Words, phrases, and tendencies you have my permission to stop using on www.backloggd.com
Playstation Greatest Hits version, edited for 2024.
Don’t worry, we can still be friends.
Don’t worry, we can still be friends.
23 Games
“Gameplay loop”
Seems like a word people say to make their opinion more important than it is. You can probably just say “the game” or “gameplay,” even
Seems like a word people say to make their opinion more important than it is. You can probably just say “the game” or “gameplay,” even
“Janky"
There are 80,000 words in the English language, can’t you think of another one that means “this controls strangely.”
Bonus points also for each instance of "Janky" = "I personally think this controls strangely and do not have the patience to figure it out, even if it might not be that hard to control after all"
There are 80,000 words in the English language, can’t you think of another one that means “this controls strangely.”
Bonus points also for each instance of "Janky" = "I personally think this controls strangely and do not have the patience to figure it out, even if it might not be that hard to control after all"
“Holds up”
Some games came out as early as the eighties, deal with it, man. You’re the only one making you play an old game
Some games came out as early as the eighties, deal with it, man. You’re the only one making you play an old game
"Aged poorly"
I like Star Fox! You aged poorly, dickhead
I like Star Fox! You aged poorly, dickhead
“What else needs to be said about _______?”
Then why bother? You’re the one posting. Come up with something or go away
Then why bother? You’re the one posting. Come up with something or go away
“Mid”
What are you, twelve? Get a thesaurus
What are you, twelve? Get a thesaurus
“Peak”
See “mid”
See “mid”
“Banger”
See “Peak”
See “Peak”
“Based”
See “Banger”
See “Banger”
“Kino”
See “Based”
See “Based”
“Soul”
See “Kin…”
Wait, hold on, what the hell does this even mean. I really don’t know
See “Kin…”
Wait, hold on, what the hell does this even mean. I really don’t know
"Poor level design"
As in "I personally do not like this particular aspect of the game" = "poor level design"
As in "I personally do not like this particular aspect of the game" = "poor level design"
“That (terrible component of a game you're complaining about) was actually intentional”
Okay. I still hated it. All that means is the developer should have known better
Okay. I still hated it. All that means is the developer should have known better
“_________ on crack/acid/barbiturates/etc”
Prohibited by law, unless you can prove you have indeed done crack/acid/etc and therefore know what you’re talking about
Prohibited by law, unless you can prove you have indeed done crack/acid/etc and therefore know what you’re talking about
“Get good”
This is the only argument that dick-measuring gamers had against easy modes for years. They’re like transphobes who identify as a helicopter
This is the only argument that dick-measuring gamers had against easy modes for years. They’re like transphobes who identify as a helicopter
“Skill issue”
Oh no honey, I beat it, I just didn’t like it. See the difference?
Oh no honey, I beat it, I just didn’t like it. See the difference?
“I wish I could play it for the first time again”
It’s a nice sentiment but you all say it too much
It’s a nice sentiment but you all say it too much
“One of the games of all time”
I think you’re trying to say something like “well that was certainly A GAME” and okay fine but… why are you all saying this. STOP IT
I think you’re trying to say something like “well that was certainly A GAME” and okay fine but… why are you all saying this. STOP IT
Discussing a piece of trivia about the game that is by now common knowledge.
Yes, we know what inspired Shigesato Itoi to create the Giygas boss fight. We all know
Yes, we know what inspired Shigesato Itoi to create the Giygas boss fight. We all know
A long preamble discussing the main content of the game we already know because we all just played it too
What I mean is people who feel the need to write a huge synopsis before the review as if they’re writing for gamespot.com, even though we’re not and we’re all on here because we already played the game.
It’s repetitive, you see. It’s the tendency to give us information we really don’t need because we already heard it once before.
It’s irritating when the writer doesn’t understand that we get something once and feels the need to really make sure we do by putting unnecessary information in that we already are well aware of.
As a wise man named David Byrne once said, “you’re talking a lot but you’re not saying anything/ when I have nothing to say my lips are sealed/ say something once, why say it again?”
What I mean is people who feel the need to write a huge synopsis before the review as if they’re writing for gamespot.com, even though we’re not and we’re all on here because we already played the game.
It’s repetitive, you see. It’s the tendency to give us information we really don’t need because we already heard it once before.
It’s irritating when the writer doesn’t understand that we get something once and feels the need to really make sure we do by putting unnecessary information in that we already are well aware of.
As a wise man named David Byrne once said, “you’re talking a lot but you’re not saying anything/ when I have nothing to say my lips are sealed/ say something once, why say it again?”
