More specifically, a merit is a review of a game, that includes, as a rough guide:
Gameplay Initial Thoughts Music/Audio Controls What was Good/bad? Suggestions
A merit, must contain near-perfect gramamr and spelling too, to lend it more credibility.
There are nmerous merit guides in the NewComer's Section. You can check the the stickies (threads with a red colour pin next to their names), for more information.
In some cases, you can gain merits if you win a competition in the AMW Section (Art, Music and Writing Section).
Examples:
Weekly Poetry Contest Short Story Contest Art Skills Contest
And occasionally the Pokemon and animation one if I didn't recall wrongly.
