M.U.L.E. (Atari 8-bit)

[digitalpress]

Critique the critique!

Rate this review on a scale of 1-10. Please explain your score. Was the review entertaining? Informative? Well-written? All of these things should go toward your critique.

http://www.digitpress.com/reviews/contest/mule.htm

[digitalpress]

Critique the critique!

Rate this review on a scale of 1-10. Please explain your score. Was the review entertaining? Informative? Well-written? All of these things should go toward your critique.

http://www.digitpress.com/reviews/contest/mule.htm

[Trellisaze]

9/10 (Very, VERY Good)

Excellent review. The reviewer did a great job of detailing the history behind (and following) the game and describing his reactions to the different parts of the game (the part about the ringtone was great!) I just wish that some more detail was given about why the reviewer found the simplicity of the market section of the game provided the best experiences, rather than merely list the kind of stuff you can do there.

[Trellisaze]

9/10 (Very, VERY Good)

Excellent review. The reviewer did a great job of detailing the history behind (and following) the game and describing his reactions to the different parts of the game (the part about the ringtone was great!) I just wish that some more detail was given about why the reviewer found the simplicity of the market section of the game provided the best experiences, rather than merely list the kind of stuff you can do there.

[maxlords]

I give it a 9/10. It covered a LOT about MULE. It made me really interested in the game, and was well-written. Basically, a quality review!

[maxlords]

I give it a 9/10. It covered a LOT about MULE. It made me really interested in the game, and was well-written. Basically, a quality review!

[Scoots]

Super informative and nicely written! Great job! 9/10.

[Scoots]

Super informative and nicely written! Great job! 9/10.

[Oobgarm]

Superb. Told me all about the game, of which I knew nil about going in. Wonderfully written and organized.

10.

[Oobgarm]

Superb. Told me all about the game, of which I knew nil about going in. Wonderfully written and organized.

10.

[NoahsMyBro]

This was an excellent review, definitely worthy of inclusion in the main DP Review pages.

The game was described well, without focusing too much on the mechanics or details necessary to actually play.

The extra bits of info and provided links to more information and M.U.L.E. resources online were a nice touch to an already outstanding article.

10/10.

[NoahsMyBro]

This was an excellent review, definitely worthy of inclusion in the main DP Review pages.

The game was described well, without focusing too much on the mechanics or details necessary to actually play.

The extra bits of info and provided links to more information and M.U.L.E. resources online were a nice touch to an already outstanding article.

10/10.

[Flack]

9.

Great job of getting even non-MULE players caught up.

[Jorpho]

Amazing! It's another Review of Quality!

9/10

[zmweasel]

N/A

[lendelin]

This is on the edge of being a very good review, but just comes a tad short.

Strenghts:

- very intelligent explanation about gameplay principles beyond the actual game (although ther are elements (!) of some of the principles in the game, but not clearcut applications of these principles, e.g. prisoner's dilemma)
- very knowledgeable and informative about the background of development and the perception of the game today (big plus)
- the presentation of gameplay isn't merely descriptive, but contains some good first steps of evaluating it at the same time.

Weaknesses:
- it's still too descriptive. Looking at other reviews as well, I admit to combine description and evaluation based on analysis is hard to learn and requires practice. (this goes for oral and written argumentation) The review doesn't fall into the trap of a simple, painful dichotomy of description and evaluation like so many other reviews, but it still gets lost in too much descriptive details rather than focusing on selected important gameplay aspects and dicussing them. (meaning show deficits and/or positive aspects)

- the overall score of 8 is inconsitent with the content of the review. I expected a clearcut 10, which means there must be some deficits in gameplay which are not addressed in the review.

Just a little bit of a push, and you're there. :) Really a nice review.

Overall: 8.5/10

[Britboy]

9.5 out of ten

[Drexel923]

The reviewer did a good job of describing the game with just the right amount of detail. The only thing keeping me from a perfect score is the end of the review. While I normally wouldn't mind all of the production info and links, the reviewer left us with nothing but it. I feel that a conclusion beforehand would have made the review complete.

9/10

[Ascending Wordsmith]

Very detailed and very informative. All aspects were discussed in this easy to read review. Thanks for the screenshots and the links. Fine review.

9/10

[Captain Wrong]

I say this is the one to beat. I knew little about this game, and the review tells me just enough. The reviewer explains well why he likes the game and the background information is actually interesting. The only complaint I have is the "old school learnin' " line, but I can ignore that. First place.

Score: 10

[digitalpress]

Simply brilliant, this is one of my favorites, a 10/10.

LOADED with historic information as well as a perfect run-down of the gameplay elements and WHY they work so well (this is not often explained in game reviews... it's OK to theorize, it helps build the writer's case), the writing is lucid and very personable - written as if the reviewer is addressing ME, specifically. I like that. I like this review, very much.

[planet-irata]

As the author of the M.U.L.E. review, I'd like to thank all of you for your critiques. There was some good information in your critiques that will no-doubt help next time I do a review.

In hindsight, after hearing some of your comments, I'd have to agree that I didn't have a strong close. Before giving the links and history at the end, I should have closed the actual review with a nice summary statement. Ok, I promise to do that next time ;-)

As for the overall score of 8, after such a glowing review, I struggled with that myself for a while. The reason I didn't give it a "10", was I found it hard to justify after giving the sound and graphics "6", and the gameplay "9". I did that because I realize this isn't the type of game that will appeal to everyone, and I was afraid part of my enthusiasm for the game was nostalgic in nature. Don't get me wrong, I still think it deserves it's place in history, but perhaps it's more the grandfather that inspired the 10's to come (Civilization, SimCity). Sort of like how The MC5, Stooges, and New York Dolls are the grandfathers of Punk, inspiring the movement that would come later, led by the likes of The Ramones, The Clash, and others.

Anyway, thanks for the comments,
Tony

[SoulBlazer]

And some mention of the other ports would be nice. :) The NES version, IMHO, is the BEST, and the graphics were updated for it.

[Daniel Thomas]

And some mention of the other ports would be nice. :) The NES version, IMHO, is the BEST, and the graphics were updated for it.

I'm intrigued that you would prefer the NES version. I thought it was okay, but what ruined it for me was the way the game zoomed to a side-scroller when you're in the store. The timing was thrown way off; this version took way too long to suit up a mule. The graphics looked good, but I think I prefer the bold colors of the computer versions. Again, that's just me. As long as everyone agrees that MULE is an all-time great, I'm happy.

And, of course, the review was very good. You always want to encourage other writers, and I enjoyed reading it.

[planet-irata]

And some mention of the other ports would be nice. :) The NES version, IMHO, is the BEST, and the graphics were updated for it.

Well, I did *mention* the other ports:


Ported Platforms: C-64, NES, MSX-1, PC-8801 MKII

I didn't go into details about any differences, simply because I haven't played all the other ports (particularly the NES version.) I know they exist, but I've primarily played the original Atari version, and have also played the C-64 version which is basically identical to the Atari version.

Side note: all said, I think I should have given it an overall rating of 9 instead of 8...but it's all subjective, anyway.