granny: Wrong.

1) If the information upon which an opinion is based is incomplete or inaccurate, then the opinion can be disregarded. Despite popular belief, an opinion can be wrong.

2) Calling something 'an opinion' does not magically protect it from criticism. If an opinion, certainly in the form of a review, fails to take into account aspects (or issues) that are apparent to everyone else, then the opinion and its author can be taken to task.

3) Professional reviews are held to a higher standard than non-professional reviews. Fanboy gushing and tales of a games lack of flaws are fine from amateur bloggers who just want to spout their view. If a professional does the same, they had better be right.

When a glowing review of a game fails to mention or point out issues that are apparent to everyone else, then the foundation upon which the review is built becomes suspect, and the review itself can be considered at best 'wrong', and at worst 'dishonest'.

More so with games, there are some aspects that are not subjective. For example: excessive reuse of the same map, ropey AI, low res textures, missing or incomplete animations etc. If these things, which are likely apparent to everyone else, are not mentioned in a review, then the review becomes suspect, and the reviewer can be considered incompetent.

So, no. You can have two differing opinions, you can have a hundred differing opinions, but not all of them will be right, or valid, or in any way useful. And the argument of "it's only their opinion" is an invalid one, as it exists solely to try and stifle debate, and to attempt to protect the incompetent reviewers from critique.

tinyE: I don't mean to be a smug asshole but I love it when a game that I have nowhere enough of a system to play turns out to be shit. It makes me smile when I go back to my fossil PC, rev up the AOE 1, and play play play, enjoying every second of it.

Mohdar: I'll just leave it here :)

KneeTheCap: I am -still- saying reviews are opinions. Is there some rule that dictates how one can rate his/her review?

DProject: Reviews are indeed most of all opinions, but opinions can be wrong. No seriously. If there are 99 people who taste a rotten taco, and say it tasted bad, but 1 guy who tastes it and says he thinks it's okay, it is safe to assume that person is wrong and should be beaten with a stick.

Out of curiosity (and a little off-topic): have you watched Total Biscuit's "Should you preorder games" (or something like that) video? He said something that I think is the reason why you're defending the game (actually, I assume you are; I only read like two posts)

ne_zavarj: http://www.videogamer.com/videos/aliens_colonial_marines_what_the_hell_happened_to_aliens_colonial_marines_2.html

Demo vs final version .

wormholewizards: After comparing the final release with the E3 demo, no one can deny the quality in the final has regressed by a stellar margin.