I'd say it still counts, since the question was about review embargoes OR no pre-release copies provided to reviewers. Hype or no hype, you'd still be asking gamers to buy it based on nothing but previews, trailers and/or developer rep.
Bimfred
joined 7 months ago
Hi-Fi Rush last year. No review copies, since the game was announced and released on the same day. Turned out to be a really fun rhythm action game.
Showing my age here, but the OGs of Doom, Mortal Kombat and GTA turned all the millennial gamers into murderous sociopaths who can't tell the difference between video games and reality. That's after Dungeons & Dragons turned us into murderous sociopaths who can't tell the difference between board games and reality. If I recall correctly, the hoopla around all of that made national news in the States.