Tempted to buy this, but was wondering really if it differs from GTA games in anyway, or if it is pretty much just a clone? What's unique about this game? Only asking because I've already invested in official versions of GTA on other portable platforms, so seems silly to buy a sub-standard GTA clone, even if it is only 7 bucks...
I restarted that 1st time too, but thereafter 1 in 2 times i've played i've had horrible lag issues; when i've restarted beforehand, its not happened.
There's really no difference between this and GTA games, but is there any difference between any of the GTA games? Aren't they all really just clones of each other? The only real difference from game to game is the improved graphics and then in this case the difference is the portability. But if you're looking for greatly differing gameplay, you're looking in the wrong place. And I wouldn't bother with any subsequent Grand Theft Auto games either, because they're bound to be exactly like the previous ones as well. The entire genre is really just the same game, over and over. The reason the genre continues to flourish is really the simple fact that no matter how many times you play it- it's always fun. Regardless, this is the best (and only) GTA clone you're going to see for your iphone. If you like the genre, you'll probably enjoy the game. It's not GTA 4, but good luck playing GTA 4 on the bus and good luck getting it for 7 bucks.
This is definitely device specific. I have a 3GS, and there have been NO lags, slowdowns, or crashes. None. I haven't even restarted the device since I downloaded this yesterday. This runs as well as any game I have.
Yep must be... I have a 3g jailbroken and cannot play this at all without using Safe Mode. Counting the days until Nov 1 when I can upgrade to 3GS
I hate this or other games of this style being called a clone. GTA is a style of game, a genre if you will and this is a game within that genre. A clone would imply an exact copy, which it isn't. But to answer your question there are some differences: The missions can be activated via the pause menu (similar to Scarface) or visiting a location on the map. Better for mobile play as you don't need to waste time getting to a mission. You can play your own music from the ipod rather than the radio stations. Mission structure is more linear, meet a boss and then do missions for that boss. There are 6 chaptors and so far, 2 bosses per chapter. No voice acting, generally weaker story than GTA3+. Good graphics, not best i've seen on iphone, but this is a full 3d city, probably 1/2 the size of the 3 islands in GTA3. Not quite at LCS standard, but good enough, considering this is a phone. Good controls. I actually prefer them to LCS on PSP, but that might be just me. Fun Factor: i'd say they're pretty even here. The missions are just as fun in this game as in LCS, and in many cases are better suited to mobile play, as they tend to be shorter, more to the point. Also just as any GTA game its fun as hell to just go on killing sprees and such. Gangstar has lots of achievements (for lots of random and mission based stuff), which the PS2 and PSP GTAs didn't have. Gangstar has less vehicles than LCS - no motorbikes or helicopters (unless Gameloft hid them well).
My Impressions Gan$tar: West Coast Hustle is a GTA(III)-clone. It delivers a good experience for an iPhone game, with nice visuals, and a good framerate the game is a nice feat. But thats not to say that the game does not have its own let downs. Graphics: For me the graphics are really quite nice, rendering of the city is done in a way that keeps the lag minimal. Limiting the draw distance, lowering the LOD (level of detail) and taking out collision on some models is some of the things they did to keep the game from showing lag. The iPod seems to be able to handle a little more though, a couple more cars and pedestrians on screen seems like soimething that would not of caused to much problems. Currently it seems only 3 pedestrians and 3 cars are rendered on screen at the same time, hitching that up to 4 peds and cars does not seem like it would have caused a huge performance hitch. There is also know falling animations in place, there is no actual physics, so car wight and the steepness of a hill do not change speed. you could put your vehicle on a straight vertical surface and it would stick like it was a spider vehicle or something. The weapons all sport different models, and you can definitely tell the difference in cars. Featuring 6 weapons the game did good in variety, the game also showcase many different vehicles, each with different properties. AI: Ahhhhh, my most hated part of this game... AI seems to act pretty hectic at times. The AI in this game seems to just be the peds walk on sidewalks, and the cars making the most random turns I've ever seen. The AI pathing does not seem to actually know where it wants to go. The vehicle AI seems to go out of place when you come by, the AI will tend to go haywire and shoot to the left and drive on the left line, or to make a right turn it will go in a full circle and then make the turn. The vehicles tend to also be very aggressive, by just stopping in an intersection the car that was behind you will hit you at full speed, or if your going straight and the car on your right has stopped, it will suddenly start and hit you at full speed. Also the inevitebly fun part of the GTA series (of course getting 5 wanted stars) is also boring... With the ability to purchase a health pack anywhere that seems to be all you need to do to stay alive. The cops do not get any special vehicles or actually chase you for that matter. When your on foot the cops do not chase you, you can just walk behind a building and all your stars will dwindle down. The gun fights get repetitive when its just on foot cops coming at you, with no helicopters, no tanks, no S.W.A.T. the difficulty just stays the same from 1 star to 5 star. Sound: They did something really quite good here, the sound in this game was actually more than I expected. Featuring an actual in-game radio the game does a good job of delivering that full GTA experience when your driving. The game also sports some minimal character feedback, and some voiceovers, nothing too out of hand considering the space it would take. But I think Gameloft outdid themselves in the sound department. Story: The story is decent, while I have only played 3 chapters of the game, its easy to see that most of the game involves either protecting someone, or delivering something, or outrunning the cops. The variety is actually slightly more than I thought it would be. The game sports in-game dialogue to tell the story, some voiceovers are there. The story seems to be following a pattern though, every chapter seems to be a different gang,(spoiler) and at the end of each chapter someone tends to die. Overall: 4/5 stars, while the games AI is whacked up, and the cops do not do what their paid to do, the game delivers a whole new experience, with the variety in missions, and the replayable side missions, the game shows that alot of effort went into creating the world and story.
Thanks for the detailed reply, helped me decide not to buy it. The only really appealing thing seems to be the achievements, and can’t convince myself to spend 7 bucks for them =P I'm guessing this was directed at me? I wasn't asking if the gameplay was different, obviously it's not going to be. Was just looking for original, interesting quirks that make it stand out from other GTA clones (I'll stop calling them that when a name for the genre is agreed upon. Sandbox shooters/racer/life simulator?), because I already have GTA games for the PSP; so what would be the point in spending money on a watered-down version? Because I can play Vice City Stories on the bus, which seems to be superior to this in every single way. Except it has no achievements... edit: Just to verify, I'm not saying it's a bad game at all, just that for a person in my situation, it doesn't seem logical to purchase it.
here it is i still have no idea how i managed to get up there, though. i cant seem to find a way up. i saw a door, but i dont think you can access it...
