Full View Template

(AS OF 6/17/21)
Below is an extensive guide as to what “Full View” and “Quick Glance” reviews look for in a game. Feel free to remove, copy, or adjust this template and apply it to your own reviews; all that I ask is that you acknowledge that you are using or modifying the “Full View Template from The Game Optician“. Thanks!

GAME EXAMINATION

Date of Release:
[When did the game originally release?]
Platform(s):
[Where can this game be played? When did it release on that platform?]

Cost of Game:
[What is the retail cost of this game? What is the cost for each platform?]
Hours of Play:
[What is the projected range of time one might spend to complete the game?]
[Under what conditions?] (Main Campaign, Completionist, Rushed, etc.)
Storage:
[How much space does the game take up?]

Genre:
[What is the main genre of this game?] (Platformer, Action-Adventure, RPG, etc.)
[What are some subgenres?] (Multiplayer, Open World, Story Rich, Great Soundtrack, etc.)
Developer:
[Who developed/ported the game?]
Publisher:
[Who published the game?]

Players:
[How many people can play the game?] (Singleplayer, Co-op, PvP, etc.)
Age:
[Who is the target audience, or would enjoy the game the most?] (Children, Teens, Adults, Everyone, etc.)

PLAYER EXAMINATION

In-Game Data:
[Take information documented directly from the game, which can include: Total Time, Achievement Percentage, Collectibles, etc.]
[This section can often be a more streamlined approach to Player Examination when applicable]

Hours Played:
[How long did it take to finish the main campaign?]
[How long did it take to complete the game?]
[How long did you spend with the game overall?]
Completion: choose one
[Main Story] (bare minimum for “complete” experience)
[+Extra/Optional] (side quests, multiplayer modes, new game plus, extra modes/areas, etc)
[Incomplete] (disclose the extent to which the game was played)
Achievements:
[Percentage or quantity value]

Style of Play: choose as many necessary
[Longplay] (most sessions lasted more than 1-3 hours)
[Daily] (most sessions lasted around 1 hour, occurring nearly every day)
[Drop In & Out] (most sessions lasted less than an hour, occurring infrequently)
[Hiatus] (most sessions have long periods in-between)
Platform of Play:
[What device did you play the game on?] (console, PC, streaming/game service, etc.)
[What controller did you use?] (keyboard & mouse, controller, etc.)
[What other specifications would be relevant to how the game was played?] (multiple players, streaming, subscription service, limited time, etc.)

Date of Play:
[When did you begin and finish the game?] (in days, in months, in years)
Price of Play:
[At what price did you purchase the game?]
[At what retailer did you purchase the game?] (Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc.)
[At what condition?] (New, Pre-Owned, Digital, etc.)
[Using what methods?] (BOGO, Coupons, Gift Cards, Special Promo, etc.)

CATEGORIES OF INTEREST

There are four categories that I believe are the most essential areas of a video game, from most important to least important: Gameplay, Writing, Visuals, and Sound.

This is my preferred order of importance, and honestly, the difference in importance is slim. Of course, they can be moved around according to the game and its genre. For instance, Gameplay might be most important with an arcade game; Writing with an interactive fiction; Visuals with an adventure game; Sound with a rhythm game. Regardless, I believe these categories directly influence one’s enjoyment of a game, and hence, are the deciding factors in determining whether or not the game should be played.

GAMEPLAY

  • TECHNICALITY
    • [How complex, technical, intuitive is the gameplay?]
    • [How many gameplay styles are there, and what experiences does it provide to the player?]
  • EXECUTION
    • [How much effort or thought does it take to play the game sufficiently and properly?]
    • [How well do gameplay concepts translate during execution?]
  • ENJOYMENT
    • [How fun is it just to play the game?]
    • [How do gameplay mechanics enhance or inhibit enjoyment of the game?]

WRITING

  • CHARACTERS
    • [How memorable, likeable, realistic are the characters?]
    • [How do they (de)motivate the player to continue playing?]
  • STORY
    • [How competent, interesting, emotional is the game’s world, plot, and progression?]
    • [How does it (de)motivate the player to continue playing?]
  • WRITING (OVERALL)
    • [How competent is the overall writing, such as in dialogue, tutorials, and information?]
    • [How does the tone/mood (de)motivate the player to continue playing?]

