Seven hours into “Grand Theft Auto IV,” I can confirm that the game is an evolution of the world’s most notorious video game franchise.
It bears none of the design flaws of its predecessors and smartly enhances many of their core qualities. And it’s full of interesting things to do (as I’ve just begun to note in this list).
What I haven’t found yet, for better or worse, is a reason to call the game revolutionary.
I haven’t found a reason for it to merit the numerical title that the creators at Rockstar Games say is a signal that a “GTA” game will leads in directions that others will follow. Such progress is, of course, what “GTA III” wrought and what, as well-made as they were, “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City,” “San Andreas,” and the “Stories” spin-offs did not.
From what I’ve played so far, I don’t expect “IV” to trigger an industry transformation. Still, I can’t wait to finish writing this piece so I can go play more, to find out what this game about America has to say and show me next. It’s a compelling piece of work, so much more interesting and well-acted than other games, as is always the case with a “GTA.”
Here are my main impressions virtually spoiler-free (unless you mind knowing where the first seven hours of the game mostly takes place and how the basic mechanics work.)
“GTA” In My Neighborhood
I’ve spent as much of this weekend as possible playing “GTA: IV,” in what I imagine are stranger circumstances than anyone else who has obtained an early copy of the game.
I am playing the game in my apartment in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn, essentially the same neighborhood where “GTA IV” protagonist Niko Bellic is based. For seven hours I have primarily spent Niko’s time in west Brooklyn – called Broker in the game – visiting his cousin’s taxi shop which sits across the street from the same Navy yards that are at the end of the street on which I live. Half of the time I’ve put Niko behind the wheel of a car, I’ve driven past a traffic circle, a grand arch and a massive library, all of which are all spitting images of the Grand Army Plaza location that is a 10 minute walk from my house. I walk around the circle often; I use that library.
“GTA IV” feels like it’s happening right outside my front door, because, basically, it is.
Broker is my Brooklyn. The people look the same. The sidewalks are crowded with same stuff. We don’t have an elevated train here and not as many hot dog vendors per neighborhood, but we do have as many trash cans, parked cars and people walking around carrying coffee cups. The attention to details is astounding. (They even got the price of gas right!) The facades of the building are perfect, a smorgasbord of signs of all shapes and sizes, mostly in gaudy, cheap fonts. The terrain is dingy. The human activity is lively.
Minor Annoyances Only
Watch any video clip of the game (including our own) and you’ll see immediately how better-looking this game is than previous “GTA”s. The game’s Liberty City is a stunning achievement of video game architecture and urban planning. Cars and people, too, are rendered with detail and care, animated with nuances that make all of their maneuvering a pleasure to manipulate. Driving into a newspaper vending machine and watching papers fly proves to be as interesting as knocking a man off a ledge or getting run over by a police car. Stuff didn’t move in games like this before.
The game comes fully loaded. It has the “GTA” checklist: a full bandwidth of radio stations, a full squad of cops ready to chase trouble, an eccentric group of people – mostly men so far – to take missions from, a gun shop, clothing stores, motorcycles, a day-night cycle with patches of rain, and arteries clogged with cars. A new lock-on analog-stick targeting system works better than the “San Andreas” scheme. A new cover system mostly sticks Niko to the right stuff. The addition of a cell phone and an in-game Internet promise room for innovation, but in the first seven hours haven’t radically changed the proven “GTA” formula yet.
Functionally, there is little to complain about. Problems? In seven hours I encountered very little. The classic hip-hop station seems to over-play a song by the Group Home. I triggered one bug that had the girl I was dating in the game repeatedly exit Niko’s car each time he drove her within a block of where they were going for a night out. Maybe he smelled? The game’s auto-save, which activates at the end of each mission (finally!), allowed me to salvage a functional run of the game and then progress without the same dating glitch woes.
Seven hours of any previous “GTA” produced plenty of controller aggravations, save-point complaints, difficulty spikes and other grievances. Seven hours of this “GTA” has produced an almost perfectly smooth experience. This is “GTA” without the old nagging issues.
