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Niko's first day in Liberty City - the first of MANY.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 15
Date: May 01, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Even though I have only played one day in Liberty City as Niko Bellic, the only way to review GTA IV is to take you on a journey of those first 24 hours.

After a short 7 minute download to my hard disc drive, the game was ready. At the end of the intro movie I directed Niko into the car with Roman at the shipyard. There's an on-screen tutorial on how to accelerate, brake, handbrake, and turn the radio stations on and off. I'd seen this before in other Grand Theft Auto games, so I wondered: what was new?

Quite a bit, as I would soon discover.

I saw a map option that showed the quickest legal route in a vehicle to my destination (which isn't always the fastest). I found out that the headlights on the car can go high-beam. When I hit the pause menu, I saw a HUGE list of statistics that I would need another 4,000 characters to describe, such as time spent on the internet, time watching TV, emails & text messages sent & received, times I've played darts, shot pool, or gone bowling? And this is just skimming the surface!

After Roman left me in his crappy apartment, I tried out a few controls. I punched the fridge, and it made a sound like hitting porcelain. I watched a little TV, changing channels and adjusting the volume. I left the apartment and saw tagger graffiti in the halls. I tried to swipe a car to speed over to Roman's cab company, but I found out that the Liberty City folks don't take lightly to Grand Theft Auto. They smacked me around a bit, and I had to run through some alleyways to avoid the cops!

The first mission was pretty simple, and during that mission I picked up a crummy cell phone. What a feature: we can read and send text messages, make calls, adjust the volume, and even change the ring tone! I even got to use my charismatic skills to get a date with a fine young lady. I had to go shopping first, though. The shopping option is different, we can walk around to different clothing racks and pick out what we want...a welcome change.

"My idiot cousin was in trouble with some Albanians, but how could I say no to my lady friend? I started to take her to the funfair; we had to take a little detour because I accidentally hit a police car. Being busted would have been a sour end to our date! Once we got to the funfair, we decided to go bowling instead." [This was incredibly fun! We get a bowling tutorial and five free frames to start out, by the end of the tutorial; you'll want to play again.]

"After I dropped Michelle back at her place, I felt the vibrations of my cell phone. [Yet another reason to pick up a Dualshock Controller - I thought my actual cell phone was going off!] Roman reamed me out for choosing the girl over family, but he admitted that he probably would have done the same thing. I dropped him off at his cab company, and I sat in the car and reflected on the day's events."

I can't even put into words how IMMERSIVE this game is. Hot dogs to replenish my stamina? An in-game tutorial on how to use the controller for popping wheelies on motorcycles? Attention to details like bees at a wastebasket? Chinese lettering on cardboard boxes outside a restaurant? Skid marks on the asphalt from using the car handbrake? It's all here.

I ordered the Grand Theft Auto IV Special Edition but I just couldn't wait to review this game. After two hours of playing it, I know I'll be hooked for MONTHS unlocking all the secret goodies.

Obviously this game has the right rating. Blood, violence, sexual themes, alcohol consumption, and many other items dictate that this game shouldn't be played by the under 17 crowd. It's not for everyone, though. Some gamers may not like the freedom Liberty City offers, in which case I would highly suggest a more linear game like Uncharted: Drake's Fortune.

This is the type of game that makes me believe there is no difference between motion pictures and video games anymore.

Have fun! I know I will.

One step foreward and three steps back

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 10 / 13
Date: June 19, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This review I am writing about GTA 4 is about the GTA series and linear progression. When compared to other games GTA has set many standards and is always setting the bar higher and higher, and there is no comparison really. When I bought this newest gta I was dissapointed, to say the least. The only this this game has going for it is honestly the graphics, that's it! This reminds me very much of GTA 3, yes Liberty City, in that the game is very basic with no real new features, except for the gun fighting controls. Actually, this game takes a few steps back when in comparison to San Andreas and even Vice City I believe. First the map is very small when in comparison, but thats to be understood because of the graphics. The main things I feel are steps back include:

-No Kill Frenzys
-Has been known to destory/crash the 60GB PS3s
-Very limited flying ability, only helicopter and only 2 types of helicopters police & civilian
-No military base at all, just a prison which turns out being really lame
-Less weapons
-Horrible soundtrack and less songs/programs
-90 very easy missions (no challenge at all!)
-Substantially increased and pointless relations with computer characters
-Money serves absolutely no purpose in this game except hogdogs and handguns
-No ways to generate money except missions
- 2oo "flying rats" you have to find scattered around the city (very hard to find) and they serve no purpose when compared to the horseshoes and clams from San Andreas
-less selection of vehicles
-Less able to customize characters/vehicles
-Pointless cell phone
-Hundreds of pointless internet websites

