The hate is strong with gamers on both sides of the aisle. The game is the top selling game on the PS3, with 5 million copies sold. The next best-selling game on the system? Activision's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, with nearly 4 million in sales. On the 360? Only Halo 3 and COD4 overshadow it.Despite the fact that big titles this year on both systems (Metal Gear Solid, Gears of War 2, Call of Duty: World at War and even LittleBigPlanet), GTA IV created such a frenzy that even nongamers took notice.
So what if there's not a Harrier jumpjet or a Learjet to jack this time around. So what I don't have a BMX to ride on around town (way cool in "San Andreas."). And all these features are gone -- tanks, flamethrowers, planes, skydiving, vigilante missions, taxi missions, ambulance missions, firefighting missions, buying and owning property, managing businesses, real exploration rewards, diversity of environments, diversity of missions, creating and improving gangs, conquering territory, advanced character customization, eating, jetpacks, the military, the attack plane, custom cars, custom radio stations -- whew -- and I still think the game rocks.
Why? There are other games that try hard to deliver a way cool, open sandbox game to HD consoles. Saints Row and Saints Row 2, Crackdown and others have tried, but none of them has the appeal, evil schoolboyish that GTA has enjoyed. Sure, it was delayed - sure, it has some issues on the 360 (unless you install it to the hard drive - 5 hours and not one problem) but the game is just one fun and engaging experience.
I bought a PS2 back in the day to play Grand Theft Auto III. Why? I had an Xbox and had to wait YEARS to play it. I just said 'Oh well,' got a PS2 and had a blast. I have bought most other "GTA" offerings - "Vice City" and "San Andreas" and think GTA IV is just as awesome.
I am not alone. Apparently, reviewers feel the same way, and sales indicate a lot of gamers are fans too.
Like it or not, it wasn't the best game on the PS3 - or the 360 -it was the best game this year PERIOD.
Mad Skillz, out.
Counterpoint? You bet.
This is a great-looking, highly successful game with tons of depth in a time when many publishers and developers are struggling to find gold. Do we want interactivity? Do we want character customization? Would we prefer a game with excellent gameplay, or one with a cinematic feel? Is multiplayer more or less important than the solo campaign?
All valid. Gamers are picky. There really is no telling. I've spoken to some gamers who only care for simple games -- with simple rules -- that they can pick up whenever. Something timeless. Some look to be immersed in a wonderful world they could never imagine. Something absolutely beautiful. We really do range far and wide.
What we're not looking for is something boring. Seriously, I've actually fallen asleep playing this game. And I'm so close to being done, but haven't finished. And I got this title the day it was released in April. Does that sound exciting? Does that sound like "GAME of the YEAR?"
Forget for a second all the things they've taken away from the franchise -- listed quite nicely by Mad Skillz above. Focus your mind on only one thing. Did this game leave you wanting more? Did you hesitate when it was time to put down the controller and turn off the game -- forcing yourself to squash excuses for why you should keep on going? For me, this game didn't even do that.
Here's my typical GTA IV gaming experience: Go to map. See where I'll get new mission. Spend 15 minutes driving there. Get mission. Spend 15 minutes driving to mission site. Kill everything at mission site. Get money. Do nothing with money. Go find next mission. If death occurs during mission, revive at hospital. Leave hospital. Start shooting things, drawing as many S.W.A.T. officers and helicopters as possible. Have shootout. Revive. Fall asleep. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
Don't get me wrong. There is much to admire about this game and what it will hopefully bring to gaming in the future. The story (not missions, just story) is pretty good. But a big map is only a map if you can't explore the whole thing (you can only explore some buildings). And stealing a special car loses its luster if you see 500 of them the second you clip one. And strip clubs in which "dancers" wear bikinis? Wow. The heart rate quickens...
