Critical Acclaim

[The Notorious MOB]

According to the latest Update on Rockstar's newswire The Ballad of Gay Tony has gotten rave reviews from games critics and reviewers alike.

 

I agree with this praise for the game to a certain extent but I enjoyed both GTA IV and TLAD a lot more and felt that the majority of the game was a complete let down.

 

So my question is simple.. Am I the only one that thinks this or do others disagree with the level of praise this game has gotten aswell??

[Mute Giant]

I agree. It lacks some of the charm that IV and TLAD had. But I think it might have to do with the GTA IV experience is kind of worn out. Even though they added some neat features, the mecanics are the same as they were almost two years ago. Also I can't recall there ever being any surprises. They showed of every weapon, unique missions and vehicle before release, and the final puzzles of the story weren't that exciting either.

 

It's still a great game though. Just not as memorable

 

 

[thebellicbrotherfan]

i'll tel you what it lacks . BAHAMA MAMMA'S !

[Bauer]

Whenever I read a review, I keep in mind that they got the game for free and that they focus on completing it as fast as possible to stay on schedule...

[-Chewy-]

Sure it lacks some of the charm IV and LaTD have, but IV and LaTD both lack some of the charm BoGT has, also I didnt follow the game too closely, so there was still a few secrets left for me

[brandrixco]

I'm actually pleased with this one, the peds are more alive and the city has more to do

[liquidus119]

The whole game feels like a cheap cash-in on all the idiots who complained about tanks and parachutes.

 

It's fun, but did half the missions really need to require the use of a parachute? It feels like much more effort and work was put into TLAD and GTAIV.

 

It's still fun, it's still great, but it just feels cheap.

[brandrixco]

The whole game feels like a cheap cash-in on all the idiots who complained about tanks and parachutes.

 

It's fun, but did half the missions really need to require the use of a parachute? It feels like much more effort and work was put into TLAD and GTAIV.

 

It's still fun, it's still great, but it just feels cheap.

What are you talking about? Have you even played the game? (probobly not) there is a COUPLE of parachute missions (the rest is very varied)

[-Chewy-]

My favourite mission did need a parachute, or someone would have been splatted

[brandrixco]

My favourite mission did need a parachute, or someone would have been splatted

Haha mine did

[liquidus119]

 

What are you talking about? Have you even played the game? (probobly not) there is a COUPLE of parachute missions (the rest is very varied)

I would hope that people would realize I am not serious when I use the term "half", but the game did have too many missions that required the use of a parachute.

 

High Dive

Blog This

This Ain't Checkers

Caught With Your Pants Down

Dropping In

Departure Time

 

That's a lot more than just a "couple" of missions, considering there are only 26 missions in the game. It's almost a quarter of the missions in fact.

[brandrixco]

What are you talking about? Have you even played the game? (probobly not) there is a COUPLE of parachute missions (the rest is very varied)

I would hope that people would realize I am not serious when I use the term "half", but the game did have too many missions that required the use of a parachute.

 

High Dive

Blog This

This Ain't Checkers

Caught With Your Pants Down

Dropping In

Departure Time

 

That's a lot more than just a "couple" of missions, considering there are only 26 missions in the game. It's almost a quarter of the missions in fact.

Yep just 20 more missions that don't use them

[Leo Colt]

Why are people complaining about this. I mean, jeez, you don't reckon they overdid with the bikes in TLAD do you? Was it really necessary to have them in, like, every single mission? The game had too many missions that involved bikes!11!!

[liquidus119]

If you honestly thought that a game about bikers had too many bikes in it, then I am sorry that you disliked TLAD so much.

 

But I can't believe that nobody found the constant use of the parachute at least a little uncreative or reptitive. After all the talk about GTAIV's missions being the same, I figured someone would complain that parachutes were used so much.

 

But I guess I'm an idiot, since parachutes are what GTA is all about now.

Edited November 3, 2009 by liquidus119

[brandrixco]

Why are people complaining about this. I mean, jeez, you don't reckon they overdid with the bikes in TLAD do you? Was it really necessary to have them in, like, every single mission? The game had too many missions that involved bikes!11!!

Yeah and people complain about driving, and others about shootouts and others about having better cop AI, like seriously lets just use helicopters! no helicopters have bad handling, well what about boats? No! they also suck, well what about??