On a lighter side there are some benefits to this new version of GTA 4 and those include:

-Guns dont disappear when arrested
-Gunfighitng controls
-Graphics
-Gun delivery service (Little Jacob)
-Some hilarious TV shows
-Multiplayer ability

In conclusion, I feel that Rockstar Entertainment has produced a product that is less than par when compared to their previous success. A clear and present lack of creativity is easily seen. Cut backs that limited new and creative features that make GTA games always a joy to play, even after the game is complete. I personally feel that this game only has the graphics going for it and falls seriously short in many other categories. Rockstar's lazy creation of this new GTA 4 is, in my mind, a grim indicator of what Rockstar Entertainment is going to be producing in the future ever since it got bought out by Electronic Artists, EA Games, several months ago.

+++ABOMINATION+++

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 19 / 35
Date: June 07, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I thought halo 3 was over hyped but gta 4 redefines the concept. There is no way this game deserves the landslide of perfect scores it has recieved, and the only reasonable conclusion is that the reviewers were paid off. The gameplay is the same as ever and it gets very repetitive and dull. drive to point a. shoot some dude. drive to point b. repeat ad nauseum. The story is a complete joke where they throw in every gangster cliche and rascist sterteotype in the book. Includes numerous lame, banal attempts at satire. Nico Bellic has the personality of a cardboard box, save yourself the trouble and watch scarface instead. And the graphics are seriously sub-par. The characters are super blocky and look like something from the original xbox or ps2, textures are bland, and overall its pretty unimpressive. Unless you have a thing for the demoiselles d'avignon you are not going to find the strippers here attractive. dont be fooled by the press. save your cash.

Freezing Issues! Won't play on my 60GB PS3 at all!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 8 / 11
Date: July 12, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Well, I never did get past the first cutscene. Tried a new disc and it did the same thing (even with the new patch from Rockstar that was supposed to fix the freeze issues). Some sites suggested disabling internet on the ps3 settings etc, and after jumping through all kinds of hoops... same result! Well, THAT was fun! What a dud! At least I was able to return the game.

My PS3 is a 60GB version bought new when PS3 first came out, which happens to be the model that is having the most issues with GTA IV. Besides this buggy game, I have not had any issues with the PS3 previously. Only a small percentage of people seem to be experiencing this problem with the game, but for us unfortunate ones, it's a BIG issue! Especially after all the hype!

Great game overall, but one thing for Amazon.....QUIT TAKING DOWN OTHER PEOPLE'S REVIEWS! This game does have its flaws...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: May 09, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Overall, the game is fantastic. The graphics are rich, the animations are fluid, and the GTA series is as fun as ever. If your multiplayer actually works the online experience is deep and very addicting. That is a BIG if that it works. I've had my own problems with the online experience freezing up once in a while, but now with the new patch out it seems to be getting better. But it's still problematic to say the least.

The single player is amazing, like always. The new combat system is better and more intuitive than the old one, the environments are more interactive, and the cut-scenes are as entertaining and hilarious as ever.
The load times are minimal if any, as you install some components of the game to you're PS3 HDD to help speed up the load times. Very useful and keeps the game moving fast and smooth.

Online is worth the price of admission, if yours works right off the bat. Single player, of course is the meat and potatoes of this franchise.
Come for the story-mode, stay for the online and have a blast with one of the deepest and most entertaining video games I've ever experienced. If Oscars were made for video games, this one would win Best Picture, Sound, etc. It's that good and that much fun!

Oh, and Amazon...QUIT TAKING OFF PEOPLE'S REVIEWS JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE THE GAME LIKE EVERYONE ELSE DOES. This is America and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The game has made enough money as it is, flaws intact and all. Let people experience both the positive AND negative reviews. No game is perfect and people need to be aware of certain issues before warranting a $60 or $90 purchase.

With that said, I highly recommend picking up this game. This is what GTA fans and gamers have been waiting 3 1/2 years for and it far exceeds my expectaions. The city is just so huge it's hard not to get lost in your surroundings.
Whatever issues that continue to effect the online experience or even the single-player for that matter, will be addressed soon. They've already launched one patch only a week after the games release, so expect more as needed to be released as soon as available.

Bottom line-if you are on the fence about purchasing this game and are wondering if it is worth the price of admission, do yourself a favor and read into both the negative side of the story and the positive side. I think you will find that the good will far outweight the bad in every sense.

Who left the fun out?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: June 12, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game has hard core fans with disparate expectations. There are a myriad of rave reviews on this game. I thought I'd write one for those who are finding GTA4 to be...so-so?

I've read the positive reviews--it's a GTA for grown ups (weren't they all?), it's darker better, grittier (based on your character's facial hair I assume), it's more REALISTIC.

