You are right for those, but I said IF.....if they clearly were to list such info when reviewing that wouldn't be that much of a problem would it? :)

============ I am more shocked that most found it helpful. Must be some people who REALLY hate beamdog here.
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This is a very well written reply and one I wish I could emulate(as in the level of thought put into it and the ideas behind it). +1...I wish it could be more.


===============
Dammit ninja'd, and by a better man than I.

The problem with many who think all/most modern games are trash or worse than older games is that they often see the old through rose tinted glasses and unfairly label all or most new things as bad out of habit, and thus their reviews are less helpful if they just say "this game is modern and not like the older ones....don't buy it and don't want it" or similar.

If they dislike it for good reason and list such then it is a better review than simply saying "all modern games bad and this game is modern so it is bad by default".

That's fair. Though I'm not sure there are many examples like your last quoted part there. I do think "this game is bad, because it has X modern feature" is a useful review. Even though it would benefit from additional explanation, it is at least telling someone at minimum that the game includes X modern feature. The reader can make their own conclusion from there I suppose.

Agreed 100%...it is just that many seem to let love of older gaming eras cloud their judgment and they paint all or most modern games with a single brush as a result in some cases. It is those kinds of dishonest reviews I dislike and not ones that state what one dislikes about modern games and gives good reasons why they think such.

Hooboy, absolutely yes! There are quite a few of these and they drive me insane. If it is a game that is well known like Sim City and Duke Nukem it is somewhat acceptable, but when it is a really obscure game it really does not help whatsoever. Once again, additional details are a Godsend.

Went ahead and updated the initial post with some of the best do's and don'ts. Thank you all for your input and discussions! This forum has been really fun and informative to read.

EDIT: Or not. Gog lost all the text for some reason...

I'm glad you like the place. If you have a few minutes to spare you can help us clean up all the thread clutter and broken code sometime. :)
Always select all text and ctrl-c to copy it to clipboard as a temp save in case the forums mess up. :)

Thanks, I will remember that!

Since Gog seems to hate opening posts being lengthened, here is what we got so far with Do's and Don't

DO give details on how a game is “innovative” or “unique” if you are going to be using those words. Many games have shown us that a unique game is not necessarily fun, nor even an innovative game. Don’t assume these work as compliments, so be sure to explain why you think these are indeed receiving the game for the better. For that matter, don’t just call the game a Classic and be done, tell us why you think it deserves this title.
Example: LadderInTheBox calls Sim Coral Reef innovative, but remembering the game Soviet Tycoon was innovative but also kinda crappy he made sure to distinguish why Sim Coral Reef’s innovation is something worth experiencing

DON'T don’t title the review “Best _ ever”. I hate to break it to you, but no game is perfect. Using hyperbole like this is just going to deter people, I don’t think I need to say how unchecked hype can ruin someone’s expectations.
Example: BillyBob calls Ultima 21/7 is the best RPG ever, but in the end he never explains why and some fans who have already played other great RPGs really can’t see why he would say this

DO try to keep criticism of modern games to a minimum. You can praise something without putting down something else. Plus it’s not fair to dismiss the progress of an entire industry because of some design decision you don’t agree with. The fact is, the industry has come a long way and complaining how “modern gaming” is ruined is just going to put off a lot of people. For that matter, don’t put down old games when reviewing a new game. Old games laid down the foundations for new games to build off of and even the ones that have aged badly deserve some respect.
Now if there is a recurring problem found in modern games you want to specifically point out is absent in a game, then feel free to mention it. Modern gaming isn't perfect and quite a few old games lack problems that are prevalent today. What you shouldn't do is write something broad like "better than most modern games" or bitter like "99% of modern games are bad", these don't help people see if the game you are reviewing is good and come across more as whining.
Example: DrWahwee loves the old fighter Nuke Dukem and finds it much better than most fighting game he has played today, but he also knows these newer games have their fans and doesn’t want to annoy them. He also remembers Super Smash Bros Ultimate exists.
Supplied by me and expanded upon by rjbuffchix

DON'T just make a review that is just “this game is good” or “you owe it to yourself to play this game”. Hooboy, there are a LOT of these. You are given a substantial amount of letters for a reason, use them and clarify what you actually like about the game. As mentioned above, the more descriptive the better.
Example: XxEdgarRiceGallowsxX in his supreme arrogance, called Kung Fu Quest good in this review without elaborating. It was then the high and mighty powers above came down and grabbed him by the neck and said “go back and make an actual review you little twit”

DO keep about how you grew up with the game to a minimum. If you want to tell us fun experiences you’ve had with the game, then go right ahead. This can help explain why the game is special to you and why you would recommend it to someone else. But try to stay within reason, you can gush about a game without giving your whole life story
Example: ArmyOfDryBones talks about how the game Reading Raptor changed how he viewed video games, but he eventually realizes he talked more about his childhood than the actual game itself. He makes sure he only mentions how the game impacted and increased his overall love of the genre or games as a whole.

