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A Worthy Member of the GTA Series

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 109 / 139
Date: April 30, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I adore the GTA series and have been looking forward to the release of GTA IV for a *long* time. The developers know that a very high bar would be set for this one, and you can see the time and effort they poured into every last detail from the very first moment of the opening credits. It is more like a movie than a game. This "immersive movie" quality stays with you through every moment of gameplay.

You walk down the street and the shadows dapple through the overhead bridge grid. Dusk begins to fall and the sky gets that orange golden glow, the shadows lessen.

Voices show the same attention to detail. You've got a variety of languages thrown in, plus accents galore. There's the Long Island drawl, the Rastafarian's lilt, and of course the hard edge of eastern Europe.

Your main character is Nico, fresh off the boat and coming in to Liberty City (i.e. New York City) to see his cousin Roman. They are eastern European and rather poor. This of course is going to change soon, as Nico moves his way up in the world.

My boyfriend's from New York City so we were amused at how they kept the landscapes identical but renamed Brooklyn to Broker, Manhattan to Algonquin and so on. There was one time we were walking down the streets and had lost track of where we were. "Looks like the Bronx" he commented off-handedly. We zoomed out. Sure enough!

I do have to say that the people on the streets of this game swear far more than the average people we pass in the real NYC though!

Which brings up an important point. GTA IV went straight for the "Mature" rating with this one. This is clearly meant for mature gamers ages 17 and over. There are strip clubs. There are violent battles. There is more swearing than pretty much any other game out there. Adults love this as they love the Sopranos and Scarface - but any parent getting this for a minor should know what they're getting into.

But that being said, as a game for adults, this is *awesome*. There are just so many little touches that shine. You can play bowling games with your date. You can make choices between alternate choices which affect how people feel about you. When you get near a railing, you can side jump over it, smoothly. You carry a cell phone and gather contacts for use. You can visit internet cafes. You have a variety of radio stations to listen to, plus TV stations to watch.

This is easily a game you can play for hundreds of hours - then go back and start over again and get another new experience by making different choices.

I can't get over how gorgeous the game is, and how smoothly it plays. You grab a knife from an enemy and use it to take him down. You drive along the Hudson and watch the lights of the carnival shine. You listen to your favorite songs on the radio while the neon lights of the city drift by. You really begin to relate to the characters, to understand their personalities, to connect with them. It makes the choices you make have meaning and emotion.

As much as I adore many other games - Halo, Mass Effect, etc. - I really think this is the first game that makes you feel that you are in a movie. The graphics draw you in. The voices are amazingly well done and varied. The plot draws you in, having you wonder who to trust, having you wonder what is going on with the characters.

Highly recommended. I'm doing a full walkthrough for the game so feel free to ask any questions you wish!

I want to add a note - some players are having trouble with understanding the dialogue. I watch a ton of international films so I didn't have any issues. However, if some of the language is too accented for you, there is a subtitles option. Just turn that on and you'll always know what they are saying.

Game Of The Year

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 23 / 34
Date: April 29, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game had a lot of hype to live up to, but it has not only lived up to those expectations, it has greatly surpassed them. This game has set the bar for the gaming industry so much higher. One of the most common things you hear about the game is the size of the city. It is smaller then San Andreas, but it feels twice as big. The city is so detailed that you are always finding something new. Every street, building, and person is different. The new social life aspect that you would expect to find in games like The Sims is amazing. I am sure many hardcore gamers will overlook this aspect and just stick with the missions, but this feature adds hours & hours of game play. I hear the number 100 hours of game play tossed around, but I am sure it can easily get more use than that. That is the wonderful thing about the GTA series, the ability to sidetrack from the main missions, but still feel as if you are in the story. There is a reason this game has gotten 10 out of 10's on almost every game review website, because to date, this is easily the best game title out there. Others try to compare it to games like Halo and Metal Gear Solid, but fact of the matter is that the GTA series is in a league of it's own! This isn't to say it is bug free though. The game can suffer awkward camera angles, visible texture loading, and controls that have a fairly steep learning curve (can be changed to classic). With that in mind though, all of the other great things make up for it, still surpassing every other game out there. I have to give Grand Theft Auto 4 a 5 out of 5.