“GTA IV” Vs. “Super Mario Galaxy”
As perfected as this “GTA” is, I must admit that I spent a good deal of Saturday tempted to return to playing “Super Mario Galaxy.” I had not finished Nintendo’s game, but was close. For at least one hour, I gave in. Such behavior is a ridiculous inversion of priorities, I know. To have a copy of “IV” and not spend all my gaming time playing it could be considered warped. But I trust my gut, and I believe my yearning for “Galaxy” says something about how “IV” is hitting me and how it may affect other veteran “GTA” players.
What I think brought me back to “Galaxy” was a desire to play – as in, to be playful. “Grand Theft Auto” games have long encouraged playfulness as well, an indulgence of the big-city sandbox that’s ready to be tossed with a good car chase or the hell-raising use of a rocket-launcher. The new “GTA” has that same sandbox and a new, improved area-based police alert system. But it doesn’t present anything radically new for that sandbox in these opening hours. “San Andreas” swiftly introduced the idea of gangs for some squad-based sandbox mayhem. Before that, “GTA III” and “Vice City” simply and purely enticed players to take advantage of the ability to ignore storylines and cause chaos in three dimensions. I can tell that the sandbox works in “GTA IV,” but it’s not calling out to me to play in it. The novelty that’s to be found in this game, as far as I can tell, appears to be in its narrative. That’s what’s new. The sandbox feels entirely familiar, and therefore, when I’m getting antsy to just be playful I wind up thinking of going to another “Galaxy.”
I don’t think the single-player sandbox is a bust in “GTA IV.” I don’t think it’s going to suffer if it doesn’t provide more than what previous “GTA” sandboxes offered. Instead, I have a hunch that the real breakthrough for this game is the way the sandbox extends online, into a multiplayer experience. This is something I’ve barely been able to experience thanks to a prohibition by Rockstar and Microsoft that has prevented me from going online with the game yet. But it is the online play — activated at any moment from Niko’s cell phone — that I think will satisfy my yearning to be playful in Liberty City. It’s what will make the sandbox game feel new all over again. I had a taste of online multiplayer at Rockstar’s offices during a demo a couple of weeks ago. And the ability to play in the sandbox with a group of people did feel fresh and fun.
Why At 9:24AM, April 27, I Still Prefer “San Andreas”
I’m confident I’ve been playing the best-made “GTA” this weekend. I’m not sure, yet, if it’s the best one, if it will be my favorite. I like Niko. I like that this game is as much about America as the PlayStation 2 games, even more explicitly this time. It’s not clear just in the way the game satirizes so much of our culture (see a list of targets here) but in the earnest words of characters who are trying to make sense of what the opportunity to live in the United States means. What does being here really enable you to do? How does the sales pitch for America square with the reality? I’m eager for the game to explore more of that, to proceed beyond the promising first act restlessness of newly-immigrated Niko and his boastful yet desperate cousin.
What I don’t yet feel is a care for Niko the way I cared about CJ in “San Andreas.” CJ was a younger man, closer to my age. He was, at least initially, a bit less prone to violence than the average gaming hero. I could relate to him better. The way he related to the world – at a distance, wryly observant, yet emotionally invested in his family – felt compelling and distinct. Niko, though more menacing than CJ, seems otherwise so similar to the “San Andreas” protagonist – he too is wryly observant, emotionally invested in his family – that what had felt in the previous console game like character feels in this game like a trapping of the game’s system. Perhaps because “GTA” lead characters need to be versatile avatars for the players they get lower-key personalities, ones that, in relief, best showcase the eccentricities of the people they take missions from.
Like CJ, Niko feels like he is led by circumstance and fate. And to feel such similarities between the two characters tilts my bias toward the original article rather than the new man following similar footsteps. Niko may break out still, and become his own man. I’m happily playing more to see if that proves to be. There are hints. But in this early going he is more familiar than expected.
“San Andreas” had a powerful first act that established a status quo and then obliterated it. Seven hours in, “GTA IV” is either having a slower, steadier first act or we’ve moved to the second in a subtler way. This game is quieter. I respect that. “IV” has not gripped me as swiftly. Nevertheless, it has all of the potential of the city I live in and that the game is based on.
