The Concept of a "Perfect" 10

posted by papi blez

Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 12:38:57 AM EDT

I've sat back for a while and watched a lot of the scores for Gears of War.  The game received several "perfect" scores, including one from 1up and one from OXM.  

I noticed this month someone wrote in to OXM complaining about the "perfect" score.  Dan Hsu received a lot of crap for him giving the game a 10 despite spending the majority of his review pointing out the flaws in the game.

I don't know about you, but when viewing a game that gets a "10" I don't automatically assume perfection because to me perfection has never happened in gaming.  There is always something you could criticize about a game, therefore no game is perfect.  I've never played a perfect game, but there are several games I would've given a "10" in my time.  Grand Theft Auto III probably would've gotten one from me when I first played it several years ago.  Halo would've gotten one from me as well, especially if the scale was 0-10 divided by .5s.

My point is that I might've come closer to giving Gears a "10" had I played more multiplayer when I reviewed the game.  It probably would've fallen a little short of that perfect score, but the multiplayer I've played on Friday nights with you has been some of the most fun I've had in a game since I began gaming.  But 10 doesn't mean perfection.  I realize Gears has its flaws, but if a game keeps me playing and having funs months after it was released, it has to come close to that number.  I mean we spend $60 or more on games these days, if they keep you going for months then it's a better value than going to see any movie in the theater.  Viva Pinata, Gears and NHL 07 have done that for me (I finally won the Stanley Cup in NHL 07 tonight and had a blast doing so).

Does a 10 score mean perfection to you?  Should it be perfection and anything short of that gets something less than a 10?

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Comments Disabled | 7 comments

  •  I don't think (none / 0)

    a ten needs to be absolutely perfect....no such thing,  I think that a 10 just means you HAVE TO BUY THIS GAME!!  Not only is it a console seller but a reason why we love this industry so much.  And Gears offers that.  It's amazing, it's still amazing and it's a big fucking acheivement.  It breaks ground in ways not ventured yet, pushes the envelope.  That is a 10 to me.  It makes game creaters say "look at that!  Wow now what can WE do?!?!"

    Let's get it own!

    by Macaface on Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 12:54:34 AM EDT

  •  yeah, macaface said it perfectly (none / 0)

    The OXM philosophy is that a 10 is a must buy game no-matter what. Which with Gears of War's case, is definately true.

    Thats why on their scale of ratings, it goes to 11 instead of 10.

    Personally, i think their system is a great way to review a game.

    Not all who wander are lost

    by Zoso Fan on Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 01:20:32 AM EDT

  •  I agree (none / 0)

    a Ten does not have to be a perfect game. and besides one person might thing a game is perfect while another person does not. To me a 10 is a game that you can pick up and play and not want to put the game down even when you have finished the game your still playing it. Gears has been out since novemember and I am still playing it and enjoying it like I just picked it up for the first time.  

    by Dan Foster on Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 08:45:44 AM EDT

  •  About multiplayer.. (none / 0)

    It's always more fun when you play with people you know and wont start screaming through the mic at you after you kill them.

    The People you play with make or break a game. Trust me I turned Gears off for awhile because some people in ranked are just way to freakin' nuts, until my buddy got me back into with a bunch of guys from the UK (Pretty cool considering I'm in Canada) Now i end up playing with them every weekend, its a blast!

    by BoxinLeprechaun on Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 09:00:26 AM EDT

  •  It will never happen (none / 0)

    There is no way in the world to make a game perfect there will always be flaws. It depends on how you want to look at it does a game get a 10 because its fun factor or the way it sells. There is many games that are selling good but not highly rated. Im not sure what makes a game perfect but when im having a good time playing it either single player or multiplayer and i continue to go back months after release or maybe years later that is what makes me feel good about my purchase. Only a few games in your lifetime can do that for you, for me that is halo 1, halo 2, and now gears. I just hope this isnt the only one we get to play. Here is hoping for at least a sequel to gears.

    Give me a minute and I'll change your mind, Give me a bullet and I'll change your life! - Slipknot

    by MDK2002 on Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 05:32:40 PM EDT

  •  Number 10 is alive! (none / 0)

    Macaface has got it.  There is no possible perfect game, otherwise we would never play anything else.  The designation of "10" is an honor you bestow on a game that just lights up all the right senses and creates that fun factor.  You know, that shit eating grin on your face while your playing away.  Gears gets me grin'n everytime.  

    Ready to finish all the Fights!

    by Damn Boris on Wed Jan 31, 2007 at 08:48:02 AM EDT

  •  If I had a game site, here's what I'd say (none / 0)

    "10 is simply the highest numerical score we give out. It does not mean perfect."

    The end.

    by Sharky on Thu Feb 01, 2007 at 05:00:56 PM EDT

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