IGN: GTA IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony Review

The Ballad of Gay Tony is the perfect way to close out the GTA IV saga. Finally, we know what happened to the diamonds stolen in the main story a year-and-a-half ago. Though Luis Lopez doesn't have much of a story at all (this is the ballad of his boss, after all), the supporting cast is phenomenal. There are a lot of hilarious moments and ludicrous missions that will please GTA fans. Sure, a few of the missions fall flat compared to the wild nature of others, but all-in-all this is a fine package and worth 20 bucks.

[TheOtherSide]

Great review, I´m off to by it right now.

[mint royale]

Awesome for GTA fans and 360 owners, I may pick this up.

[Godmars290]

Unless you only have a PC or PS3. Which is sort of the point.

Its also why you're going to get disagrees. Also why I'm going to get them too :p

[Natsu X FairyTail]

oh sh1t the news is on the main page at the moment?

AAA

before everybody starts making comments.

eh eh eh

[HDgamer]

Well PC does have mods. The Lost and Damned mod proves that.

[locos85]

People still play this?!?!

[Killjoy3000]

Lost and The Damned bored me to tears, but The Ballad of Gay Tony seems to capture the charm of what has made the series so great. I just might have to check this out. I was expecting this exclusive DLC to add all new cities though.

[Aaron Greenterd]

My poor customers: they never learn =P

[Xbox Avatars Shoe]

IGN gave GTAIV a perfect 10 so I don't trust their GTA reviews anymore.

[Natsu X FairyTail]

Woah Great Score! I guess Rockstar Still got it.

[N4G king]

acoording to xboxfanboys
AGENT well suck

and this game is the best
yet in the same time
its made by the same PPL

[i3eyond the Circle]

Got my copy sitting right in front of me.

Going to let it marinate tho.

Almost done with Magna Carta and Borderlands going to get those games beaten before anything.

[dreamcast]

Magna Carta lololol...

That's a strange excuse to not play Gay Tony yet.

[HDgamer]

Drop magna carta and put in Gay Tony.

[navyguy21]

Thats what SHE said :P

[shutupandplay]

lol. Just to let the ps3 fanboys know, AAA.

[Sunny_D]

yes, AAA DLC. Have fun poking a stick at a dead horse.

[W831SOLIDSNAKE]

Once more I laugh at your dumb $20 download HAHAHAHA it's not even a real game HAAHAHA poor bots that's all u get to play this year a DOWNLOAD, HAHAHA..... but but it's "AAA" so freaking sad. Go chew your bone XBOTS I love to see u scatter like voltures and brag over a bone.... LMAO

what a great day :)

[chrisulloa]

2 AAA's in one month, hahahahaha

[OhNoez]

ill remember you when AAAAAA Agent is about to be released, i will LOL at you, see ya

[AliTheBrit19]

Of course its a real game.

Its coming out on its own disk is it not? as its own individual game, no need for GTA IV to play (Episodes From Liberty City)

Ballad is 10 hours long, as is Lost and damned, with their own multiplayer and own plot, characters, you name it.

So what exactly doesn't make it a full game? because it has the title "expansion" ?...

hahaha bloody moron

You cry because you can't have it :)

[Pirateogta]

How do you know Agent will be AAA when there is practically no information whatsoever about it? There isn't even a release date! Your comment makes you look jealous and desperate.

Can't wait to play TBoGT tomorrow! More gameplay and higher presentation values than most full games for $20.

[The Master Chief]

Feels good to be the #1 main console this generation. Maybe next time PS3.(PS3rd)

[nix]

last time i remember, IGN gave GTAIV 10/10. and we all know how terrible the game is... 9.2 probably means 7.2.

but whatever rocks your boats.

[Sm0k3y_Bac0n]

lol, just read exactly the same story on this site.

Anyway slightly off topic. Anyone know when MW2 reviews are coming out?

[Sm0k3y_Bac0n]

assuming disagrees are people not knowing when the reviews come out for MW2. Ah well. They cant be long now. And good score for BoGT. I kind of wonder though. Did R* itentially remove content that was found in GTA:SA to release as DLC so the DLC would sell more?

