When comparing Jim Sterling vs TotalBiscuit, the Slant community recommends TotalBiscuit for most people. In the question“Who are the best game critics? ” TotalBiscuit is ranked 2nd while Jim Sterling is ranked 9th. The most important reason people chose TotalBiscuit is:
While it can not always be avoided TotalBiscuit states that he tries to stay as objective as much possible. He goes out of his way to accept no gifts from developers or publishers as well as stay completely out of their social circles, as to stay as objective as possible about their products.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Not afraid to speak his mind
Jim Sterling is known for stepping on toes once in a while. In 2009 he gave Assassin's Creed II a 4 our of 10 when most reviewers praised the game, he heavily criticised Peter Molyneyx, a respected industry figure, for constantly overselling and under-delivering his games and manipulating the consumers, etc.
Pro Pro-consumer attitude
Jim Sterling has criticised Valve's Steam Greenlight for having a lack of quality control, multiple developers of "asset flipping" (presenting ready-made game engine assets as a game), the mainstream media for portraying games as causing violence, etc.
Pro Thank God for Him
Pro Tries his best to stay objective
While it can not always be avoided TotalBiscuit states that he tries to stay as objective as much possible. He goes out of his way to accept no gifts from developers or publishers as well as stay completely out of their social circles, as to stay as objective as possible about their products.
Pro The most pro-consumer, non biased reviewer you'll find
He refused to even cover The Witcher 3 because GOG, which sponsored his e-sports team, is a sister company to CDProject Red.
Pro Steam curator channel cataloging 30fps games
The Framerate Police is a Steam Curator channel that TotalBiscuit started as a reaction to Steam no longer listing the framerate games play at on their store. This way users can see what games play at the often considered low framerate of 30fps and then discuss if the frames can be unlocked and how. This is one in the many ways the John Bain pushes for pro-consumer ideals.
Pro Spends 20 minutes in the options menu
Not many reviewers/critics go so in depth in a games menu as Total Biscuit does. Many games he will spend 20 minutes just in the option menu in order to show how many graphical settings there are for a game and what each one does. For those interested in how they can tweak their games this is highly informative and difficult to find elsewhere.
Cons
Con Can be seen as overly hostile
As Sterling has a tendency to cover (often touchy) topics in a somewhat inflammatory, unapologetic manner, he often gets perceived as being needlessly hostile.
Con Is little more than a populist rabble rouser
Whatever gamers are upset about this week, expect the Jimquisition to be following along promptly with a preachy, whiny summation of things everyone said already.
Con Strictly speaking, he doesn't do reviews
As TotalBiscuit himself will be quick to point out, TB doesn't do reviews, he mostly does first impressions. That means that the games he showcases and critiques on his channel he has not completed and so has only partial knowledge of the game.
Con He's dead
Still the best reviewer ever.
Con Quantity over quality
While Total Biscuit is a very level headed person and gives a very valuable service, he is not part of the best in the world of game criticism.