The flaws of Rockstar Games and why GTA IV did not deserve the score it got

We got a new article written by The Q, from daughter site After Light, which will probably end up being controversial. It talks about the flaws of games such as the GTA series, as well as the faults of Rockstar Games.

And we all know there are many fans of both Rockstar and their games, but all voices and opinions must be heard. And the piece is not without its arguments.

[WhiteLightning]

When people ask how hype influences a games review score.....just point out GTA4.

[lociefer]

ur absolutely right, this is like the only game tht felt like a chore to me , i had to finish it just to get the trophies and thts it, story wise it was average at best

[WhiteLightning]

I think the seriousness and the annoying, always rinning, mobile did it for me. Also out of all the characters Rockstar have created Niko was the worst, hell I even liked Claude more then Niko and he didn't even speak. I'd rather play as Roman during the main missions...

Plus I missed the fact that there was a lack of well known celebrity voices.

I'll admit I was sucked into the hype but looking back on it, the game was avaerage. I had more fun in Saints Row 2 then GTA4......and to be honest I was expecting a bigger map, bigger then GTA:SA since it was next gen...Just Cause 2's map put Rockstar to shame.

I'm not trying to say I don't want people to enjoy the next GTA game but I hope for giving them money to fund L.A Noires tec Rockstar reward Sony with a GTA5 exclusive game rather then AGENT since that's looking like it may go MP.

[Gazondaily]

Well said. GTA4 is a classic example of a title riding on the hype and letting that eclipse it's various glaring shortcomings.

[StanLee]

I don't agree at all. The story telling and character development for a GTA title was sublime. Never have I loved characters in a game more than I did Niko, Roman, Little J, Brucie and the other characters in the game; each felt real and fleshed out. The sandbox experiences, wasn't what long time GTA fans expected. The game was more linear but that's what was necessary to tell great stories. GTAIV was an evolution the franchise needed to stay relevant. A great emphasis on story, character building. You see the same direction in Red Dead Redemption. The sandbox may have been removed but as an interactive experience, I think GTAIV is unbeatable. Anyone can do a mindless sandbox with no real direction or catalyst; look at Saints Row and if that's what you want, go play Saints Row.

[dark-hollow]

To be fair, for what rockstar have aimed with GTA IV, they succeeded.
the releasim and the attention of detail is second to none.
Especially the realism. When shoot a driver he fall on front and the car horn will go on!!! Thats just a simple example of the realism in gta iv

The city was big, live and beautiful! The physics are amazing!!
The graphics is simply jaw dropping for an open world game.
Did anybody tried to launch an rpg??? The explosion effects are amazing!!

[limewax]

I disagreed because to me the graphics looked pretty muddy, Textures may have been fine but the overall look was not fantastic to me.

Physics were good up until you got in the really fast cars when it kind of went back to the PS2 physics for no apparent reason. The game was ok, but it was inconsistent and the biggest failing for me was none of the city was fun to explore at all.

[GraveLord]

Indoor graphics were still pretty bad though.
But yeah outdoor graphics were gorgeous!

[WANNAGETHIGH]

Most over hyped game in the history of gaming.

GTA4=Boring.

Saint row =Fun.

That is what gaming is about having fun.

But San Andreas----> Saint row.

[GraveLord]

True.
What really killed the game for me was the "realism". They used a new engine or something and movement just felt really stiff and slow. A huge downgrade from San Andreas IMO.

[The Tingler]

I love controversy, and I love alternative opinions more. I enjoyed GTA4, but not beyond the 80s.

[gravemaker]

gta 4 was perfect and amazing

[Drekken]

And your comment was thoughtful and true.

[zeal0us]

GTA4 was alright, San Andreas had more feature and some real life elements. I just wish some those features and rl elements was present in 4.

[TopDudeMan]

Yes, san andreas was an incredible game. GTAIV felt like a step backwards.

But most of the problems this guy points out are with the PC versions. If this guy has a problem with the PC version of the game, that's fine but he's bashing the game overall, which isn't entirely fair. Graphics really aren't everything.

[trainsinrdr]

Rockstar and bethesda are the kings of gaming.

[Hufandpuf]

Gta 4 was an amazing game, it deserved a 9 at the least. Plus the mound of DLC afterward, great.

[tickticktick]

GTA4 was the best one yet.

[DARK WITNESS]

I still like GTA4, it did disappoint me yes in terms of the story and Niko as a character.

I think what it missed was turning the city into a playground sort of. Niko for how bad-ass he was meant to be, didn't feel bad at all, he went through the whole game feeling like a pizza delivery boy.

I know people complained about the physics when driving, but I liked it. it did take me a while to get use to it yes and at first I found it really hard and the bikes were almost impossible, but after a while I got use to it and enjoyed it.

even now I would still rate the game high, at least a nine. what I loved about it was the world felt so alive. Saints row was fun to mess around in yes, but it didn't impress me as a whole the way GTA did.

Still the love of my life is still vice city. if they remade that game in the rage engine... one can only dream.

[SH0CKW4VE]

GTA IV

To put it simply they scaled back the content available and the interactivity with the game world, simply put there was nothing to do except the missions or take your fat cousin bowling *shudder*

Dropping all they had built up in San Andreas was a big mistake.

[telekineticmantis]

for awhile with GTA4. The controls were so stiff.

[ginsunuva]

The story and characters were unbelievable and the missions were boring. GTA4 deserves no more than a 9/10.

[HawtSkull]

gta4 is a step back from san andreas

[Oldman100]

The only good thing going for gta4 was the multiplayer and gun play. Everything else was a step back from san andreas.