IGN UK: GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony Review

Like The Lost and Damned before it, The Ballad of Gay Tony redefines expectations of downloadable content, but this new episode does so much more beside. It's the perfect send-off for one of this generation's definitive titles, it takes the Grand Theft Auto IV experience and injects it with the spirit of the series' past, resulting in a game that can be mentioned in the same breath as San Andreas or Vice City.

Presentation - 9.0
Graphics - 9.0
Sound - 10
Gameplay - 9.5
Lasting Appeal - 9.5
Overall -

[Natsu X FairyTail]

AAA

[StanLatMarveldotCom]

So was The Lost and Damned. Can't wait to play this when I pick it up tomorrow.

[BadboyCivic360]

Some users on here will disagree with you for saying AAA on a non Sony console...
But as for Gay Tony, the verdict is still out if its better than Niko or biker buddy's story...

[ProA007]

Bu bu but...Micro$oft paid 50 million for only some new weapons, cars and other small dlc items.

[Blaze929]

shhhhh...let them still keep on thinking that.

Anyway in all seriousness, great score. Can't wait to download this tomorrow. Gonna be a blast parachuting online

[Pennywise]

........DLC

[FamilyGuy]

But compared to what? How are graphics judged these days anyway?
This really stood out to me for some reason.

Anyway, great score, looks like IGN UK loved it.

[DelbertGrady]

Compared to other sandbox titles of the same scope? Like Saints Row for example.

[Blaze929]

You know what he's trying to infer....Uncharted 2

*sigh*

[Perkel]

yeah 9.0 for graphic is joke, but imo dlc is great.

@ above

because he said his opinion he is a fanboy ? :> O.o

[HolyOrangeCows]

It's a shame it took them so many DLC packs before they added so much of what the first game was missing.

I'm glad you can get these on discs.

[shadow2797]

Sweet, I'll probably get this. Seeing as I have GTAIV on PS3, that would mean I have to buy Episodes from Liberty City, right? Or will the DLC work without the disk?

[ReviewsArePolitics]

9.0 for Uncharted 2, but 9.2 for GTAIV DLC? lol

IGN UK is a joke

[mint royale]

Awesome!

[DMason]

You're a joke. A biased joke at that.

[sunnygrg]

Where the hell did you get 9.0 for Uncharted 2?

IGN UK rated U2 10 in Graphics and 9.5 overall.

[DonCorneo]

LMAO!!1!

it's a 1 and half years old. it looks dated now that kz2/uncharted 2 is out.. and they gave Graphics -8.5 to r&c acit.. i wonder why.. oh, yeah it's a crapbox exclusive, that's why.

[topdawg122]

Eiffel, what does that sort of horrible response make you?
Anyway, this expansion looks great, wish is available for my ps3

[Sonyslave3]

maybe because this the best looking dlc.

[MetalGearRisingBan]

im very bored with this. it doesn't make me interesting in GTA series anymore expect 1 and 3.

[PotNoodle]

Can't wait. I have the lost and damned and loved that.

I know for some reason people felt disappointed in GTA4, but i wasn't. Yeah, it isn't the 98/100 but it was still a fantastic game and i loved it. I own it on all three platforms, PS3, PC and 360 - so i think its safe to say i'll be buying this DLC :p

[StanLatMarveldotCom]

Only on the internet buddy. Most of the people I know have totally enjoyed GTAIV and think it's a great game.

[STICKzophrenic]

It's still the 8th most played game on XBL...not sure what it is for PSN. Tons of people still love to play GTAIV. It was only a disappointment for a lot of the people here apparently.

[Perkel]

then why i:

liked gta3
loved vice city
liked sa

and hated gta4 ?

i sold it after 2 weeks. they too much focused on city than a real gameplay which was old and unresponsive. every 10/10 was joke

gta4 was small vs sa

[Dread]

the main reason the sony fans are hating on the game is that it was not exlcusive for Sony. If this was a Sony exclusive it would be considered an AAA by all of them.

