GTA III / Vice City / San Andreas all got excellent scores as well.

So, it's not unexpected at all, given the pedigree. Also, not only Nintendo Games are fantastically made and well produced. If this was a 100 million dollar game (See other thread) and turned out like crap, no one, and I mean, no one would would let Rockstar live it down.

Also, havn't played it, so don't know how great or awesome it is. Grand Theft Auto to me means my old roommate sitting shirtless on a couch, his body hair of a bear displayed for all to see, swearing like he has tourettes as gang member shoot him up. So while I want to play, that horrific image needs to escape from my mind first less I feel ill. (He played III/Vice City/ San Andreas through twice each at 100% completion that year. Shirtless)

I don't think we are "crying" about it.  I believe it is a valid "theory" worthy of discussion and speculation.  And like any other conspiracy theory out there, it is most likely to be totally off.

I think either Nintendo games get judged harsher or nonNintendo games get judged easier. Humans do this all the time. You expect more from someone known for quality and are satisfied, but not super impressed when they live up to expectations. For example, if the genius in class gets a 99 on a test, so what? However, if a student with a B or C average gets a 99, it's absolutely amazing. I'm not saying R* is a B or C developer, but they don't have quite the reputation for quality that Nintendo does.

I dont know but it seems possible. Maybe reviewers and some blogs and sites were offered money by R*? Cause a week before GTA4 was released lots of sites were going against Nintendo, and now seeing that GS changed its score from 9.5 to 10 reinforces the theory, which is funny nonetheless ;D

I wouldn't put it that bluntly ...

They won't put it this way, but there are a lot of reviewers who absolutely hate everything the Wii stands for; lower quality graphics, less emphasis on physics and AI, and a greater focus on accessability and gameplay. The inconsistency between how they score games demonstrates this (ignoring Halo 3's mediocre single player game and giving it a 10 because its multiplayer is so good, and ignoring Mario Kart's excellent multiplayer game and giving it a lower score because its single player game is mediocre).

Grand Theft Auto is in these reviewers views the polar opposite of what the Wii stands for and thus is instantly golden in their eyes ...

i expect a lot of theories coming this year :MGS4, KILLZONE 2, RESISTANCE 2, LBP, GOW2, too many to count. good luck!

'I am only wondering if the outpouring of acclaim is a bit over the top and if it could be caused people who can't accept that gaming is changing and see this as the last chance to praise something "hardcore." '

I think that GTA IV proves that gaming is not changing: the quality resides where it always has.

It is also worth mentioning that the sites giving GTA IV high scores are the same ones that consistently give Nintendo games high scores.

i don't think any reviewers would boost the game because it's not nintendo. the reviewers love it, and it's 100% genuine. but i do think that since most reviewers are north americans and the game is made by north americans meant for north americans, the product is much more in line with the culture and expectations of the reviews as opposed to games made by the japanese.

i'll be curious to see how the japanese review a prototypical american game like GTA4 when it gets released in japan.

The Wii has been getting smashed everywhere as of late. If GTA deserves a 10, I got to wait till May 26 &see for myself. Reviewers overlooked all its problems (IGN). Gamespot lost all reviewing credibility by changing their score for it. A 10 should go to a game where it captivates you and you remember many parts of it years down the line. Name 4 of the titles of the missions in GTA3 that were your favorite w/out cheating. Beat GTA4 and do the same. See if its revolutionary. This isn't flaming GTA either (I've played GTA1-GTA: San Andreas, only one handheld GB version)

why would the reviewers be against nintendo even when ign reviewed they said the best game since Ocarina of time. u might be able to say they are against casual games but not nintendo