Ok. stop right there. Sorry but I don't want realism. I don't want to drive clunky cars that can't take a 90 degree turn at 30 mph without plowing through a storefront. I don't want to call up friends when I'd rather be doing something else just so I can keep the relationship (and the perks they offer) going. I don't want a GTA version of the virtual Secondlife or SIMS. I want to jetpack around in my tightie whities and a mohawk, 200 lbs overweight, listening to Conway Twitty. Now you're talking about fun.

Seriously, fun has been the ultimate of the GTA's until now. Niko Belak is NO FUN, he'd tell you personally. Previous GTA's all offered that thrill of exhilaration. I'm just not getting that here.

Pluses
*Taking cabs--much better than cross country treks that go awry when you make a wrong turn and crash into the ocean.
*Having a lawyer for a girlfriend--good idea
*Evading the cops by stealth rather than bribes
*Very cool graphics with smooth transitions
*Best bank robbery mission ever
*Good weapons/aiming control

Minuses
*Repetitive missions (shoot em up, run away from the cops)
*A little too easy. In all the other GTA's I've gotten stuck somewhere, simply b/c I'm not the best hand-eye coordinator. Nothing in GTA4 stymied me for more than 2 repeat tries.
*Lack of customization
*Lack of skill improvement (i.e. cars, shooting, bikes, endurance, etc)
*Lack of haircuts and accessories(Hey, I'm a chick, what do you want?)
*Drastic changes in driving controls
*Uninteresting NPC's/stories/dialogue
*Lack of 'stuff' to find in nooks and crannies
*Second-shelf music selection
*Inability to buy businesses

In sum, I just shelved this game at about 80% completion for another one I got for $20. That is the most demonstrative comment I can offer. Previous GTA's were my heroin--this one's more like methadone. Save your $60 and wait 6 months--the market will be glutted w/ extra copies.

DISAPPOINTING TO SAY THE LEAST

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 20 / 43
Date: May 07, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Like many other GTA addicts I was thrilled when I heard a new version of GTA was to be released...that is until I played it.

Here is a list of problems I have encountered:

- Game locks up and freezes my brand new PS3 constantly, even when in single player mode.

- After a few hours of gameplay I encountered a crash so bad that I was greeted with a message saying my PS3 hard drive was corrupted, this has never happened before with any other games.

- Online game play is impossible. Won't load, crashes, massive amount of glitches, stalls halfway through gameplay only to delete all progress made, other online players are often impossible to see making missions unachievable.

- After searching through hundreds of comments on GTA IV forums I can see this is an ongoing problem with MANY other customers.

- The game graphics are only fair at best.

- Characters are unispiring and quite boring, often times hard to understand without turning captions on.

- Missions are repetitive, dull and go nowhere.

I'll be one of the first to admit the GTA franchise seems to have gone stale. I was extemely disappointed after hearing all the hype surrounding this game, I think critics rushed to give this game great reviews far too early. To me it has been nothing but one big headahce since I opened it.

Never have I been so inspired to never play a game again.

12 hours in, things are starting to feel a little too familiar...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 12
Date: May 04, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I've been playing GTA 4 for about 12 hours now. Is it a masterpiece, an opus that raises the bar and redefines the genre? No, not really. But it is a very worthy follow-on to the GTA series that really uses the capabilities of the 360 and PS3. And it clearly is a follow-on, in the sense that in most ways, it is literally a bigger, better GTA 3.

If you're a GTA fan, and haven't yet bought GTA 4, then definitely go buy it. I predict that you'll enjoy it immensely. If you've never really gotten into the GTA series, then GTA 4 has little new to entice you with.

GTA 4 is a very good game. The storyline, while not at the level of "The Sopranos" or "The Wire", is deep, moving, and involving. The missions, as in all the GTA games, have a lot of variety, but not much (so far) that I haven't seen before. The high-res graphics, while hardly "cinematic", are fairly realistic and are a big step up from previous GTA games.

The soundtrack--because that's the best way to describe it--is where GTA4 really shines. The music is well-chosen, diverse, and permeates all parts of the game. There is rarely a scene where you're not hearing a song in the background, and it usually fits the mood extremely well. I look forward to doing some relaxing driving through town, with Philip Glass, ELO, or Smashing Pumpkins on the radio. With real-world gas prices pushing or over $4 a gallon, cruising around Liberty City is starting to have a lot of appeal.

The old GTA3 humor is back with a vengeance. I missed it in the Vice City and San Andreas sequels, and it is very nice to have it again. Plus, it is hidden everywhere in the game, on the radio as always, on TV, on the internet, you name it.