[Redempteur]

it's still played on the PSN too ...

you pop your disc now and you'll see people playing without problems ...

[STICKzophrenic]

I wasn't aware you were the only person who played GTAIV.

Like I said, it's still popular on XBL. Lots of people still like it and play it. I think you're in the small, but vocal, minority.

[zootang]

Somehow i can't see an add on pack scoring the same as uncharted 2

[StanLatMarveldotCom]

Who cares? O_o

Edit @ Caffo01

There is no standardized criteria for reviewing games. A review is really based on a reviewer's experience with that game. A second person may not have enjoyed it as much and given it a lower score while another reviewer enjoyed his experiences so much he overlooks a game's flaws and scores it higher. I really hate that people read so much into review scores. That's the reason so many games are looked at as being overrated in retrospect. It's because the reviewer is reviewing the game in that moment and his review is opinionated and based on his experience and who wasn't blown away by GTAIV when they first played it but looking back, after the initial excitement, you see some of the game's nagging flaws. This is the case with all games and game reviews.

[Eiffel]

Yeah ... because everyone knows Uncharted 2 is the only game IN HISTORY to get a 9 or 10 in a review.. And the fact it exists means that any game that scores a score in comparison to it, does not seem right. Okay I guess by that logic MGS4 scored a ??/10

Right...pfft..

EDIT: Disagrees. Lmao at all the mentally confused fanboys and people without thought of the term "sarcasm".

[Godmars290]

Considering there usually isn't as much concern about add-on content, bought content at that, that its worth reviewing I don't really see it either.

Why even bring it up?

edit:
Yeah, I fixed it up.

[zootang]

Just making the point that an add on pack gets the same score as a full game, thats all.

[Cold 2000]

Geez you guys are so annoying. Cant u just NOT complain and whine and cry and whatever just for ONCE ? Why do you guys always have to be so bitter ?!

What if Gay Tony is as fun as UC 2 ? They liked the game thats all.
Its not because UC2 scored "insert score here" that no other game is allowed to score the same or higher ! And if that does happen AND SO WHAT ??? I mean really AND SO WHAT ??!!

Geez cant u just enjoy what u have and stop whining for a moment, and that goes to all your fellow whiners who are going to come in swarming in here.

[Caffo01]

actually ign uk gave uncharted 2 a 9...i really can't understand how an expansion can outscore the best game of the year...ign uk fails!

[Eiffel]

That's a pretty general obvious statement to make. That's like saying

"RPG's are role playing games, just thought I'd randomly point that out."

Why do people compare full title scores compared to DLC. Maybe it's score only valuates in the area of good DLC. Not compared scores to full titles.

[tordavis]

It's because you don't take every game for face value like you should.

[BadboyCivic360]

at least nobody brought up killzone...Im kinda glad UC2 came out cuz i was sick of people bringing up KZ2 in every thread...

now as for Gay Tony, it seem like a lot of fun to play and that is all that matters to me...

[Godmars290]

Don't you mean what if Gay Tony wasn't its own enclosed added story where as any UC2 added content will likely only be player maps and multiplayer modes not worth any in-dept reviews or reports?

Nevermind that its using a multiplatform game engine and is only exclusive content because its been bought. No technical superiority of the system its on whatsoever.

[Stinger_209]

hmmm so it that how much mircosoft paid for the review 9.2 million

[foreverflame]

Another AAA for the 360 while R&C a flop in time has flopped

[W831SOLIDSNAKE]

Poor Bot gets excited over download content HAHAHAHAHA that's so sad, Bots have no games HAHAHA what a bunch if loosers no GAMES!!

Forza 3 smells like crap

[DelbertGrady]

Uncharted 2 sells like crap :)

Not Naughty Dogs fault though. They can't help that most people who bought a PS3 did it because they wanted a cheap Blu-Ray player.

[OhNoez]

you really want to make your comments to be hidden, arent you?

[Snatcher]

As much as I love the PS3 and it's game. It ridiculous how annoying these PS3 fanboys are.