A status update and nothing else in the review, e.g. “100% in two months,” “emulated on my raspberry pi”
Put it in your log, man. This is letterboxd for games, I assure you no one gives a shit
Put it in your log, man. This is letterboxd for games, I assure you no one gives a shit
A link to your YouTube channel with no other content in the review.
Automatic block if you do this
Automatic block if you do this
A long explanation on your profile of what your star ratings mean
More stars on a rating means you think a game is better than than one with less stars, five being the most and 1/2 being the least. It’s not that deep, guys
More stars on a rating means you think a game is better than than one with less stars, five being the most and 1/2 being the least. It’s not that deep, guys
52 Comments
Not to brag but I think ive effectively avoided using any of these on here. Shows just how little im tuned into the lingo if anything.
im sorry for wanting to be your arch rival zn0
you're not gonna stop me from using "mid", "peak", "banger", or "based" (celeste especially - it's about a mountain! there's peak!!) but i get it. i don't like when that's the only thing people say.
I will say that I outright disagree with the one on The Stanley Parable. Part of the reason for review sites is for people to learn more about something to consider if they should experience it or not. Not everyone has played the game they're reading a review on, I certainly don't only read reviews of games I've played. If giving a refresher on the story is annoying, just scroll past that part my friend.
I will say that I outright disagree with the one on The Stanley Parable. Part of the reason for review sites is for people to learn more about something to consider if they should experience it or not. Not everyone has played the game they're reading a review on, I certainly don't only read reviews of games I've played. If giving a refresher on the story is annoying, just scroll past that part my friend.
@electrode if I just scroll past something I personally don’t like, then how am I going to convince people to make content that I approve of
You've given me the tools on how to write the absolute worst review. >:)
While "jank" might be overused, I think its a really good word for what it describes. It sounds like "junk" and it sounds like "yank" and feels like it could be used in the same way as "jerky", movement thats erratic and cheap feeling, like a banged up jalopy.
We should use more than just jank but jank is an excellent word.
We should use more than just jank but jank is an excellent word.
Good list. Definitely a lot of what you say pretty much trivializes a lot of the Backloggd reviews, probably like 90%.
I think one of my weaknesses is doing preambles for my reviews, but that's because I'm sure not everyone who might read my reviews has played the game, and in part my reviews are done with the ittention of introducing... (that's probably one of the reasons I get so stuck writing reviews of popular games)
Anyway, a review that explains why "peak" is "peak" will always be better than just the word
I think one of my weaknesses is doing preambles for my reviews, but that's because I'm sure not everyone who might read my reviews has played the game, and in part my reviews are done with the ittention of introducing... (that's probably one of the reasons I get so stuck writing reviews of popular games)
Anyway, a review that explains why "peak" is "peak" will always be better than just the word
Oh, I remembered a super common trend, which I've come across in quite a few very popular reviews that start with a personal story, and go on... and on, and on, and the paragraph that talks about the game barely accounts for about 1/4 (or less) of the total text
How many of these am I allowed to break before I am sent to death row for my Video Game crimes?
I'm gonna keep using all of these phrases, no one can stop me
"XYZ was... a choice."
No, Gare, I was talking about mine 😔
Anyway, you could add something like "reviews that talk about everything, but barely talk directly about the game itself."
Anyway, you could add something like "reviews that talk about everything, but barely talk directly about the game itself."
it's ok if you didn't get mgs2
ditto most of these - especially the "janky" sentiments in the case of "i don't like how this controls". i think jank has its place though in describing a game that has fucky programming, stiff animation, etc.
In regards to "Janky", I always find it's younger people not taking time to get used to controls. We live in an age where people are so gung ho to post "highlights" on their social media pages that they don't take time to learn games. I spent around 45 minutes in Syhpon Filter 1's first chapter getting used to the controls and I was fine there out. And Restarted.
I didn't know what what inspired Shigesato Itoi to create the Giygas boss fight until now
May I throw my hat into the ring?
- Calling something “forgettable” or “generic” with no further elaboration
- Calling something “esoteric” when really it’s just “different”
- Calling something “forgettable” or “generic” with no further elaboration
- Calling something “esoteric” when really it’s just “different”
Dostwood
1 year ago
One that has really been bothering me is the overuse of "_____ is a banger!" or just leaving a one sentence review calling a game a "banger" which is similarly annoying to calling something "peak". I often see it used by the same crowd that plays and review games in the Persona or Yakuza series.