Grand Theft Auto IV - 10/10
Three words every gamer has been wanting to hear from the world beating series, Grand Theft Auto: It is here! GTA IV has made its mark, and could almost be considered a land mark, an icon in every country that is lucky enough to have such a remarkable product of epic proportions, GTA IV is the first title your eyes adjust to when you look at the shop shelves, every other game cover is a blur, and GTA IV is the shining beacon that catches your attention and screams *play me, love me, touch me, feel me, buy me, you know you want me*, you would be honestly mad not to buy this game, if any game in the history of gaming is worthy of that $100 price tag, its GTA IV, their is about 1000 reasons to absolutely love this game, and that is no exageration.
Back in 2001, gamers from around the world were in jaw stiffening awe when GTA III was released on PS2. It set the standards for video games in general to Mount Everas heights, it literally destroyed everything we thought gaming could be and made the impossible actually possible. It made casual, hardcore gamers feel sorry for every other game released before and after it. It made your dog, grandma and every forum blog posters, and every John and Tom in the world take notice and want to play it. The release of such a globe rattling title birthed many questions, is this the pinnacle of gaming brilliance? Is this as good as it gets? Can it be matched and dare i say it, beaten? Has virtual reality finally reached its untouchable peak? Its climax? Have we as gamers seen the best slice of software we will ever see? Well, back then, GTA III, GTA Vice City, and GTA San Andreas approved positively to most of those questions. But now, in next gen territory, GTA IV not only is a resounding YES to all those questions, but it absolutely demoralises all expectations that anyone could possibly dream of, it has lived up to all the hype, all the forum anticipation, all the media press, absolutely everything. Its smashed the 100% barrier, call it over reacting, but there is simply no game on gods planet that matches GTA IV for the sheer gameplay royalty it dishes out to the lucky players, millions amongst millions of lucky players that is. Its a stunningly huge game boasting an enormous virtual playground known as Liberty City, it is packed with endless content, brimming with infinite ideas and opportunities and pumps out 100+ hours of gaming bliss.
GTA IV is like the popular bully of the video games industry, its popular because everything it does is successful, it's pure gaming perfection, everyone loves it because its controversial, addictive and near endless, why is it the bully though? Well, not only has it crushed every watered down clone/copycat sandbox games that have came after it *The Getaway, True Crime Streets of LA, Saints Row etc but it literally pisses in every other games backyard, creating ideas and content that make most developers efforts feel lazy. Every game has to play follow the leader, but they never catch up, why? Because GTA did it first and does it better than anyone. The sandbox game genre is its own, Rockstar owns it and they know it.
Take annual leave/sick leave from work for atleast a month and say you're visiting Liberty City for your one month holiday, because trust me, you will need ATLEAST a month to get a good solid look at only about 40% of what Liberty City offers, its almost like a bible, an endless manuscript/scroll of information, every feature, every moment, every wow moment, and every nook and cranny simply has to be explored and seen, to be believed. GTA IV shakes earth, its impact on the video games industry is god like enormous, and it is the only game this generation that clearly warrants that *Next Gen" label. I really do feel sorry for every other game currently released and every other game currently scheduled for this year, how do they match such a king like game? How do they compete? How does the next must buy game plan on loosening the vice tight grips everyones hands have on GTA IV? How do they get us to take notice of their product over GTA IV? I feel only Hideo Kojima and MGS4 have that answer this year, excluding solid snakes upcoming adventure, i cant see anything coming remotally close to GTA IV, which in all honesty is nothing to be ashamed of, considering Dan Houser, Rockstar and Co behind GTA IV have done almost everything possible with GTA IV, given more than amazing feedback to gamers demands, and have outdone themselves big time, GTA IV is generations ahead of the competition, i'd expect to play a game as amazing as this in maybe, 2012, but to have something this incredible this gen, is simply remarkable.
GTA IV is almost impossible to review, why? Well, where do i start? The game has countless amazing features going for it. Its a highlight reel, everything is non stop fun, the gameplay is so unashamedly addictive it leaves the gamer in a trance of wonderment, the reason being because of the sheer size, scope and scale of Liberty City. After possibly foaming from the mouth at the counter before purchase and trying to dislodge the disc with your shaking jittery hands from its cover, being overwhelmed by all the excitement, possibilites and gameplay depth awaiting your escapism, you have a short 7 minute install timer, which is the longest 7 minutes you will ever face, 7 minutes feels like its turning to 7 hours, what to do in the meantime while the game world unfolds? Take a 7 minute sh1t? Get a box of crispy creme's, chips, coke cola and snack out before the virtual vacation? Maybe doze off for 5 minutes? Or perhaps read the manual or unfold the massive map of Liberty City, reading about all the clubs, cribs, shops and icons of Liberty City. OK, enough! STFU! GTA IV has installed, Shhhhhhh. Wipe the shine from your lip, the drip from your browe and embrace yourself for the biggest moment in gaming history.
