- Suda51, the developer behind creative IPs like Killer is Dead and Lollipop Chainsaw, is not fond of Metacritic.
- He states that developers now have a formula for creating games that score well on the platform, which harms creativity.
- The developer says he does not care about review scores and focuses on producing fun experiences.
Metacritic has become an important part of the gaming industry today. AAA studios strive for the celebrated 90+ rating on this platform, while audiences are also quick to judge games based on their scores.
Because of Metacritic’s current status, developers often celebrate positive scores. On the other hand, lower-than-anticipated scores can be discouraging. However, the famous Suda51 has a different mindset. He finds that this platform is given too much importance today.
Why it matters: The gaming industry is producing many big titles year after year. Despite these huge releases, there has been a distinct lack of projects that break away from established trends.
Following the release of Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP, Suda51 discussed why the gaming industry lacks unique projects today.
He argues that Metacritic is a major reason for the industry’s current lack of creativity. According to the developer, the industry has landed on an established formula to develop games that score high on this platform.
This leads to homogenization, creating a situation where bigger companies are no longer interested in taking risks.
Everyone cares too much about the numbers. It’s gotten to a point where there’s a set formula.
However, Suda51 is not interested in aiming for high Metacritic scores. The developer has always focused on gaming experiences that he finds fun, leading to a cult following for many of his great albeit niche titles.
For context, Suda51 has been involved in projects like Shadows of the Damned and No More Heroes besides Lollipop Chainsaw, giving him more than enough experience with projects that take a lot of risks and stand out from the crowd.
We also agree with the veteran Japanese developer since the traditional Metacritic score system is not always a great indicator of a great experience.
For instance, a release like Black Myth: Wukong scored a fairly modest 82/100 on the platform, yet it has become the undisputed biggest release of 2024. This disconnect highlights that audiences found the action RPG much more enjoyable than the critics.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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