What do the stars represent?
I primarily rate individual tracks, i.e. I give 0 to 5 stars to pieces of music and judge how worth listening to they are. Based on this, I give an overall score for the album. The basis for this classification is my subjective, layman's opinion. Having rated over 250 albums, I presume to know my way around the genre of (video game) soundtracks quite well, but I am not an expert. So if you are expecting in-depth analyses and technical terms from music theory, I have to disappoint you.
Here is a short list of the 6 possible ratings and what they stand for:
This is usually not a music track, but, for example, radio moderations, skits or cutscenes.
Similar to 0 stars, but with a musical component. Alternatively, they are ambient tracks, i.e. pieces that are intended to create an atmosphere. For example, the anxiety of a cave ... and there's usually not much music in there.
Tracks that I don't find well done or that bother me in some way, e.g. the length.
These pieces can be considered classic average, they are ' mediocre '.
Good to very good tracks that are definitely worth listening to, but are either too long or not catchy / unique enough to make the 5 stars.
With 5 stars, I reward the crème de la crème of video game titles that, in my opinion, should definitely be heard. This is also the best way to judge whether it's just my personal taste, nostalgic glorification or if they are masterpieces after all.