Junot Díaz, writing for the Wall Street Journal, has confessed that although he loves Grand Theft Auto IV, and recognizes it as art, it is not the messianic miracle that game critics have claimed it to be. He says holding it up to movies like The Godfather, as some reviwers have done, speaks too highly of a game that is great, but not that great.
OK, let me be clear: I love GTA IV and I have no doubt that it is art, but an equal to "The Sopranos" or "The Godfather"? Narrative art of that caliber is distinguished by its ability to re-organize our preconceptions, to shift us into a world that's always been there but that we've been afraid to acknowledge, and I'm not convinced that GTA IV pulls off that miracle.
GTA IV is brilliant, but despite what virtually all the reviews claim, it ain't the revolution. If you played GTA III or higher, GTA IV won't exactly catapult you to higher plane of existence or induce metanoia. GTA III was the revolution, and established the grammar for the franchise.
I fully agree with Junot's argument (unsurprising if you read my 8/10 GTA IV review) and think this was a great article. Grand Theft Auto IV isn't revolutionary in the slightest, and even though its storyline is great, it is not the "most important artwork of our time," or on par with videogames like BioShock and Ocarina of Time, never mind movies. At any rate, I recommend reading the article, as it's a very encouraging take on videogames as art, and provides a refreshingly positive spin that you don't often see from non-specialist games writing.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Also, I believe Ocarina of Time is the most overrated game of all time and was overrated when it came out on the N64.
There is, however, something Any Warholian about saying Super Mario Brothers 1 or Megaman 2 or 3 are pieces of art, and I'd totally agree with that.
It's a damn good thing I don't live near you, because I'd have kicked the shit out of you for even thinking about that.
Name me another game where you can annoy a hooker by pushing her repeatedly towards the road and a passer-by in a car on seeing your assholeness will get out of his car and come over to beat the shit out of you. 9.
Haha...That's awesome.
By that same logic Duke Nukem Forever will be a 37/10 just because of how long it's been in development.
Fact of the matter is, they may have spent a lot of time making the city feel "alive," but they forgot to add all the stuff that made the game fun.
I completely agree with this article.
It's just a shinier next gen GTA 3...
The story wasn't GREAT, It did the job, but I'll never understand all these people who seem to worship the thing....
That said, it was also repetitive and too easy. The missions are basically the same: kill that guy who's surrounded by a lot of his friends, kill a group of people, etc. Sure, there were a few nice exceptions (SPOILER: the triad truck heist was good), but overall the missions were the same all over again.
They seem to have focused more on the city (the activities, the small details) and less on the actual mission gameplay (95% of the game). Time for Rockstar to get their priorities straight.
I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING.
GTAIV is great, but not the best. Simple.
I fucking love it, I dont need you to love it to, because Im cool.
Say it isn't so!
Whats next, gamers realize that MGS4 wasn't that great either?
Dare to dream...
I dont care for the godfather either, and never really watched sopranoes. But i'd say GTA 4 WAS equal to "Once upon a time in America". Dont agree? Fine but dont say it shit just cos it goes "too realistic".
That said, I also agree with the statements of the Wall Street journal.