Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto IV has made a big impression on Japanese games critics by scoring a near-perfect 39/40 in weekly Japanese games bible Famitsu.

GTA has long been the daddy of the Western market, but has only recently begun to gain recognition in the traditionally stubborn and localised Japanese market. But in scoring 39/40 in the latest edition of the mag, GTA IV beats Sony’s LittleBigPlanet, which scored 38/40 in the same issue.

Only sixteen other titles in the history of Famitsu have scored so highly in the past – an assortment that includes the likes of Gran Turismo 3, Metal Gear Solid 3, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Okami, Dragon Quest VIII and Virtua Fighter 2.

Only eight titles have ever received the coveted 40/40 Famitsu score – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Soul Calibur, Vagrant Story, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Nintendogs, Final Fantasy XII, Super Smash Brow Brawl and Metal Gear Solid 4.

Thanks, Kotaku.