Daily Mail, the famously anti-videogames newspaper, has reviewed "murder simulator" Grand Theft Auto IV and erm, shockingly given it full marks.
The 5/5 review condemns GTA for being "a sickening glorification of gangland savagery" (and that's "an understatement"), and even makes another reference to the recent stabbing of a "GTA enthusiast" at a midnight launch (who turned to be a bloke in the pub across the street).
But in a massive 180-spin, the reviewer adds: "There's no denying, however that this latest version of the Grand Theft franchise is a phenomenal technological and creative achievement that is set to generate more money for its British designers than any Hollywood release in years."
"Killing is occasionally optional, dialogue and cut scenes are devoted to Nikos's inner turmoil and while criminality and violence are certainly glorified, its perpetrators are somehow not.
"Even Niko has sufficient soul to see his employers for the scum they are," the review continues (We're still waiting for the "ban this sick filth!" cry at this point).
"It remains to be seen whether a game can be made that scales comparable technological and contextual heights but does not inhabit such dark and dangerous territory.
"Either way, whether you believe that this represents a new low in sick and corrupting entertainment or is simply the finest game ever seen, you will find plenty here to support your case."
Well, consider us surprised. We bet the top review doesn't stop it referencing 70 murderers corrupted by Rockstar every time GTA's mentioned, though.
To be honest - I don't think you'll get anything other than 'murder simulator' jibes in the front of the paper.
If this is anything like the red-tops, the reviews are in a Ready for the Weekend section and always give games 80%+ no matter how crud they are.
They'll have probably got some of those free Rockstar p**swater beers so they would give it a great score.
It is surprising, but wait for the next 'scandal of GTA' in the front of the paper and it will be forgotten.
Precisely, for whatever reason - it suits their purposes at the moment, but that will change...
Mind you, even as a gamer, I don't take a blind bit of notice to what non-games mags think - all I have to remember are the pathetic reviews that you used to get in 'lads mags' like Loaded etc
'Yeah, you run around shooting a lot and die occasionally, but you might as well go down the pub, get lashed with the lads and pull some birds'
The Daily Mail is a rubbish newspaper either way, with very poor editorial control. It's for fascists who like to think they're better than everyone else just because they read something that even Mussolini wouldn't wipe his bottom with.
I'm guessing this "review" is one paragraph very neatly tucked away in the Sunday supplement, while everything in the main paper is the usual vitriol.
The Daily Mail is a rag anyway. In the 1930's they openly lauded the Nazi party, and it's commitment to it's ideals, not to mention the immense presence and personality of the Furor.
f**k the Daily Mail, right wing hypocritical scumbags. That paper has had a worse effect on society than any amount to "murder simulator" games ever could.
I remember when i first got ahold of gta 1 when i was 11, and did nothing but run people over, now 11 years later, of playing gta series,
with gta 4, the people i run over is purely by accident, the only civilian i shot was Roman then wondered how the paramedics was going to get to him, so i shot 50 rounds of shotgun shells into him to push him out of the apartment and onto the streets so the paramedics can be save him... but the police heard the gun fire and i was arrested, then the git roman rings me up the next day for a lift.
GTA hasn't affected me the slightest
the only reason why the papers get they're nuts twisted, is cause america has guns where all the kids can get ahold of them, and then blame a game, they've been doing it for years, and the overhyped religious folks make it into a crusade.
This is a video game review of GTA, it's not representative of the other journalists on the paper that would put the murder simulator, etc. on the front page would say
Quite a climbdown really after all the vitriol that they've been printing on the run-up and post release of GTA.
But to be fair to the guy, he's not saying he likes the game or it's plot, just that he can appreciate what a huge technical achievement the game is...you can have respect for something without necessarily liking it!
The Daily Mail may well be rubbish, but who here has ever attempted to read the Sun. Someone at my former place of work always left one in the staff room. If I was bored I would always pick it up. I always felt my already limited IQ drain away as I read it. The deppresing thing is though is the fact the Sun is Blighty's most popular paper.
Haven't read the sun or any paper much for the last couple of years, so what was there review of GTA like.(I need a chuckle)
Yes yes I know, prehaps if I hadn't read it then I could actually spell.
I stay away from newspapers, they're all Politically slanted one way or the other (with the possible exception of the Guardian)but at least we're seeing an admittance from the Daily Mail that violence does not necessarily mean bad.
The Daily Mail may well be rubbish, but who here has ever attempted to read the Sun. Someone at my former place of work always left one in the staff room. If I was bored I would always pick it up. I always felt my already limited IQ drain away as I read it. The deppresing thing is though is the fact the Sun is Blighty's most popular paper.
Haven't read the sun or any paper much for the last couple of years, so what was there review of GTA like.(I need a chuckle)
Yes yes I know, prehaps if I hadn't read it then I could actually spell.
The Sun is dire, but at least it knows it's a trashy red-top which prioritises entertainment. The problem with The Daily Mail is it actually purports to tell the news.
I'm waiting for a newspaper to publish a sensible article recognising GTA for its sardonic humour and its clever satire. But I guess it's just a game...
Maybe they are now starting to wake up and smell the coffee.
Perhaps they realise that part of their target audience actually likes these games and the Backlash they have recieved from the public to their outdated and backwards thinking!!
I stay away from newspapers, they're all Politically slanted one way or the other (with the possible exception of the Guardian)...
Sorry, that made me me literally ROFSMDOCLMAO. Well, I smirked at least - thats almost the same. The Guardian has a clear left wing bias. There is in fact no unbiased newspaper in this country. Best bet is to just read several, and you'll get a balanced view. I actually stopped reading the Telegraph over its reporting of that govt report. Its sometimes only when you read about something you know about (I read the report) that you can identify the bias.
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