Note: I have yet to complete the game entirely (17%) and have only been playing for a day, but this is my review of it so far.

open-world fans.. our time has come!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 24 / 26
Date: April 30, 2008
Author: Amazon User

9.25/10

When Grand Theft Auto III came out(the reason i got a PS2 way back in 2001), i knew something great was in the mix. it was a sign of change in the gaming industry. it showed us there could be more to games than levels, more than high scores, and more than even a good story. it showed us a virtual world you could become totally engulfed in(outside of RPG's). a world where you could go anywhere and do anything(although that was just mostly stealing cars and shooting pedestrians in those days). over the years they've made some serious improvements, from the bikes and helicopters of vice city, to the jets and ability to duck and roll/ manually aim in san andreas(finally!) and now their first venture onto this generation has finally arrived, and its a great day in the gaming world

the series continues to awe with this installment, even in this day and age in video games. Graphically speaking, it is simply beautiful. its amazing how much attention went into every aspect of this world. theres cracks and pot holes ranging in depth in the road, and varying curb heights. vehicle damage is very impressive, from dents and scratches to a hole for each bullet that hits. the lighting system is amazing, with day/night cycles and a rotating sun throughout the day. naturally the game doesnt have the detail of say Call of Duty 4, but you could fit like 50 Call of Duty 4 maps in this city! its that huge. you have to take the size of a game into consideration when rating the graphics, thats been a given for how long now?? just to clear things up for the clowns complaining the graphics.

when you walk out the door theres so much to be done you might want to keep a checklist for the days. although what you actually choose to do is up to you. causing chaos is always an option. you can go bowling, play pool, play darts, get drunk, go to a srip club, get some food, check out the in game internet, and tons more. you could always just surf the channels on your TV.

your cell phone is a pivotal part of the game. you can call friends and girlfriends for various activities(some are listed above), and if you neglect them for long enough, they'll call you. you can also call potential employers for jobs.

theres the standard "go kill this guy" and "go get this" but they have been very entertaining anyway so far. theres much more depth to many missions, including stealth. one example is having to steal a cop car, then proceed to pull over different shipping trucks until you find the one full of TV's.

gameplay is vastly improved. the cover system is great, allowing you to quickly roll and protect yourself behind random cars, trash cans, and basically anything else thats big enough.

the game has a much more realistic feel than previous entries. you'll find yourself making sure theres no cops around before committing crimes. the star system is still here, but this time your wanted level is radius based, and if you can get far enough away from all cops, or at leased out of sight, your wanted level will go down. its honestly genius. i narrowly escaped one by jumping the guard rail and running down a steep hill, only to see another driving my way in the distance. quickly ducking into the alley behind a dumpster, i watched him roll by and waited for my stars to begin to fade. some cars are locked and you'll need to break a window to get in and proceed to hotwire it.

-for all you parents out there, the content is more mature than previous entries. you get a pretty good look at the in-car action with the street workers.. hehe.. and "coarse" language is used every couple minutes(at leased). the violence and blood looks more realistic now too. thats usually not what you guys worry about so much though.

my only real complaints are the hand to hand combat(its the most solid of the series but San Andreas seemed to have more move depth), and the fact that you cant go into more buildings. dont get me wrong, theres TONS of places to go and things to do, but i was hoping for even more. there have been waaay too many things that made San Andreas great and were simply missing here. no car customization, less clothes, less weapons, no property to buy, and more.. in some ways its one step forward and two steps back.

i wont elaborate on the story much, as its already been done heavily. basically your an illegal immigrant from eastern europe. your cousin convinced you to come to America with his stories of mansions and sports cars. when you arrive things arent quite as described. you start in the darkest, grittiest part of Liberty City. a pocket full of change and a head full or dreams. what happens next is in your hands..

Can I give it 6 out of 5 stars?

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 17 / 27
Date: April 29, 2008
Author: Amazon User

First off, if you're reading these reviews, trying to decide whether to get this game, stop reading now and BUY IT!! You will NOT be disappointed.

