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1 out of 5
A one out of five is a game you should never, ever touch. Often they're terribly dismal licensed games, like Beowulf The Game, or they're shovelware of the highest order, like Escape From Bug Island. Hallmarks of the 1 out of 5 include broken controls, amateurish game design, and a nagging feeling that the most fun you’ve had so far with the game was in the main menu.
2 out of 5
Twos aren't unplayable garbage, but they're still severely flawed games that you probably want to avoid. Lair, with its unfriendly tilt controls and antiquated mission design, is a prime example. Another would be Hellgate: London, which is a fine game at its core, but plagued by so many presentational and technical problems that it sinks under its own weight. Twos may not be the bottom of the barrel, but the expression "fans only" comes to mind, along with the word "rental."
3 out of 5
A three out of five is, well...a game. Not exceptional, not offensive, just a solid playable title. Beautiful Katamari is perfectly adequate. It doesn't bring anything new to the table, but it doesn't really do anything badly. It's a quintessential three. Other common threes include the functional licensed game, such as The Simpsons. A three is not a bad game, nor is the three a condemnation of a game. It’s simply an indication that the game in question is distinctly unexceptional. While technically competent, threes often lack ambition. Perhaps not surprisingly, there are a lot of 3 out of 5 games out there.
4 out of 5
A game that succeeds on almost all levels but remains held back by one or two notable flaws will receive a four out of five. For example, Heavenly Sword is a top-notch hack and slash with a good story and great acting, but it is ridiculously short, making it hard to wholeheartedly recommend. Fours are good games with good or even great ideas behind them. They accomplish most of what they set out to do, but one or two flaws that seriously impact playability can knock even the most high concept title down to the still admirable 4 out of 5.
5 out of 5
The coveted five out of five is reserved for the best of the best in gaming. A game that gets a five isn't necessarily perfect, but it's one we'd feel comfortable putting in the hands of anyone willing to pick up a controller. These are the games that define their genre, realize even the most ambitious elements of their design, and remind us why we play these videogame things to begin with. Five star titles include 2007 game of the year contenders Super Mario Galaxy and BioShock.
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