Repetitive
#1. I found the missions to be very repetitive and boring, some even tedious.
#2. The cell phone adds a sence of realism to the game but you get the feeling that you are your buddy(s) only friend since you are getting calls all of the time.
#3. The most annoying of all to me which also links numbers 1 and 2 together....... In the late game, no matter what your doing (mission, side quest or just hanging out with an annoying buddy that you just want the benefits from) you are CONSTANTLY (did I stress that enough? CONSTANTLY) having to drive extremely long distances to get anything done. I know you can use a cab but if its something that has a deadline (like picking Packie up) most of the time the driver makes you late and you pay for it. Having to stop at the annoying toll booths makes this driving even more grating.
The good
1. The targeting system is vastly improved over previous versions
2. Very strong and interesting story (but by the end you might just be so sick of all the annoyances you just quit caring to see how it ends).
3. Great graphics (although faces look funny when not in cut scenes and lighting effects can be irritating)
The neither here nor there category
Multiplayer is rather shallow. If your going to deathmatch your more likely to try it out and go back to Killzone, CoD or Battlefield. All other games modes I found to be uninteresting as well.
The story and depth in charachters is much better is this game but lacks what helped make GTA so popular in the first place and why so many people either cling to the hopes of a remake of San Andreas or gave up on GTA and switched to Saints Row..... Goofiness and just plain fun, ridiculous gameplay.
All and all GTA4 was fun for awhile when I first got it. I beat it and tried to play it again recently which is when I noticed all this annoying crap in the game. Didn't beat the game a second time because of this. Saints Row 2 on the other hand I have beaten twice already and just started a third game and it seems like the game never gets dull. I can't say the same about GTA4.
Final verdict, I think Saints Row is going surpass GTA as the sprawling fun open world sandbox game we love to screw around in just like how Battlefield will most likely surpass CoD as the best shooter out in 2011. Can't carry the torch forever..........