[Snatcher]

Killzone 2, Uncharted 2, MLB 09: The Show are AAA also. Not to mention Infamous, Ratchet and Clank: ACIT, Demon's Souls which all have 85% or more on metacritic.

[chrisulloa]

85% isn't AAA. 90% and above.

We've got Liberty City Stories and Forza 3, you guys have UC2 and Killzone 2 for this year.

[The_Count]

MLB is also 90+

[Obama]

l4d only got 89 in meta so I guess it's not AAA either. Neither will l4d2.

[DARK WITNESS]

great review.... looking forward to this. gta just got better !

[Hudahudahuda]

Damn.

360 got it's first game this year.

[Natsu X FairyTail]

F3 ?

[ReviewsArePolitics]

It's still DLC, and 9.2 for a $20 game is not the same as a 9.2 for a $60 game.

Not AAA. :)

[Perjoss]

"360 got it's first game this year."

what about all the fantastic multiplats, am I missing something?

[kingdavid]

@ reviewsforpolitics

But if you have the episodes of liberty city disc.

tlad + gay tony = 30 hours of gameplay.

You tell me now all that content is not a full game.

[kaveti6616]

What fantastic spin. Just when I thought fanboys could not sink any lower, you came along. Well, maybe Heavenly Sword should not have been priced at 60 bucks, either. Ballad of Gay Tony is not considered a AAA title (not that I care for the term as it truly refers to production budget) because the Metacritic scores aren't finalized.

[Stryfeno2]

Day 1 buy....I love me some GTA4.

[W831SOLIDSNAKE]

Run bot run n spend your first $20 of the year on a dumb download LMAO I'm laughing all the way!! You malnurished game starved volture. LOL

[Neo604]

They might increase the price to $60 dlc cause they got away with it last time.

[Golfcoachh]

You are a moron. Its 20 bucks, download it. What an ignorant comment.

Edit: disagrees are so funny. So how many people paid 60 bucks for the last dlc for gta4? Cuz I got beach front property to sell you in Montana. lol

[ReviewsArePolitics]

Well, some people do like paying $60 for DLC, so why not pay $60 for another one and market it as a (pretend) game.

It's awesome to live in a pretend world of pretend gamers that play pretend games.

[jessupj]

And here you are calling him a moron when you sir are the stupid one. He was obviously taking a jab at ODST, infering it was DLC and millions were all to happy to pay for that "$60 DLC". You just owned youself.

[heylo]

yes bots, buy it so that Rockstar can invest your money in real AAA games like Agent

[chrisulloa]

Lol cry more kid.

[Neo604]

It'll help to fund Rockstar new nextgen game like Agent.

[Poopface the 2nd]

I can buy them both.

Sux to be any of the criers in here.

[jessupj]

I'm sure there might be a few just trying to save face, but I don't see a single ps3 fan that's heavily interested in the gta4 DLC. Might be a little bit of interest, but definitely no where near the ammount we would need to, as you put it, cry.

[AliTheBrit19]

Woot! I wont watch it or read it because I'm getting this tomorrow so not much point

Can't wait, picking up Episodes From Liberty City which has this and TLAD on it.

AAA Without a doubt

[chrisulloa]

He can't afford internet, but he's on a website posting comments right?

LOL you are smart.

[kingdavid]

Logic has no meaning here chris..

[Ninji]

I agree because there is no place in the world where you can access the internet for free. I mean they should try doing that one day...Like maybe putting it in a library or something. That would be sweet!

[chrisulloa]

Yeah, I don't think he's in the library every day and at 12 am in the morning. (Comment history)

Some of you are really THAT stupid huh?

[AliTheBrit19]

I probably shouldn't care enough to reply to an incredible idiot like you

(well done, the most retarded comment I've seen this week, you must be proud)

But I downloaded TLAD and now going to pick up the disk with them both on so it can sit happily on my game shelf next to GTA IV

Ahh its fun to be an adult and not have to ask mummy for things ;)

Maybe in many years time you'll now how that feels, until then get back in your hole troll.

[Shoko]

Yea, its AAA, but its the exact same game you played last year ya idiots. Yes, there is more things you can do, but when it comes down to it, its the same game.