 

I GIVE UP...GOSH

[ArcaneKnight]

I felt like TLAD had more badass missions.. Big stand offs where you have to whipe out legions of people scattered around different areas. Yeah TBOGT had infiltrating type missions, where you're peeking around corners, and confined to combat in a hallway. But overall, the story was short, the missions weren't epic enough, I mean, I thought the museum mission would have been more than what it was. There was really no shootouts to be involved in, you heard Niko screaming downstairs, but other than that, it was weak. It was in, and then out, then escape.

 

Then the diamond trade off mission was lame, escape on a boat. I just felt like overall TLAD had more badass missions. They were pretty damn fun. I think I might play through it again, I just wish I had the replay mission option in my phone like TBOGT.

 

But yeah, other than the new features, the story missions didn't really do it for me this time around. I'm just glad they're moving on and we can get a new city already. Didn't live up to it's potential. I hope they get back to their San Andreas over the top ways that made the game so incredibly fun. Like sneaking into Area 51.. Idk I just like that over the top kind of missions. Like you're playing a movie, in a video game. Not these realistic everyday crimes..

 

I know everyone has different tastes and what they like, and what kind of direction they want the GTA series to go in. But if they keep it realistic, the franchise will become bland. I hope the next one has a little bit of everything.. Buying property, mansions, businesses, car dealerships, clubs, car customization, fighter jets, planes, all the good stuff. And actually have something to spend all the money you make throughout the game, consistently have things to spend it on.

[-Chewy-]

I hope they get back to their San Andreas over the top ways that made the game so incredibly fun. Like sneaking into Area 51.. Idk I just like that over the top kind of missions. Like you're playing a movie, in a video game. Not these realistic everyday crimes..

 

Oh god no

 

GTA doesnt need to be too realistic, but it cant be stupid sh*t like a LS gangster breaking into a secret army base to get a jetpack to steal some alien goo again

[ArcaneKnight]

 

I hope they get back to their San Andreas over the top ways that made the game so incredibly fun. Like sneaking into Area 51.. Idk I just like that over the top kind of missions. Like you're playing a movie, in a video game. Not these realistic everyday crimes..

 

Oh god no

 

GTA doesnt need to be too realistic, but it cant be stupid sh*t like a LS gangster breaking into a secret army base to get a jetpack to steal some alien goo again

I thought he broke into Area 51 to get that jetpack? I remember him finding it, at the bottom of that silo, then he had to steal the jetpack and boost straight out the opening at the top. I thought those missions were fun, you had to be all stealthy. Plus we had our own landing strip and airport, with a big Hangar, You could put a tank in there, the apache helicopter, the fighter jet, your monster truck, or whatever else you wanted to put in there.

 

Then you had a big garage right accross from it.. San Andreas was badass.. All the property you could buy throughout the game, the car customization, though it wasnt as in depth was still cool. Storing all your custom cars in the different safe houses. I'm sorry but SA in terms of features blew every other GTA out of the water. None of the others for me had the replayability SA had..

[NikoTheSoldier]

The game deserves it's accolades, lots of great gameplay additions. But i'm a GTA IV "purist" now, so SA type stuff doesn't grab me anymore. Next GTA, I want more down to earth gameplay (make the fighting deep & detailed, realistic damage with bullets, realistic driving). I love that sh*t.

[-Chewy-]

I loved SA, but I just hated the unrealistic story to it, it was okay until we got to the desert with all that government crap seeping in

[The 7th Number]

According to the latest Update on Rockstar's newswire The Ballad of Gay Tony has gotten rave reviews from games critics and reviewers alike.

 

I agree with this praise for the game to a certain extent but I enjoyed both GTA IV and TLAD a lot more and felt that the majority of the game was a complete let down.

 

So my question is simple.. Am I the only one that thinks this or do others disagree with the level of praise this game has gotten aswell??

Out of the three stories, TBOGT came in last for me. I do like Luis more than Johnny, but didnt like the story. Even the opening scene didnt feel as epic as GTA IVs or TLADs opening scene. To me it just felt like they rushed to slap a story together to fill in some holes and put an end to this chapter of GTA. But i do like the added mini games they put in, along with some cars. But in terms of greatness, i dont think it lived up to GTA IV or TLAD.

[CookPassBabtridge]

I agree with Arcane, I think the series will need an overhaul before long. The basic GTA mechanic has been the same since III, and it was SA that broke away and had something for everyone.

 

Im enjoying TBOGT so far, im taking my time on it, and Im finding it more fun than IV and TLAD. But im aware of the slightly ragged quality level, the shortcomings on things like safehouses and other interiors (again).

