Gangstar: Miami Vindication

Gangstar: Miami Vindication Review

by on July 15, 2011

Who’d have thought, when the iPhone first launched, that we’d be seeing epic console games running perfectly happily on the device. But here, in Gangstar: Miami Vindication, we have a perfectly serviceable approximation of GTA: Vice City.

The plot and scripting aren’t the best. You play Johnny and you’re searching for your missing brother, a search that sees you having to work for and come up against a whole load of shady characters who are all broadly painted gangland stereotypes with a not-so-slick line in bad-boy patter. But the game’s missions are numerous, varied and mostly well-designed, ranging from simple thefts and car chases to gangland hits and open urban warfare.
There’s no need to go into too much detail here. If it’s in GTA, you’ll also find it here. But is Gangstar a worthy substitute? The answer has to be ‘yes’. While Rockstar’s own Chinatown Wars on the iPhone is superb, it omits fully 3D cityscapes. Aside from a lack of finesse, Gangstar does everything with enough flair to make it a playable game and a decent homage to the console versions of GTA.

Detractors point to its shortcomings and glitches, and label it a substandard copycat. Fair point. But in the absence of the real deal, Gangstar at least captures the essence of the GTA experience, even if it does fall short of its high production values.

Download this app: Gangstar: Miami Vindication

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Review courtesy of Tap!