Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Comments by Tom Bramwell

I hope you actually played through this one before giving it 10 out of 10 unlike with GTA4.

Dont want to be fooled twice

Love The Wire reference. :D

Sony will be getting really worried I bet if this goes on to sell more than the PSP versions of GTA.

i'll echo that sentiment games programmer
i found gta4 very accomplished but not very fun.

SR2 ftw

Pretty surprised at the 10/10 here - well done 'ickle DS.

[edit]

Wait, you gave GTA4 10/10 too? oh dear.

wow

i wasn't interested in this before, might pick it up now..

it actually looks more interesting than GTA4, to be honest...

I was kind of expecting a 10. I had a feeling it would be either a flop or a priceless game. And btw, 10/10 doesn't mean it's perfect.

better than halo :P
sorry couldn't resist...

Oh my God, I cannot wait for this game!
I agree that GTAIV was overrated but this game just looks downright fun!
Bring on March 20th!

i think i'll be picking this up on friday, love the sound of things like making your rifle on the touch screen and hotwiring cars, and best of all sounds like it doesnt take itself too seriously!

with any luck it will vastly outsell the psp gta games, if only just to spite that idiotic sony pr person who doubted it and thinks ds is still for people under 12 despite clearly being wrong.

@ evilfoxhound RE:10/10 means it's perfect.

Just under the score, there is a link to the scoring policy. I suggest you read it.

evilfoxhound...

How many days have you been reading this site for? Four, perhaps?

--
The perfect ten?
A score of ten reflects a game that, within the reviewer's estimation, is something you must buy: this is the message we're trying to convey. On a basic level it's almost certainly the best quality game ever seen within the context of its genre, and that's why Eurogamer doesn't dish them out very often. A score of 10 usually applies to less than a trio of games in any given year.

But all 10s are not born equal. For starters, you might consider that a ten in the RPG genre still isn't as appealing as an FPS that we scored an eight, or be mystified how we could score a football management game a nine when we only gave that survival-horror game you loved an eight. The best rule is to simply rate like with like, and use your own personal taste barometer to gauge whether the genre is of interest to you. Even so, if you're new to a particular genre then something scoring a ten is a very safe bet indeed. As a starting point, the message is you can't get a better game of this type.

Let us make absolutely clear that a 10 is not and probably never will be "the perfect game". There's always something criticisable about a game, however small.

A 10 will inspire the reviewer because it gets so many things correct. It will be something truly groundbreaking and aesthetically successful, be consistently enjoyable, get the balance right in difficulty terms, be technically very impressive, and be polished to a shine. It will leave the player in no doubt that they're playing something special right from the word go and will continue to inspire and amaze throughout. As we've said, this doesn't mean it's perfect, and we'll be sure to say where it goes wrong too, but maybe those niggles are just so minor that you can let it off. Look at anything under a microscope for long enough and you'll see the flaws. But would you kick a supermodel out of bed for farting?

Seriously? The 10/10 means perfect debate again?

*facepalm*

Try reading the scoring policy. It actually includes the line Let us make absolutely clear that a 10 is not and probably never will be "the perfect game".


Beaten to it. Must. Type. Faster.

Available for ?17.99 from Amazon and PLAY.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/GTA-Chinatown-Wa...
http://www.play.com/Games/DS/4-/6072242/...

Why is it that everytime a game gets a 10, we have to have the "There is no perfect game" debate :(

Just enjoy the bloody game if you are gonna get it.

10/10 means it's perfect.

/slow clap.

10/10 is reserved for perfect games only like Halo 3, evilfoxhound is right

you idiots

No game is perfect. Not even Halo 3.

Just like them little bitches on the chessboard man...

you'll be fooled by many things if you can't figure out the simple scoring policy

evilfoxhound, you're an idiot.

Great score, have to get this now!

"Sony will be getting really worried I bet if this goes on to sell more than the PSP versions of GTA"

I doubt it will sell that well. I have yet to see any tv ads for it in the UK.

TO THE EMERGENCY PRE-ORDER MOBILE!

Please please please shut the fuck up about the 10/10 = perfect debate. That's not what it means and if it did the score would never get used anyway, thus rendering it useless.

These comments make me weep (well not all of them just the obvious few...)

May pick this up, but as the first poster already said, it's probably wise to wait for some player reviews before buying, as this might end up being just another journalism jizz fest over a technically impressive, albeit DUUUULLLL game

@Triggerhappytel

Well stop talking about it then.

''No game is perfect. Not even Halo 3.''

The Legend of Zelda Orcarina of Time is a perfect game. Imho.

Evilfoxhound: good to see there are people who aren't bored of this debate!

I won't be fooled again.

Judging by your comments so far I find this hard to believe.

"So the highest number isn't perfect?........... Oooooookay." But under your system they could only actually use 1-9, which is surely pretty ridiculous.