There are a few obvious flaws in the game:

- The graphics, while generally of high quality, sometimes are obviously and jarringly bad. Polygon edges are often easily seen, aliasing artifacts / jaggies are far too common, and frames are dropped during busy scenes. Sometimes the graphics do look pretty high-def, but more often they just look better than GTA 3.

- The targeting mode, in my opinion, is a little worse than in previous GTA games. Or, it is simply different, and I've become accustomed to working around the old system's flaws. Auto-targeting has a nasty habit of picking a person--and really, really wanting to jump back to that person--who has nothing to do with the action, and not picking the person who is ten feet away unloading an Uzi into you.

- As I mentioned, the missions are nothing new. There are a lot of "chase 'em and kill 'em" variants. Even with the superb storyline, I'm already starting to lose interest.

- The game has already locked up on me twice and become "stuck" (where it seems to still be working but ignores button presses) twice. I've had earlier GTA games lock up on me upon rare occasion, but it usually involved 5 "wanted" stars and me trying to do something stupid or clever, but GTA 4's lockups are already far beyond what I've seen in the past. Hopefully Rockstar will send out an easily downloadable patch to fix these bugs.

- There are more "Sims"-style interactions in the game, and while that new dimension may work for some people, for me it is a distraction. I've already grown tired of going out on dates with high-maintenance friends and lovers, and would prefer that there be some sort of opt-out for that entire aspect of the game. The dates generally involve a lot of cross-town driving, a little "fun" playing virtual pool, darts, or bowling, then more driving. For me, the fun stopped after the first experience of each new type of date and the first "hot coffee" scene.

not what I expected based on the hype

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 8 / 12
Date: May 14, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Rockstar eliminated so many elements from previous GTA installments that I feel they took a step backward.
-driving is really goofy
-side missions like Pizza Boy, Taxi, Ambulance, and Firefighter are gone
-there is no bonus for getting all the secret packages
-you accumulate a lot of money but there is nothing to spend it on
-the vehicle list is significantly smaller
-there is no customization whatsoever... you get to pick from about three outfits
-no more tricking out your car... honestly, Saint's Row had a better vehicle storage system

Good if you never played GTA SA...A step back for Rockstar

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 7 / 10
Date: May 14, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I'm a huge fan of the GTA series however this one leaves me a bit pissed.
Before folks get to trashing this review let me tell you why I rated this game the way I did. For starters, this lacks several things found in GTASA, the last game in the GTA series. It was so good it spawned the 360 knockoff Saints Row, which isnt bad by the way. They left out the things that made that game great such as dual weapon weilding, building experience in driving, swimming etc., ability to learn new fighting styles, customizing the character with tatts, haircuts, and being able to change the body type by working out or eating excessively. They also left out customizing your cars! Followed by the lack of clothing, and seriously, they have like two good outfits, the rest are completely retarded. Its damn near impossible to make Niko look cool. But thats only the beginning of the things that piss me off in this game. The major thing is that there is NOTHING to spend your money on!!! I mean really, whats the point of doing missions for money if you can't buy anything?? They don't have houses for sale like in all the previous GTA's, they don't have exotic car dealerships, or anything to spend cash on. So I'm sitting here playing a game with tons of cash that has virtually nothing spend it on! The worst part is they taunt you by having the stores in the game, but you can't go in! You gotta be kidding me. Thats a major flaw in this game. To top it off, 360 got exclusive rights to downloadable content, meaning us ps3 owners only get what we got while 360 owners get extras. Thats some BS! This game barely has any side missions, and thus barely any replay value. I say gamefly this, and don't blow 60 bucks on a pretty game. In essence thats all they did was make a game with great graphics, and less content. The same way they did madden 07. The other major gripe I have is because all the crap Rockstar told us about being able to go into almost all the buildings. What a heap of crap that was, you can only go into assigned clothing stores, gun stores and activities/resturants. Everything else? Forget it! They have these great looking stores with massive signs and flashy lights that serve no purpose at all. Why did they even put tattoo shops in the game if you can't go in to get a tatt? If this wasn't a GTA game I would give it more stars, but I've come to expect more out of Rockstar, and this game totally let me down. The storyline is ok, it follows the same pattern of every GTA game, "guy with troubled past has to make his way up through the mean streets to gain money" which I have no problem with, it just doesnt do anything to make me want to play it through all the flaws. Don't believe all the hype, i hate it when people give games great ratings when they are so blatantly ripping us off by giving us half a$$ games. It does nothing but tell the developers that we are easily sold on a name and pretty graphics. Demand more from your games and when you don't get it, let the developers know! I payed 60 bucks for this, and it doesn't have as much content as the PS2 version of the prequal?? Hell naw! I'm pissed.

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