How to Make Reviews

[Maxim]

Guide

Hello everybody! I bet you're here to take a shot on becoming one of the proud members of the review team. Now before you take on this vigorous task of professional reviewing, I believe that you should know what is expected of you when you are on this team.

Now along with the delight of a special color instead of a blue one over your name, you have some serious responsibilities of being a part of this team. You will be expected to make all of your reviews close to perfect, spotless, and neat. Also, making frequent reviews is a key. If you are not a very active member of the Wiipals community, I do not recommend this job for you.

If you still sound like you fit this spot, than please continue to read! I will now give you a good outline and prospective on what a review looks like.

You may choose any game on the Nintendo series that you like, but because you are not on the team, I would like to advise that you choose a video game that has been reviewed on already by an affiliate of the Reviewers. This is because you want to save the unreviewed games for when you are a part of the team. So today, I am using one of my own reviews, on WarioWare: Smooth Moves! Note that this was done before I was on the team, and it had already been done by CheepCheep (note my advice above)

Mario Party 8 Review-Please Comment and Critique!

I would have to start out by of course by being yourself. I have chosen this outline for myself. I make mine go:

1. What console it was on and the release date
2. The name again
3. Small intro
4. Box art
5. Story
6. Wii Remote Features
7. In game pictures
8. Game Structure
9. Graphics
10. Enjoyable Rating
11. Setbacks
12. Wrap Up
13. 1-10 grade
14. The name again
15. My name

But switch up. Throughout my history of making amateur reviews, I have learned to change up my structure until it is accepted and looks neat. You will go through a lot of changing your reviews, so be expecting it.

Presentation

A) Grammar

A very annoying thing to see in a review is horrid grammar. Wiipals has a nice misspelled word finder, but I prefer to use Microsoft Word. Also, seeing the same word over and over and over again kills me! Programs like Microsoft Word have nice synonyms finders on them, to help the repetitive word syndrome.

B) Pictures

Do not go overboard. You need some, so do not eliminate them completely. I would say that 3 or 4 pictures to a review is a great number. I have also gotten the comment to try to make all of your pictures the same size. This is not necessary, but it again helps with the look. Also, put a caption under all of your photos unless they are box art.

C) Colors

If you have different sections like me, color coordinating them is helpful. If you do choose to color them, carry over the pattern from review to review. Do not switch it up. Also, it would be a good choice to bold certain key areas in your review.

Just because it’s pretty doesn’t mean that it is a review! Fallow the next steps well

What to include

A) Secrets

Make sure that it is a REVIEW! I don’t want to know how to beat the final boss, or who the baby’s daddy turns out to be in the end. Don’t give away a lot at all about this game. It’s nice to know slightly about story, but no more than what can be found in the game manual.

B) Good or Bad Game

Make sure we know what side you on. If you adore this game, make sure we know it, and that everything you say supports it. When you hate it, make us despise it too.

Don’t use “I worship the story of the game but I’m disgusted of the use of the Wii remote use.” If you overall give the game a 2, which brings me to my next tip

C) Rating

It is almost imperative that you rate the game in the end. It has become so popular that it does not seem like a review without on. It is a very important way to wrap off your review.

D) Graphics

A lot of people will not buy a game if it has bad graphics. Talk a little bit about them and compare them to their past games if it is in a series. Use words like clear, precise, and real.

E) Wii Remote/Stylus Activity

This is the Wii that we’re talking about! Popular for the Remote, so you’d better talk about it! If it barely uses it and could easily be put on the Gamecube, say it. If the game mostly consists of minigames, it is most likely a good example of the Wii Remote. Talk about how the game gets you active, and how you have to use this amazing controller.
If your making a review on a DS game... Same thing! With it's touch screen capabilities, it also has tons to offer. Talk about how you use it. Do you move the character around with the stylus, or do you poke little lights with it? Do not forget to mention this feature.

F) Bad areas

Every game has a flaw, so talk about it. This will give others a prospective on why you rated the game how you did. Even if the setback seems very small, it may give some people incentive to not purchase the game, and they will appreciate you for saving their money.

G) Is it Fun?

Is this game fun or boring? No one wants to pay for something that doesn’t make them happy. Make sure you talk about this a lot, because it makes or breaks the video game!


Last, make sure that you give it something to make it stand out from others. Enter something that no one else has. I have seen multiple things that make people’s review unique. Make something up but DO NOT steal from others’ trademark reviews.

Now get out there and start making reviews! One good review won’t get you onto the team, but with a little practice, you will make it there someday! Just remember to look at every piece of criticism well.

Thanks for reading, hope it did you well.

[Sirjinx]

This should help anyone thinking about writing a review. Lotta good stuff in here Max.

Maybe I will write one now.

[Justin]

This is actually a great thread Max, and I'm going to sticky it for potential reviewers to refer to. Hopefully some members will make use of it and write some awesome reviews for us all.

[Demon]

Originally Posted by Temmy How can a beginners write a REVIEW guide? Get someone like Doc or a professional to do it.

...Temmy...

Max13 is a professional, he's on the team, and he makes good reviews...

Anyway, nice guide max! Helps me SO much!

[TrueBeliever]

This is a very nice guide. I appreciate you taking the time to write it Max. You definitely sound like you know what your talking about and it shows in your reviews.

[SKATERKRAZY!]

no wonder ur so goodi was a review team member on a other site

[Doc]

Max13! A great, great step by step guide to writing reviews. I always knew you were talented at what you did.

Thanks for taking the time out to write this. It's a very great guide, and it deserved to be stickied. I'm sure even people already in the Review Team can even get tips from reading this, me being an example.

Awesome guide.

- D o c

[Kakashi Hatake]

Great guide, it'll surely help me on my upcoming reviews when I get a chance to do another one!\

(Also, it'll help the rest of the members)

[Pocketim]

By the looks of this guide I think I still need to do a little more work on my Reviews, I guess I should just keep practicing

[Pac_cap]

This looks like a great guide. I've been feeling like writing a review for something for a while now, and at least I now know some sort of structure to use, or how to make a structure (because I would obvisouly create my own structure and way of writing).

But this really is a great starting point for begginers.

[Juggernaut]

I need to start making Reviews... I'll definitely use this guide.

[YankeeFan802]

This is a great guide Max.
This is going to help me with all my future reviews.