Review Rankings and Categories

When we set out on our ScoTori adventure and life path, we decided we wanted to review our life experiences: movies, music, concerts, games, products… pretty much anything we come across. We wanted to standardize how we review, so we could compare apples to apples, and keep it consistent. We also wanted to use a standard methodology of how we determine our review ratings and rankings, so that no matter what we review, you’ll be able to tell what we think at a glance.

 

Category Rankings

For everything we review, there will be anywhere from around 3 to 8 categories. The categories allow us to objectively look at different aspects of the experience. Each of these categories will be reviewed on a 1 to 5 rating scale, from worst to best. For example, movies have three categories: 1) Characters, 2) Story, and 3) Visuals. Each category has equal impact on the overall ranking of the review. The overall review scores for each category are:

5Amazing: Best we’ve seen in this category

4 – Great: Above average of those we’ve seen in this category

3 – Good: Average of those we’ve seen in this category

2 – Disappointing: Below average of those we’ve seen in this category

1 – Awful: Worst we’ve seen in this category

 

Overall Rankings

Once we review each category for the experience, we then average the categories (rounded up) to determine the Overall Ranking, from 1.0 (Awful) to 5.0 (Amazing). For our Overall Rankings, anything that falls into the GOOD, GREAT, or AMAZING rank is worth your time to experience, whereas anything that fall into the DISAPPOINTING or AWFUL rank is generally not worth your time (unless it is your “thing”). The overall Review Ranking ranges are:

AMAZING (4.6 to 5.0) – We give this our highest recommendation. It is almost perfect and you could experience it again potentially an unlimited number of times.

GREAT (3.5 to 4.5) – We highly recommend this. It is above average. There are a few flaws about it, but the rest is good enough to almost forget those and you could experience it again several times.

GOOD (2.6 to 3.4) – We recommend you experience this at least once. It has some good aspects and some not-so-good aspects. It contains interesting concepts or execution. It would be considered average, worth the experience, but not necessarily anything special.

DISAPPOINTING (1.5 to 2.5) – We do not recommend this. Considered below average, mediocre and uninteresting. Could have some interesting parts, but on the whole it’s not worth experiencing. Something to potentially avoid.

AWFUL (1.0 to 1.4) – We recommend you avoid this. Almost everything about this experience is unappealing and most likely not worth your time and effort.

 

Categories for Experiences

Every experience has different aspects that affect the overall enjoyment of the moment. Sound quality, atmosphere, characters, visuals, cleanliness… depending on the experience, different things impact our impression of how good the experience was. In order to maintain consistency and fairness, we’ve tried to come up with categories for these different aspects that best fit the particular experience type.

 

Movie/TV Show Review Categories (Fiction or Story-Driven Non-Fiction)

Characters/Actors: This is the characters as they are portrayed, the actors playing each and their ability and fit, along with interaction between the characters/actors.

Story: This is the overall flow and feel of the story, the emotional and logical content, and whether or not the story makes sense.

Visuals: This is the overall look of the movie/show, including sets, costumes, and special effects.

 

Movie/TV Show Review Categories (Documentary Non-Fiction)

People Portrayed: This is the people as they are portrayed, the actors playing each and their ability and fit, along with interaction between the characters/actors.

Information Delivered: This is the overall flow and feel of the information being delivered, the emotional and logical content, and whether or not the story flow makes sense.

Visuals: This is the overall look of the movie/show, including sets, costumes, and special effects.

 

Book Review Categories (Fiction)

Characters: This is the characters as they are portrayed and interaction between the characters/actors.

Setting: This is the overall world building and locations portrayed, along with the history of the world, organizations, governments, and fit and feel of it all.

Story and Writing Style: This is the overall flow and feel of the story, the emotional and logical content, and whether or not the story makes sense, along with the style of the writing and the ability of the storyteller to convey the story.

Editing and Continuity: This is the general editing of the book, including the consistency and continuity of the information being delivered.

Cover and Visual Formatting: This is the overall visual effectiveness of the cover, any illustrations, and the formatting of the interior.

 

Audiobook Review Categories

Characters: This is the characters as they are portrayed and interaction between the characters/actors.

Setting: This is the overall world building and locations portrayed, along with the history of the world, organizations, governments, and fit and feel of it all.

Story and Writing Style: This is the overall flow and feel of the story, the emotional and logical content, and whether or not the story makes sense, along with the style of the writing and the ability of the storyteller to convey the story.

Audio Quality and Fit: This is the overall sound quality, including the quality and fit of the voice talent.

Editing and Continuity: This is the general editing of the book, including the consistency and continuity of the information being delivered.

Cover and Visual Formatting: This is the overall visual effectiveness of the cover and any illustrations.

 

Comic/Graphic Novel Review Categories

Characters: This is the characters as they are portrayed and interaction between the characters/actors.

Setting: This is the overall world building and locations portrayed, along with the history of the world, organizations, governments, and fit and feel of it all.

Story and Writing Style: This is the overall flow and feel of the story, the emotional and logical content, and whether or not the story makes sense, along with the style of the writing and the ability of the storyteller to convey the story.

Artwork and Art Style/Formatting: This is the overall flow and feel of the artwork, the impact of the art, along with the art style and effectiveness in conveying the intended story.