FIRST IMPRESSION
This must be one of the first reviews because I must be one of the few who can tear myself away from playing long enough to write a review. I purchased GTA IV at midnight and only got to play a few hours before the thought of getting no sleep before work the next day caught up with me.

First impressions: does it live up to the hype? Yes! I was afraid GTA IV would be over hyped and would be a disappointment. It has the same feel as previous GTA's. I was also afraid they would change the controls too much in going to a new system, but the controls are very comfortable and feel familiar.

I haven't had a chance to play any of the multiplayer content, but any time during single player all you do is hit up on your d-pad to bring up your cell phone and select multiplayer. (I accidentally did this trying to change the radio)

Based on what I've seen so far I will be spending many hours playing through the single player campaign, playing online multiplayer with friends and beating up hookers when I'm frustrated with either one.
END FIRST IMPRESSION

Update: As impressed as I was with the beginning of the game, it only gets better and better. GTA IV is EVERYTHING you love about the previous GTA chapters, but EVERYTHING is bigger and better. The actions of NPCs are more realistic too. For example you can't pull into Pay n Spray right in front of a cop and get off Scott free. You have to make sure no cop sees you pull in. To start a vigilante mission you come to a complete stop in a police car and access the onboard laptop. From here you can pull up crimes in progress, the most wanted list and even call for backup. Unlike previous games, when you're hunting criminals as a vigilante the police are actually on your side instead of trying to stop you.

You can watch TV, access the internet at internet cafes. You can go bowling, play darts, watch an on stage performance. You can even pick up bricks from a construction yard and throw them through shop windows.

Story: This is a very deep drama. For the first time in a video game I heard the mention of a soul. You no longer come in contact with one dimensional caricatures. All of the main characters are complex individuals. If the GTA III series was a goofy cartoon, then GTA IV is a serious dramatic action movie.

Sound: The song list is awesome! You wake up in your crappy apartment to the sound of Smashing Pumpkins - "1979" or ELO - "Evil Woman" playing on the radio. The internet café has the song from the first trailer playing. While playing Vice City I would change the station every time the Giggle Cream commercial came on. I haven't heard anything on the radio annoying enough to make me change it.

Graphics: The graphics are awesome! GTA IV won't dethrone Gears of War or Assassin's Creed as the best next gen graphics, but if Gears of War is a 10 then GTA IV is a 9. Of course keep in mind that GTA IV has a HUGE draw distance and NO load screens while in Gears of War you have to wait for relatively small maps to load.

Gameplay: This is what matters the most. Is the game fun to play? YES! You are set loose in a huge adult playground where you can do just about anything you can think of. You want to punch someone for looking at you funny as you walk by? Go for it! You want to steal any vehicle you see? Do it! You want to go on a date? Call up your girlfriend. You want to go shoot darts with Roman? Give him a buzz.

Controls: I played all of the previous GTA's on PS2 so I can't compare the current controls to Xbox controls. (From what I hear you had to have a third hand to do a driveby without the extra shoulder buttons) On foot the controls are about the same as San Andreas. You use LT (L1) to auto aim and RT (R1) to shoot. A cover system has been added, which makes shootouts a lot more dynamic. Blind firing around a corner is really cool.

Driving is a LOT different though. RT is gas, LT is brake, RB is E-brake and LB is shoot. You no longer use L2 and R2 to aim 90 degrees left and right to do a drive by. You can lean out the window and use the right thumb stick to move the camera and shoot cars in front of you and to the side. This is really hard to get used to, but I have a feeling once I figure it out, it will be VERY rewarding later on. (You can pick the classic control setup, but I can't comment on this as I haven't tried it yet) Also all of the cars have REALLY loose suspension and lots of momentum. This means pulling the E-brake to make a turn causes you to do a 180 and slide past your turn. You have to actually slow down to make turns.

The Bad: After singing its praises I have to mention at least one bad thing. I've only noticed VERY minor visual glitches. For example as I crouched next to a building my face went through the wall. Another bad thing about GTA IV is that it's too good. It will totally ruin every other "Urban Shooter" out there. It has set the standard for next gen video game quality. I predict that no other game will even be able to touch GTA IV for a VERY long time.