You, the player, are Niko Bellic, a russian immigrant whom has just stepped off a ship aboard the docks during the night to meet with his Russian cousin, Roman. Why is Niko in America, the land of opportunity? Why is he embarking on living the American Dream in Liberty City? Well, sleazeball Roman had Niko believe he had a swanky castle like mansion awaiting him, full of countless vaults of money and a plethora of sexy girls. Sadly for Niko, this isnt quite the case, as he soon finds out when Roman takes him back home to a dingy, dirty, run down motel room populated by porno posters and ****roaches. Its at this moment that Niko has to start life again his own way, by fulfilling jobs and dirty deeds that are spoon fed to him by a lofty number of contacts throughout the game. Do the job, recieve the dosh, and you're on your way up to fulfilling that American dream.
The storyline is one of the strongest areas that GTA IV excels in, its the best plot in a GTA game to date, mainly because the characters are so much more believable this time around. Niko Bellic is an awesome dude, his shady, grim, shadowy, cold blooded nature, his thick Russian accent, the ****y attitude and "f*** life" swagger in his walk, on the outside he seems like a ruthless bastard thug that would happily mug you on a street corner, kick the living crap out of you, spit on your face and proudly count the notes from your wallet as he walks away with his not so hard earned moolah. But, Niko also has an emotional side, he was once a part of war in Russia, he has witnessed killings of children, he shows emotion and does have a heart, making him a love/hate character depending on how the player wants to use him. Walking down the street, with a baseball in hand, cracking the ribs of every innocent pedestrian and stomping on their heads and finally stealing there cash will give the appearance of a no good crook who deserves to spend permanent prison time in a cell, however, the nice guy approach could have you avoiding such social brutality and maybe calling up lovely Michelle on your mobile phone/cell phone, taking her out on a date, giving her a pash before bed and calling it a day as you soak in all the lovely comments you recieve from her. The way we're giving options to make Niko the guy we want him to be is superbly implemented. Want him to be an asshole prick? Fine, mug that guy at the ATM, steal his money, smash that nearby vehicle windscreen, drag the driver out in the process and take the dunkin doughnut munchin cops on a high speed chase across the city before ending the night by screwing a back alley hooker eager to pleasure you, didnt enjoy that rumbling in the back seat? Well you can always get your $8 back, nothing an Uzi clip to the face or a sever stabbing with a box cutter knive cant handle. As sick, violent, gruesome and disturbing as that sounds, that is the beauty of GTA IV, the city is your own, so make it your own. Even if it means disposing of innocent pedestrians.
The variety and depth packed within Liberty City gives the player almost infinite options to play with, the most revolutionary feature to GTA IV would be the use of Niko's mobile phone, this allows Niko to call contacts, *Roman for a job, or Michelle for a date* it allows for you to send and recieve text messages in game, as well as invites for online multiplayer. The best part about the cell phone feature is the ability to call numbers, whether they're random digits you found from adverts around the city, or simply dialing 911 to call through to the police, fire department and ambulance emergency. But for me, the best reason to use the mobile phone was to arrange plans with your buddies.
Calling friends allows for Niko to go out and pretty much have a blast with his friends, you can go and play darts at the local bar, eat some food at the nearest cluckin bell restaurant, you can also visit the strip club for a virtual lap dance, or to just perv on the skimpy bikini clad pole dancers, shoot up a game of snooker at the pub and you can even go on the piss and get yourself drunk with your mate Roman, this can be damn hilarious, as when Niko is in a drunken state he will stumble to the ground and throw profanities around at any nearby pedestrian. Whilst in this state, the screen will blur making walking around and driving a vehicle incredibly difficult. The dating aspect is perfection, call up Michelle and you can take her bowling at the nearest bowling alley, or you could even shout her for a drink at one of the many comedy festivals, these shows are absolutely superb and incredibly funny at times, during the comedy skit, you're treated to several acts from magicians tricks that dont quite pull off, Texan lasses singing love songs as well as other acts of quirkyness and pure wit. its a genius concept and one that works flawlessly. At the end of the occasion with Michelle, you get to take her back to her apartment and if Niko's lucky enough, may get himself lucky with a cheesy sex scene afterwards *sadly, you dont get to see the bedroom fling, you only hear the sounds, moans and giggles* but you get the idea. Treat her wrong however by ignoring her phone calls and text messages, and next time you wont be so lucky. So whether its grabbing a burger to eat, playing pool, having kinky fun with a stripper in a neon lit night club or just going all out in Liberty City, there is always something to do, and that is whats so incredible about this experience. Nothing is scripted.