Editing and Continuity: This is the general editing of the book, including the consistency and continuity of the information being delivered.

 

Convention Review Categories

Venue: This is the size of the locale, look and feel of the locale, architecture, location, and parking availability/convenience. Comfort level of seating as applicable.

Organization/Staff: This is the general organization of the convention, along with the knowledge, friendliness, and responsiveness of the personnel.

Atmosphere: This is the general pervading tone or mood of the event, from the fun factor to the variety of the offerings, and everything in between.

Guests: This is the overall impression of the guests, including their manners, joviality, approachability, personality, and interaction opportunities.

Panels: This is the variety, content, comprehensiveness, accessibility, and quantity/quality of the panels.

Dealer Room: This is the overall ambience, variety, quality, and feeling of the dealer room and the vendors.

 

Tabletop Game Review Categories

Visual Design/Appeal: This is the overall visual composition, typography, imagery, color and form of the game materials that inspires, informs, and transforms.

Rule Playability/Complexity: This is the ease of play, complexity of play, and the rapidity of learning and following the rules for new and experienced players alike.

Strategy/Luck: This is the interplay between raw luck and strategization and their impact on the outcome of the game.

Replay Value: This is the game’s potential for continued or repeated play value after its first completion, including the game’s randomness, alternate endings, and overall fun in rediscovering and replaying the scenarios, making it worth playing more than once.

Fun Factor: This is the overall feeling of how fun or how “not fun” the game is, and the AMOUNT of fun it is.

Player Interaction: This is the interaction level between players for multiplayer games, a measure from no true interaction to maximum interaction. (Note: For single player games, this category will not be considered.)

 

Musicals and Plays Review Categories

Venue: This is the size of the locale, look and feel of the locale, architecture, location, and parking availability/convenience. Comfort level of seating as applicable.

Costumes: This is a measure of the effectiveness, variety, and quality of the costumes and garb of the actors and actresses.

Sets and Special Effects: This is the measure of the construction, quality, and effectiveness of the sets and the special effects.

Characters/Actors: This is the characters as they are portrayed, the actors playing each and their ability and fit, as well as interaction between the characters/actors.

Story: This is the overall flow and feel of the story, the emotional and logical content, and whether or not the story makes sense.

Orchestra and Sound: This is the quality, clarity, and intelligibility of the singing and talking of the actors, along with the quality, clarity, accuracy, enjoyability, and intelligibility of the orchestra and musical score.

 

Hotel Review Categories

Cleanliness: This is the overall cleanliness, hygiene, and sanitation of the establishment.

Staff: This is the knowledge, friendliness, and responsiveness of the personnel.

Venue: This is the size of the locale, look and feel of the locale, architecture, location, and parking availability/convenience.

Amenities: This is the quality and availability of amenities, such as snack bar, internet, breakfast, pool, toiletries, microwave, kitchenette, etc., as applicable and as appropriate.

Comfort: This is the quality, design/style, accessibility, and usability of the bedding, chairs, shower/bath, toilet, sink, etc.

 

Restaurant/Eatery Review Categories

Food Quality: This is a measure of the quality characteristics of food, such as appearance (aesthetic, size, shape, color, gloss, and consistency), texture, flavor, temperature, and health factor.

Portion Size: This is an indication of the amount of a food or drink that is generally served when a typical dish is ordered at the establishment. Too much or too little can be either a positive or negative, depending on the type of course or dish being prepared.

Menu Variety: This is an indication of the overall variety of cuisine for the establishment, from drinks and appetizers to main entrees and desserts.

Cleanliness: This is the overall cleanliness, hygiene, and sanitation of the establishment.

Staff: This is the knowledge, friendliness, and responsiveness of the personnel.

Atmosphere: This is the general pervading tone or mood of the eating area, including music being played, crowd, overall feeling/emotion generated.

Venue: This is the size of the locale, look and feel of the locale, architecture, location, and parking availability/convenience. Comfort level of seating as applicable.

 

Music Concert Review Categories

Sound Quality: This is the quality, clarity, and articulation of the musicians through singing and talking, along with the quality, clarity, accuracy, enjoyability, and articulation of the music.

Performance: This is the overall presentation of the band, including energy of the performers, the stage sets, outfits, stage layout, consistency of the songs, and delivery.

Atmosphere/Audience: This is the general pervading tone or mood of the event, including the overall audience reaction.

Setlist: This is the variety, flow, selection, and appropriateness of the performed songs.

Venue: This is the size of the locale, look and feel of the locale, architecture, location, and parking availability/convenience.Comfort level of seating as applicable.

 

General Venue Review Categories

Cleanliness: This is the overall cleanliness, hygiene, and sanitation of the establishment.

Staff: This is the knowledge, friendliness, and responsiveness of the personnel.

Atmosphere: This is the general pervading tone or mood of the event, from the fun factor to the variety of the offerings, and everything in between.

Venue: This is the size of the locale, look and feel of the locale, architecture, location, and parking availability/convenience. Comfort level of seating as applicable.

Offerings: This is the variety, quality, quantity, appropriateness, and effectiveness of the items displayed or offered at the venue.