If you're still undecided about whether to get GTA IV after reading my review and several other glowing reviews, then check out what the pros say. Check out metacritic.com. As of posting this review it is THE highest rated game on there.

Impressive.... Just Impressive.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 18
Date: April 29, 2008
Author: Amazon User

First, I like to admit something. I never really liked GTA series before. I can't quite put my fingers on the reasons. Maybe it was the ugly graphics(/art directions). Or perhaps, their clumsy control in general threw me off. In any case, past GTA games never really appealed to me at all.

However, I finally decided that I am gonna give it a try once more even though I only barely finished half of San andreas and was too bored to go on. And wow, I have to say I am so glad that I gave this game an another chance because this game fixes whatever problem I had with the series and improved beyond my expectation.

Graphic
-While I would not say this is the best looking game on Xbox 360 platform, I have to agree that it still looks fantastic. Especially, fictional liberty city looks absolutely stunning.If I consider the freedom that is given to player to mess around the city, this game might be the most impressive technical achievement on console side so far.

Simply, this game looks gorgeous. Even though I did notice some texture pop up here and there, it is not constant as it was with mass effect and it is likely that you won't be bothered by it unless you are one of those people who obsess over minor graphical flaw. It really is a minor thing and doesn't effect game play at all.

Control
-I hated shooting in 3D GTA games before GTA IV and I don't think I was the only one. Well. REJOICE!! Shooting mechanic is better in GTA IV. Okay. It is sooooooo much better. Two major additions (Lock-on and cover system) works pretty well and makes combat a lot more fun rather than frustrating. Unarmed combat has some depth as well but I won't get into that since I usually just prefer shooting or blowing things up. The control for driving is not exactly racing game level but it is serviceable and you get used to it pretty quickly (different cars indeed handle differently)

Story
-I think I won't say anything whole a lot about story since it is even more subjective than other issues and I don't want to spoil anything but I will say this. I personally liked the story. It is driven by cut scenes before each missions just like how Rockstar did with previous title. Voice acting is excellent as expected from Rockstar(Although I was having some trouble understanding some characters due to heavy accent. I had to turn subtitle on. I actually recommend this.)

And I actually cared about Nico as main character. I don't think I can say the same for previous GTA main character. Personally, that prove to me that story is done well.

Multiplayers
-I can't mention anything on this since I haven't gotten too much into this. perhaps, I can add more in the future but not now. I am just impressed that they actually added multiplayer mode for the first time on top of excellent single player portion of the game. By the way, I found a promotional card for one month of free xbox live inside of the game case. It was a nice surprise and kudos to Microsoft on that one.

Conclusion
-If you played previous GTA games, then you know the basic gameplay of GTA4. It is a sand box game that allows you to utilize a whole city as playground. GTA IV is fundamentally a highly refined game that has improved upon GTA formula to near perfection.

I can't say for sure if this game can convert those players whom never liked GTA series ever. But I doubt anyone would disagree that this game is indeed a great improvement over past GTA games. As for me, GTA IV in fact did just that. It turned me into GTA fanboy. If you are a gamer, I wholeheartedly, recommend checking GTA IV out. Maybe you will like it or maybe not. But I guarantee you that you will be impressed one way or another.

Welcome to Liberty City

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 21
Date: May 03, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Niko is new to America. Brought by hopes and promises of his cousin Roman about how wealthy he is. Unfortunately for Niko he quickly finds the stories to be lies. Grand Theft Auto IV starts as others in the series with an anti-hero. Getting involved in doing the wrong things is all to easy in this game. From the very get go you are learning that living the American life can be difficult and in order to get your story going you must break the law. For the most part Niko doesn't have a problem with this since he has become raw after being a soldier in war.

