Grand Theft Auto IV REVIEW

GRAND THEFT AUTO IV REVIEW:

It's been a long time coming -- and yet, it's finally here...



Grand theft Auto 4, the more than highly anticipated game for the Xbox 360 and The Playstation 3 has been released in all its gang ridden glory; but does the game earn the tribute and profit it actually deserves, or has the mob finally come crashing down to its knees...

Let me say as a first -- Grand Theft Auto IV -- simply fails to disappoint...

Story - Line:

Okay, where to begin -- Grand Theft Auto's story is very long, very addictive, and very well realized...

Like with any Grand Theft Auto game, the main protagonist will start low, very low, within the ranks -- and gradually, there will be plenty of opportunities to become the finest gangster within the whole city; the thing that Grand Theft Auto 4 differs in, however, is its subtle morality checks with the protagonist, Niko Bellic...

Like many newcomers to Liberty City, Niko is an Immigrant, but unlike the rest, he fought in the Bosnian War, after growing up in "war torn Yugoslavia"...so he has a lot of measure coming from such a terrible background...

So why did he ever decide to leave and come to Liberty City? Well, he has his own reasons; yet, his primary inclination was the draw of his Cousin Roman's fantastical letters of riches and glory, women, big cars, big mansions, a lot of power -- and plenty of money...

Unfortunately, this was all a fantasy; "Mansions all over town? That's the dream, you see?" Roman addresses his crest - fallen cousin as they pull up into a musty old driveway, at a dirty apartment -- which will serve as home for a while -- until the opportunities get greater, and so does the housing, the weapons, and of course, the amounts of hard cash...

Oh well, at least this guarantees a lot of action...and a lot of excitement -- in this thrilling story of Loyalty, Betrayal, Friendship, and bloody war over Liberty City's streets...


"And so he hath risen...from the car wreckage"

(I can say no more -- for the action kicks off immediately -- with plenty to do, find, shoot, work for, live for, and protect)...ETC...

PROS:

Epic Story, with 30 to 50 Hours -- Plus, of non-stop action - ous storylines and side plots...

Iconic characters and friends all over Liberty City...

Plenty of twists with the many atmospheric cutscenes in GTA IV, which only add even farther, to the more than satisfying both main and side plot - line(s) within and without...

No Cons?

Gameplay:

Everyone knows that it is the gameplay that matters most, in many occasions -- and even though Grand Theft Auto 3 and its Siblings had an okay gunplay system -- it never quite reached the top of the line...whereas Grand Theft Auto IV absolutely revamps any glitches and annoyances previously encountered -- with its brand new car physics, its well implemented cover system, and its brand new cell phone feature...GTA IV totally wins the cup...along with the ability to dress in practically any way you could like -- when in a dangerous place, such as Liberty City...

Driving:

Who even needed to say, that driving, like previous GTA titles, was an absolutely key factor and/or aspect for Grand Theft Auto IV -- but not only is there the basic steering and breaking mechanic; no, there is also a brand new car physics system, which allows for absolute mayhem in both chases, speeding (there is a price that comes with such behavior), and chases...

One important new mechanic, is the ability to fire out of any window in the car, with any one handed weapon (SMG, MAC10, Pistol, ETC)...and this becomes an incredibly exciting aspect -- most prominently on the very well created Motor - Bikes...(simply steer with the triggers and one analog stick, and shoot/aim with the other)...


"This car (sniff), it took a bullet for me -- actually quite a few more than one"

And, of course, we have the incredibly humorous radio stations, with some memorable rock, rap, pop, R&B, a mix of all of them, and the like, of course, channels to listen to all day...

(And, plus -- if no one wants to be a gangster in Liberty City -- go fight crime instead, by "finding" yourself a still working cop car, and tuning in to their entire network; here, there are entire lists, of Liberty City's most wanted, and least wanted, criminals and/or gangsters/mobs -- anyone -- with a criminal record -- can be found here)...

Gunfighting:

A very important part, again as if you hadn't guessed, is the gunfighting...

Now, in GTA 3, we had the aiming mechanic, that allowed us to aim a little more precisely than mindless "crosshairless", attacks on the surrounding opponents...

As for GTA IV, It can feel both like any true GTA game can, or a well revised Tactical Thirdperson Shooter -- with a completely working cover mechanic, and a shoulder view/cam styled aiming system: just press LB to loc onto any wall, Car, structure, crate, garbage container (you name it) and then again to exit cover mode -- then, press LT to aim (you will automatically lock on, unless you turn that setting off), and RT to fire...


