Beginning on January 10, 2013, all games reviewed on DBtC will be scored according to a four-star rating system. For me, the four-star rating system is the most elegant and most concise.
**** Masterful
Games that excel in all departments earn the highest four-star rating. These games have perfect or near-perfect technical design and art design. They represent the very best of video games.
*** 1/2 Excellent
All-around great games. Production values are well above average. Replay value, graphics, audio, and gameplay all excellent. Candidates for GOTY.
*** Good
Solid, if unspectacular, games. Well-presented, well-balanced games that show no glaring flaws. Enjoyable and memorable.
** 1/2 Fair
The very definition of rent, do not buy. These average games are often worth playing, but missteps prevent them from a positive score. Worthy of a rainy afternoon rental, especially for fans of the genre.
** Poor
Weak on several fronts, these lackluster games demonstrate some value but in general fail to deliver technically or artistically. Not nearly as evolved, as interesting, or as fun as other games out there.
* 1/2 Bad
The developers responsible took far too many wrong turns with these bad games. Very little to recommend here. These games are joyless to play.
* Awful
Unworthy of even a bargain-bin purchase, these games demonstrate only the faintest glimpses of something worth playing. Often rushed to market, these awful games show signs of cut corners and sometimes feature bugs and glitches.
1/2 * Dreadful
Technical problems abound. No imagination or artistry went into production. Ugly and broken, these games resemble the work of amateurs.
ZERO Unplayable
To earn such an ignominious score, a game must be virtually unplayable, by reason of catastrophic glitches or offensive content. Software that does not qualify as a video game might also reach this low score.
**** Masterful
Games that excel in all departments earn the highest four-star rating. These games have perfect or near-perfect technical design and art design. They represent the very best of video games.
*** 1/2 Excellent
All-around great games. Production values are well above average. Replay value, graphics, audio, and gameplay all excellent. Candidates for GOTY.
*** Good
Solid, if unspectacular, games. Well-presented, well-balanced games that show no glaring flaws. Enjoyable and memorable.
** 1/2 Fair
The very definition of rent, do not buy. These average games are often worth playing, but missteps prevent them from a positive score. Worthy of a rainy afternoon rental, especially for fans of the genre.
** Poor
Weak on several fronts, these lackluster games demonstrate some value but in general fail to deliver technically or artistically. Not nearly as evolved, as interesting, or as fun as other games out there.
* 1/2 Bad
The developers responsible took far too many wrong turns with these bad games. Very little to recommend here. These games are joyless to play.
* Awful
Unworthy of even a bargain-bin purchase, these games demonstrate only the faintest glimpses of something worth playing. Often rushed to market, these awful games show signs of cut corners and sometimes feature bugs and glitches.
1/2 * Dreadful
Technical problems abound. No imagination or artistry went into production. Ugly and broken, these games resemble the work of amateurs.
ZERO Unplayable
To earn such an ignominious score, a game must be virtually unplayable, by reason of catastrophic glitches or offensive content. Software that does not qualify as a video game might also reach this low score.
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