Unlike most sites, we use a two-tiered approach to our review scores. The Star Ratings (from one to five) indicate our opinion of the nuts and bolts of a game: gameplay, graphics, sound, multiplayer mode (if any), etc. The Recommendation Rating (Skip It, Play It, Buy It) shows you whether we think spending your hard-earned income on a particular game is a good idea. Because of the distinction between the star rating and the recommendation, it’s a possibility that a game with a low star rating could get a good recommendation, or vice versa.

To give you a better idea of how this all works, here’s a breakdown of our ratings and recommendations:

: Abandon all hope, all ye who enter here. One-star games have practically no redeeming factors; rearranging your sock drawer would be more fun.

: Now we begin to see the bad outweigh the good. Nonsensical stories, sloppy presentation and game-stopping bugs can all be found in two-star games, but through all the muck, some positive light can still shine.

: These games have significant problems, but they still manage to be fun to play. Three-star games can be guilty pleasures: your mind says they aren’t up to snuff, but your heart still wants to keep playing them.

: Flawed but still impressive. A four-star game has some minor problems, but there’s more good stuff in there than there is bad.

: Nothing is perfect, but a five-star game comes as close as one can. These games combine story, gameplay and presentation into a package that every gamer should have in their collection. Five-star games also automatically earn the Adrenaline Vault Seal of Excellence.

: Caveat Emptor. Definitely seek out a free demo for these games, and if you can’t find one, save yourself the uncertainty and move on. These games aren’t even worth the price of a rental.

: There’s lots to like about these games, but there’s enough wrong with them that you’ll probably be better off renting them if you can or waiting for the price to come down. If there’s a demo available, try it first before you buy.

: Stop what you’re doing, head out to your local game store and purchase these games right away. You won’t regret it!

These are the things we consider when we choose our review scores and recommendations. If you agree or disagree with our choices, please feel free to say so in the comments section at the end of each review. We’re pleased that you take the time to read our reviews, and we value your opinion.