It's nice to have options, but the ideal one isn't included - why make things harder by opting out of the analogue stick for driving? And the list goes on Rather than using the virtual analogue stick that sits in the lower-left corner when travelling on foot, the game forces you to use the accelerometer, a virtual wheel that appears as a half-circle, or a horizontal slider. But it's too clunky and unpolished to be anything so grand. Were this to play out fluidly, Gangstar: Miami Vindication might have carved itself a role as the Saint's Row of iPhone and iPod touch: lowbrow and trashy at times, but good for some laughs. Piloting a helicopter as an escape from a shootout downtown after which you head out to the swamp to kick a few alligators around sounds like over-the-top fun. To the game's credit, variety isn't an issue. Gangstar: Miami Vindication never breaks from convention nor delivers gameplay of high enough quality to overcome its staging. Without compelling characters or an interesting story, a greater burden is placed on the action as a means of holding your attention. Story may not matter to you, but it's important with respect to the added pressure it puts on gameplay. Despite Gameloft bringing in a writer involved with TV masterpiece The Wire, the writing suffers in this sequel. Groan-worthy one-liners dominate conversations, characters are paper-thin constructions with one-dimensional personalities, and missions feature one predictable situation after another. It's a cliched beginning to a threadbare plot used as an excuse to load the game up with missions.įrom scenario scripting to dialogue, it's poorly written throughout. The inkwell has gone dryĭisappointment begins with the story, which casts you in the role of no-nonsense country boy Johnny who drives from the Florida panhandle down to seaside Miami to save his troubled little brother.
This is a game that has enough shortcomings that it doesn't need comparison to Grand Theft Auto to look bad - poor writing, plain gameplay, and inconsistent presentation make for an underwhelming experience.
The presence of Rockstar's series on iPhone and iPod touch can't be blamed for the lacklustre nature of Gangstar: Miami Vindication, just as you wouldn't lash out at a great chef for making other chefs look inferior. It doesn't take much to see that the success of the former has everything to do with the strength of its design and storytelling.
While it's unfair to review Gangstar: Miami Vindication in comparison with Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, there's value in juxtaposing the two games. Try as you might, there's no ignoring the elephant in the room.
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