I’m eager to play more and watch this game evolve, whether it shakes up the industry or not.
April 27th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Ohhhhhh I see… you’re the type of person that prefers Super Mario Galaxy to GTA IV.
Now I can see why I thought this “impression” was retarded.
GTA IV will teach other “open-world” games that they don’t know the first thing about anything non-linear. The amount of detail that preciously goes into the radio / in-game internet / in-game theatre / in-game tv / in-game advertising / storyline / graphics / sound design / street design / architecture and so on is mind-blowing already.
GTA IV is the true coming of Gods.
PRAISE ROCKSTAR.
April 27th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I’m not going to make any attempt to thwart your “impressions” but not many games these days are industry revolutionizing. From what I have read from scattered reviews, this GTA is the best yet and a must buy for anyone who has even heard of the series.
secondly, I can’t believe you like super mario galaxy over GTA IV
April 27th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
(At Jay)
I haven’t seen that kind of fanaticism since the last time I tangled with the local christian fundamentalists.
However I agree with him in the comment about open-world games. Grand Theft Auto IV, is to be the fourth of only four games (the other being Elder Scrolls II, III and IV respectively) that capture the true spirit of “open world”.
Theres money to be made in this open-world thing Mr and Mrs. Gaming Developers, I wish you would all see that! Then perhaps we can have more than four open-world games in the last eleven years?
April 27th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I can confirm that as Chief Neurological Surgeon at Sacred Heart Hospital, Boston, Mass I performed a full lobotomy on Stephen Totilo shortly before he wrote this ‘article’. It may even be that case that I accidentally removed his entire brain before he penned this nonsensical prose lauding the advantages of Super Mario Galaxy XXIVIII over that of GTA IV, and for this I apologise.
If Mr Totilo is still able to pick up a telephone without pretending it is a Wii remote I implore him to call me and I can arrange to replace the missing brain, will George W. Bush’s do?
April 27th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Thanks Stephen, that was a valuable set of impressions. I’ve never been a fan of GTA, but this article makes me think that I should stop being so apathetic and give it a bash. That’s more than the gushing 10/10 reviews have managed.
What do you think makes Super Mario Galaxy more playful than GTA? I know you can DO a lot more in GTA, so does it have something to do with the game’s tone? Its setting? Its realism?
April 27th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Oh….I see…..your one of those retarded nintendo fanboys without a soul, still trying desperately to save a princess who is in another fu#@%ng castle…..nice try nintendo lamo. your just pissed cause your system doesn’t offer GTA.
April 27th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
I must agree with the two other’s above, I think that this game will blow some peoples mind, and Galexy and GTA 4 are two different types of games, yet you have a copy that some people would kill for, and NOW YOU HAVE AN ANST! My god, I spend £40 ($80) on this game and have to wait for it to ship and you still WANT TO PLAY MARIO GALEXY!…AGHH, it makes me so annoyed, but then again, you have the game and you are playing it first hand, so I suppose I will need to experiance this to even back my argument.
April 27th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
wow how old is this guy he must be ike 5 or something if he likes super mario galaxy over gta iv and he must not get whats goin on in gta or something.
The reviewer needs 2 get a crip and grow up lol
April 27th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
this is the typical review from someone thats looking for the wheel to be reinvented instead of looking at how its been improved. i suggest IGN for those out there who want a true OPEN MINDED review.
April 27th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I respect your view but cmon this is GTA IV. Maybe i don’t no as much as you do because i haven’t played the game but from the review ive read and seen it is excellent.
April 27th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Olly Newport, please learn to spell. Do you speak engrish?
April 27th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
F—ing fanboys
April 27th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
CJ inside of San Andreas might have been more caring towards his family though he still couldn’t be called a very compelling character in the whole morals and ethics department… never once did he apologize to the rapper, whatever his name was, throughout the length of the story after stealing his rhyme book and then promoting OG Loc. Carl was an improvement over Tommy Vercetti who showed no emotion whatsoever other than rage and occasionally humor; furthermore neither of them ever showed much of an actual personality either, CJ went with the flow and never actually offered a single thought of his own throughout the whole game.
