(Review) Grand Theft Auto 4
How does a blunt instrument become more than just a tool? You’ll get your chance to answer as Rockstar Games releases GTA IV for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. You’ll play as Niko Bellic, who on the advice of his cousin, Roman, journeys to Liberty City to live out the American dream. But he soon learns that his cousin may have exaggerated a few things as he finds himself embroiled in a life of crime. All of which leaves battle scars as Niko longs to escape the past of who he once was.
GTA IV pushes sandbox games to a new level with it’s gripping story, amazing graphics and gameplay. Just driving around feels like you’re in a real city as citizens will react to their surroundings as they go about their daily routine. Traffic will ebb and flow, people will pull out umbrellas when it rains, etc. Little touches like these help to immerse the player into this world as the story unfolds like a great crime movie. You’ll journey with Niko as he tries to make a life for himself in the big city. This is primarily done through his cell phone which acts as a sort of hub where you’ll receive calls, text messages and missions from friends and business associates. You can also use it as an organizer to track events and it can even be customized with wallpaper and ringtones. You can always decline a call but the more you use it to socialize with your friends, the more you’ll have access to their special “talents” such as getting weapons at a discount, back-up on missions, etc. And yes, as in real life with most social calls, you can even get drunk in the game.
Targeting is spot-on with the new targeting system. Just hold down the trigger and you’ll lock-on to the nearest enemy. Tap the right shoulder button and you’ll take cover behind almost any object. This comes into play when you’re a “wanted” as your radar now displays the police search perimeter. Your objective is to escape the area without being seen. If you’re spotted the perimeter resets around your new location. GTA IV truly benefits from a new driving system in which each car handles differently and realistically. The physics for each car and for that matter people are wonderfully accurate and is a joy to behold. The framerate is remarkably steady with only an occassional hiccup and the load times are minimal especially on the PS3.
Each character is engaging or despicable in their own way whether you’re playing pool with the fellas, taking the ladies bowling or handling “jobs” to earn some spare cash. The voice acting is spot on and you really do feel for Niko’s plight as Liberty City’s vices begin to take a toll especially when dealing with some of the more shadier characters. At times, I actually felt contempt for some of the employers I was working for. That alone told me how close I had bonded with him and his situation. There are a few choices you make as to whether you kill someone or not but one decision towards the end opens up an alternate ending should you choose it.
Multiplayer is a whole new world accessed through your cell phone where you’ll find yourself in an online version of Liberty City with up to 15 other players as you cause mayhem in over a dozen modes including ‘Cops and Crooks’. In this mode, 8 players are the bad guys trying to make it to an extraction point while the other 8 cops try to stop them by any means. Other modes include Carjack City, Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Free mode where everyone rides around doing whatever in the city. There are even 3 co-op mission for up to 4 players that include dialogue and a few cut-scenes. There’s also ranked and unranked games where you can show the online world your skills. The soundtrack is a treat for the ears with around 200 licensed songs for you to listen to as your cruise around the streets in your shiny, new ride.
GTA IV is truly worth the wait and is an amazing masterpiece no matter what system you own. Everything from the story, A.I., physics, graphics and gameplay scream next-gen goodness. Very few games are deserving of this score but without a doubt it is one of the best, if not the best game of 2008. You owe it to yourself to to experience this adventure if only to find out if redemption can be found from within.
Stay tuned for more reviews and first-impressions on the single and multiplayer modes of GTA IV from the rest of the EDG team!
*A special “thank-you” goes out to the friendly game store that allowed me to hang out in their stockroom for a week to play this game before it’s release.*
this game has few cons that we haven’t seen in other games,
let me list them:
aiming from car on xbox is impossible wihtout shooting at the same time, hmm won’t it bring cops attention, plus it’s kind hard to precisely aim ain shoot at the same time (It was possible in Mafia Game , and Mafia is very old now!)
BIKES!! - ok this one im not sure about as I haven’t checked in options if there is any supported driving, but in corners bike suddenly breakes or whatever and loses balance, so you can’t do fast corners as I do on my bike in REAL LIFE!!! this is really making me angry, especially that in Test Drive unlimited and in GTA SA you could do this type of things
I could mention few more like fact that bulletproof vest and helmet don’t really help on bike anyway and there is no sit belt but this is just about realism not about moving back , and thing with bike and aiming is MOVING BACK!!!!
99.9% than.. eh?
I agree the game does have a few flaws as well - unfortunately I couldn’t put up my review here because my damn Xbox died and I need to get more playtime in with GTA. However I would put the score in the high 90’s from what I’ve seen so far.
I completely agree about the bulletproof vests, I bought one for a mission and was shot several times and watched the blue meter completely drop!
With the motorcycle aiming I think they were trying to give you more freedom with your aim, but you really don’t end up hitting much. The PCJ was an awesome bike in GTA VC & SA, you could drift through corners easily - with the bikes in IV you fly like a brick into the wall.