GTA IV has probably one of the darkest stories so far in the series. This is not the type of game you will play and comment on how cheerful the story is. For those of you who have played previous GTA games you will notice many similarities. From the gameplay mechanics to the story line. Although people who are new to the GTA series will find how simple the learning curve really is in this game. The game gives you an incredible amount of tutorials and guides you thru your first several missions making things easy to understand. Most features in this game are simple to understand and keep this game from getting over anyones learning curve.

What has made the Grand Theft Auto series so superb is the story telling. Excellent voice acting with intense and exciting missions make GTA IV a true winner. From the first moment on you will notice that you aren't really playing a game as much as taking part in an intense crime drama. Think Sopranos from the former Soviet Union. The game is mission based and gives you the ability to choose what you want to do at any given point. You meet numerous characters who are all about committing crimes and they give you certain jobs. Of course these jobs increase your reputation and help progress you thru the story. Along the way you will find numerous characters. Some you will like and others you will probably want to get rid of yourself.

This game has further evolved ideas from previous GTA games. Niko can not only date one woman at a time but several. It's really up to you. Just remember how in real life this can be time consuming it can also be in a game. You will have woman calling and texting you if you ignore them to long. Then comes taking them out for dates. Each woman has different tastes and interests and it's up to you to know where to take them. Some of the activities can actually be fun like playing darts or pool as these mini games do have learning curves. The girl you are with will respond to your success or failure at these games. Obviously there are numerous other activities in wonderful Liberty City. Also it's important for Niko to accessorize and finding the best clothing to wear is important. Image is everything as as you progress you get access to better clothes. The car mechanics have improved in this game but don't expect to have similar handling to a racing game. What is cool to look at is the amazing detail they have put into the car damage. Every little ding makes an impact on the car you are in. Lastly is the music selection. An incredible 200 songs are available in Liberty City to listen to on the radio. Numerous radio stations including the talk ones belt out hit songs and comedic advertisements. Niko even has the ability to watch t.v. They covered every detail in this game and it shows.

As if a single player mode that will take you 30 to 40 hours to beat is not enough there is also online multiplayer. Yes you and 15 others can play on the beautiful streets of Liberty City. The multiplayer is truly open ended for your enjoyment. Several game modes plus the ability to create your own multiplayer. You can also invite seven friends to take on eight others. It's easy to say this game will be enjoyed for months on end. Within six months the 360 will also have it's own unique content that will be available on XBOX LIVE.

It's easy to be impressed by Liberty City. It's as close to New York City as any game has ever got. From the pedestrians that make up the neighborhood to the realistic design of the buildings. The weather changes and the days progress realistically. This is one of those games where you can just take it in and enjoy the scenery. In Grand Theft Auto you have the freedom to do what you want. This game is intended for adults. The language and content can be mature most of the time. Although that is at a parents discretion. I wouldn't suggest this game for everyone. Although I would suggest it for those who have enjoyed previous Grand Theft Auto games. I would also suggest it for those who enjoy mafia or crime movies. This game will have you sitting back and enjoying the incredible story. Just don't forget that it's your story to play.

5 Stars After Only 8 Hours

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 20
Date: April 30, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Since most games don't even last 8 hours, I figured I could give this review after only playing it for just as long. Pretty stunning, for lack of a better term. The only thing I have an issue w/somewhat is the hand to hand combat, but even that is workable. The cityscape is amazing, and as usual it's just as fun to walk/drive around and take in the sights...The textures and lighting, esp. the street lights & car tail light reflections at night. One cannot even begin to describe how this city comes to life. At first I thought the graphics were kind of murky, but the more I progressed the more I found myself stopping to take in the sights; Alot reminds me of a 'French Connection' type of thing; And where True Crime NYC had some success in recreating the whole NY urban setting, GTA4 runs rings around the competition. The city seems very Sims-like at times. The character controls well for the most part, and the added cover features are nice. The gunplay is fairly fluid, but as of yet I haven't had too many opponents; Driving is a blast, esp stealing cars from the street. Some have car alarms that sound after you bust out the glass. The dialog is actually entertaining, and the addition of the autosave feature is nice. Other than that, it's your good old GTA in terms of mission types(so far...). Great looking, truly fun to play.

I have not tried co-op or the online modes yet....