From what I can tell Nikolai is a reflective indidual, a bit introverted and actually concerned with existence as a whole… “I’ve killed people, I’ve smuggled people… maybe this time things will be different…” seems exponentially more complex and thoughtful over CJ declaring that life in the hood was whack. And that’s just from one of the trailers, Carl never really even went so far as to ponder anything even remotely deep. Mind you I think you’re entitled to your beliefs but I have to say I don’t agree with them… and most others won’t either.
A revolutionary aspect of GTA IV would have to be the Euphoria engine in place for the movement structure of the individual characters in the game, the bodies actually react appropriately to every shot, blow and additional form of stimulation… to my knowledge no other game out there to date can make that boast. Hours of programming for the televisions inside of a game? That’d probably have to be called revolutionary too. The duck and cover system isn’t new per se but it is certainly a definite perk and the ’stage’ for the multiplayer game is truly amazing as well… an entire city open in the free-mode.
Truly worth salivating over.
-Kristoff Konecny (Czeck your roots.)
East Europeans do it till they puke! (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
April 27th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I am waiting patiently, so hard to do …….
Super Mario Galaxy? My 6 year old plays that on the wii I got the kids for their gaming system, and while its ok in a pong kinda way, I cant believe a (i assume) grown man would put down gta4 for even a minute of that nintendo kid stuff. Maybe he’s got a touch of FAS?
April 27th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
you are an idiot.
April 27th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Mario over GTA 4?! Seriously? I would rather play Saints Row than give into Mario Galaxy. LMAO!
April 27th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Cj Is good But Niko Rapes owns humps and shagged Cj
all i need to say
April 27th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
In layman’s terms “Damn skippy”.
(To The Man who made the GTA Legend)
Oh, and out of curiosity, what ethnicity do you all think the next GTA star will be? We’ve had an Italian American, possibly two of them as I think GTA III’s had been as well, an African American and now a Czeck or Russian or possibly Ukranian immigrant… I’m thinking full blown Asian protagonist for GTA V.
-Kristoff
April 27th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Wow, what a mood swing.
Dark and heavy GTA to whimsical and fun Galaxy. Who needs drugs when you got your uppers and downers right there.
Nice write up.
What are the missions like?
Are they just a rehash of previous games or is there a nice mix and variety of things?
Now did your Galaxy detour end because GTA was calling you back or was it that your whimsical fun meter got filled up?
April 27th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Man, there is a lot of MArio bashing going on here.
Oh well, it’s interesting to hear some impressions that aren’t just regurgitating the hype, but I do get the feeling that this just may not be his type of game.
Anyway, chill on the galaxy bashing, that game is the @%$~. If you don’t like it, you are probably just too young to be a mario fan. I know that sounds backwards, but think about it. Anyone over 24 has probably logged some heavy hours with Mario over the years and wouldn’t be bashing any of nintendos games. They are just a different breed then the stuff coming out on the other systems today.
April 27th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
@everyone
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Did you all read what I wrote? It seems people think I’m crazy, but let’s at least agree with the facts:
I didn’t say I liked “Super Mario Galaxy” more than “Grand Theft Auto IV.”
I said that as much as I’m being pulled in by the narrative in “GTA IV,” I found myself yearning for a certain kind of free-form gameplay that “Mario” — which I had been playing through this past week — was able to provide.
I’m saying that the sandbox of “GTA IV” has, so far, (now about eight hours in) felt familiar enough that I don’t feel the urge to mess around in it a lot. Instead, I’m charging through the story missions and having a good time at that.
Ludwig, you asked “What do you think makes Super Mario Galaxy more playful than GTA?”
My answer, as I’ve been writing, is that so far the sandbox in ‘GTA IV” doesn’t have a lot of novelty to it. I expect the game to dole more new mechanics out, but by this point in “San Andreas,” I felt I had been given more new things to do in the open-world than “IV” has provided.