"Thank god I'm in a...burger shop"

Friends and/or Contacts:

Another new and exciting feature to the Grand Theft Auto series, is the cell phone, which allows instant, on the spot contact with both employers and friends (the former of whom you can, and will, no matter what, receive jobs from), and the latter, can be either job employers, or buddies (even a girlfriend or two here and there)...

Friends, are various contacts, who, if you get high enough in their estimation (with the semi - working, semi - frustrating influence system), will become available to further jobs, and activities, such as: bowling, darts, drinking, pool, eating (just go to a burger shop, and get a drink along with some hot dogs) and going to watch a show or two, now and again (your friends will email you, one way or another, over the fully working, internet system, with a horde of websites to browse as well -- and no worries, when concerning bandwidth use!) -- or watch some hilarity on Liberty City's finest TV channels in your own home -- that's right, anytime; watch an assortment of comedic parodies of modern - day politics, history, poker, stand up comedy...and the like -- all at your finger - tips!


"Give me your best, Shot"

Available to the cell phone(s) within the game (upgrade your old one to flashier new ones as you progress), are new menu looks, ringtones, sounds, ETC...along with the ability to temporarily turn of the story (or even permanently), if you would prefer some time to explore such an expansive world...(ride the train, or the underground tram/train -- it's all there; subways, train - tacks -- and the like)...

So all in all, Grand Theft Auto IV's addictive gameplay mechanics, will not disappoint -- 10/10...

PROS:

Great new cover system...

Nicely implemented Aiming Mechanic...

Awesome driving mechanics...

Cool new cellphone feature -- with a horde of new friends to make!

No Cons?


Graphical Appearance:

A lot of people were concerned that GTA IV's graphics simply wouldn't be able to meet the standards set by modern day games like Call of Duty 4, Halo 3, and the rest...especially after seeing the first few gameplay videos form the pre - beta build...

Yet, fear not -- in fact, GTA IV not only looks the best in the series, but also pulls of a memorable feel to the entire of Liberty City -- which goes through perfectly transitioned day and night cycles, plus -- some outstanding storms, which rock every last sign of its post all over the place...

The draw distance is another fantastic factor to be impressed by; outstanding fields of view, which the player can gallantly gaze over at once are immense; also, judging by the fact that there are absolutely NO loading screens while exploring Liberty city's exterior and, interior -- for the most part...the engine holds up magnificently -- despite the odd slow down (present a little more on the 360 version, nothing to worry to hard about, anyways) here and there -- especially when so much is happening on screen at once...


"The Cold Wind, Ebbs"

As a final impression on the visual affect -- Liberty City is very well detailed, and any odd blocky design, that once might find, while examining some of the buildings up close, is well made up for, by the vastness of the city -- especially when being viewed from a bird's eye angle...so thanks to the designer's persistent effort to make the world as believable as possible; from the fully destructible cars, to the high rises in the city's center -- all the way to the Iconic Mob Bosses encountered throughout the entire game...

PROS:

Seamless Loading Times...

Fantastic Weather Effects...

Nicely Done Day & Night Cycles...

No Cons?again?

Multi - player:

Now, I have not even mentioned the multi - player component -- the first in any GTA game...

This component was not rushed -- that is a first -- and also, it will probably be the most prolonged aspect in and of the entire game...why?

Imagine Grand Theft Auto IV's world turned Multi - Player -- with up to 16 players -- either all pitted against one another, in a desperate struggle -- or as teams, in all out war...

I need say no more, only that besides the open world, there are multiple game - types -- all of which take place in Liberty's City's "unadulterated streets" -- ranging from races, to shootouts, to cops and robbers (a particularly fun game - mode)...


"Get away from me!"

PROS:

What more could we have wished for, as a full multi - player component

Finale Value:

With the help of Rockstar's new RAGE Engine -- Grand Theft Auto IV delivers an endlessly playable, and re - playable experience -- that will not be forgotten for...who knows how long...

Needless to say, everything is greatly implemented into Grand Theft Auto IV -- which makes this masterpiece a contender, worthily, for 2008's Game of the Year Awards (and more)!

Note: Go buy it, if you like a fantastically told story, any other GTA game, an iconic hero, (who can either be seen as a protagonist, or an antagonist to Liberty City), expansive and entertainingly fast cop chases, or, just a good, long, atmospheric game, and Tactical Third - person Shooter...


"...This game is rated M for manly...M for Mind Boggling...and M for...Mature..."

-- Reviewed By, SIR MORDRED...