This includes technical use of graphics, as well as the aesthetic quality of a game's appearance and presentation.
*Sound
This includes the quality and use of sound effects and music in the game.
*Gameplay
This includes everything from the game's interface to its control and how well balanced it is--basically, how well a game plays and how enjoyable it is to play.
*Value
This reflects the game's longevity--how long you'll be able to play and enjoy the game and also how much replay value you'll get out of it. The retail price of a game can also figure into the value score. Note: Games with bad gameplay often have low value scores. On the other hand, a game can have great gameplay (and get a high gameplay score) but can be very short (and get a low value score).
*Reviewer's Tilt (Tilt)
This score basically lets a reviewer sway the final score--either higher or lower--based on the reviewer's experience with a game. Here's an example: A game might have really good graphics but really bad gameplay--so it gets a low tilt score to keep the overall score low, since the game ultimately isn't fun. Or a game might have poor graphics and sound but have a really good story--so it might get a high tilt to boost the overall score a bit.
This exceedingly rare score refers to a game that is as perfect as a game can ever aspire to be. A game that receives this rating could not reasonably be improved upon in any meaningful way.
*9.0-9.9: "Superb"
I absolutely recommend any game in this range, especially to fans of that particular genre. However, games that score in the 9 range are also well suited for new players. Games that score in this range are highly uncommon.
*8.0-8.9: "Great"
This score range refers to great games that are excellent in most every way and whose few setbacks probably aren't too important. I highly recommend games in the upper half of this range, as they tend to be good enough to provide an enjoyable experience to fans of the game's particular genre and to new players alike.
*7.0-7.9: "Good"
A game within this range is good and likely worth playing by fans of its particular genre or by those otherwise interested. While its strengths outweigh its weaknesses, a game that falls in this range tends to have noticeable faults.
*6.0-6.9: "Fair"
A game within this range has certain good qualities but significant problems as well. Games that score in the 6 range may well be worth playing, but you should approach them with caution.
*5.0-5.9: "Mediocre"
A 5-range score refers to a game that's "merely average" in the negative sense--in other words, mediocre. Mediocre games tend to have enough weaknesses to thoroughly dampen their strengths. A much better game probably exists--one that you should sooner try.
*4.0-4.9: "Poor"
Games that just don't work right and maybe didn't spend enough time in production tend to fall into this category. They simply lack the cohesion quality that makes other games fun.
*3.0-3.9: "Bad"
You probably shouldn't get too close to a game in this range. Any of its positive qualities most likely serve only to make the rest of it seem even more disappointing.
*2.0-2.9: "Terrible"
Beware, a game within this range is almost entirely devoid of any effective or fully functional features.
*1.0-1.9: "Abysmal"
Ouch. The rare game that falls in this lowest of the low ranges has no redeeming qualities at all.