A Game Review
You are going to write a review about your favourite game
PART I: Playing Games
1. What do you like doing in your spare time?
What’s your hobby?
...........................................
...........................................
Remember
We write –ing after certain
verbs: like, love, enjoy,
hate, can’t stand.
...........................................
2. Click here and listen to some people in London talking about their spare time.
Complete the sentences:
a)
b)
c)
d)
Speaker
Speaker
Speaker
Speaker
1
1
2
3
says she doesn’t ................................................
likes .............................................................
likes .............................................................
likes .............................................................
3. Say how often you do the following activities and add one more free time
activity. Click here to see some suggestions.
Free time activity
Play a sport
Sing karaoke
Listen to music
Look after your pet
Read
Play computer games
Play board games
......................................
How often?
How often?
Click here to review the
adverbs of frequency.
4. Do you have any favourite board game or computer game? Finish the
sentences:
 I like playing .......................................................................
 I usually play .......................................................................
5. ADJECTIVES. Think of an adjective to describe your favourite game. Is the
adjective positive, negative or neutral?
...........................................................................................
Now put the adjectives in the right column: boring, exciting, competitive,
entertaining, long, short, easy, difficult, funny, interesting, interactive,
expensive, cheap, addictive, popular.
Positive
Negative
Neutral
Online Dictionary
Essential British English by
Cambridge University Press.
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6. Match the pictures with the words in the box. Which are board games? Which
are computer games?
Monopoly
Ludo
The Sims
Memory
Call of Duty
Uno
Scrabble
Snakes and Ladders
Pac-Man
Chess
a) ..............
b) ..............
c) ..............
d) .............. e) ..............
f) ..............
g) ..............
h) ..............
i) ..............
j) ..............
7. Read these five short reviews written by students and guess the name of the
game in exercise 6.
a) It’s very easy to play. You need a board, a dice and four counters for each
player. The board is colourful and you have to choose one of the four colours:
green, blue, yellow or red. Players take turns to throw the dice. If you land
on a counter of the same colour, you form a block. The object of the game is
to move all the four counters to the home square in the middle. I love playing
it because it’s exciting. .............................
b) It’s a war video game. You only need a console and a controller. The object of
the game is to kill people before being killed. You can shoot to kill or throw
grenades. The worst thing about the game is that it’s a bit violent. It’s an
addictive game. I usually play it with my friends. ............................
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c) It’s a board game. There are different letter tiles with different scores so
each letter has a different value. The object of the game is to make words
with the letters and score more points than your opponent. This game is
based on luck and on skill. I love playing it because it’s entertaining. .........
d) It’s an exciting game. You only need mental ability and memory. It’s famous
all around the world. Playing this game is very easy. You only need pairs of
identical cards, you shuffle them and you put them face down. Then, in turn,
each player should turn over two cards. If the pictures are the same, the
player keeps the pair and gets one point. Then the player plays again. If the
pictures are not the same, the player must place the cards in their original
position and the next player plays. The player with more cards wins. I like
playing it because it’s funny and you can have a great time. ..................
e) It’s a game for PC, Mac and consoles. This game began in 2006 and is really
popular. You have to create a character and handle all the family and the
house. The best thing is that you can have a good time but the worst thing is
that you can spend hours and hours in front of the computer and it is not
healthy. I recommend this game because it’s funny and entertaining.
......................
8. WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS. Find the following words and expressions in the
reviews above and translate them according to the context:
a) Board
b) Counter
c) Throw the dice
d) Land on
e) The object of the game is...
f) Opponent
g) Based on luck/skill
Try a quiz...
Which board game is it?
How much do you know
about chess?
Video Game Quiz
The Ultimate Game Quiz
h) Have a great time
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PART II: Pac-Man, The Game
9. Do you know the computer game Pac-Man? Have you ever played it? What’s
the object of the game?
............................................................................................
............................................................................................
............................................................................................
............................................................................................
10. Click here and watch a short video about Pac-Man. Do the exercises below:
a) Choose three adjectives from exercise 5 to describe this computer game.
........................................................................................
b) The best thing about this game is that ................................................
c) The worst thing about this game is that ..............................................
11. Now read the model review about this classic computer game and answer the
questions:
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Pac-Man
A Game Review
The classic computer game Pac-Man originated in Japan in 1980 . It’s part of the history of video
games but it’s still very popular nowadays.
Playing this game is simple. You only need a computer and the software. The object of the game is
to move your Pac-Man around the maze and eat all the dots. There are some important rules. For
example, if the ghosts you find around the maze eat your Pac-Man, you lose a life. If you run out of
lives, the game is over. When you eat the fruit that appears on the screen, you get extra points.
The most exciting thing is that when you eat all the dots in one screen you can move to a new
level. There are different levels of difficulty, from the easiest to the most difficult. The player who
gets the highest score wins.
The best thing about this game is that it’s really easy to play. It’s easier than other computer
games. The worst thing is that it can be a bit repetitive. I don’t like playing computer games but I
still love Pac-Man. It’s very funny, entertaining and competitive!
I recommend this game because it’s very easy to play, it isn’t expensive and you can have a great
time playing it with your friends or family. We usually play online for free.
Pac-Man and a Ghost
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a) In which paragraph does the writer...

