Finally, a Grand Theft Auto title with some purpose to it. The story is pretty interesting, it is a little weak, but is far better than former GTA games. I personally love how the game is structured, and Niko is one of my new favorite game characters, beside Altaïr. With a GTA title you can always expect some crazy main characters, and they have done a great job once again. For instance, Brucie. He is one of my favorite story line characters because he reminds so much of FPS Doug with his voice, look, and personality. The new Liberty City is amazing. The level of general detail that has been put into the game is astonishing. The textures are not very high definition and detailed up close as some people may complain, but the lighting and range of colors really make up for it. At a distance the city is truly photo realistic. Another thing that I'm really impressed by is the water. I haven't seen many games where water looks and behaves so realistically. It's okay Crysis, I still think you top the water detail charts. Concrete cracks when vehicles slam into it, vehicles have damage physics fairly close to reality, pedestrians don't randomly say stupid random crap to you as you pass by such as, "my cock feels large" or "i want to find some hookers tonight", pedestrians also take mind to crime going on around them, and they will get the hell out of dodge if you fire a weapon, the national guard is not called to take you out, you wear helmets on motorcycles, and hand to hand is actually effective. Radio stations are as great as always with their funny talk shows, and great music. Nothing is better than wiping out hordes of mafia members to 20's jazz. The new assets to gameplay in GTA 4 make it feel a lot more life like than previous titles such as the new "friendship system" where you can make friends with certain people and go on dates with them, or play some pool or darts. Cabs are actually worth something now. If you need to get to a destination and you don't feel up to driving for 5 minutes across the city (trust me it will happen... you have been warned) you can grab a cab and they will drive you there for you. You have the option of skipping to the destination, or watching the scenery as you travel. Cell phones are operational now, and you can receive text messages, call up your buddies, or take pictures. Another life like addition to the game, that I absolutely love, is the internet. On the internet you can download ring tones for your cell, buy cars, or set up dates with local ladies. Of course you can find more of Rockstar's brilliant, cynical humor in the websites and junk mail you receive. The combat feels much more realistic as well. You can take cover behind objects and use some gears of war or rainbow six vegas gun play tactics. I must note that the gun fights feel very realistic, and I have not seen better blood effects in any other game. Pretty much everything in the game (vehicles, people, weapons) behave as it would in real life. Except for when you slam into a car going 150mph, fly out the windshield, tumble 200 down the street, and slam into a building get up and walk away.
So to sum up GTA 4, it is same feel as the older games, but with more realism and purpose, better looks, and a few added game play enhancements.
Well, it's been about a month since I picked up GTAIV. A month of mayhem and debauchery and murder. I read the reviews when this initially came out and figured this was a must own for the 360 and that I was going to be... Read Full Review
Gaming has given us many unforgettable, immersive, soul-sucking settings in which countless gamers have lost themselves in for months, even years sometimes. GTA IV, the entry of the acclaimed (and notorious) open-world s... Read Full Review