I beat up one Russian guy and his 2 friends came to his aid; I tried to fight them off and run, but they chased me all over, cursing in Russian. I tried so hard to carjack someone, but they kept dogging me until finally I got hit by 2 trucks. And I was laughing hysterically the same time. Those are the types of moments I live for in games, and unless this game suddenly sucks all of the sudden, I can only imagine the fun that lies down the road.

An incredibly stunning achievement

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 22
Date: April 30, 2008
Author: Amazon User

It's here, it's here, it's finally here. Grand Theft Auto IV has finally arrived after what seems like eons of anticipation, and Rockstar's flagship franchise doesn't disappoint to say it lightly. Putting you in the shoes of European illegal immigrant Niko Bellic, you are back in Liberty City, although this is a much different Liberty City than the one you remember. This Liberty City is so incredibly detailed and constructed that you will often find yourself in complete awe. Not since GTA III has an open world environment been so innovative in its scope, and never before has there ever been this kind of interaction. At its core, the tried and true GTA gameplay remains, but there is so much more to do: ranging from dating (yes, dating!), surfing the in-game internet, seeing a comedy show, watching TV, and listening to the radio among other things. Besides all that, there is a story here, and it is indeed one of the most engrossing and compelling stories you will ever find in a video game. Niko is no ordinary crook like we've seen before, and ends up being one of the most fully realized video game protagonists in quite some time. The rest of the residents of Liberty City are wonderfully designed as well, all helping Liberty City feel like a living, breathing place. Gunplay elements have been much improved upon as well, as have the driving mechanics and overall controls. Combined with a 16 player multiplayer mode, Grand Theft Auto IV is a glorious, instant classic that more than deserves your attention. If there are any downsides to GTA IV, and this is just me being nitpicky for the sake of being nitpicky, is that there are a few graphical hiccups to be found now and then, but definitely nothing major or all that noticable. Other than that, GTA IV is nearly perfect in every regard. All in all, Grand Theft Auto IV is an incredibly stunning achievement of modern gaming that must be played to be believed. Ranking as possibly one of the finest and most immersive video games to ever see the light of day, Grand Theft Auto IV is a masterpiece that should be checked out in the very least, even if you aren't a fan of the series. Yes, it is that good, now go play it.

Finally a GTA that I might finish.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 9
Date: April 30, 2008
Author: Amazon User

It's been 4 years since the last GTA game was out, which was GTA San Andreas. I have never been a huge fan of the GTA series. I did like San Andreas but I never did finish it or ever get super deep into it. I barely played Vice City or GTA 3 even though I owned both and was very excited to play them. Now the series has made into the current, formerly known as next, gen and boy is this what the GTA series needed.

I could always tell that GTA series was a great series, but it was very limited by the hardware of that generation (PS2 and XBOX), but with this iteration of GTA, it seems like all those great ideas are finally coming together in a package that is truly an experience.

I won't bore you with the details or story and it's character, Niko, since those have been gone over again and again. What I will tell you are my impressions of this stellar game.

As exaggerated a statement as this may seem, Liberty City does have a living, breathing feel to it. People live there lives in this city. It doesn't feel like Niko's world. In one of my first interesting experiences in the game, I was walking to meet my cousin Roman at his job, and while I was walking a car accident happened which started a fight between 2 women. One of the women ran right by me scared out of her mind, while the other just chased her screaming obscenities. In another instance I was sitting in a car just listening to the radio( I was in a slow jams mood, aka Jodeci) and all of a sudden a cop car stops right next to me. I didn't know what to think. As I was a about to speed off I heard "Freeze!" I was confused at first and then as I looked around I saw a man with his hands in the air being escorted into the police car next to me. That's just some sweet attention to detail that can leave you in awe at times.

The attention to detail in this game is spectacular with tv stations that can be watched (set aside some time to watch tv in this game. You just might lose an hour or more on that), radio stations with actual DJ's and licensed music (A GTA staple and realistic touch. Song choice is great but the songs can get repetitive), and the good ol internet.