Won't be fooled again? Christ, it sounds absolutely ace! And anyhow, it's all opinion based so if you don't like it, don't listen. Dicks.

and of course, if 9 became the new 10, people would moan that 9 is used too much and should only be used for 'near perfect' games, rendering that useless as well.

Before you know it, it would be impossible to score games...

...on second thoughts, sign evilfoxhound up EG, maybe then we can get rid of scores altogether.

evilfoxhound wins 'tard of the day award.

No game is or ever will be perfect you tool.

A 10 simply means that in the reviewers opinion this game is extremely good, one of the best in it's genre.

It's not really that hard to grasp is it?

Funny you guys should bring up the scoring policy actually as I found myself looking at the ''Eurogamer scoring policy' that sits alongside the incorrect scores given to games. I remember reading it in the past, but have noticed that it has recently been updated, which explains an awful lot. Instead of forcing you lazy baboons to click the mentioned page, I have pasted the entire revamped article here for your reading pleasure. Have fun!

---------------------------

Wondering how we pin a number on a game's worth? Here's our scoring criteria laid bare...

The perfect ten?

A score of ten should reflect a game that achieves the absolute pinnacle of gaming design, in every aspect available. Since perfection is obviously impossible, applying a 10/10 to a game means that it is, essentially, absolutely superb and an example of astonishing gaming design.

However, we here at Eurogamer prefer to apply 10/10 scores more leniently, and, as such, will overlook huge flaws in games if it means giving it a 10! Furthermore, if the game has been hyped beyond belief, and has a huge following, we are inclined to give it 10/10 since we don't contain the knowledge within our minds to be objective and balanced when reviewing highly anticipated games. And sometimes, we may just slap a 10/10 on a game for the sheer heck of it... we're cool like that!

Since no game is perfect, a 10/10 game may indeed have some minor flaws, but we look at minor flaws as if they amount to nothing, therefore any huge gaping flaws have no affect on our reviews! (Unless we dislike the game, in which case we will conveniently highlight flaws we otherwise wouldn't)

To get into the 10/10 category, all a game need do is be hyped, full of novelty, have a publisher willing to advertise on our website, and be something which we can enjoy as uninformative idiots who get paid for not doing our jobs properly.

For an example of an excellent 10/10 Eurogamer review, check out our World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King review, or read this quick summary:

"Wrath of the Lich King is awesome, it has no flaws I will list since it deserves 10/10. I don't know how to review games. I think Age of Conan is good also."

Or check our Fable II review!

"Fable II is essentially the original game in High-Def. It has the same flaws as the original game, and as an RPG doesn't push any boundaries nor challenge what is already on offer in the best RPGs out there. But does that matter? Of course not! I thought the game was excellent even though it crashes a few times, the graphics were messy, the content was too short, and the co-op mode is absolutely useless! I'm completely contradicting myself and gaming design by saying this game deserves 10/10, but since I'm a complete moron that doesn't apply!

Or, finally, our Grand Theft Auto IV review!

"This game is made by Rockstar, therefore it is 10/10. I didn't even play the game, because if I did, and if I knew how to review games properly, I would see that both the visuals and the combat in GTAIV are heavily flawed. The combat is still stuck in the days when the original Playstation was running the show, while the visuals are something which could feasibly run on that same console since they are of such a poor standard. But Rockstar are cool to geeks, therefore cool to me, therefore I will overlook flaws and rate this overrated above-average action game 10/10."

Nine will do just fine

The 9/10 category is easy to get into on Eurogamer. A game can be filled with errors, broken features, unpolished design, and push absolutely no boundaries in gaming at all, but as long as we enjoy the novelty in a game we can apply this score without any issues.

The reason why the game may get a 9/10 instead of 10/10 is purely because we rate far too many games 10/10, and so need to relegate some games into this category. Sorry about that!

For an example of an excellent 9/10 Eurogamer review, check out our Gears of War PC review, or read this quick summary:

"The story is shit, the characters are shit, the setting is shit, and the game does absolutely nothing that is above moderately entertaining. But heck, there are enough guns and explosions in this game to make me - an uninformed little cretin - think that this game is superb. There plenty of other games out there that deserve a 9/10 review more than this over-hyped brainless shooter, but I'm too stupid to realise that!"

Or check out our Killzone 2 review!

"I know fine well this game isn't 9/10; the game doesn't do anything new or exciting beyond pretty visuals, and the offline single-player aspect is adequate at best. Furthermore the story is virtually non-existent, while the level design is about as unimaginative as a very bad 1960s Sci-fi flick. The multi-player is solid, but as a whole package the game just really isn't pushing the boundaries. But still, the peer pressure of acne-ridden virgins is too much, plus my editor said I'd get fired if I didn't overrate this hyped product, therefore I give a 9/10 to this magnificent and cutting-edge First Person Shooter!"

