Taking the thinking out of "Critical Thinking"

When people start forming an opinion on a piece of media (be it games, movies, music, or books), many tend to look critically at how each part is presented as part of a whole. For example, the analysis of a piece of film would require the critique of shot composition, directing, acting, the mise-en-scène... for a game, perhaps it would be the gameplay, the graphics, and the UI/UX design that would all contribute to a "positive" impression.

If that's the sort of review you hope to see, then you're in the wrong place. Whenever I consume media, my critical thinking skills automatically turn off. It's almost like a gift. Almost.

To me, nothing but first impressions and final impressions matter. That means: "Is it enjoyable enough to invest time into learning and sinking into the game?" and "If so, would you regret investing that time at any point during the process?"

These two questions are exactly what I hinge my reviews on- with a caveat. In order to retain some impartiality, I also ask- "Can I see this being enjoyable for someone else?" This way, my reviews are accessible to most everyone.