VISUALS

  • ENVIRONMENTS & EFFECTS
    • [How visually appealing are the environments and other effects?]
    • [How thoughtful, unique, complex are the environment and other effects?]
  • CHARACTERS & MODELS
    • [How visually appealing are the characters (& their models)?]
    • [How thoughtful, unique, complex are the characters’ designs?]
  • PRESENTATION
    • [How does the game present itself as a whole?]
    • [How well does the game represent and showcase its gameplay, story, visuals, style, game feel, etc?]

SOUND

  • SOUND (EFFECTS)
    • [How does the sound design compliment the game overall?]
    • [How well does the sound design immerse the player into the game?]
  • MUSIC
    • [How diverse, complex, or memorable is the soundtrack?]
    • [How well does it immerse the player into the game?]
  • VOICE TALENT
    • [How are the performances of the voice actors?]
    • [How well do they immerse the player into the game?]

CATEGORIES OF ASSURANCE

There are two categories that I believe should be considered when deciding to purchase a game: Quality of Life and Quality of Play.

These categories further detail the kind of game to expect, and can potentially make or break the game. While not as important as the Categories of Interests, this is good information to be aware of when it comes to a purchase or playing the game.

QUALITY OF LIFE

  • ACCESSIBILITY
    • [What options are available for the player to adjust?] (Sound, Visuals, Difficulty, Controls, etc.)
    • [How well do they acknowledge the player’s preferences?]
  • DIFFICULTY
    • [What types of experiences are available for the player?] (Easy, Casual, Normal, Hardcore, etc)
    • [How does this aspect impede or enhance the game’s experience?]
  • USER INTERFACE
    • [Is the UI quick to navigate, easy to understand, overall intuitive?]
    • [How does the UI impede or enhance the game’s experience?]

QUALITY OF PLAY

  • BUG & TECHNICAL ISSUES
    • [Are there any bugs/technical issues that affect the game?] (minor, game-breaking, etc.)
    • [What specifications are necessary to play the game smoothly?] (PC, Console differences)
  • NUANCES & NUISANCES
    • [What little refinements enhance your experience with the game?]
    • [What little issues impede your experience with the game?]
  • REPLAY VALUE
    • [How much incentive is there to play the game again?] (Extra Content, Achievements, Alternate Paths/Endings, Collectibles, etc)
    • [How much does one feel inclined to play the game again?]

CATEGORIES OF CONSIDERATION

The following three categories pertain to the reviewer’s impressions of the game and their recommendations: Judgement, Situation, and Price.

If Categories of Interest determines the merit of a game, and Categories of Assurance details what to expect from the game, Categories of Consideration assists in recommending and purchasing the game. These categories answer the question: “Is this a good game for me?”

JUDGEMENT

Choose one:

  • MUST-PLAY: “Everyone should experience this game!”
  • RECOMMEND: “Anyone should experience this game!”
  • TAKE A CHANCE: “Anyone interested should consider this game.”
  • TAKE CAUTION: “Anyone interested should reconsider this game…”
  • AVOID: “Everyone should NOT experience this game…”
  • SNAPSHOT:
    • [What are a few words regarding your feelings on the game?] (the quote of a review)
    • [Challenge: can you make a pun that encapsulates both your feelings and the topic of the game?]

SITUATION

  • SERIES
    • [How will one familiar to the series feel about this game?]
    • [What can they expect to be different? The same? Better? Worse?]
  • GENRE
    • [How will one familiar to the genre feel about this game?]
    • [What can they expect to be different? The same? Better? Worse?]
  • ERA
    • [How will each era of gamers feel about the game?]
    • [Is there a certain generation of gamers that this game would appeal more to?]
  • NEWCOMER
    • [How will a newcomer to the series fare to this game? Newcomer to the genre? Newcomer to gaming in general?]
  • CONCERNS
    • [What are frequent concerns regarding the game?] (questions, criticisms, relations, remarks, etc)
    • [How valid are these concerns?]

PRICE

  • COST
    • [Is the price of the game representative of the game’s overall value?]
    • [Is the product too expensive or inexpensive for what it offers?]
    • [Are there hidden costs regarding the game?] (DLC, in-game purchases, online subscription, required peripheral, pay-to-win features, etc.)
  • AVAILABILITY
    • [What platforms is the game sold on?] (Console, PC, Streaming Services, etc.)
    • [What editions are available to purchase?] (Standard, Deluxe; Physical, Digital)
    • [Are there certain editions that are harder to obtain or provide better value than others?]
  • PREFERENCE
    • [When is the best time to purchase the game?] (Preorder, Day One, Sale)
    • [What editions are worth it and should be purchased?]
    • [What platform is preferred when playing the game?]

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