[kingdavid]

I guess by your theory then uncharted 2 is completely the same game as uncharted in 2007! Yes there is different stuff to do but its the same game. We both know thats not true but its exactly the same situation. Youd have to play it to find out though instead of judging it from one off reviews.

*Prepares for a barrage of disagrees for telling the truth

[Shoko]

Wow, what you just said was very specific /sarcasm. You just said "completely different stuff" That's no telling me much. Different in scope? LOL! The lame excuses just keep rolling out don't they?

Bottom line is, guys, if you have to count DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT as A AAA TITLE, then YOU'RE DESPERATE. Simple. You guys have had such a lackluster year that you grasp as anything and call it a AAA exclusive. And heck, you GTA4 to get the DLC, so it's not like you're getting new games. Stop being desperate! This year has sucked for the 360 and you know it. The PS3 has had Killzone 2, ImFamous, Ratchet and Clank, and Uncharted 2.

[Shoko]

LOL! I notice how you edited what you said. What's the matter? Not confident in your statement? Put it back.

[Shoko]

That was a very weak argument. The difference between Uncharted 1 ans 2 is WAAAAAAAAAAAY bigger than the differences between the GTA content. My proof? ONE IS FREAKIN DLC while the other IS A WHOLE NOTHER GAME, A SEQUEL! Think man, think!

Your logic sucks.

[kingdavid]

TLAD + BOGT = 30 hours of content on the liberty city disc.

Thats double the length of uncharted 2 no?

Dont make me bring out the list of enhances to the game for the gta dlc.

[Shoko]

Oh, so now we're arguing game length? Lol, how sad. Your arguments have been shot down so badly that now you're trying to justify the game credibility with game length. Look at yourself. And actually, no, it's not longer than Uncharted 2, because Uncharted 2 has amazing online that will last you for months. And then there's a bunch of treasure you can collect and single-player perks and even character skins to unlock.

[kingdavid]

I have uncharted 2. I know :P

But I guess by your theory because tlad and gay tony are dlc, the new multiplayer modes in them are crap cos theyre dlc.

I havent played gay tony yet but going from tlad it had (because you seemed to ask for it)

A 12 hour length main story
40 gang war side missions (nothing like it in gta 4)
A different scope (Leader of a bikey gang - gee same as gta 4 right?)
Loads of new music
new weapons
new cars
new activities
new multiplayer modes

You seem to be underestimating how big these expansions are and I agree they are just expansions. But when you add 2 together, they are essentially the size of one new game.

[Shoko]

. I never said the multiplayer modes or the DLC itself was garbage. All I said was that it's pretty much the same game and that's it's dumb to count them as separate titles as if they are retail games -true. And while that list you listed seems pretty long, if you just think about it, it's not that amazing. Music? Cars? Activities? That doesn't add that much depth. It sounds good on paper, but experiencing it is a totally different story.

[TheBlackSmoke]

FFS the game is called !!!>>> GTAIV <<< !!!: The ballad of gay tony.

Its an expansion regardless of how much additional content it has. Its another layer of story to gtaiv with the same gameplay, the same city, the same graphics, the same engine.

And to you silly bots trying to rub it in.... WE DONT CARE. It looks like the new story seems somewhat interesting but too little too late. We all know gtaiv is the most overated game ever and whilst i wont begrudge you guys who really love it (facepalm), the reality is there's just too much NEW games out right now and in the near future for me and many others to even give a sh!t about an expansion for an game that came out 18 months ago.

PS: dont use uncharted 2 as an equal comparison to gtaiv:gay tony, people might actually start to think your retarded.

[emk2004]

i got mine and never finished it. dont people realy get tired of the stealing cars over and over. idk thats just my opinion i thought gta4 was like a 7/10 so i wouldnt buy another one ever.

[Halo3 MLG Pro]

Love GTA4. Definitely the best of the series. Lost and the Damned was absolutely awesome. Being a bad ass biker guy is full of win. I'll eventually get to this but I'm a lil behind on my gaming log.

The GTA Full Experience... only on the 360.

[Shoko]

.....and nobody cares, except you 360 guys obviously. Killzone 2, Uncharted 2, InFamous, Ratchet and Clank, Little Big Planet, Metal Gear Solid 4, Resistance 2, GT5, God of War 3, Motorstorm - Only on the PS3.