This however, believe it or not, is only the tip of the ice berg, you really havent seen anything yet. Did i mention taking your vehicle to a car wash? Painting your ride at Pay N Spray? What about using a police vehicles computer to track down criminals names and locations and to call for back up? What about drinking down a soda from a vending machine? Playing retro games in the arcades? Cruising in a speed boat across the rippling waters? Flying a helicoptor through the sky? Checking your bank balance at the ATM? Grabbing a hotdog to eat at the nearby hotdog stands? Sky diving/parachuting? Swimming through the sea? Cruising on a motorbike through the streets? Taking in the sites on Happiness Island? Packing some heat * Molotovs, shotguns, Uzi's* from Ammo-nation? Buying some new threads from the clothes shop? See what i mean? The content seems endless, but i still havent explained the most amazing part. You can even visit an Internet Cafe, get on the computer and search GTA IV's very own world wide web, browsing the homepage gives you websites to many of the games businesses, want a new ring tone for your mobile phone? Want to find out about career options at the Cluckin Bell restaurant? Sure! Every company in Liberty City can be explored through Rockstars very own internet. You can even date online, this allows you to select from a wide range of males and females, look through their profiles and send them emails. Returning later, to see *new mail* in your inbox gives you feedback on your invitation. Simply amazing stuff in every sense of the word.
Sadly, i cant say whether i have discovered everything in Liberty City yet, the horse betting? Gambling at the casino? Bondage sessions? Decapitating pedestrians with screwdrivers and chainsaws? Cruising through the peaceful countryside? Driving over the rocky sand dunes of the hazy hot desert? Getting a haircut at the nearest barber? Getting some body art tattoos? Exercising at the gym? Playing basketball? Taking plane trips from the airport with your tickets? What about the ability to eat and get fat, or to starve and get boney thin? Driving quadbikes, tractors or pushbikes? Some of these features may not have made it in GTA IV, but it hardly matters, this game is so good noone will even care let alone notice some of the omitted content from previous GTA games.
While you're having all this fun and mayhem it also pays to just sit back and take it all in. Wave/hail down a cab, get in the backseat, ask the driver to change the radio station to something suitable for the occasion, and whilst in the back seat of the taxi, stare at every detail, building, vehicle, incident that brims throught Liberty City. Situations dont have to involve Niko, random happenings within the game world can occur at any time. For example, pedestrian fights, cops arresting people *only to escort them to the police vehicle and take them away* Homeless bums keeping themselves warm with a crackling fire from a can, Ambulance officers attending to injured civilians, firefighters eliminating any fire hazard or explosion *most likely caused by your grenades or flamethrowers*, pedestrians even have conversations with eachother. The vibe just feels so alive, like a real life living and breathing city teeming with activity and interaction. Prostitutes smoking cigerettes, blokes reading books on a park bench, cleaners sweeping the floors, homeless bludgers pissing on walls, shady randoms talking on public phone booths, crazy shoppers carrying groceries/shopping bags, most people even pull out there mobile phones and have conversations that way. During the day/night cycles, people will reacte accordingly to the weather conditions, if the sky is grey and overcast and starts raining, pedestrians will open up umbrellas, find a shelter and some of pedestrians will even frantically run down the street with a newspaper over their heads. You will honestly feel as though you're finally apart of a real life virtual reality if you like. Not once do you ever feel like the only person in the city, its not just about the character you use anymore, everyone is important in Liberty City.
Liberty City is divided into three states, each with their own style and flavour. Dukes and Broker for example are medium sized cities with a more seedy, slum like vibe. From quiet, secluded back alleys, street trains daubed in urban graffiti cruising on the rail tracks above the streets below, sleazy neon lit redlight districts populated by the homeless, hookers, pimps, gangs and constantly patrolling cops. In the middle of the city, everything feels more alive, cop cars doing the rounds, hot dog stands attracting crowds, yellow taxi's picking up passengers, distant airplanes drifting across the bright sunny blue skyline and so on. Visit the park, and you will notice joggers going for their early morning sprint, homeless thugs sleeping on park benches, tourists taking photos of the parks Monoglobe fountains and casual students listenning to there ipods. Upon arriving to the big city itself, Algonquin, the feeling here is mind blowing, a big massive metropolis awaiting your exploration. Central Square is stunning, especially at night, nean lit adverts beam with colour craziness, its almost like visiting Vegas. Then you have the Statue of Liberty, the giant green statue that towers over the landscape, the game worlds icon, landmark, and it looks breathtaking. And after you have done all you can there is to do in a day at Liberty City, then you can go back to your house/hub and go to sleep.
