Support NeoGAF

[The Gorby Congressmanz]

The closest otherwise would be Saints Row 2 but it has its own set of issues.

I've played GTA clones from both True Crimes, the Saints Row games including whatever 3 and 4 were supposed to be, the reformatted Driver games and so on and none have really given you the complete package imo like SWIY.

Scarface was not just a GTA clone but it felt different enough that while clearly using a similar style you never really thought of it as just another GTA clone and it stood out on its own. Making a sequel to a classic film and setting the theme around revenge with a new set of aesthetics that none of the GTA games released at that point used made Scarface it's own game and not just a ripoff.

From how you explore, the theme, the travel and combat mechanics, the story, the locations, the world design, how missions are organized, integrations with the characters, radio stations they were all well done. It was a massive world that involved playing as an ex-Mafia lord in hiding now on the run and then picks up as you regain territory and restore your brand. The most GTA did with that is in San Andreas where randomly twice in the game, and optional, there throw some random squares on the map and if you kill a certain number of gangsters the squares change to your color, whatever the heck that was.

Saints Row started out in the right direction, but then went crazy with 3 then turned into a Crackdown ripoff that may at least to their credit, was better than Crackdown, at least Crackdown 2.

When Driver tried changing its identity to include off-foot GTA style combat things just fell apart.

True Crime (both games) was always a buggy piece of crap that barely worked and sometimes would crash your console although when things worked it was clearly ambitious trying to do more than they possibly could for many seconds. Sleeping Dogs went in a different direction losing the series identity.

It would be great for a remaster, no, better yet a remake with a larger world and the same plot. Of course Activision closed the original studio after Prototype 2's failure but they could get some talent to put out a remake, maybe remove some of those 9 or 10 studios making COD, They can even add an online mode to milk MTX just like GTA so it fits in with Activisions service game plans!

I believe that this was the peak of GTA clones, do you agree? If not what GTA clone do you like better and why?

 

[Okamiden]

Sleeping Dogs

 

[Krappadizzle]

Sleeping Dogs

 

[Cravis]

Sleeping Dogs

 

[oagboghi2]

I enjoyed true crime: streets of L.A.

 

[SCB3]

Saint Row, Sleeping Dogs, Mafia 2 and True Crime are well ahead of Scarface

 

[Derktron]

Yes during the time. Now come to think of it no

 

[Stallone]

It was awful, and I should have been all for this title, I love Scarface, especially during the teenage years, the story is empty, there are 4 or 5 activities that you'll have to carry out all along the game, the controls are awful, there is a bug that makes that if you change the appearance of your manor you will lose ALL the objects you have installed in the previous appearance, and many of them you can't get back, for a game that's all about money and spending that doesn't make sense. I'll give it a few points for the soundtrack that is really solid, but it just comes from the movie so cheers to devs for copy pasting a few mp3...

Honestly when you look at it you would think that its a spiritual son to GTA, but it really is not, sleepings dogs or true crime as mentioned before are way more qualified.

 

[Kokoloko85]

I loved sleeping dogs. The combat was better than any GTA or its clone lol

 

[German Hops]

Sleepy Dogs is by far the best GTA clone, it doesn't even try to pretend that it isn't, much like the True Crime series didn't give a shit about being a clone. (Since, as everyone knows, this was supposed to be a true crime game) It was also made by a lot of ex-Rockstar Vancouver people so I think they really nailed what they were after and had some really cool systems (melee combat). It became that middle ground between modern GTAs grandiose scale and seriousness and Saints Row budgety/silliness. A lot of the people that made the core game of Sleep Dogs were laid off before Square picked it up and as far as I understand, UFG is a shadow of it's former self when all the work went into the game. I don't know if they have the resources or the talent to make another one, which is a shame.

I am the only person I know who really liked that Scarface sequel game. It was always hard for me to be motivated in these kinds of games (almost never caring about the story) but that gave me an actual motivation to make money: To decorate my mansion! It was this half-baked Sims-ish building editor, along with a way to call sweet vehicles right to your location at any time, that made me play the hell out of that over the course of several Blockbuster rentals.

 

[The Gorby Congressmanz]

Yes during the time. Now come to think of it yes

Yes during the time. Now come to think of it no

Ah so the first time was a typo.

I think it still holds up if you avoid the PS2 version and go for the updated ones with the better graphic and performance.

 

[mxbison]

Maybe the 3rd best.

#1 Sleeping Dogs
#2 Saints Row 2

 

[Stephen Curry]

The closest otherwise would be Saints Row 2 but it has its own set of issues.

Came in here to say Saints Row 2 ha. Saints Row 2's coop is some of the most fun I've had in a game. Shame where the series has gone since then.

 

[bender]

Maybe the 3rd best.

#1 Sleeping Dogs
#2 Saints Row 2

I'd reverse that order but those are mine too. I've actually never played Scarface.

 

[EverythingsOverrated]

Godfather was surprisingly good, but I would go with Saints Row 3.

 

[Irobot82]

Sleeping Dogs.

 

[ManaByte]

Sleeping Dogs

 

[Certinty]

Sleeping Dogs was pretty much only let down with its poor driving mechanics.

Mafia II is great but the open world is more of a backdrop without much to do in it.

But those two are most definitely the best of the rest.

 

[stranno]

Definitely one of the best: Good gunplay, gore, great car handling, interesting secondary missions.. My only complain was the lack of airplanes (you had a seaplane, but it was just a fast travel feature).