[Killjoy3000]

If you think GTA IV is anywhere CLOSE to a full GTA experience then you have lost your f#cking marbles. DLC to an old game does not sound very enticing at all especially when you take into consideration that Uncharted 2, Demon's Souls, MW2, Assassin's Creed 2, R&C, Borderlands, and Forza 3 are all out or coming soon.

But I'll leave you alone, because it must be exciting to proudly say "Only on 360," once in a blue moon. Funny thing is, I have a 360 and I just find it pathetic how you can sit there and parade a console.

[Halo3 MLG Pro]

Your mentioning exclusives. I'm talking about a multiplatform game and one of the highest rated games of all time. I know a few ps3 owners that love GTA4 and are plenty bummed about this. Hell one of my close buddies got a 360 JUST so he can play GTA4 and he's a sony fanboy. You might not care but their are a lot of GTA fans that do.

[Killjoy3000]

Your friend spent $220+ for $20 DLC? LMAO is your friend autistic? I can see people who already have 360s easily buying this, as it looks like plenty of harmless fun, but I've never heard of system selling DLC in my life, and refuse to believe that such a thing will ever exist especially for a multiplatform game.

Besides, I'm sure a trailer/presentation of AGENT is right around the corner, and will fulfill the experience GTA IV should have been.

[xenogamer]

dissapointment with gta4 through out the internet, i bought two copies one for ps3 and one for 360, and when i was done i returned them both, im to busy with borderlands, Demon Souls, Uc2, to care about dlc for a sh1tty game, but next year is my year... i cant fvcking wait for halo reach, i am the biggest bungie fanboy, and sony supporter, im kinda of a paradox!!!

[Lord_Ranos]

LMAO GTA 4 is nothing compared to San Andreas,Vice City and GTA3. Its sad but I think this is halo3MLG first GTA.

[jimbone]

Its nothing now because you ps3 FANBOYS (not all ps3 owners just the fanboys on here screaming how bad the game sucks) don't get it (really I do get it, a bunch of sad people trying to scream at the world how their purchases is the best decision anyone could make, and how anyone who pick something else is stupid). If it was the other way around it would be the greatest thing every to grace the ps3 and all the xbox fanboys would be saying how it was the worst game ever. You punks are too much, this site is done. I just looked through the "Headlines" and there really isn't a decent piece of gaming news in there. All just fanboy, flamewar, Bu115hit, and the 3-year-old mentality is just to much to handle anymore. I remember when it was sorta funny and I would read it for entertainment, but now its just the same OLD one-liners and list of the same 5 games (10 total five on each console). I know Sony has some great games come out this year but damn ya'll name the same 5 every post and 4 of those came out this year. I'm glad we got them but damn its about time right? Its not like Sony's been ruling this gen with games so far, they've won one year so far ( i know there going to keep it up but still) so what. I have been playing great games for my 360 the whole time I've had it (BTW if you don't know I own both consoles). I also like Halo but damn I am tired of hearing how much it sold, I don't care. So to all the punks who defend companies, that care only about you WALLET, like your families lives depends on it, "GROW THE FU(K UP!!!!!" now have fun type fighting on this bull5hit, fake ass website... i'm out..

Oh yea respond to this all you want, but know I will never read it so Rage all you want disagree, whatever you want, all your effort will be wasted because I will never be back to the Bull5hit site again.

[jessupj]

I don't think it's a bad game at all. I can really appreciate the amazing talent that went into the game. I mean the city is really alive and there's so much detail. From a technical point of view the game is right up there with the greats of this generation. However, I think we can all agree what makes a gta game is the gameplay. There's a certain.... magic to it's games. GTA4 just wasn't able to capture this magic, it just wasn't as fun as previous iterations. While I definitely won't say the game sucks, I will say it was a little boring after a while.

[calis]

yeah yeah, probably like you were once saying the now genius Hideo Kojima, was a movie maker.

[creatchee]

"Funny thing is, I have a 360 and I just find it pathetic how you can sit there and parade a console."

Really? REALLY? Here's something taken directly from your profile page:

User Bio
I play Playstation. Do you play Playstation? If so, I welcome your friendship with open arms. Would you like to play Playstation with me? Because I would love to. But just remember one thing...