DO talk about a game’s flaws. I repeat: A perfect game does not exist. Each game has something wrong with it, so you really need to talk about it. Even if you think it is something minor, still mention it. Some problems bug people more than others. Plus one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, some flaws you mention may actually be something people are looking for.
Example: AGoombaWithNoName talks about the game Monsters and Machinations 4, he really likes the game but is frustrated with how linear the game is. Someone browsing the site though sees this criticism and is pleased, they’ve been looking for a straightforward game without a lot of non-linearity and ends up enjoying it greatly.

DON'T make a review stating about how the game doesn't run or you can't figure out how to open it. Even on GOG, old games can be crotchety and finicky, but this is something best left to the forums. That said, if you have truly exhausted all possibilities it may not hurt to mention so in your review. Nevertheless, only do once you have truly tried everything. If it is something like find the executable don't mention it.
Supplied by Darvond

DON'T make a review to razz or pass commentary to another user. This really should go without saying, but reviews are not a place to go and duke it out with someone else. Especially because they are static
Supplied by Darvond

DON'T base the core of the review on being a modded experience. ALL games can be improved with modding, plus not everyone wants to bother with mods. Especially if it completely alters the game, why review this game when another game exists that can supply the same or a similar experience without mods?
HOWEVER, if the game revolves around mods or was made with the specific intent to be modded then DO feel free to talk about the modding.
Supplied by Darvond and expanded upon by Clarry and Dray2K

DON'T review the game on GoG unless you played the GoG version of said game or are at the very least 100% certain that the difference versions play identically. GoG will sometimes release a game with fan patches that change things or release a more obscure version of a game, just relying on your old memories aren't going to cut it.
On that note: DON'T review a game based on nostalgic memories of how you remember playing the game 25 years ago. Alongside the aforementioned GoG different release problem, nostalgia has a habit of obscuring flaws or making you remember something in the game that may not even be there. Please make sure you have played the game within the last year before reviewing it.
Supplied by jepsen1977

DON'T leave reviews for early access titles too early. GoG's reviews are static, so if you leave a scathing review on problems the game has it will stay there. Not only can this hurt the game' sales if done too early, but they may remove the things you talked about which will just make your review useless. Wait until they iron out the kinks or listen to some fan input they already have, it is called EARLY access after all. If you really want to give your direct input on the game, leave it to the forums or contact the creators.
Supplied by BeatriceElysia

DON'T deduct your review's score due to a lack of extras. Extras are meant to the icing on the cake, not the cake itself. You can enjoy a game without extras and in the grand scheme of things a lack of extras is a nitpick.
Supplied by Mortius1

DO use metaphors if writing something up becomes too difficult: Whenever you want to discribe a complex idea on why the game stands out, use an example you've experienced in your life in order to make people understand your point. Using personal experiences can be important to others to understand your abstract point of approach.
Supplied by Dray2K

DO understand your perspectives: Last but not least, every gamer has a different concious on how they approach games. Some people like RTS games, some people like Roguelikes, while others enjoy Simulations or Action games more. Theres also people who only enjoy playing older games. Knowing what you like and what you want is one of the most important steps to take before writing your review. If you like being pasionate, fully commit to that and people will understand as well. If you like stating objectively quantifyable elements and don't like too much disagrace or positive passion, commit to simply state what the game offers. The more you can think of, the more your review will stand out. The "like" rating compared to others will reflect this, use that as data to further built your style of reviewing games.
Supplied by Dray2K

DON'T skip through your own reasoning just so things are "more readable": Writing more is always better than writing less. People who read reviews are the people who would also spend 10+ minutes watching YouTube gameplay videos. People wan't to be intellectually stimulated to form an educated opinion. Remember that most people don't just buy the game but make the concious decision to purchase the game on this specific platform. Don't just assume that people are impulsebuyers, those people aren't the type that can be bothered to read through reviews anyways.
Supplied by Dray2K

DON'T review a game by comparing it to another game. Even famous games are not known to everyone, even less so cult classics. Review the game on its own merits and take the effort of describing its content.
Supplied by petitmal

REMEMBER: There are exceptions to any rule, but be reasonable about it!
Supplied by Dray2k

Feel free to supply more don’ts and some do’s. Suggestions on how I myself can improve these criticisms would also be greatly appreciated. Thank you all once again for your great suggestions and thoughtful conversations!

Nice. BTW the posts have a character limit.....that is likely why it didn't post.