I’ve been meaning to do this write up for a while, mainly due to some colleagues asking why I use a “1 – 6″ rating system. I figured now would be a good time as ever to do a break down of it, especially before I do reviews for ‘Fire Emblem: Awakening’ and ‘Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance’. I’ll go over what each rating is suppose to mean, one by one. Then, I’ll briefly explain my philosophy towards review ratings. Please note that I’ll primarily using video games to help describe the individual ratings. However, this rating system is universal for whatever I review, whether it’s a movie, TV show, hand soap, and so forth.

1  out of 6- Terrible

The game is absolute trash. There is absolutely no redeeming factors whatsoever. Avoid this at all costs, even if you can get the game for dirt cheap.

2  out of 6- Bad

The game fails on multiple levels, from a technical, storytelling, and  originality standpoint. There is little reason to play this particular game. There may be a certain aspect that is notable, but the game ultimately fails to deliver.

3 out of 6- Average (Meh)

The game is tolerable. This rating would be seen on games that are ‘run-of-the-mill’, meaning that the game has little to no surprises. The game is underwhelming, but it can have a bit of entertainment value.

4 out of 6- Average (Good)

The game is average, yet there’s an element that makes it more enjoyable. It could be the storytelling or a certain gameplay element. There is a yearning for more, but odds are you’ll find this game enjoyable.

5 out of 6- Great

The game, as a whole, is great. Overall, the game is very enjoyable. However, there is something that holds the game back. Examples: lacking multiplayer mode, little replayability, underwhelming ending, and so on. Nevertheless, this is a game worth playing.

6 out of 6- “Uncanny!”
This game is excellent. The game excels at accomplishes what the developers wanted the audience to experience, whether a unique twist with the story telling or gameplay mechanics. This doesn’t mean the game is perfect (what game is?) However, any imperfections with the game are easily overlooked. You need to experience this game. In other words, this game is…

Now that’s out of the way, let me explain why I decided to use this system, rather than an 100/10 point system or even 5 stars. I feel that 6 is the perfect number for a rating scale. It allows me to be specific while still having enough room for other ratings. Plus, the reason that why I opted for 6 rather than 5 is that it forces objectivity on my part. If a game turns out to be average, does that mean it necessarily mean that it’s a bad game? Well, that answer is subjective, but aren’t all reviews in a way subjective? It’s why I’ll do my best to be as unbiased in my critiquing as possible. However, in the rare case that I do have a bias (such as myself refusing to like PlayStation All Stars Battle Royale purely on the premise of its existence), I’ll hand the review to another contributor to the site.

Also, I’m not enforcing this rating system for all of NUReviews’ contributors, since I believe they should review how they feel they’re comfortable with. But no doubt that we aim to provide a solid critique of media we feel that audience wants to know.