''Poor Bot gets excited over download content HAHAHAHAHA that's so sad, Bots have no games HAHAHA what a bunch if loosers no GAMES!!

Forza 3 smells like crap''

I mean seriously, this is childish behaviour at it's best. Why can't people argue together in a mature way? This is just annoying. And i'm talking about some Xbox 360 fanboys also, you are not better.

I know it's the open zone, but I really wanted to point out how stupid it is. It's not even funny, if his aiming for laughter.

[zootang]

Certain games are just meant to be big in scale and scope -- RPGs, 4X strategy ventures, sandbox games, and yes, Ratchet & Clank titles. Anything less ends up playing like a half-realized game. So, while Quest for Booty does provide a decent gameplay experience for a competitive price in addition to a very (very) cool twist on the already-mysterious Zoni kidnapping of Clank, it’s a little too shallow for its own good -- episodic or not

IGN UK!

[Eiffel]

Still, ever consider the rating is based on the general area of rated downloadable content?

Doesn't mean that the downloadable content is scalable in perfection like most full titles with high scores.

Here is a example.

Fallout 3.(DLC category)
Operation Anchorage 8/10
Mothership Zeta 8/10
The Pitt 7/10
Point Lookout 9/10
Broken Steel 9/10
-------------------
Uncharted 2(Full Title, own content category)9/10

[zootang]

The consistencies just ain't there.....

[sack_boi]

Get life dude, gaming clearly isn't for you.

[Cold 2000]

Yeah Zootang doesnt actually raeally care about games.
All he cares is that exclusives on his console of choice get high scores so he can brag and act like an idiot on N4G with his fellow idiots.

Give it up dude geez.

[zootang]

Todays gaming is not for me, i agree. I wish it was the good old days when you had full content at release

[Eiffel]

That era ended a long time ago. If I recall Both the PS2 and Xbox were getting retail discs of bonus content for titles. "Expansion Packs"

Still have a copy of my DooM 3: Resurrection.

But of course the only period where you got full content was way back in the old SNES, NES, Genesis and so on from before. Extra content has really only been large by demand this generation.

[Cold 2000]

The DLC that you are going to get for UC2 or that you got for KZ2 or whatever is EXTRA content.

Its not content they cut off the game to sell it as DLC (well in most cases)

Games today arent any shorter or less complete than games last gen, I can even say its the opposite.

So saying that it was better before doesnt really make sense to me since before you used to get the game and thats it. Today u get the game and if you wish you can get EXTRA content for it.

[Cenobia]

You sure whine a lot for a guy that complains about whiners.

[Cold 2000]

U wont see me whine like the bunch of whiners that make up 80% of this site.

I mean whenever the 360 gets something good all the crybabies on the otherside swarm in.

Why cant you just be happy with what u have ?

Why does it bother them so much whenever the 360 gets something good ?

An dont tell me bu.. bu.. but 360 fans do it too. Its AUTOMATIC with PS3 diehards. Its like a 2nd nature or something.

Go play your PS3 or something if good 360 news bothers you so much. I mean its simple, just dont click on the news.

[BannedForNineYears]

I wish R* would show the PS3 a little love.......Oh well, PS3's getting Agent at least....... -_-

[sack_boi]

XBOX 360 is getting all these DLCs because Microsoft paid for them. Rockstar isn't showing any "love" to the 360, it's just business.

And PS3 is getting Agent exclusively because Sony paid for it.

[menoyou]

I don't think you want the kind of love this game gives. ROFL.

[jjesso1993]

its amzing been playing it all day so fun

[Rio-Hustla-Inc]

Graphics???

[shutupandplay]

Nothing to spin here droids. Move along.

[AliTheBrit19]

Yup

its an amazing AAA Game and it 100% Exclusive to the Microsoft Xbox 360

oooooh....stings doesnt it, go cry it out. xD

[Dread]

Another great game for the 360. It is a great time to be a gamer.
forza 3, halo odst and now this.. i thought that the 360 had no games....lololololo

[DARK WITNESS]

lolololol @ some of the fanboys..

look at them bolting for every excuse they can find "OMG ! it's DL content, how can it be getting the same score as zizizzunchartedbestistgamevert hatmakestmecreamypantzzzz " They really do love it don't they...quick all members of SDF, damage control hats on!

