I have been reading/watching reviews all day. Amongst all the negativity there seems to be a common theme.

The game is too focused on PvP - Did you try the PvP? - No, it isn't really my thing.

The game is on rails. There is no exploration incentive. - Did you get into any higher level content? - No, I quit at level 8 because I was disappointed.

It seems pointless to be in a group. Everything dies too fast and there were people taking our kills. - Did you try any of the content that was actually designed for groups like dungeons or world bosses? - No.

These are just a few examples of how silly most of the bad reviews are. The problem is that while the NDA is in place, we are subjected to reviews that try to generalize the entire game based on very limited exposure.

Once the NDA is lifted, there will be hundreds of videos going over everything from taking and defending keeps in Cyrodiil to how rewarding and challenging the dungeons really are. There will be detailed videos on any topic you can possibly imagine.

There will also me much more of an opportunity for quality reviews from people that actually engaged in the content they are attempting to form opinions on.

I think the negative reviews are directly from your competitors

/drum roll...

Doubt and Impatience....

That brings an idea to mind: how many of these reviewers are, or may, be bought out by other MMO companies?

Surely this doesn't happen though.... /sarcasm

I have often wondered the same thing. it is nearly impossible to find true impartial journalism. The MMO market is very competitive so it wouldn't surprise me one bit.

Bingo, I have no doubt that there is some of this happening.

Game reviewing is a joke to begin with, you'd have to be insane to think they have anything valuable to say.

Sometimes they do, it's something that is irrelevant at the same time as necessary it's for people who haven't already played beta. Gotta' have reviews to have insight on the UnKnOWn.
Most of the time, we just want to know what other people think so we can compare our own opinions.

That thought has crossed my mind. I mean, it's hard to reconcile what they say with my own experiences (that I'm not allowed to talk about). Sure, tastes differ, but a lot of the criticisms are just vague or nonsensical.

The only review I care about is my own. After having been in 3 betas, I rate the game 9/10, at least once some rather prominent bugs are squashed. My pre-order for the physical CE remains in place.

Argh, that bloody NDA. We all have so much to gush over, so much incorrect info to refute. And we can't breathe a word. It svcks.

The only thing I'll address is that line about no incentive to explore. My response is to laugh and shake my head. I could barely actually get to questing at times for it. Hey, what's that over there? Look, it's [NDA], just what I need for [NDA]! Sweet, I found the third [NDA] and now I'll [NDA]. On and on. The game's as bad as Skyrim for getting me happily sidetracked.

I have played MMOs for more than ten years and still i cant fully understand and judge a MMO before playing it for at least two months.

I wonder whats the point of reviewing a MMO after less than ten hours of beta play, i just cant take it seriously.

What are they reviewing the character creation and the starting area? Nice job

Yeah, exactly. The PCGamer review just floored me. I thought.. are these guys even talking about the same game? I happily wasted many many hours just running around digging through dressers and desks trying to find (NDA) so that I could make (NDA). I finally found a (NDA) and it felt so rewarding. I kept running by quest givers telling myself that I would remember to come back to them once I finished (NDA). I never made it back to half of them. There is something else to do around every corner.

Lol I completely agree. I was distracted in beta, and for an MMO that's kind of rare - for me. I still mostly rail roaded through the content, but I kind of regret it now. This may be the first MMO in some time (maybe ever) that I'll want to slow down and appreciate the amusing dialogue and scenery.

Some of the kewlest stuff was [NDA] and [NDA][NDA][NDA][NDA][NDA]. Definitely will try to do more [NDA][NDA][NDA][NDA].

I provided a review that I dont like that the game is focused on PVP have I tried TESO's pvp? no I dont have to I played DAOC for several years It isnt necessary for me to try the ESO pvp to know what I am getting when it comes to pvp and my opinion on the matter like I have said before is WE the PVE'rs FAR outnumber you the PVP'ers so I wanna be pampered and as I am in the majority group I SHOULD be pampered bring on the pampering

All I can say is that reviews only have the power you give them. Personally, I never listen to any reviews and never watch anything they have to say. I believe (justly or not) that none of them have anything interesting to tell me and I sometimes feel (justly or not) that they seem to think their opinion is better than ours...

Some of the best movies I've seen had bad reviews and some of the best games I've played as well. Not to mention all the awful movies and games I've experienced that had incredible reviews.

What I'm trying to say is make your own idea of it. YOU are the best review for yourself.

PvP was really fun. I enjoyed it. I like the way they set it up.
You'll see for yourself soon enough.

Positive reviews are the work of insightful writers who appreciate quality.

Negative reviews are malicious, silly, and/or the work of a conspiracy of competitors.

The countdown to the launch of a MMO can be so amusing to watch.

If running out of interest in the game at level 8 is a common issue, then something is terribly wrong.

Here is a blanced review in my opinion . . . http://www.tesoelite.com/2014/02/elder-scrolls-online-beta-impressions-story/

Lol I love the common silly theme here, "but the NDA" "They must be paid by ESO competitors or malicious people".

Did it occur to you some people in the press may have generally found the game underwhelming? There are reviews out there that I completely concur with. That list the good and bad. I can answer yes to all those questions and I cancelled my preorder.

If you canceled your preorder, why are you on ESO forums at 12:29 am

I think there may be a little too much emphasis in the early lvls on tutorial style questing. You don't really begin to appreciate how deep the game is until you have played it for a while. At the end of my 3rd beta I was still discovering different aspects of the game.

Because it's not that time here? Or do you assume everyone lives in your time zone?

Yeah but no matter the time, what keeps you on the forum of a game you will not play?

Its a honest question.

I left FFXIV because i think it svcks but i didnt stay on their forum bashing the game after quitting.

This is todays standard, altho not fair in my eyes. Its hard to tear yourself from your prior most played mmo and this also makes it harder to get into new ones. The fun of this game comes (for me) from the diverse builds you can come up with. this has always been a big + in by book, along with the economy this loot table wil bring. And wil apeal to a lot of people i think. Put that in a smooth 96% real time combat jacket and you got yourself a winner in my eyes.

But this wil only come after your character is starting to take shape and form, shape and form like you feel is most enjoyable. Thus lvl 10+.

sorry but an honest review is an honest review no matter who gives it as long as its honest its valid