 

If I envision two years from now, playing the next GTA, and its still the same patterns, I think Il have lost interest. And ive been playing since the top down games were released. But nothing is infallible, and gradually GTA could end up a tired horse if it isnt revamped, and I dont mean just new fancy tech bits.

[truehammer]

I prefered TLAD for the storyline which was tighter and more interesting, I felt Johnny was a better protagonist than Luis, he had more depth to his character and the missions fitted the storyline better. I also enjoyed the emphasis on bikes and the biker gang image. However TBOGT certainly had better features such as improved weaponry, parachutes, nightclubs, tanks and whatnot and some spectacular moments in missions although I felt the storyline was lacking and somewhat thrown together focusing more on individual characters whilst sacrificing the story. It was good fun but TLAD was more serious and well thought out. I think preference comes down to whether you like a good story or good features, personally I like both which is why I purchased EFLC. Strangely I went in thinking I would prefer TBOGT but I came out liking TLAD a touch more. Both deserve their rave reviews though and both had a killer soundtrack which improved on GTA IV.

[PearlHarborPants]

If all the new features were to be added to Niko's Story and then Released. it would have REALLY deserved those perfect scores from reviewers

[Slamman]

I'd say it's misplaced, or colored in some way, though I'm going back to the BoGT as it stands, I think expecting the prior level of work for the earlier games is something one needs to remember, the last release had the least prep time, I feel

[laughoutloud]

will be getting the game on friday. about the unrealist aspect of gta games like san andreas, the jet pack for example, it was kind of fun! so what if it's a bit over the top? if people didn't like things like that, don't use it after it's needed! Adds variety to the game, and san andreas had it all: jetpacks planes, hair styles, outfits, nightclubs, businesses! don't know how anyone can say that's a negative. Anyhow, BoGT looks quite fun, and that's surely what we look for in games: fun.

[Fedor Emelianenko]

Story mode doesn't matter, it's what fun things you can do after story mode/100% on single player that is important.

 

gta iv single player after story mode/100% = boring and repetitive.

 

gta ballad of gay tony single player after story mode/100% = fun and more stuff to do.

Edited November 4, 2009 by Fedor Emelianenko

[johnwelshmorris5]

These are the same people who said IV was a masterpiece so i dont read their sh*t anymore,i just play

[Renold]

Story mode doesn't matter, it's what fun things you can do after story mode/100% on single player that is important.

 

gta iv single player after story mode/100% = boring and repetitive.

 

gta ballad of gay tony single player after story mode/100% = fun and more stuff to do.

I totally agree with the whole "after 100%" thing, there was nothing to do after I'd completed IV. Although I do think a good story line is important as it caters to those who enjoy it, I loved the story of IV along with the DLC's it's just that with TBOGT there is a lot more to do after it's completion.

[ArcaneKnight]

will be getting the game on friday. about the unrealist aspect of gta games like san andreas, the jet pack for example, it was kind of fun! so what if it's a bit over the top? if people didn't like things like that, don't use it after it's needed! Adds variety to the game, and san andreas had it all: jetpacks planes, hair styles, outfits, nightclubs, businesses! don't know how anyone can say that's a negative. Anyhow, BoGT looks quite fun, and that's surely what we look for in games: fun.

Exactly.. It's about variety and giving everyone something they can enjoy. The over the top missions is what made the story so fun for me. Just the wide variety of missions, it was something new, different pretty much every time. Other than your chase this guy down and kill him missions or whatever, but what GTA hasn't had that. I thoroughly enjoyed SA, and I could still go back and play through that game and have fun with it. Once I beat IV, I never really touched it again, I beat TLAD once, didnt play through it again, but would sometimes pick it up to get in a shootout, but that was about it. Now TBOGT, I beat, replayed a coupled missions here and there, did all the drug wars now I havent really been playing it much. Not only that, but they added no new multiplayer modes. I was expecting much more out of it, turned out to be a dud.

 

Overall, the over the top missions are what gives the game such high replayability.. Like damn I did some crazy sh*t. I almost want to do it again. Replaying the missions in TBOGT seems more like a chore. Never really had one of those damn! That was badass moments, whereas in SA I had several of those moments. Casino heist was cool, smashing into drug houses, A-51, jump from the dirtbike onto the jumbo jet, which TBOGT repeated.. Thought in SA it was a more hard earned mission, where as in TBOGT it was rather easy.. More cinematics than anything.