Please...

It's a great expansion to a great game and it got a 9.2, live with it.. or better still go play uncharted2.

[Godmars290]

But its not just DLC, not new map packs or play modes, its almost a complete game onto itself. Could be put on a disc by itself.

And again, why are you people even talking about UC2?

[DARK WITNESS]

@ Godmars290

sorry man... I think you didn't quite get what I was saying. I was having a go at the ps3 fanboys in here crying, not supporting them.

I didn't say it was DLC (thats what they are calling it), read the bottom part of my comment, I actually said it's an expansion ( at least that is what I would class it as )...I totally agree uncharted 2 should not be cropping up here, which is why I said they should go play it.

I think this is going to be awesome, I am prob one of the few people who really enjoyed gta4 and enjoyed L&D even more, so I can't wait to play this.

I think it's a great score and from the sound of it, it's spot on.

[Godmars290]

The thing is, as far as I can tell, it was a 360 supporter who brought up the other game first.

Actually, it looks like this crap got started over the graphics score. Which does make sense if its the same exact engine and GTA4 - and it has to be - yet GTA4 scored lower. Not that its any excuse to bring up another game with a similar score.

I keep seeing crap like this then have to deal with those same people saying how much a fanboy *I* am!

[W831SOLIDSNAKE]

Hmm seems like someone is missing a funny bone.
Truth is my friend it's real funny how some xbots get over excited over dumb download content when a few years back they were saying "PS3 has no games" and now look at them on there knees beggin for something else other than Gaylo 99 Gays of War 50 and Flopza 3.

That my friend is halirious!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Don't laugh if u don't want to but it won't stop me from being a PS3 supporter and ridicule the dumb bots when they tried to do the same. Payback is a B***h!!

[thebudgetgamer]

and all the people want to do is talk about the other system.

:)

[Dread]

the problem is that this kind of news runs counter to the theory that the sony fantards, who took over N4G, are postulating regarding an alleged lack of exclusive quality titles for the 360.

they are not statisfied with just having great games for their system (e.g. uncharted 2, and demons soul) they need to attack the other system's games as well

it is truly unfortunately but this is N4G.

[thebudgetgamer]

i will admit there are more ps3 nutjobs here, but both groups are equaly annoying.

i dont own a 360 "YET" but i respect rockstar north very much. im glad they got a good score for a fun game.

[Dread]

it does go both ways, but as you say Sony crazy fans out number 360 crazy fans by a lot. If we take a particular comment from both sides i agree that they are equally annoying, but the comments form the sony camp outnumber the 360 camp considerably, so it is more difficult to have honest discussions when the subject is 360.

[thebudgetgamer]

im here to talk about and sometimes argue about my favorite hobby with like minded gamers. if all you do is concentrate on the negative people eventualy you will become one of those people.

game on.

[Dread]

very good point my friend.

i'll keep it in mind.

peace

[Ldubbz]

I think this whole little conversation you guys are having sums it all up pretty well.

bubbles all around...

[NecrumSlavery]

Graphics looks worse than GTA4, but the game play looks like it brings us back to the style of San Andreas. When GTA was at it's finest.

[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.

[4Sh0w]

Its also true that this "AAA.....DLC" is about as long and has more content than many full games that cost alot more.

sorry meant to reply to another post, oh well.

[Ldubbz]

Forza 3 dropped yesterday, and this drops tomorrow. Good lord...

And folks, dont let the whiners get to you. C'mon, like we dont already know what they were all gonna say? LOL...This fanwar BS is getting ridiculous. I used to think of it all as just entertainment on here, and I still do for the most part, but there are some truly angry or extremely bored people on here. I feel sorry for you guys, cuz games are just meant to be fun.

and whats even funnier is the higher the game rates, the more upset some people will get....what does that tell you?

[Dread]

very good point

bubbles.