Somehow I liked this game better than GTA. That's mostly due to the underwhelming GTA IV bit. But this game has what most big budget games lack: an exotic location, levelled personalities, a decent story and cultural input that isn't screaming 'U-S-A-U-S-A-U-S-A'. I'll admit the controls seem a bit wonky at first, the cars (especially the motorcycles, really) don't always handle well, and there are way too many senseless side-missions to partake in. But once the game sucked you in, you're being sucked properly. Driving on the left side of the road? Comes naturally. Learning Chinese swear words? Easy as pok gai.

This game offers both wonderful brawling (definitely once you level up and learn new moves) AND karaoke. It's like Tekken and Singstar had a baby and left it at John Woo's doorstep.

Somehow I liked this game better than GTA. That's mostly due to the underwhelming GTA IV bit. But this game has what most big budget games lack: an exotic location, levelled personalities, a decent story and cultural input that isn't screaming 'U-S-A-U-S-A-U-S-A'. I'll admit the controls seem a bit wonky at first, the cars (especially the motorcycles, really) don't always handle well, and there are way too many senseless side-missions to partake in. But once the game sucked you in, you're being sucked properly. Driving on the left side of the road? Comes naturally. Learning Chinese swear words? Easy as pok gai. This game offers both wonderful brawling (definitely once you level up and learn new moves) AND karaoke. It's like Tekken and Singstar had a baby and left it at John Woo's doorstep.