(This post is mostly for me, but perhaps you might like to know how I set up my reviews and what I'm looking for. If so, then enjoy.)
The template:
General information: How did I come across it? What is the goal? Did I enjoy the game?
Gameplay: What are you trying to do (more detailed goal) and how are you supposed to do it? Does it make sense? Is it realistic (if it's supposed to be)? What is out of your control, and does that lack of control add to the game's challenge in a reasonable way? Or does it make the game unnecessarily hard?
Details of game: Turn based/real time? Solo, Solo V Computers, With humans? How do you interact with others?
Graphics/Sound: Are the graphics enjoyable? Does the on-screen action make sense? Is the User Interface easy to follow/manipulate (Different from gameplay because gameplay is about the interaction of the in-game elements with themselves, this is about the player's ability to interact with those elements). How does the music/sound effects add to the atmosphere of the game?
(If it's a board game, how much sense does the board make to the untrained eye? Can a newcomer see the board and understand what they're looking at?)
Engagement: How does the game engage the player? Is it engrossing? Is it open-ended, or is there a clear goal? Does it lend itself to long hours of consecutive play, or concise episodic play?
Educational value: What can this game teach? How does it teach this information? What can the player do to increase the game's educational potential.
Lasting Appeal: After playing a full game, will a player want to return to the game? What are the benefits of repeat play? Can the game be played in more than one way? Will a player want to play several games in a row, or maybe just once a week/month?
