I have continued to produce reviews and opinion pieces in writing at various platforms in different media in various time periods using various methods.

A large number of such analysis involved video games, a medium I enjoy to an incredible extent. 

After years of doing that, I was able to devise a simple solution to create an adequate scoring method.

Now let's be clear. A number does not represent a video game but a number helps you classify it in your opinion on various levels while comparing a product to its own prequels or similar products of the genre. It's more important to judge individual aspects of the product.

Moreso, a number also provides an easy way to communicate the quality of product to a layman or a friend or a person being invited to try it out. It's in my opinion completely fair to have such an outlook while not getting bitchy about it. 

So here's how at Mysticallis we are going to analyse the video games and build up the final number.

There will be in general these elements to discuss in the games. 

Graphics/art style 

Gameplay

Sound and Audio Score

Story & Characters

Replayability

Each shall carry 10 points in total. 

For certain games which focus on some particular aspects more than the other, the distribution of points may be fractionally distributed or a category omitted entirely and that will be notified and explained in that particular review.

As an example, if there is a game for example that has no story and its just a game where gameplay is important, there story category may be ommited entirely. 

After (to a certain degree) objectively analysing these categories, the final review score will be calculated.

To this calculation one more Set of 10 points will be added as a balancing out of how the reviewer overall subjectively estimates the score should be.

Thus all these scores are calculated by adding them up and taking an average out of them using the simple mean method. 

The Final Score is thus that Average.

Apart from this. If a game is good enough to achieve a 10 category. 

The Final review score will have a subjective grade attached to it as a mark of where does the author feels this 10 lie in brilliance.

These grades are as follows. 

Ruby 

Emerald

Diamond

Sapphire

Gold

Silver

More grades may be added to further categorize as the policy seems fit with time. 

Defining Guidelines of various Categories

This section discusses what will be generally discussed in each of the categories. 

Graphics/Artstyle: do not expect the reviewer to go into super technical details of new technologies and implementations of graphics. This isn't the kind of channel to do that and nor does the reviewer have right credentials for it unless otherwise. Go watch Digital Foundary or something for that stuff. 

A general evaluation will be given in terms of how pretty they look. Where they stand among current gen of games and possible longevity. 

Similarly the game does not need to have graphics that are triple A. Some games have less technical prowess but a brilliant art style. And the score may vary on how brilliant that art style is judged to be and its longevity and freshness. 

Gameplay: again an objective discussion may be done on the various aspects of gameplay and how the gameplay fits the game. 

Various systems involved or affecting the main gameplay may be commented on. 

A general performance analysis may be given. 

A general comparison to other similar kinds of gameplay in the genre or in previous similar games may be done. 

Sound /Musical Score: How well the musical score is perceived. How catchy it is or how it fits an atmosphere and how it has been utilized. All that may be discussed in conjunction to sound design and effects work. Again no necessary technical details unless a reviewer mentions credentials or sources for such a detail otherwise. 

Story/Characters: This may end up being the most detailed segments. With the reviewers interest in writing and Rpg, the plot may be analyzed in detail and compared to past examples and similar attempts on similar stories. 

How the characters are, how there arcs are and how strongly they present themselves and thus are written and the general note on writing may all be discussed. 

Replayability: Now this is only an estimate judging all other variables and again can be be subjectively biased to a degree. But opinions may be given judging various trends. This category may not be included in many games but will be a defining feature of a time tested classic. 

Hopefully this will be able to even out a fair number for an arbitrary score that's often used to judge and categorize a game. In the end again, what the general opinion is about the game in lieu of its goods and bads and its flaws, these are the most important factor to truly base a judgment in the game.

Good Luck & Enjoy. 

An Analysing Mystic