I’m curious to know what signs you look for to gauge whether an upcoming game is likely to be really great or if it might not live up to expectations. For instance, I think a positive sign is when developers showcase extensive gameplay videos because it shows they’re confident in their product. A couple of examples I can share are the Silent Hill 2 remake with its impressive 14-minute gameplay footage, and the game ‘Expedition 33,’ which provided a lengthy demo to content creators—both turned out to be hits! On the flip side, I’ve noticed that if a game experiences multiple delays, it tends to be a worrying sign. What do you all think?
5 Answers
Honestly, I believe the presence (or absence) of early review copies speaks volumes. If review copies get sent out late or there’s no access for reviewers before launch, it usually hints that the devs are worried about negative feedback. If they let people play early, it shows confidence!
Definitely! I remember Cyberpunk 2077 had a review embargo until the day of release, and look how that turned out.
A good sign for me is when the devs showcase seamless transitions from gameplay to cutscenes. If that flow is smooth without a visual drop, it often indicates quality. I’ve found that with a lot of successful titles. But if every other trailer is just cinematic fluff with little gameplay to show, I become skeptical.
Yes! Good transitions are key. If it feels jarring, it’s a sign they haven’t nailed the gameplay yet.
Totally agree! Nothing beats a game that can blend narrative and play seamlessly.
When a game starts hyping up a battlepass before it even launches, I’m out. It’s like they’re admitting the base game isn’t enough to keep players engaged. Just feels like it’s more about the monetization than the actual fun of the game.
Exactly! I tend to avoid any game that overemphasizes MTX in their marketing.
Preach! Games should be fun off the bat, not just an excuse to extract cash later!
One major red flag for me is when the devs say things like ‘this game is a return to form.’ It feels like a desperate attempt to bank on nostalgia. Sure, sometimes it can work, like in Resident Evil VII, but most of the time it just screams that the new game won’t live up to the older titles. Creatively lazy for sure!
Yeah, I totally get that! It seems like a fallback line when they’re out of fresh ideas.
I agree! It feels like smoke and mirrors, especially with sequels that just don’t capture the original’s magic.
If I see a game lacking gameplay footage and relying heavily on cinematic trailers, that’s a huge red flag. Remember how much hype there was around Mass Effect Andromeda? Those flashy trailers only delayed the inevitable disappointment when the game launched without showing the real gameplay until it was too late!
Exactly! If they can’t trust the gameplay to sell the game, that means they’re probably hiding something.
Right! It’s the classic tactic of disguising the flaws with shiny graphics.
So true! The sooner reviews are out, the better the odds the game’s actually decent.