17 out of 17 people found this review helpful.
A game that has to be played- for better or worse.
Date of Review: May 10, 2008
The Bottom Line: The final verdict- 9.3/10. GTA IV lives up to the hype, and then some.
Just like everyone else I was really, really excited to get my copy of Grand Theft Auto 4. GTA San Andreas is my favorite game of all time, and GTA 4 quickly makes it known that this game is an improvement over that.
Two quick side-notes before we begin-The new Euphoria engine is absolutely great, and is easily one of the best engines to be put in a game. Another little side note-as we all know, GTA is, has been, and always will be, a game meant to be played by adults only. Yes, the game allows you to be "serviced" by prostitutes, and you can get lap-dances from strippers, not to mention that there is quite a bit of blood involved. So if you are thinking of getting this for anyone under 17, I urge you to think again, as this is as graphic as it gets in a video game. So with that out of the way, lets get to the review!
Fighting System-7/10. The new hand to hand fighting system seems more cinematic, but after the initial "Wow, a new fighting system" feeling sinks in, you'll realize how frustrating it can be to go around pushing people, and being forced to lock on to targets, then be frustrated by the downright lethargic punches you throw. Not only has the hand to hand system been re-done, so has the weapon system. The old lock on system has gotten so much grief, that it would have been nearly impossible to make that worse. While it is hardly where it should be, it is definitely an improvement, and you cannot blame the game if you are killed using it.
Gameplay(minus the fighting system)-7/10. 7 out of 10 is a very generous rating in my opinion. Cars are more difficult to steer, the camera can be annoying at times, and it can be extremely difficult to ride a motorcycle. The cover system is what saves this from being a total disappointment, as it really brings a new element to the game. You can crouch/hide behind anything you can find throughout Liberty City.
Missions-4/10. This is my biggest problem with the game. At first, I assumed the tutorial style missions were a necessary evil, that would go away after the first few missions. I was sadly mistaken. Every single mission seems to introduce something new, whether it be a new gun, the internet, racing, and so on, the game seems to find away to make you find something new every time. Because of this, the difficulty of the missions go WAY down. This is by far the easiest GTA game to date, and this is the basic synopsis of most missions-Receive a call on your cell phone telling you to drive to a destination, kill a target, then drive back. Granted, GTA does throw in a more than a few curve-balls, but I have still yet to do a mission more than once.
Story-10/10. This is the best story to ever be put into a video game, Period. Without risking giving away too much of the story, here is a basic summary-You play a character named Niko Bellic, an Eastern European immigrant whose cousin lures him to Liberty City with stories of big houses, beautiful women, and fancy cars. Once you arrive in Liberty City you quickly discover that you live in a crappy apartment, and your cousin is a low line taxi driver. That's as far as I'll go, but let it be known that this would definitely be a hit movie if made into one.
Graphics-8/10. What's all the fuss about? The graphics are perfectly descent. Not up to par with BioShock or Call of Duty 4, but very respectable. At times, in cut-scenes, the rooms can appear nearly photo-realistic, and it is truly breath-taking to look across the bridges and see the many sky-scrapers on the other side. And while I did run into a few instances of screen tearing, it is not even close to being as bad as the other GTA titles. Liberty City-10/10. When I first heard that another game was being made in Liberty, I'll be honest, I was very disappointed. The country-side in GTA San Andreas was really a plus for me, and while I still miss roaming around aimlessly in the country, don't make the mistake of thinking that this is the same Liberty City you played in GTA III, because it is not. It is hardly recognizable from the other Liberty City, as every nook and cranny has been redone to fit into the next generation. You won't see the same person twice if you walk down the street, and it is obvious how much work went into the city.
Multiplayer-9/10. Thank God for the multiplayer. It's the one major thing that GTA has been missing in past years and now it is finally a part of the game. First things first, this is not some watered down portion of Liberty City, the whole thing is playable. For deathmatch purposes, it might be a good idea to only play one part of the city, which is also an option. There are many different modes in which to play online such as Deathmatch, Mafia work, Racing, and Car jacking, and all of these modes can either be played solo or with a team. That said, I have some major problems with it as well. I've had serious connection issues, making the game almost unplayable with friends, and at times, with other people also. This might be just an issue specific to me, but noteworthy nonetheless. Either way the multiplayer is very extensive and very fun.
To summarize, this is simply a must own for anyone with a 360. With a multiplayer almost as extensive as Halo, a cover system that is not unlike Gears of War, and all the elements of the past GTA games that make this a GTA game, it is truly a game you have to play to believe.
*Update*(6/19/08)
So I've had the game for a little over 1 and a half months, and the multiplayer is now totally unplayable for me. All of my friends are having the same connection issues, and from what I've read around the web, most people are having some multiplayer problems. Not only are there now connection issues, but the game is ridiculously hard to play with friends. Most of the time, you won't be able to find a match with your friends online, but when you do, it is impossible to control if you are on the same team as your friend. It has become obvious that all the gushing from "pro" reviewers wasn't accurate because they simply hadn't played the game enough. The missions do get slightly better and less predictable, even if they are still a drag at times. Just because the multiplayer function isn't as good as once thought, there is a lot of content to be found outside the story. When I completed the story mode, I had only finished about 68% of the total game content according to the game. Since the buzz has worn off, it has become apperant to everyone that this game may not be worthy of the 10/10 ratings. So this isn't the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it is still one heck of a great game, and should still be near the top of your list if you're looking a new game for your 360.
