An interesting game. I didn't find it half as good as it was made out to be.
Graphics: 4/5
I think what caught most people from the start was the graphics. From the first 2007 trailer we were all caught out by the look of it. For 2007, we'd not seen much like it. I'll say it looks very good – it's appealing to look at and very colourful. I'm not a person to judge over graphics.
Gameplay: 7/10
Gameplay was the let down here for me. GTA is an open world and a sandbox game. Missions were repetitive and there was not a great deal for me to see, do and explore in the open world – other than occasionally something like a nice car or helicopter – maybe a little Easter egg here. Mentioning missions and repetition again, I believe there is so much more they could have pulled off rather than driving to a location, killing a group, losing a wanted level and driving somewhere else. It was boring and tiring to do and there is no replay value for me…..Read below for more on that.
Online play: 9/10
Online is good. The servers work fantastic. I have no problems joining matches and there have never been connection and lag problems; and if I have had connection problems with friends then it's down to xbox and not actually the game server. A job well done.
Sound: 9/10
I really do have to credit the sound. The voice acting is amazing and the sound effects from skidding, explosions is varied and so well executed. I wish more games could adapt sounds like this.
Replay value: 6/10
There are only a few side missions to do after you've beat the game and a few pedestrians to give you missions. Also there are birds you shoot and stunt jumps. Stunt jumps are fun but shooting birds isn't, especially as they are hard as hell to find – some aren't even visible; and how players have found them have to be luck (like the one on the coast). The game starts off feeling amazing – but by the end, it felt stale. It's not like San Andreas where you're stealing planes and going into Area 69…or Area 51 as it is in real life – and some of the bike missions in Vice City; this game compares nothing to the old style of gaming.
Overall:
Graphics: 4/5
Gameplay: 7/10
Online play: 9/10
Replay value: 6/10
Sound: 9/10
Overall: 35/45
Times that by three 2.22 (45 x 2.22 = 100 roughly) and that gives us 7.7 (roughly). I'll round that to 8.0 for a rating out of 10.
So my last words? It's a great game and is on nearly every collection of xbox games. It was what brought me to the console. I have to say though – games are changing a lot nowadays and no game is going to be like San Andreas. They all try too hard to be realistic and end up botching the game play – this game in my opinion falls in-between both.
Thanks for reading!
Take care!
- Martin