Is Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars Hardcore?

There is another member of the GB community that is claiming Chinatown Wars is not a harcore game since it does not sport the same graphical capabilities and shooting mechanics as GTA IV. Of course, he also thought the game was for the wii, so he knows very little about it. After reading all 3 IGN reviews, I am under the belief that this game should be labeled hardcore, but I want to know what you think.

"There is another member of the GB community that is claiming Chinatown Wars is not a harcore game since it does not sport the same graphical capabilities and shooting mechanics as GTA IV. Of course, he also thought the game was for the wii, so he knows very little about it. After reading all 3 IGN reviews, I am under the belief that this game should be labeled hardcore, but I want to know what you think."

I just found a chainsaw and am cutting Koreans in half with it then i took a bulldozer and crushed them just to be sure they were dead, apparently they were.

AgentJ: You should probably read one of IGNs reviews before questioning it's hard-coreity. From the sound of it, it's essentially GTA IVs and GTA IIs love child.

Me: I wasn't questioning it's quality. I just don't think that a top down shooter (for the Wii; no less) can be considered a "hardcore game" app, in this day and age

AgentJ: Actually Chinatown Wars isn't for the wii. It's for the DS. And it retains everything except for the high res graphics, camera perspective, and Alderny, from Grand Theft Auto 4, and adds a number of new elements.

Me: Alright, same difference. I don't think a top down shooter for any platform, this day and age, can be considered hardcore. Also, saying that "it reatains everything except for the high res graphics, camera perspective, and Alderny," is an inadvertant act of conceding your argument. You're also missing GTA IV's AI, combat system, driving mechanics, and a great portion of the depth. The game has been gutted down, to a great degree, so it may function on the DS.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the game sucks. I'm just saying that Chinatown Wars cannot accurately be called a "hardcore game."

Agent J: Like I said, you should read the review. they kept the driving mechanics and even added depth, bringing back all the old vigilante missions. Before saying it has been gutted, you should probably read enough about it to know whether its on a handheld or a console. If you are prepared to say Chinatown Wars isn't a hardcore game (without knowing anything about it apparantly) then no handheld game can be called hardcore. This is Grand Theft Auto through and through.

Me: Yes. I don't think handheld games can be called hardcore, either. There are, of course, a few exceptions to this; however, this is only in reference to games such as Phantom Hourglass.

 The term "hardcore" is a phrase used far too often, and is only applicable when the game takes up a large portion of your time, has incredible depth, and/or can be played at a legitimate level of competition.

AgentJ: All of those points that you supplied could apply to a number of video games that i own, including any of the Castlevania games, TWEWY, either of the FF remakes, Jump Ultimate Stars, or Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword.  It most definately applies to GTA Chinatown. The reviews called for between 15 and 30 hours on the main storyline alone. And like i said, it brought back vigilante missions, so it may have even more depth than GTA IV. Just because it doesn't have the same graphical capabilities as the 360 should not be a legitimate reason for this game not to be considered hardcore. 

Me: I don't think you read a single word I just said, if you conclude your following PM with "just because it doesn't have the same graphical capabilities as the 360 should not be a legitimate reason for this game not to be considered hardcore."

"BiggerBomb said:

"AgentJ said:

"There is another member of the GB community that is claiming Chinatown Wars is not a harcore game since it does not sport the same graphical capabilities and shooting mechanics as GTA IV. Of course, he also thought the game was for the wii, so he knows very little about it. After reading all 3 IGN reviews, I am under the belief that this game should be labeled hardcore, but I want to know what you think."

/sighNo, that was not my argument. How about I copy/paste our PM discussion, so as to make sure you don't skew things completely?"

If you would like me to change how i presented your arguement, i'll be glad to edit my original post. How would you like me to present it? Or you could just put down what your arguement was in a new post.

Endogene said:

"I just found a chainsaw and am cutting Koreans in half with it then i took a bulldozer and crushed them just to be sure they were dead, apparently they were. "

Ah man, that actually sounds kind of fun, though i don't have any intention of picking this game up for quite some time (there are too many other games to get).

"

It's not hardcore because it is:

1. On a handheld.
2. Which is also a Nintendo console.

Ah man, that actually sounds kind of fun, though i don't have any intention of picking this game up for quite some time (there are too many other games to get).

"

In all honesty, this is a stupid fucking thread.

Um...the original GTA and GTA 2 were top-down games.  Are THOSE not hardcore?

I'd consider game series like Halo, Madden, and GTA to be 'core'.  'Core' being moderate gamers.  People who play a lot of games but aren't as much into games as someone who is hardcore.  DS on the other hand is mostly a casual system, even though it has a wide range of games that also appeal to core or hardcore gamers.

If you think GTA Chinatown Wars might be cool because you loved GTA 1 and 2 on PC or PS1, that's reasonably hardcore.

"Snail said:

"It's not hardcore because it is:

1. On a handheld.
2. Which is also a Nintendo console.

That doesn't mean it isn't a great game. It just does not fit in the definition of hardcore."

So in other words, none of the Castlevania games, TWEWY, Dementium: The Ward, Resident Evil DS, Chrono Trigger, either of the Final Fantasy remakes, Jump Ultimate Stars, none of these are hardcore SIMPLY BECAUSE they are on the DS? Can't say i agree with that assessment."

So... they would be hardcore games if they were on standard consoles though, right?

"So... they would be hardcore games if they were on standard consoles though, right?"

"Snail said:

"Jayge said:

"So... they would be hardcore games if they were on standard consoles though, right?"

Hell yeah.At least that's how the world sees it. There is just no room for handhelds in the world of hardcore."

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic."

"Snail said:

"Jayge said:

"So... they would be hardcore games if they were on standard consoles though, right?"

Hell yeah.At least that's how the world sees it. There is just no room for handhelds in the world of hardcore."

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic."

"I'm always sarcastic.

Was *that* sarcastic?

Wire $45.93 to my Caymin Islands account and I'll let you know."

"Hardcore?" Yeah. It's also extreme.

Boy, I sure love meaningless buzz words.

""Hardcore?" Yeah. It's also extreme."

I don't consider most console games to be hardcore, to be honest. :P

I don't like the distinction between hardcore and non-hardcore video games. It seems like the definition of "hardcore" is pretty much anything that stupid frat boys go "BOOYA THIS SHIT IS AWESOME MANG" while not including gems that everyone but the truly hardcore gamer will miss. How is a game with gigantic media saturation "hardcore?" Maybe if it's hardcore as in explicit, sure. GTA is relatively hardcore by that definition, as are most FPSs. But people would laugh straight into your face if you called Pop'n music "hardcore," simply because it's a faggoty colorful game that only hardcore (there's that word again) Bemani nerds have played. I'd argue that Pop'n Music is more hardcore than GTA because everyone and their grandma plays one, but only people serious about video games play the other.

"In all honesty, this is a stupid fucking thread."

"In all honesty, this is a stupid fucking thread."

"I don't like the distinction between hardcore and non-hardcore video games. It seems like the definition of "hardcore" is pretty much anything that stupid frat boys go "BOOYA THIS SHIT IS AWESOME MANG" while not including gems that everyone but the truly hardcore gamer will miss. How is a game with gigantic media saturation "hardcore?" Maybe if it's hardcore as in explicit, sure. GTA is relatively hardcore by that definition, as are most FPSs. But people would laugh straight into your face if you called Pop'n music "hardcore," simply because it's a faggoty colorful game that only hardcore (there's that word again) Bemani nerds have played. I'd argue that Pop'n Music is more hardcore than GTA because everyone and their grandma plays one, but only people serious about video games play the other."