“Galaxy,” on the other hand is all about throwing one new idea at you after the other — something that I would say actually costs it some structural coherence. Past “Mario” games felt like they kept building on a basic mechanic in several thematic directions. “Galaxy” sacrifices some of that steadiness of design progression to instead throw out a new gameplay trick every other minute. It makes the game a wonderful bushel of amusements, but, in the end, it feels like a loose collection of ideas, rather than a structure made from of methodical design, a la “Super Mario Brothers” or “Super Mario World.”
There, “GTA” fans, I’ve said enough to enrage the “Mario” fans too. I’m an equal-opportunity aggravator.
So when I was looking to just mess around with a game on Saturday, “GTA IV” didn’t call to me as loudly as “Galaxy” did.
Don’t get me wrong. “IV” has an amazing open world. Like I said, it is probably the best-made of the “GTA” worlds. But novelty means a lot to me. And “IV” is either less rich with new gameplay ideas than the previous installments of the series or the developers have just doled them out more slowly.
Either way, the headline said I was impressed, so why all the hostility and hysteria?
You’d think I said the game was bad or something.
-Stephen
P.S. I’ll certainly report back when I’ve played more deeply into the game.
April 27th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Kevin said: “I do get the feeling that this just may not be his type of game.”
Actually, I’ve played a ton of the “GTA” games and consider “San Andreas” in my top five favorite games of all time. I finished that one, played most of the story of “Vice City,” and lots of the two PSP games. (And some of the GBA one.)
“GTA” is totally my kind of game. But I also have broad tastes and thought I’d honestly share my reactions to the game. I really expect multiplayer to be the breakthrough in the gameplay side of this game for me. But as I wrote above, I can’t play multiplayer online yet for business reasons.
@deep
I don’t want to spoil the missions. They’re solid. There’s nothing like “San Andreas”‘ nutty early-game theft of a stereo on the beach or the lowrider competition or the gang fights or stealth stuff. That all went way off the path of what “Vice City” had. Eight hours in, I feel like I’m mostly being re-introduced to familiar types of missions — lots of stealing cars, shooting rival criminals, that kind of stuff. And they bring back things like taxi missions in interesting new ways. The main change is how the missions are generated. The player has a lot more control of things like dating or socializing, which lead to some cool mini-game-based missions.
But there hasn’t been a mission that has really shocked me yet, that I didn’t see coming. Sorry.
On the other hand, the quality of the dialogue and character development is surprisingly good, even for a “GTA.” I may find Niko more similar to CJ than I thought I would, but I do feel like I know him and the people he’s dealing with better than I knew “San Andreas” cast at this point in the game.
Also suprising: the ambient details, the stuff you can watch and listen to is more interesting than ever before. That’s another area in which Rockstar has exceeded its already high standards.
April 27th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Dude, if you like San Andreas and Super Mario Galaxy so much, why the hell are you playing gta 4?
April 27th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
I have brought every gta thats come out on ps2 and now i have an xbox and i am going to queue up monday night to get the game and be able to play it straight away.
Also does everyone know that a new city for gta 4is coming out in august and will be available on download like the call duty maps.
Every gta except the ’stories’ titles have been fantastic didn’t like liberty city stories.
But what i like about gta4 is the fact that i felt compasion and cared for cj and i hope this is how i feel about nik,
bring on game of the decade!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 27th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
i think tht yes niko is cool, but how come american and england are the best of pals although theres no english in the gme to show this, i think they should bring about the friendship of these countries which would also have an impact on the british/american humor towards each other
April 27th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Oh for f**k sake! Mario? Mario is the biggest pile of horse manure ever created. To even attempt to equate that ball of crap with GTA is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard! There is NO better game in the world than Grand Theft Auto, except MAYBE Metal Gear Solid. Stephen, I don’t mean any disrespect, but you’re talking crap. Mario games should be burned and dis-invented. Honestly, nothing irritates me quicker than a Mario game.
By the way, GTA IV is going to be the best game ever!
Dan.
April 27th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
i was a little scared untill i read that u would rather play galaxy because id rather play sa or even gta 3 than galaxy and i am a mario fan
April 27th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Good Lord. It is times like this that I hate the internet as there are way too many subscribers to the John Gabriel Greater Internet Moron Theory.
There really needs to be a fanboy rehab. Sheesh.
