what Insekt said.
also, consider that one of, (if not *THE*) most widely-read sources of/for reviews -
going under the somewhat dubious -at best- moniker of:
"Game Informer"
is, indeed...
*
Owned*
by...
GameStop
Holy clash + conflict of interests, Batman!
I'd confidently bet that, this situation and relationship, surely puts the franchise's *
financial* considerations, interests, arrangements, marketing, advertising, commissions, + their current level/lack of love (read: current + potential profitability of the devs and/or pubs involved with the game)...ALL strongly come into play before + influence, dictate, and decide how they're going to "review" and score the game...weeks to months before any of their staff actually *play* the game in question.
I get it - it makes sense, and - it's a sound way of handling such things from a
...*
financia*, *
business*, and catering to & keeping their *
stockholders* happy kind of perspective -
I ain't gonna lie - if it was my company or, if it was a company that I was the CEO or CFO of and/or a company that I wa s stockholder in...I'd handle/want things handled precisely so.
But - as a gamer - *and*, since it's only said, stated, and/or found amidst the smallest & very finest; of the smallest and finest print...well - just apply any logic or common sense to who & what the owner of the magazine writing & publishing these games is