I've been embroiled in an argument about this recently, it's kinda in the same vein as the argument me and @DigitalAtlas had a bit ago. But while I was able to understand his view, I just heartily disagree with it, this new one is a thing of its own. The conversation is primarily about Bioshock Infinite. Other stuff comes up, but this seems to be the focus. The thing that's bothering me is that people are making the argument not that reviews should be objective, like Atlas was, but rather that subjective things were objective because of majority rule. The example the opposition used: The way Elizabeth acts in Bioshock Infinite doesn't make sense, since she was secluded for most of her life. The argument is this is an objective criticism that any critic could use. I said that there are reasons that could be interpreted as to why she acts the way she does, like her being alone so long made her desperate to interact with people, or something. The response I got was "just because some people can see it differently doesn't mean it's not objective" So I dunno, it seems to me like it varying from subject to subject is the definition of being subjective, but I'm curious what other people here thing. In particular I'm curious what @DigitalAtlas thinks of this, because this is in theory pretty close to his beliefs, but almost seems like the antithesis to what he thinks.
The thing to remember about reviews is that they appeal to people who are like the reviewer. When it comes to entertainment there is no possible way to appeal to the things everyone cares about without contradicting yourself. All I can say is ignore reviewers you disagree with and enjoy reviewers you agree with. Reviews and criticism in themselves have a negative connotation. One reason for this is because people review things to get their own opinions out there instead of to inform people. A review that tears a game apart will get shared more than a review that tells people to play a game. Bias is everywhere. My reason for reading reviews is to find games I like, not knock on them. To that end, objectivity is impossible and I have no intention of looking for the most vague review in the interest of objectivity. It won't help me figure out what I'll like and it won't help me figure out what I don't, so what's the point?