Anyway, thanks for the impressions of the game. After watching some videos on GameTrailers, I wondered as well if it would become a bit too comfortable. But, a highly polished, beautifully controlled ‘GTA’ is still a treat for me (and for most everyone, I presume).
April 27th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
both gr8 games but my uncle who works 4 rockstar games got me a short demo of gta4 and i plAYED IT 4 BOUT An hour and it blows super mario galaxy away
April 27th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Wow, I still can’t believe a comparison between Galaxies and IV is even being made, thats like comparing call of duty with doom1 or summit
April 27th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
I’ve been playing the single player since last night and the only thing I noticed missing is the character buildin in san andreas,but if this generation of gta games advance as well as the last we should have that industry changing game. I LOVE GTA 4.ps I think the single player game suffered for the inclusion of the multi player game.I give it a 9.75
April 27th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
GTA… or a fat Italian wearing a dumb hat.
and you choose the Italian?! Man, you’re ?#$%$?$#?.
April 27th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
dont disrespect the mans opinion people…he, unlike most of you has actually played the game! just because he wanted to play mario doesnt really say anything but he wants to finish it. I garuntee mario will collect dust once he has beaten it because there is no way it can have the replay value of gta iv. i too like to beat the games i have so STFU!!!!
April 27th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
ok ok enough about mario, we all agree that mario is a toilet plunging @#%,,,,, and by the way San andreas was retarted,, If i wanted to watch a bunch of wanna be rapper idiots steal cars and dress in retarted clothes,, well,, i could just watch 1 of the 4 videos played on MTV over and over, but anyway, I cant wait for monday,, I hope all of us get a copy, have fun guys
April 27th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Can’t wait to get gta4 this week on the ps3 then, after hearing all these comments!!!
April 27th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
To kristoff
He’s (niko) serbian dammit! Finally though a character I can relate to (ethnically anyway) I’m 1/3 / 1/4 serbo-croatian.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
EMM, YOU LIKE MARIO BROTHERS BETTER THEN THE NEW GRAND THEFT AUTO, F*CKING HELL, YOU SERIOUSLY NEED TO GET A LIFE, I CANT BELIEVE YOU WOULD SAY THAT AND THINK YOUR RIGHT, AND I AM FROM ENGLAND, the UK, getting my copy on tuesday cant wait for it, good luck everyone with your copys, thanks
April 27th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I read that the game started out a little slow for the first 8 hours or so, and since he only played 7 hours, it’s understandable that you weren’t quite “WOW”ed by the game yet. It will start to come alive very soon
April 27th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
on amazon: http://tinyurl.com/5mhla5
April 27th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
How dare you use the “M” word! Mr. Tolito will now lose all of his endorsements. This reminds me of Imus’ “nappy headed hoe” comment and how he got banned off the air. I understand what Mr. Tolito is trying to say, but was it really necessary? Anyways, open mouth - insert foot couldn’t be more displayed here. For future reference, Mr. Tolito should stay away from creative writing and focus more on reviews. I could care less the fact that you have the desire to complete a game, especially the fact that it’s irrelevant to the topic. Tis better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubts.
April 27th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
I used to like the Mario games, but then I got a little older and my taste in videogames got better. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure Galaxy is a great game for a lot of people, but there’s no character behind him. At first I didn’t really care about that and I’d just jump from platform to platform and this and that, but now that I think about it…we don’t even know anything about Mario. There is no personality behind him. Niko on the other hand, from what I’ve heard so far, is an incredible character, many consider him one of the best videogame characters ever created. Play what you want, but I don’t like how you give little praise to the things that make GTA IV such a great game. I hope you eventually understand that this game is pushing the boundaries of what can be done in a game. Appreciate it, as well as enjoy it.
April 27th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Stephen I am with you. Mario Galaxy was a wonderful experience which I had a hard time letting go of until I found all the stars. It really had that “just one more time” feeling, and the freshness of all the new platforming perfection kept me coming back.
Don’t listen to these retarded fanboys. They probably think that the shooting mechanic in GTA is the greatest thing ever, even though it sucked.
