Electronic Gaming Monthly

EGM delivers on the interactive front. They have more space for more letters (and longer ones) than Gamepro, though GP responds to them somewhat better than EGM does (more on this in a minute). Another area that EGM shines on is the humor. They don't use too much maturity when writing them, therefore can be a much funnier ride when reading it. More feature articles also round out this mix of good forthcomings from EGM, and these are soely in-depth and don't lose you in it's content.

However, there are flaws within EGM's otherwise solid structure. First off, there are alot of features. Sometimes too many. So many, in fact, that it seems that they don't have as much space to do the reviews, which, while somewhat informative, don't really go into all that much detail when trying to tell you what to buy, and that is what game magazine should be doing. Secondly, their stragety's are somewhat lacking in the depth department. Sure, they will give you some tips and cheats, but Gamepro has been beating EGM by a MILE in this department ever since they started, as EGM doesn't have the in-depth stageties that Gamepro gives, and EGM still suffers in this area, and don't expect to have this one fixed by a baby step.

However, the biggest shortcoming that kept this score from five is their unforgiving structure. Sure, they have a better spectrum of a ratings structure than Gamepro, but this also has it's cons. When reviewing a game, one minor flaw that everyone else BUT the EGM reviewers will overlook, or even not see at all or consider a flaw, knocks that score down by about a point, whereas Gamepro can still give it their highest score when noticing that same flaw. Also, the "hyped" games get better coverage and better attention by EGM and get high scores for just being a hyped game, while the games that may not get as much coverage and get shoved off to the side. Also, as I have said before, only the EGM reviewers can notice the flaws in some of the games that they find. Sure, everybody will have their own opinions on certain games, but EGM's the ONLY ones that find a flaw in some of the games (very few games, if any, has ever gotten a 10.0, it's highest score, by any reviewer in EGM), and even the littlest flaws can bump the scores down by a full point or two. Gamepro is better here, as it also gives non-hyped games a chance. Also, if your reading EGM religiously, they have told you that if you don't have certain things (like broadband or a big screen TV), you're stupid. Also, if you tell them a different opinion than their own in your letter, expect to get one of the biggest toungue-lashings ever. Sometimes, the person writing the letter doesn't deserve what they got as a response. Finally, while not terribly biased, EGM will be at times. Remember what I said about unhyped games being pushed off to the side? Maybe EGM doesn't soely create the hype that a game gets, but it certainly rides along with it and even contributes to it.

Dispite it's shortcomings, EGM is still a great magazine, and personally, I don't perfer GamePro over EGM or vice versa. I like them both equally. If you like one, you will like the other. Sure, the hardcore fans of each mag will continue to trash the other mag, but both the mags have their shortcomings, and EGM is no different. Still, the features and humor found within EGM are enough to warrent your money. Just be sure to get Gamepro, too, if you want a more forgiving voice and a more in-depth review.