I play Playstation, and I can't wait to play Playstation with you.

Nah - that doesn't sound like parading.

[Killjoy3000]

There's a difference between parading a console and stating to everybody your console of choice. It's just a witty little poem I wrote two years ago.

[kaveti6616]

Next time Rockstar makes a full-fledged GTA title, they should focus on more than one main character. The game should play out through a series of characters who have intertwining stories occurring within the same city.

[dreamcast]

Hmm, could be cool as long as you can switch characters on the fly when you're not on a mission.

[mrv321]

I just realised how over run this site is with fanboys. Sony ones.

This is a good DLC for what seems like a fair price, I own a GTA IV on PS3 and I don't feel ripped off because I knew the 360 was going to get this exclusively.

I think it's a fair review from what I saw although I'm not much of a fan of DLC.

[kaveti6616]

You realized that just today? Better late than never.

[kevinx1000]

i want this. release date is in about week, right?
gonna get me some MS points.

[The Master Chief]

Im getting it too. :D

[AliTheBrit19]

Release date is...well now, since its 1am

[rob6021]

I don't mind the score, and love GTA but...
Graphics 9.5/10....... c'mon really...
IGN just really shows us how credible they really are, i don't care if it's an open world game or not, this game shouldn't be in the 95th percentile of console graphics, it's not even close to U2.

[dreamcast]

"I don't mind the score, and love GTA but...
Graphics 9.5/10....... c'mon really... "

I guess they're comparing it to other $20 dollar games?

[Enigma_2099]

I am officially jealous.... can I has this? Wait... $50,000,000... right...

... well how 'bout a cheezburger?

[Neoraf]

Go buy a 360 and s**t the f*** up.
You can become a real gamer if you want to.

360+PS3 is the way to go.

[calis]

so a PS3+360 = real gamer?

People are so stupid.

[maxcer]

it won't cost you $50m to play these games, $200 and a copy of EfLC. you should be able to pick that up after one days work, if you can't then put it on your christmas list to santa...

[Enigma_2099]

... so Neoraf can go f*** himself. he's already shown what an a** he can be with that comment.

[XDF]

1001 PS3 fanboys posting propaganda and garbage..what else is new on N4G?

Can we X360 owner get our peace and just talk about the great score without having a bunch of clowns doing damage control.

You don't see X360 fans jumping in Uncharted 2 or Demon's Souls reviews and talk sh!t, do you?

This is like Ground hogs day all over again.

[tonywood]

REALLY, YOU ARE GONNA COMPARE A RACIST, SENSLESS VIOLENT, NON-ORIGINAL SCRIPT, AND SEXUALLY EXPLICIT GAME LIKE GTA TO UNCHARTED?!! CHILD, YOUR ON CRACK!

If games could not be rated M for mature, Rockstar would be out of a job! If anyone asked Rockstar if they matched up visualy, story wise, and innovation wise, to Insomniac or Naughty Dawg.....the lie detector they hooked up to would explode! I see the sale numbers for this fanchise, but that doesn't speak to the games quality. Lil Waye sells millions of records, but he still sucks balls!

[XDF]

Ratchet MILKING SEQUEL 13th. LMFAO..don't make me laugh.

X360 gamer gets real games like Forza 3, Episodes from liberty City, and L4D2 to end the year. Two AAA game in OCT and one in L4D2 in Dec? PS3 has nothing in November..maybe Singstar Whitney Houston and Afrika.LMFAO

[tonywood]

ALL OF THE GTA GAMES ARE THE SAME!!! I SEE REVIEW SCORE HATE ON UNCAHRTED FOR LACK OF ORIGINALLY..BUT GTA'S CONTINUE TO GET RATED HIGH!

This is incredible!!! Ultra Violence, Hate Crimes, Racism, and Sex are key sellers in America. However, Rockstar is obviously pulling off a Bungie, with the same re-hash games. "OK, this time it will be a ghetto thug in the hood, next, we will use a fake mob skit/theme, and now...we can go with Gay Tony". We are so awesome!!! Guess what IGN, it's the same dumb violence, supported by Steven Sigul voice acting. There is no story, just an excuse to use the same ideas as the other games.