If you're not intent on trekking through the lengthy 90 mission storyline then you can also hunt down items, packages that are scattered throughout every nook and cranny in Liberty City, or you can drive in your modded up vehicle and compete in races or attempt many crazy stunts which can be found around the environment. There is always something to do, if anyone ever says they're bored of GTA IV, slap them in the eye with a wet towel, because truth be told, its lies, pure and simple. Or intorduce them to Grand Theft Auto multiplayer, which allows for frantic multiplayer deathmatch madness throughout the entire city of Liberty. Astounding.
If there was one aspect that needed improving throughout GTA's life span, its the combat system, granted. Fighting mechanics has improved enormously, although the aiming can still be abit wonky at times. Niko can now do chain attacks, a punch to the face, a right hook to the ribs and a headbutt to the skull for the finisher. Why a pedestrian is down, you can either punch into them in brutal fashion, kick them until they stop screaming or stomp on them. The combat gives you alot more variety instead of the same old punch kick frequency from the past. Besides, if you are not keen on hand to hand brawling, then you can always use the shotgun, pop heads with a sniper rifle through the windscreen or burn everyone alive with a molotov ****tail. Using the arsenal is a much easier approach as well in a way due to the Gears of War alike duck and cover system which allows Niko to crouch behind anything and to blindly shoot at his targets.
Visually, GTA IV is probably the most stunning game on a console, sure there may be a hint of filter blurryness, but look at the overall picture, what other game can fit so much jam packed detail and atmosphere into one game? Every pedestrian, building interior, animation, weather effect, it all looks breathtaking at full effect. As far as im concerned it looks more next gen than any other game before it. Weather effects show off a great change in colour palette. During the afternoon, the sky will glow a bright sun soaked orange, with saturates the atmosphere under a hazy drenched glare. During the night, the whole of Liberty City lights up, the distant sky scraper buildings light fixtures reflect off the rippling sea beneath the bridge and when thunderstorms hit, the lightning blinds almost the entire screen with a blink of white streak across the sky. Another lovely graphically touch is the vehicles, the damage modelling is incredibly accurate and detailed, windscreens splinter, bonets dent and splinter, tyres ignite showers of sparks, and the cars themselves look superb, obviously not to Gran Turismo 5 standards but very very impressive nonetheless. Characters are also very detailed, you wont be saying the same skins on pedestrians all the time, majority of them all look fairly different in appearance. So from a visual standpoint, i think GTA IV is the best looking game on PS3, period.
Audio wise, GTA IV has always been hilarious in both script and soundtrack wise thanks to the suburban radio stations in vehicle. The same can be said about GTA IV, the music is fantastic, the mixture of Russian rap, hip hop, classic retro, hardcore rock and Reggaeton really gives a nice choice of vocals for everyone concerned. I still do miss some of the good old country tunes from San Andreas though and the 80's vibe from Vice City. The show stealers in audio have to go to the radio talk shows, there is some seriously funny chatter to be heard on frequency and every interview, American piss take, and commercial station is worth listenning to. Cruising through Liberty City with Smashin Pumpkins playing at full pelt is almost an unrivalled feeling as the tunes bellow out making you feel like "The Man". its similar to Michael jacksons "Billie Jean" in Vice City and Rage Against The machines "Killing In The Name Of" in San Andreas.
Flaws? Do they even exist in this game? I certainly cant pick any, and finding any fault is similar to trying to find a needle in a haystack. I do miss some features that were absent in this installment though. I miss the pizza boy delivery jobs as the side missions, some of the weapons, *kitana anyone?* and of course the country and desert environments that were included in San Andreas. But now im just whinging, this game has everything, it delivers gamers the ultimate experience in gaming. Slight flaws are puppy sins to this game. They're almost non existent, and that is an achievement on its own.
Overall, GTA IV is what gaming as a medium is all about, its the meaning of virtual reality, its the meaning of next generation, and absolutely no game comes even close to the depth and intricate detail this game brims from every layer. It's a universe sized playground that delivers a multitude of activity, detail, interaction, atmosphere and depth, in gameplay terms, the content is near endless, the freedom and options is almost infinite, there is 500+ hours of unmatched, highly addictive quality gaming right here. It is so good, words cant really begin to describe how big of a leap in gaming this game has taken. History has repeated itself, GTA has rewritten whats possible and what we all thought was impossible in a game once more, making life hell for any other game that follows after. Goodluck Hideo Kojima, goodluck anyone for that matter in trying to topple a game like GTA IV that is generations and years ahead of its time. A must buy, brutal, violent, moody, corrupted, absolutely f***ing amazing.
Submitted by callan5
02/05/2008
39
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