Eight can be great

Since we here at Eurogamer are so unbalanced with our reviews, an 8/10 could mean anything from "a good game" right down to "absolute rubbish". Because we overrate and improperly review 90% of games with the 10/10 tag, it is difficult for you, the reader, to gauge just what an 8/10 means for a game. You'll just have to guess!

For an example of an excellent 8/10 Eurogamer review, check out our Mirror's Edge review, or read this quick summary:

"Damn, I knew I should have delayed this review until everyone else posted their's. Now we're the only ones who think this jumped-up tech demo is any good!"

Or check out our original Age of Conan review from the same genius who wrote our Wrath of the Lich King review!

"I am not a gaming reviewer, I am just some guy who posts none-sense on MMO based forums. I think Age of Conan is class because you can cut people up and stuff. My opinion is completely and utterly pointless to anyone with an ounce of intelligence. I listen to Kings of Leon and use an I-Phone."

Seven not as much heaven

In the old days, when we were young and seeking attention (but weirdly writing more reliable reviews), a 7/10 from Eurogamer could still mean a game that is certainly worth playing. But now that we give 9/10s and 10/10s to any Tom, Dick or Harry, a 7/10 is completely useless! Even if we like a game that we give 7/10 it doesn't matter, since our number rating system has been completely messed up with the vast amount of hideous reviews we've written!

A 7/10 game now means that the game isn't worth your time, and that you should now be purchasing our 9/10 and 10/10 rated games instead (sponsored by EA).

For an example of an excellent 7/10 Eurogamer review, check out our Lost the Videogame review, or read this quick summary:

"I am an idiot. I am an idiot. I am an idiot. I shouldn't be getting paid to review games. Ubi-Soft gave me pocket-money to say this ridiculously crap game is good. I am an idiot."

Or check our our Assassin's Creed review!

"I have so little female interaction that by giving this game 7/10 I hope that it will somehow win me brownie points with Jade Raymond, a person who has the same job as thousands of other game developers, yet gets absurd attention because of her tits. Oh, the game itself? Well, it's shit... just some crappy action game with semi-decent visuals, but that doesn't matter; go buy it so Jade will add me on Facebook!"

Six - get your kicks? (And below)

Basically, since our 10/10-7/10 range is so messed up, anything that goes in 6/10 or below is considered cack. Just don't bother. Seriously.

No matter how rubbish we are at reviewing big games, we pride ourselves on knowing that we can - at the very least - point out really really bad games. So even though we're not earning our pay as informative reviewers, we're still earning it by pointing out crap games, even though we're fully aware a mere "reader" can spot crap games for themselves!

--------------------------

We here at Eurogamer hope that you now have a better understanding of our review scoring system. However, for those whom cower in fear at the sight of so much text, here's a brief summary:

We are shit at reviewing games, so don't ever take any notice of us. Ever.

Thanks!

\o/ for the wire reference \o/

@ crofto

Wow, I pity the person who took the time to write so much about a site he dislikes so much. Must be a lonely existence.

It's slightly bewildering someone cares so much that one person's opinion of a game may not match their own that they'd go to all that effort.

@ crofto

Yeah but you're a a big gamer with pretty strong but informed views on gaming, so what do you know?

Please everyone, read his profile before taking his posts seriously! ;)

Think of the scale as 1-11 (where 11 is PERFECT) instead, and it will make sense to all of you who think 10=perfect.

I was let down by GTA4. Didnt feel as funny as the ps2-games. Looking forward to this.

I assumed Crofto was a sock because of his hilarious profile, but then I remembered this is the internet. He's just deranged enough to be for real.

A ten?! Mutha-funker.

I rate Crofto's post 1/10

Crofto's Blurb

"Yeah, a big gamer with pretty strong but informed views on gaming, which often leads to me looking down on most gaming reviewers since they talk complete nonsense. I know what makes a good game, and what makes a bad game... I've been wasting my free time playing the bloody things long enough to tell the difference (unlike most gamers out there).

You'll not often find me lavishing unfounded praise upon the likes of Grand Theft Auto or Gears of War, but rather on actual high quality games such as Okami and Super Mario Galaxy, which really are examples of excellent and polished gaming design."

ROFL! Pure genius. Tard of the day award instantly stripped from evilfoxhound and reallocated to Crofto.

Gotta be a joke account, surely?

I agree that Galaxy and Okami are better than GOW and GTA tbh. (All 4 games ar great, I just like some more than others)

But how you can write such a blurb is beyond me. And look at the picture! Oh my..

Hmmm.

Didn't read like a ten.

And Crofto, for fucks sake, a review is just an opinion you idiot. EG may hand out alot of odd scores, I give you that, but a review can never be right or wrong. You can simply agree or disagree. This is pretty basic stuff and something you should learn before voicing your shit over the internet.

mouuuuuuuuuuuuuuu >.

Thecomedian: Reads exactly like a ten. Learn to read lol etc

I'll take this 10/10 with a pinch of salt after playing gta4.