recommend the game?
.......

explain what the game is about?
.......

give his opinion about the game?
.......

introduce the game?
.......
b) Find in the text:

Two superlative adjectives: ........................., .........................

One comparative adjective: ...................................

One conditional sentence: ......................................................

Two connecting words: ..............................., .........................
12. GRAMMAR. Answer the questions:
a) Which adjectives have two syllables but are considered short adjectives
when forming the comparative and the superlative form?
Give an
example.
Remember
We write –er than and the –est with
short adjectives and more than and
the most with long adjectives.
Comparative and
Superlative Adjectives
Grammar rule and exercises
....................................................................................................
...................................................................................................
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b) When do we use the First Conditional in English? Choose the correct
answer:
a) To talk about situations that are possible
b) To talk about situations that are irreal
Remember
First Conditional
If + S + present simple, S + will
First Conditional
Grammar rule and exercises
PART III: Your favourite Game
13. Now you have to create your own Game Review. Choose an image to insert to
your review. You can create your own or browse the following royalty free
photo webs:



FlickrCC. Creative Commons Licensed Pictures.
iStock Photo. Royalty free stock photos.
Banco de imágenes y sonidos del Ministerio de Educación
Steps to write a good Review
A. Think and Plan
B. Write
C. Check
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A. Think and Plan. Brainstorm and organize your ideas:
Ideas
Paragraph
(1,2,3,4)
Which is your favourite
game?
What do you know about
its origins?
What adjectives describe
it?
Basic rules to play it
The best thing about the
game is...
The worst thing about the
game is...
Why do you recommend it?
Images
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B. Write. Now you can write the first draft of your review:
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C. Check. Check your review before writing the final version. The following
checklist will help you decide what you can improve:
A Game Review
Checklist
Yes
1
General
2
I’ve planned before writing
I’ve written a rough version first
I’ve answered the question in the task
Grammar
3
Word order is correct (S+V+O)
Comparative. I’ve used the –est and –er than for short adjectives
Superlative. I’ve used the most and more than for long adjectives
Adverbs of frequency go before the verb
I’ve written –ing after like, love and hate
First conditional: I’ve used the structure if + present simple, S + will
Vocabulary
4
I’ve checked the spelling when necessary
I’ve used capital letters when necessary ( proper names, days of the week)
I’ve used words related to playing games
I’ve used adjectives and adverbs
Text Building
5
I’ve used connecting words (and, but, so, because) to join up my ideas
I’ve checked punctuation carefully
I’ve introduced the game in paragraph 1
I’ve explained how you can play the game in paragraph 2
I’ve given my opinion about the game in paragraph 3
I’ve recommended the game in paragraph 4
Maturity and Reflection
No
I’ve been creative
I’ve inserted an image in my review
I’ve written an interesting review
I accept feedback and try to be an autonomous learner
I try to find strategies to improve. I’ve checked my notes (grammar,
vocabulary) when necessary
Before creating your final version of the review, check all the items where you
answered NO.
Images taken from:
http://flickrcc.bluemountains.net/flickrCC/index.php
http://www.istockphoto.com
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