April 28th, 2008 at 1:19 am
The big portions that aren’t getting across are:
1. He’s only played the game for 8 hours, cut him some slack.
2. He’s comparing Mario to Mario, and GTA to GTA, and in that sense, they weigh differently in their own right. Mario creators keep coming up with new ways to do Mario (even if people like myself don’t like it too much), while GTA creators made the game beautiful (clean the sheets beautiful) and still give you the same feel they’ve done for years. I’m sorry, it gets old.
Like what you like and quit bickering, they’re both good for what they are.
April 28th, 2008 at 5:18 am
HAHAHA it`s so funny watching these GTA fanboys bashing Mario and saying Mario is for little kids WHEN IN FACT the ppl bashing Mario are probably a bunch of 12 to 17 year old little kiddies lol. I`m 19 yo and I like GTA, I also like Mario, and everyone I know also likes Mario. So to all the little kids trying to feel like a big boy because you only like games with blood and violence YOU NEED TO REALLY GROW UP.
Nice review Stephen don`t let these little GTA fankiddies piss you off.
April 28th, 2008 at 5:24 am
Wow… a first on a planet called Earth. This reviewer prefers Mario over GTA IV?
You must either be
A) a 5-year old
B) a retard
C) both
In any case, I will be spreading this terrible review around my place in Singapore and Malaysia.
You must also have repeated 5th grade 10 times.
April 28th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Anyone who uses the term fan boy is @$??%.
April 28th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Stephen, thanks for the interesting write-up. Personally I’m not really interested in GTA*–I realize it’s parody, but even so the prostitute-beating and such doesn’t sit right with me–but your post did make me want to pick up Galaxy again!
I really enjoy your work and love that you and your fellow bloggers here can and do criticize games as artistic expression rather than just gameplay reviews you can find on any other site. It stinks that most of the commenters don’t bother to understand what you’re saying before submitting ridiculous and insulting remarks.
*If the protagonist were a woman, on the other hand…
April 28th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Galaxy was some of the most fun I’ve had with a videogame in many years. Original, beautiful, unexpected and polished to a shine that only Nintendo franchises ever attain. A brilliant re-invention of the 3D platformer and an example of what videogames should be.
GTA4 is a snoozer. Anyone who likes GTA is obviously a sociopath looking to indulge his sick fantasies of hooker murder. Tedious missions interspaced with asinine cutscenes written for the junior-high mentality of the market. Abysmal graphics plauged by pop-in. A drunken camera. A broken targeting system. And the sinking realization that you’ve done all this before. Yawn!!!
That was easy and fun. Mass Effect was pure crap, too. And Halo, don’t get me started on Halo!!!
April 28th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Wow. A man says he took a break to play some SMG, and people go CRAZY. It really is a sad thing to see so many kids blindly hate a game just because of a character. PROTIP: Playing a game that has guns, violence and hookers does not make you any more of a man. I’d be willing to be all of these people doing the bashing are not over the age of 18 (that also goes for you that say you have “developed grown-up tastes”), and spend more time playing video games than you do working and/or sleeping. I wonder what would happen if he said he liked Pepsi over Coke after drinking Coke for the past week.
April 28th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Since when is it a crime to enjoy different game genres? Galaxy and IV are different in about every way imaginable. Saying IV blows Galaxy away is like saying Metallica completely destroys the Eagles. Both awesome bands musically, but completely different experiences.
There should be a pre-posting questionnaire here (and everywhere else on the internet, actually). Only 2 questions long:
1: Have you played GTA IV (game title) yet?
2: Is GTA IV (game title) the best game ever?
If your answers are 1:No and 2:Yes, then you should be marked an idiot and banned from posting.
I totally agree with Stephen that anyone who is pre-disposed to hate Mario is too young to appreciate the origins of modern gaming. They grew up on GTA III and MGS, and they believe everything before those were crap.
I don’t agree, though, that GTA IV isn’t going to be revolutionary to the series. It sounds like Rockstar has done just about everything possible to create an upgraded GTA experience, without completely deviating from their tried and true formula. I don’t quite understand what more you can expect. A 4th dimension?