GOTY? No. Consider the source. I get opinions on this blog all the time drowning in passion about why a game is the greatest thing ever. From people who actually play games instead of seeing what got 10 out of 10 from Game Informer magazine. We're naming our GOTY based on a poll we'll offer to you. Gamers. My bet is this: GTA IV won't win here.
--Will Radcliffe
So what if there's not a Harrier jumpjet or a Learjet to jack this time around. So what I don't have a BMX to ride on around town (way cool in "San Andreas."). And all these features are gone -- tanks, flamethrowers, planes, skydiving, vigilante missions, taxi missions, ambulance missions, firefighting missions, buying and owning property, managing businesses, real exploration rewards, diversity of environments, diversity of missions, creating and improving gangs, conquering territory, advanced character customization, eating, jetpacks, the military, the attack plane, custom cars, custom radio stations -- whew -- and I still think the game rocks.
Why? There are other games that try hard to deliver a way cool, open sandbox game to HD consoles. Saints Row and Saints Row 2, Crackdown and others have tried, but none of them has the appeal, evil schoolboyish that GTA has enjoyed. Sure, it was delayed - sure, it has some issues on the 360 (unless you install it to the hard drive - 5 hours and not one problem) but the game is just one fun and engaging experience.
I bought a PS2 back in the day to play Grand Theft Auto III. Why? I had an Xbox and had to wait YEARS to play it. I just said 'Oh well,' got a PS2 and had a blast. I have bought most other "GTA" offerings - "Vice City" and "San Andreas" and think GTA IV is just as awesome.
I am not alone. Apparently, reviewers feel the same way, and sales indicate a lot of gamers are fans too.
Like it or not, it wasn't the best game on the PS3 - or the 360 -it was the best game this year PERIOD.
Mad Skillz, out.
Counterpoint? You bet.
This is a great-looking, highly successful game with tons of depth in a time when many publishers and developers are struggling to find gold. Do we want interactivity? Do we want character customization? Would we prefer a game with excellent gameplay, or one with a cinematic feel? Is multiplayer more or less important than the solo campaign?
All valid. Gamers are picky. There really is no telling. I've spoken to some gamers who only care for simple games -- with simple rules -- that they can pick up whenever. Something timeless. Some look to be immersed in a wonderful world they could never imagine. Something absolutely beautiful. We really do range far and wide.
What we're not looking for is something boring. Seriously, I've actually fallen asleep playing this game. And I'm so close to being done, but haven't finished. And I got this title the day it was released in April. Does that sound exciting? Does that sound like "GAME of the YEAR?"
Forget for a second all the things they've taken away from the franchise -- listed quite nicely by Mad Skillz above. Focus your mind on only one thing. Did this game leave you wanting more? Did you hesitate when it was time to put down the controller and turn off the game -- forcing yourself to squash excuses for why you should keep on going? For me, this game didn't even do that.
Here's my typical GTA IV gaming experience: Go to map. See where I'll get new mission. Spend 15 minutes driving there. Get mission. Spend 15 minutes driving to mission site. Kill everything at mission site. Get money. Do nothing with money. Go find next mission. If death occurs during mission, revive at hospital. Leave hospital. Start shooting things, drawing as many S.W.A.T. officers and helicopters as possible. Have shootout. Revive. Fall asleep. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
Don't get me wrong. There is much to admire about this game and what it will hopefully bring to gaming in the future. The story (not missions, just story) is pretty good. But a big map is only a map if you can't explore the whole thing (you can only explore some buildings). And stealing a special car loses its luster if you see 500 of them the second you clip one. And strip clubs in which "dancers" wear bikinis? Wow. The heart rate quickens...
GOTY? No. Consider the source. I get opinions on this blog all the time drowning in passion about why a game is the greatest thing ever. From people who actually play games instead of seeing what got 10 out of 10 from Game Informer magazine. We're naming our GOTY based on a poll we'll offer to you. Gamers. My bet is this: GTA IV won't win here.
--Will Radcliffe
No comments:
Post a Comment