In reading/viewing reviews in two different media, one
aspect which really stood out was the formality of both articles. In the
magazine the review seemed to be shortened, leaving what some people would
consider important for a game review out. However for what the magazine stated
it was written with formal text, very little form of comedy and a ‘stereotypical
review’. On the other hand the video review stuck with moderate formality, but
also went into a lot more detail than the magazine review, providing more
information about the deeper story, graphics and objective of the game.
Genre was portrayed in both media to be a horror game, which
although was never stated for certain provided elaborate information on the
game horror tone. Once again the magazine did this in a more concise way than
the video, which went into more detail about the horror side of the game.
Target audience was never really mentioned in the magazine
but through what the magazine stated in a simile (‘…is that awkward person you
don’t want to talk to at any any given time’), suggesting that the game is more
for the teenage variety. Console information also backs this up by being for
the Xbox One, a console with the vast majority being sold to teenagers. The
target audience in the video was never really mentioned either, however the
video did say ‘Horror fans praised the short, experimental genre’ – suggesting through
genre that horror fans will enjoy the game.
The games narrative portrays the same concept in both Medias,
although worded differently. The magazine review went more into depth about the
well-known character of slender saying ‘whenever slender man appears the screen
goes nuts… the longer you succeed in escaping his clutches, the more frequently
he’ll show up’. Similarly the online review mentions about the game based on
the horror aspect, which becomes more difficult the further you get into the
game.
Gameplay is where the magazine review becomes seemingly
biased towards the game, not really mentioning the gameplay but masking it with
‘If you like horror and you’ve yet to have the pleasure of Slender Man’s
company, his xbox one incarnation is absolutely worth its budget price tag’.
This seems to be a ‘Sales tag’ for the game and doesn’t really mention much
about the gameplay. The online review heavily contrasts with the magazines
stating ‘A vast majority of it boils down to finding a certain number of
objects whilst a increasingly dangerous enemy stalks you’. This provides the
gameplay in Its literal gameplay objective stating it how it is, rather than
covering it up with lines like ‘Is absolutely worth its budget price tag’.
Characters aren’t mentioned much in either review, and the
main protagonist isn’t mentioned at all. Although not anonymous the articles
seem to define enemy ‘Slender’ rather than yourself. The magazine gives an
especially short portfolio of slender stating him to be ‘a lanky dude in a suit’.
Platforms were mentioned in both to be on the Xbox One.
Stating it how it is.
Personal recommendation of the writer once again seems to be
biased towards buying the game in the magazine article, saying that ‘If you
like horror and you’ve yet to have the pleasure of Slender Man’s company, his
xbox one incarnation is absolutely worth its budget price tag’. This (same as
before) points the user to buying the game rather than mentioning anything
wrong with the game. The online reviewer’s opinion more heavily critiqued the
game, saying ‘Slender the arrival manages to deliver some truly impressive
scares, although you’ll have to wade through the muck of repetitive tasks and
unfair enemies in order to experience them. I preferred the original free
version of the game…’.
