Buying video games and consoles is not cheap. And it’s getting even more not cheap as we see the next generation of consoles begin to break into a higher base price point of $70 versus $60. As such, being an informed consumer is vital. You want to make sure you’re getting a positive experience out of the games you choose to spend time with, and you also want to be sure that you’re supporting companies and practices that aren’t going to give you a broken product. News articles, preview content, and gaming reviews can be important pieces of the purchasing-decision pie, especially if you use them to right way.
Separating Fact from Opinion
When reading an article or watching a video, understand what is subjective or objective. Commentary against a game’s difficulty or music choices should be considered differently than the genre of game, or major glitches. When you play a game, you might have different tastes for music or controls. But major glitches or game genres aren’t going to change from person to person. Regardless of the quality or length of content, it’s important to decide what is preference, what is opinion, and who is giving that opinion.
For example, in Joe Juba’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake Review over at Game Informer, he says the following about how you traverse through the game:
The maps aren’t as freeform or dynamic as an open-world RPG, but I still appreciate the opportunity to linger in an area and get to know its citizens – if only through a selection of basic side quests involving item retrieval and monster killing.
This is pretty irrefutable information. No matter what you think of FF7R, you can’t disagree that the maps and locations are tight, and the path through missions are very linear. He then goes on to say:
However, a few new zones feel like overcomplicated padding, such as a prolonged and uneventful journey under the sector 4 plate.
This is a valid critique of an element of the game, but you may or may not agree with it. And that is okay. Maybe you enjoy the smaller, less eventful side quests to help compliment the high stakes of the main story. Maybe you skip cutscenes and just want to get to the action, so this is inconsequential to you anyway. Knowing that this is a valuable yet malleable opinion means you can decide how heavily you want it to weigh on your own decisions about the game.
Find Content Creators that Align with your Tastes
Let’s say you’re watching a Twitch streamer who plays Mario and Zelda games and isn’t really a fan of first-person-shooters. In her chat, someone asks what she thinks about the newest Call of Duty trailer and she says it looks like trash. That’s a valid opinion, but if you’re a shooter fan and they aren’t, maybe it won’t be the same for you. When getting someone’s opinion about games, consider how closely their gaming habits align with yours.
For example, I listen to The Fire Escape Podcast with Mike Mahardy, Mary Kish, and Dan Ryckert. My gaming tastes align pretty closely with Dan’s with a few exceptions. Because of this, I know that if he has positive things to say about a game, there is a good chance that I will enjoy it too. I enjoy hearing about games from a lot of people and sources, but Dan’s have extra consideration to me when looking at what to play. And even then, I’ll usually wait a bit to pick up a game unless I’m really excited.
Be Patient
Listen, I get it. Having a game paid for and predownloaded so you can play it the second it releases is exciting. Being part of the zeitgeist when everyone is talking about the new hotness is super fun! But it can be much more valuable to hold onto your cash a day or two, let a new release breathe for a little bit, and feel it out from there. Hype can die down within days, and after that you can start to see real conversations about potential concerns or flaws in a game. If it’s an online-focused game, holding off on a purchase to find out if the game will even have a community in a month can be invaluable.
Preorder incentives are very real. Sometimes it can be hard to pass up on the opportunity for exclusive in-game items or cool merch. It’s important to consider if the swag is worth the risk of a subpar game. If you do decide to pass on exclusive physical items, sometimes you can find them on reseller sites such as eBay or Facebook Marketplace is you’re really interested.
Check Back Later
If you were really excited about a game but decided to pass after initial opinions and footage, it can still be worth it to keep an eye on the state of the game going forward. No Man’s Sky and Final Fantasy XIV were both famously underwhelming games when they released, but have become the poster children for redemption in the gaming community. Everything from single-player to live-service games all get continued support after their release. Sometimes these updates can tip the scales from a game you dislike or only kind of like to a game you might really enjoy. Maybe, someday, Cyberpunk 2077 will even get there! Unfortunately, regrettable purchases also seem to bring out some of the worst attitudes on the internet.
Don’t Suck
Hey, guess what? No influencer, writer, or content creator owes you anything! They are real people sharing their real experiences. I can promise, they just want you to be informed, and they want you to have enjoyable experiences with your shared hobby. If someone shares an opinion you don’t agree with, or writes negatively about a game that you adore, that is not an invitation to attack them on Twitter. What a concept!
You are Your Best Resource
Didn’t like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as much as the rest of the world seems to like it? Hold off on the sequel. Have you loved every Assassin’s Creed game through all of the gameplay shifts and lukewarm reception? Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t be excited for the next one. You know your gaming tastes, and your preferences are going to change throughout your life. Use your past experiences to help inform your future decisions.
I hope you can use some or all of these to improve your experience with purchasing games can help prevent buyer’s remorse and be a more educated consumer.
