There are tons of gaming sites out there and all of them do reviews. SyndicateX is a smaller site than most. Our staff is comprised of volunteers and thus we have less time to spend reviewing every game that comes out. Instead we try to pick the most popular releases and we spend more time hunting for the lesser-known gems that are released among the giant titles.
As far as our actual review process goes we try to summarize the game, tell a little bit about the hardworking folks that made it and indicate what kind of audience we think will appreciate it the most in the opening paragraph. Then we focus on the individual elements of the game and try to summarize the game’s performance in each of the following categories:
- Graphics
- Sound
- Gameplay
- Longevity
- Technical
- Overall
Sometimes we break one of those categories into smaller categories if the game deserves it. If the storyline is particularly important because it’s either great or terrible, we’ll mention it in the Gameplay section. Any major issues such as bugs or crashes that we discover will be in the Technical section.
Another thing that we take into account when reviewing a game is developer/publisher size and the budget. When a well-known developer releases a game backed by a huge publisher and has had a giant staff to work on it, we hold the game to a higher standard. Conversely, when we play a game that we know was created by a small staff and released by a publisher we’ve never heard of with a budget that would merely provide the morning coffee for another studio….we’re a little more forgiving.
We appreciate the quirks and the occasional lack of polish that occasionally shows up in smaller titles. Why? Because they remind us of us! Guys (or girls) that are working hard because they’re passionate about what they’re doing…these types of games are often far more innovative and daring and we feel like the game industry needs that.