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

.

 

[ShaikhCroft]

• The Godfather 1
• Sleeping Dogs
• Mafia 2

 

[JeremyEtcetera]

Sleeping Dogs

Okamiden
Threadkiller​

 

[Warablo]

Sleeping Dogs is more of a story open world game, less of a sandbox. I think Saints Row 1 and 2 fit the bill of the best clones. Godfather 1 was also really fun.

 

[kiphalfton]

I don't understand the love for Sleeping Dogs. It's alright, but I played some of it about a year ago and it didn't knock my socks off.

Saints Row is probably the best. At least the first two games.

 

[down 2 orth]

Can't be bothered to read through 24 comments. Did anyone say Sleeping Dogs yet?

 

[JeremyEtcetera]

I don't understand the love for Sleeping Dogs.

Because nearly every other game listed here has mediocre to awful melee combat.

 

[TMLT]

Underrated gem. But Saints Row 2 was the best imo. Especially since it was out at the same time that GTA4 was trying to take the series in a more dark, serious, realistic direction that I wasnt a fan of.

 

[Rocco Schiavone]

This game needs a Remake.

 

[WalterSobchak]

I only saw my friend play it back in the day . We were joking the story was that Tony did so much blow , he had come back from the dead.

Looked fun from what I remember but it was a long time ago.

 

[Neolombax]

I'd say Red Faction Guerilla, or the Saboteur. Sleeping Dogs was okay too.

 

[Three]

I preferred Scarface to sleeping dogs.
Sleeping dogs was great but Scarface had that building an empire feel to it. Sleeping dogs story was better though.

 

[dave_d]

I'd say Red Faction Guerilla, or the Saboteur. Sleeping Dogs was okay too.

I'm definitely a big fan of Grand Theft Martian.

 

[RoboCain]

Yes. I remember liking it better than GTA back then. I would go as far as saying that Rockstar took a lot of cues from this game, the car shooting mechanics, the loud gunfire, shootouts banter, and the heavier feel of cars, used in GTA IV felt inspired in S:TWIS. Also, they took Rage Mode for Trevor in GTA V.

You can really compare Sleeping Dogs or Saints Row The Third since they came one generation later. Also, Sleeping Dogs is more of a beat them up than a shooter, I would compare that one with Bully or The Warriors.

 

[stn]

I do prefer Sleeping Dogs, and The Saboteur, but Scarface is also pretty solid.

 

[Interfectum]

I loved strangling people using the Wiimote in Scarface.

 

[Umbasaborne]

That shark fucked me up

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

It was a neat game. Would be better with better engine.

 

[Soodanim]

I think it's only fair that Scarface was a GTA clone, as GTAVC was a Scarface clone

Mutual cloneship

 

[MiguelItUp]

I never played this, but I don't really remember hearing the best things personally, especially at the time. I thought Saint's Row 1/2 were more so worthy contenders.

IMO I also agree with the Sleeping Dogs notion. It did similar things, but also mixed up quite a bit. I was so pleasantly surprised with it.

 

[Rocco Schiavone]

 

[adamsapple]

Sleeping Dogs

1 and done

 

[Woopah]

The only correct answer is Simpsons Hit & Run.

 

[NeverYouMind]

Sleeping Dogs had too much exposition, too many scripted events, mediocre combat, and everything including motorcycles drove like a heavy box truck.

Scarface: The World is Yours is addicting. I love the npc interactivity, the henchmen, the shooting mechanics, the rampages, the gambling, and the drug empire building simulation. I feel like the driving/map and story needed a bit more work. For that reason I think it falls short.

My award for best would go to The Godfather: The Game as it is a more competent Jack of All Trades than even the GTA games themselves. I am always dissappointed that they were unable to use the likeness of Al Pacino for Michael Corleone. Even Marlon Brando reprised his role in the game.

P.S. I also really like the True Crime games, but they have an anti-GTA direction.

 

[ShaikhCroft]

• The Godfather 1
• Scarface
• Sleeping Dogs

 

[Luc2010]

I played Scarface on Xbox. I thought it was fun. I was able to finish it. No complaints from me. I have played worse.

 

[Drizzlehell]

That was a surprisingly fun game.

Utterly ridiculous premise that shits on the movie's ending, and the game was pretty buggy on PC, but still fun to play.

 

[dreamcastluvr]

I'd have to say that SR 2 and 3 would be my votes for best GTA clones, followed by Sleepy Dogs.

Scarface definitely has its charm though. The first thing that comes to mind is the classic opening scene where you run around your mansion mowing down and blasting dozens of enemies with your "little friend" - yet that might be one of the game's weaknesses; dumb enemy AI that is basically just cannon fodder for Tony. They just kinda stand there out in the open and yell at you, while squeezing off a couple of rounds here and there. But then that is certainly offset by the high difficulty of police pursuit, which in my opinion, is a lot more aggressive than GTA. One other downer is you can't mess with civilian NPC's beyond some scripted interactions and a few punches or shoves because of Tony's code of conduct of not killing innocents. Even if you hit them with your car, they just jump back up and run away. And then Tony can swim... but he can't jump? Not a game-breaker, but there are some parts where it would've been cool to parkour over staircases and ledges like in the movie rather than just jog around them.

There are patches and mods available for the PC version and it runs beautifully.

 

[FullMetalx117]

For me it was Driver 2

 

[Warablo]

It was Saints Row 1 for me.

The Godfather game was pretty good, but different than GTA.