Edge 189 scores

[Matt]

This one rolls out in nearly every edge thread. lol. I think like Halo, GTA 4 is a superb evolution of the series. If it doesnt deserve a 10 then nothing does.

It's an evolution, and at times a great one. But games need to be, fundamentally, about gameplay. And for all GTA's bells and whistles, amazing scale and immersion, the control scheme is dated and sloppy. And if there are control issues, no game, no matter how fantastic every other aspect is, is worth a 10.

People often talk about Mario 64 in terms of the control, and even today is stands up.

For me, control is the single most important aspect of any game.

And I don't think Halo 3 was worth a 10 either

[Kaladron]

For me, control is the single most important aspect of any game.

I wish more people shared this principle. So many seem to have lost sight of it in the last ten years.

[prinnysquad]

I take it gamestm hasn't given it a ten, then

[Kaladron]

I take it gamestm hasn't given it a ten, then

Wait and see.

[prinnysquad]

For me, control is the single most important aspect of any game.

Fair point. The hand to hand combat is a horrifying suckfest. When you knock a bloke down you can punch and kick him, right? I've seen me do it.

Wrong. You can punch and kick, and your punches and kicks visibly smack against the poor sap on the deck, but the game insists that no contact is made.

It's a lottery as to whether or not I can finish someone off on the ground, or have to wait til he stands up again.

[Matt]

Glad it's something at least some of us can agree with I keep going on about it, but I imagine GTA with Gears cover system, and that control and camera angle. It'd be stunning, though not as cinematic. Everyone I've chatted to agrees the camera on the car (3rd person) is too low, I end up using both sticks - one to turn, one to raise the camera just a fraction (and we are talking a fraction), and to turn so the camera keeps up with the car round corners. Again, it's more cinematic as it is, with the camera hanging back showing the car sliding round. But it does **** all for gameplay and is frustrating.

I can see how GTA could be a ten. But at the same time, it's just an evolution of a game Edge originally gave a 6. Ergo, take any 6 rated game, throw a tonne of money at it, put everything including the kitchen sink in to it, buy a load of hype, and you'll get a 10? I know it doesn't work like that, but the underlying gameplay is the same from GTA3 to GTA4.

[JohnMcL7]

Although, in terms of evolution and as far as I can tell so far (I could well change my opinion on this as I get in further), SA was a far greaer leap from the previous than GTAIV is. Maybe it's like the Oscars - if someone gets shafted, they may win one a few years later for something crappy out of guilt.

I think SA has been the strongest in the series particularly as I thought it captured the free roaming aspect the game always aimed for extremely well, it was fantastic having three different cities in a huge environment filled with towns, villages, forests and desert.

When is EchoChrome out in the US? Thought the demo was good and fancy picking it up.

John

[Miguel007]

I completley agree about the controls, with regards to GTA. It amazes me they didn't take the fighting system from Bully (which is the best fighting system Rockstar have ever done IMO) and just cut the parts where you embarass people and expand upon the original design.

[Eight Rooks]

I keep going on about it, but I imagine GTA with Gears cover system

Oh dear God no.

I'm in full agreement on the chase cam for the cars, though. Quite how it doesn't drive their playtesters up the wall is beyond me.

[Matt]

Oh dear God no.

I'm in full agreement on the chase cam for the cars, though. Quite how it doesn't drive their playtesters up the wall is beyond me.

LOL Different strokes mate. I find Gears is responsive, the camera situated perfectly behind the player, and I reckon it's the best shooting / aiming system in any console 3rd person game I've played. It feels solid.

I can only guess Rockstar feel their car cam is perfect. It's been pretty much exactly the same since the first GTA3.

[Malc]

It's nice to see a time extended on Resi' 2. It's one of my favourite PSone games ever.

[Dogg Thang]

It's been pretty much exactly the same since the first GTA3.

I'm going on memory here but I think the cam on GTA3 was a little further away and much higher. It was SA that brought the camera down so low and close to the car.

[Uli]

Edge's game previews are highly inconsistent. take the latest Ninja Gaiden 2 article for instance: now it's not the visuals - in fact these are splendid this time - no, it's the camera that is a crucial issue!

[Kaladron]

Edge's game previews are highly inconsistent. take the latest Ninja Gaiden 2 article for instance: now it's not the visuals - in fact these are splendid this time - no, it's the camera that is a crucial issue!

I shouldn't really be defending Edge but, in fairness, it's Ninja Gaiden that's inconsistent. The first preview build had a fairly stable camera but the more recent one has one of the worst in recent memory.

[Uli]

I shouldn't really be defending Edge but, in fairness, it's Ninja Gaiden that's inconsistent. The first preview build had a fairly stable camera but the more recent one has one of the worst in recent memory.

sounds like you've played the latest build - have you?

so maybe you are right, but shouldn't the writer point this out to avoid confusion amongst the readership?