The internet is a nice touch since you try and can set up dates via an online dating service (which doesn't seem to be useful seem I was rejected by all 3 women I asked out on dates.) or just read up on news stories around Liberty City and check out blogs.

The graphics are a sight to see. The animation system in this game is really something that needs to be seen. In one instance I stole someones car and as I got in the car, the person who I stole the car from grabbed the door handle trying to re-enter his car. Needless to say I decided to drive off before he had a chance to get back in, but the guy held onto the door handle banging against the side of the car as I sped off. After a few swivels he let go, ragdolling into a ball of broken man. Wow. The game runs reasonably smooth, with a few hiccups here and there and the scenery is great.

The fighting system is a much improved version of the old GTA system. You can still lock on to enemies(which by default locks on to the body), but now you can move the cursor up, down and to the side while locked on. This helps when trying to take down a single enemy with a head shot. You can also free aim which is conventional shooter style. This is done by gently pressing the Left trigger rather than pressing it completely which goes into lock on mode. The melee system is fun, though not very deep. There is not much variety to the kicks and punches, that I have seen as of yet, but when it's a street fight I'm not expecting MMA style grapples or anything, so it serves its purpose. The Blind fire system is also a nice new addition to the GTA series. RB is the button to enter cover. In cover, you can pop out and shoot enemies that are locked on to with the Right Trigger or you can blind fire by Pressing Right Trigger when behind cover. I haven't used the cover feature too much, but I do appreciate that it's there.

The voice work done for this game, as you would expect, is top notch. Rockstar always comes through with solid voice acting and writing for the GTA series and this game is no exception. The accents are fantastic, especially the barely distinguishable Little Jacob. The humor is what you would expect from the GTA series, raunchy and full of 4 letter words. This is definitely a M-Rated game.

The writing also seems to be some of the best Rockstar has done to date. This game is trying to show the demons that the main character Niko is dealing with and this can be seen and heard in the dialogue amongst the characters which happens via cell phone conversations, cutscenes or "hang out time" with certain characters.

The cell phone is also a big addition to the GTA series. It not only helps Niko manage his relationships amongst all of his associates, lady friends(hehe) and cousin Roman, but it also helps him get jobs from his his associates/cousin or set up times to hang out with these people. It's funny to get calls from Roman in the middle of an explosives delivery. Good times.

All in all I could go on and on about how great this game is and about all the things that can be done and seen in this game, but it's really something you have to try out and experience for yourself. This is definitely the best game in the GTA series. Give it a shot. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

It is Grand Theft Auto, afterall

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: May 01, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Here's what I don't think many people touch on in their reviews, or maybe I just don't read enough of them. This game is Grand Theft Auto, it's not anything else so don't expect it to be, much like I did.

That said, yes I was a little disappointed when I first started playing GTA IV after several very long, anxious days at work before its release. The reason being that I was spoiled by games like Saints Row etc.. and forgot how the GTA series played. Yeah Saints Row is a rip-off in many respects but it is not the same game at all.

With this new installment I expected the GTA series to evolve, but it didn't, it upgraded. Yes the graphics are better, the characters are more real, the physics engine is pretty darn awesome, the combat is more fun, the list goes on but ultimately the game is what it is. If no one told you this game was GTA before you played it, you would be able to tell by the way NPCs move and act, the way you learn things with on-screen dialog, the way the character controls, and just the general feel of the game. Certain aspects have been the exact same for years, ever since GTA III.

If you found some of these aspects annoying, (like not being able to simply move a foot in one direction to get closer to a rack of clothing without passing it up entirely because there is no fine movement at all) it is irritating and quite frankly makes the game actually feel very dated.

Instead of droning on... If you expect this to be an improved version of Grand Theft Auto, you're going to love it. (with some possible exceptions like the driving mechanics). Everything you yearned for from previous GTA's is back and better than ever. However, if you wanted the next-gen evolution of a sandbox, do whatever the hell you feel like it game with mind-blowing innovations and new things to learn about and do, you will most likely be disappointed.

After coming to this realization I found the game much more enjoyable and that's why I gave it five stars. As a GTA game, that's what it deserves.

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