I decided to spend some quality time with GTA IV before passing judgement, but after having completed the game, and having put in some 30 hours of gameplay, I have a confession to make; GTA IV isn’t that good.
Well, it’s good, but not that good. Prior to its release, reviews gave the game perfect scores. Sites such as Gamespot, IGN, 1UP and GameSpy gave the game perfect scores. But why are these sites giving perfect scores to such an imperfect game?
Has their opinion strayed so far from my own? I previously trusted these sites to give fair and impartial reviews. But for their opinions to run so contrary to my own can only mean one of two things; either our opinions have grown to differ or they have sold themselves out.
A perfect score used to mean something. It was only awarded to games that had reached the pinnacle of all production values that were available with the technology given to it at the time. Games like Chrono Trigger for the SNES, Metal Gear Solid for the PSONE and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the N64 were all heralded as perfection on a CD/cartridge.
And in the case of Chrono Trigger and Metal Gear Solid, I agreed. I spent over 50 hours on each game. That is how much I enjoyed them. Both were truly perfect. Nothing more could be done to make it better given the technology available to it during its time.
But GTA IV? Good as it maybe, it isn’t perfect. So why award it a perfect score? Has advertising revenues and pressure from software developers caused reviewers to sell their integrity and their scores?
On what basis do I claim that GTA IV is not perfect? Simple, because it’s successor, which will probably be made using the same technology available to GTA IV (The PS3 and Xbox 360), will be better. If you can make something better, it’s not perfect. On an overall score of 10, I’d rate GTA IV an 8.0.
Graphically, I feel that GTA IV lacks the detail of games such as Metal Gear Solid 4 and Gears of War. So why is it given perfect graphical scores when other games have better graphics?
In terms of sound, I found the radio stations in GTA Vice City to be much more entertaining with a better mix of music and DJs. In fact, some fans claim that GTA Vice City had the best radio stations of any GTA games. Yet, once again GTA IV is given perfect scores for audio.
The new ‘cover’ system used in combat doesn’t seem to do much. Action sequences in the game haven’t changed much since the last 3 instalments. It’s simply a matter of auto-aim, and shoot. Shooting sequences are a far cry from Gears of War, on which this new ‘cover’ system is supposedly inspired by.
Various gameplay elements that were present in the previous instalment, GTA San Andreas, were also removed. Dual wielding of weapons, controlling gang territories, recruiting gang members, buying business and properties, and the dieting system were also removed. Usually game sequels add to the gameplay, detracted from the gameplay is a strict no-no.
More importantly, I felt that GTA IV wasn’t fun enough to justify a perfect score. Whereas I had no problems playing Metal Gear Solid, Chrono Trigger or the original Final Fantasy Tactics 8 or 9 times over, I don’t even want to think about playing GTA IV for a second time.
Games are expensive. A current generation title for the Xbox 360 or PS3 can easily cost SGD $100 new. Gamers trust professional reviewers to given an intelligent, honest, unbiased review of a game.
With the games industry supposedly being bigger than the film industry, I can’t help but wonder how movie critics can manage to maintain their integrity and game critics can’t.
