The Last of Us Part II alone s proof that video game reviews have dramatically evolved since days of old when all that may have been required for conducive feedback was an observation on mechanics, narrative, and how well these two aspects correlated within the entire experience. Now, however, it is so much more than simply, “Is this game worth its particular price point?” Of course, this may well be the only thing of interest to the consumer, but it can’t all simply be boiled down into a specific numerical takeaway.

The price tag of a video game - now especially - doesn’t always equate to the video game’s enjoyment, nor does any given review score. The eschewing in of YouTube content creators has likewise created with it a variety of spaces, or communities, wherein video games can be dissected and challenged via a multiplicity of avenues. In this regard, then, how does one look past their own feelings and beliefs when purveying these emotional interactive experiences?

The answer is simply they can’t. Thus, taking reviews seriously is a mistake.

The subjective nature of video game reviews is why so many take reviews so seriously. Gamers feel a certain connection with a game they adore, so much so that when it gets a negative review, they feel it’s a direct affront to them, in some strange way. It’s not, of course. A video game review is simply just one person’s viewpoint on the experience, an experience that itself can be, most likely, dissected for ages - as is the case for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time or even Metal Gear Solid.

There’s also the question of unfair bias or even tampering, of which was discussed in full via Alanah Pearce in a YouTube video released not long after The Last of Us Part II debuted. Questions of a similar nature abounded at the time, as Niel Druckmann’s behavior on social media made people in the industry a bit concerned as to the nature of TLOUII and its assessment. It’s a perfect example of extreme divisiveness, as it doesn’t get much more mismatched than receiving a 10/10 from IGN and an everlasting 2.8 audience rating on Google.

Not that there isn’t any meddling, because there is, of course, to some extent. Sites do need to rake in their advertising money, which will often pertain to gaming content. In an article published on Medium in 2016, Matthew Gault divulged upon many of these same concerns, highlighted best of all in the Kane and Lynch incident:

While dated and a serious case, these kinds of things do happen and is why it’s important to take reviews at face value.

“Eidos Interactive had paid huge sums of money to advertise the Kane & Lynch on Gamespot and it wasn’t happy with the negative coverage. The publisher reached out to the site’s upper management and the suits caved to a publisher who had invested enough advertising dollars to exercise editorial control over the site’s reviews.”

But, there’s also the review itself to look at. As Brendan Mackie noted in his 2018 article on this topic, he explained that reviews have evolved into what he considered a “subgenre of think-piece.” In most cases, he wouldn’t be wrong. He continued in an elaborate fashion, dissecting the art of video game reviewing itself like a world-renowned surgeon:

As it were, going beyond the games themselves, it’s more so about the individual reviewer than it is the game. Experiences, feelings, and beliefs all coalesce into a persona that then must make a decision as to the relative enjoyment of a particular video game and then put that ultimatum into a number. The reception will vary dramatically depending on who is in that reviewer seat, as even a game like Microsoft Flight Simulator can have extraordinary differences amongst its player base.

“The problem is that ‘we’—gamers, game critics, the cultural public, whatever—have misunderstood what kind of art video games are. We take for granted what makes video games fun and engaging, when the question should be the start of our inquiries. Before we answer it, our criticism is going to fall flat, because it’s going to be criticizing the wrong thing.”

So, stop overreacting from negative review scores to games you love. Reviews, in many cases, aren’t so much a reflection of the game, but more so how a certain player approaches that game and if it’s even a worthwhile experience. Take reviews, instead, with a bit of rope and try the game out for yourself via services like Game Pass, PS Now, or demos, if available. Because, as much as you may hate that particular review, in the end, you may find the observations to be sound, to some degree.

If otherwise, then simply don’t play the game. It’s that easy.

NEXT: Marvel’s Avengers Is A Bit Of A Mess On PC: Here’s How To Fix It