GRADE SYSTEM

Game Revolution regularly receives questions and complaints about our grading policy. Much of them now are about our recent change from our longstanding letter grades to a five-star system, which has advantages we can't ignore for the sake of tradition: It's easily interpreted on an international scale and on aggregate sites, which gives the control back to us, and it's more professionally accepted as a rating scale in all forms of art. We figure that video games deserve to be in the same company. And really, it can't be that surprising - there is a star in our logo, after all.

We take a tough stance on grading. This isn't a site where every score goes from 7-10. Remember, 2.5 stars is meant to be average.

Games are graded based on when they are brand-new, in context to the state of gaming of its time. A retro game released now is given a score based on current standards. We assume that most aspects of gameplay, sound, graphics, and design will improve over time, and we grade accordingly. A sequel must be better than the original in order to receive the same grade.

What The Grades Mean

5 stars	A true Game Revolution. A new threshold. Phenomenal in nearly every regard, pushes the boundaries, and shakes the very definition of video gaming to its core.
4.5 stars	Not only incredible for both design and presentation, but also memorable and revolutionary for its genre.
4 stars	A strong representation of its genre. Slightly unpolished in spots, but all-around solid.
3.5 stars	Good overall gameplay and graphics. More bright spots than dark ones.
3 stars	Above average. Has many problems but does enough right.
2.5 stars	Plain and average. Has an equal amount of flaws and disappointments.
2 stars	Needs improvement. May have a spark of creativity but far too mired in issues.
1.5 stars	Unfortunate. Hard to grasp any positives to speak of.
1 star	Lousy. Fails at being even mediocre.
0.5 stars	An unacceptable, unconsolable piece of work. Hardly worth the data. Painemptyy awful.
0 stars	A nightmare that scars our existence. The mere mention of its name invokes anger, despair, and years of therapy.