Grand Theft Auto IV Reviews

• A Thinking Man's GTA?

  
  By A2J3MR64L567OK on 2008-05-01
  Just when you think you have Rockstar Games and their legendary Grand Theft Auto series figured out, they pitch you one heck of a curve. Speaking as a guy who spent so much time running amok in Vice City and San Andreas that I practically had to file tax returns there, I have been consistently surprised by the depth of play in GTA IV. Yes, it's true that the character modeling and some of the action moves are a little choppy, but most of the game looks great. Far more interesting, however, is the fact that this is not a video game per se - it borders on an interactive movie. The crime and violence in fuzzy-lit, pastel colored Vice City is practically cartoonish compared to the gritty reality of life in Liberty City in GTA IV. You're not just a thug with a bat trying to decide which car to lift, you're an immigrant with plenty of emotional baggage, forced into a series of moral quandries the outcomes of which carry implications throughout the entire game. Things you do even turn up later on the in-game radio stations!
  
  Every generation of game console, some game is proclaimed the next coming, be it of graphics, or gameplay, or some other measurable category. GTA IV is different. You can wallow in the muck of street violence and prostitution as always, but there's a deeper moral play going on that feels unlike anything else I've encountered not only in GTA, but in video games in general. Rockstar Games may have finally located that most ephemeral of experiences - one equal parts game and cinema, without belonging entirely to either. It's going to be interesting to see how many critics and politicians seize on only the overt, adult content, without grasping how far more creative and artistic this "game" is than your average deadening FPS or racing game. Rockstar Games is to be commended for what truly deserves to be called "genius."
  
  

• A Masterpiece. Video Games as Art.

  
  By A1I2PGYMFLWUXK on 2008-05-01
  Let it be said that I've never liked GTA. But I decided to get GTA4 after reading several articles about the change in direction they were taking and my god, has it paid off. This game is PHENOMENAL.
  
  The Good:
  Graphics-
  Even though this game is running at 640p and is upscaled on PS3, this is a BEAUTIFUL game. It has some of the best and most natural looking water and light effects I've ever seen that appear photorealistic at times. I often stop and just stare at the waves or park and watch the sun hitting the road as it sets.
  
  Story-
  The voice acting is top notch and the cast has some truly memorable characters. This is one of the few games where I actually have an emotional response when things happen to the main characters...which is no small feat. Sometimes you have to make choices whether someone lives or dies and I found myself really struggling with the decision I thought was appropriate to my character. The pacing is great too. Just as you are getting satisfied with a particular location, you get access to a new islands and contacts so things always feel fresh.
  
  Gameplay-
  Thankfully, they eliminated all the things that made past GTAs tedious. No more going to the gym to lift weights, no more being forced to drive twenty minutes across town to do a mission. Finally, you can take a cab and opt to skip the driving when you are in a rush. They've also added a much needed cover system where tapping R1 will let you take cover behind virtually any object. This leads to some truly epic shootouts that will literally have you diving for cover.
  
  They also made your cell phone the menu for the game and you rarely have to leave the game world immersion. Just call up your friends for missions or hanging out and watch Niko talk to them while he walks around the city. You can even buy ringtones, themes, and even get a camera phone and organizer.
  
  There are also 200 music tracks on a dozen radio stations with great music and talk shows on all of them. You can waste hours watching TV at your house, going on dates to see shows or play pool and darts, or you can fool around on dozens of webpages at the internet cafe. Basically, there is a ton of depth here that will give the game dozens of hours of extra traction.
  
  Multiplayer-
  Just whip out your cell phone in the single player and hop right in to over 14 online game modes. Imagine running around New York with 15 friends and playing paintball in the streets. To just be able to hop into the whole of Liberty City and do ANYTHING is so fun and chaotic words can't describe it. Just last night, I joined Free Mode, where there are no rules. I proceeded to blow up 3 cop cars and run over a flock of pedestrians before getting plowed over by another player who had stolen a commuter bus and was on a rampage in Times Square. That was just the first 10 minutes. And I was having a blast that even my wife couldn't turn away from.
  
  The Bad:
  Other than minor framerate and A.I. glitches, my biggest complaint is that the game does some unnecessary forced loading. When you die on a mission instead of just asking you if you want to retry it, you die, it loads a respawn at the hospital and THEN you are asked to retry the mission, which leads to another load screen.
  
  Every time you launch the game, you are forced to sit through a 2 minute intro movie. I suspect this is to distract you while the game loads in the background more than it is to set a mood, but it would still have been nice to be able to skip it sometimes.
  
  Other than that, the clothing selection feature remains terrible. You have no way to quickly cycle through your wardrobe without having to spend 2-5 seconds loading each new outfit. If you're like me, you bought every outfit as soon as you could only to learn that you had to cycle through every single one anytime you wanted to change clothes. And other than buying clothes, money has absolutely no value in this game. For some reason, they didn't include a casino or the option to buy property, so you amass all this wealth and have virtually nothing to spend it on at the end of the game's main story.
  
  The Verdict:
  That said, the sheer freedom and realism of this game signal a landmark in gaming and anyone who likes video games should buy this game. It is the most fun I've ever had with a video game and provides 100+ hours of entertainment for sixty bucks. Despite a few flaws, the amount of content, fun, and depth of this game make it virtually flawless and worth your money.
  
  

• review of the PS3 version by someone who has actually played

  
  By AH1R5Q2WT9Z09 on 2008-04-29
  Well I just played my first 6 hours of GTA IV (mostly exploring and hurting people.) I was able to get a copy during the midnight sale at my local Meijer. I don't even know where to begin...The game so far has been everything I expected and then some. The graphics are far superior to past GTA titles but not quite up to par with other games I've played on my PS3. Most people know that the graphics aren't what this franchise is about so It's OK. That being said, holy crap this is a FUN GAME. The first surprise I got was when I crashed my car into a wall at high speed. Niko went flying through the windsheild and smashed into the wall!!! Almost killed him. The car damage is awesome, way more detailed and more realistic. The car will actually stall out if it gets beat up too much. The hookers are back and sluttier than ever...You can go into a bar and get ****faced and stumble around or drive drunk(it gave me a headache, i recommend taking a cab) I have only completed 8 missions so far but they are the same type of stuff as before (drugs,protection money,driving hos around..)at least so far...I can't write anymore now because all I'm thinking about is getting back into Liberty City besides I don't want to ruin any more surprises. I haven't tried the online yet. If you haven't already ordered a copy I highly recommend it. you won't regret it....
  
  

• GTA IV amazing game, slightly crippled due to XBOX 360

  
  By A2AOVCOW5KXLG4 on 2008-04-29
  This game is EXCELLENT, I'd like to get that out of the way first.
  
  The game play is great, the graphics are decent, and all else is top notch.
  
  BUT, this game could have looked MUCH better if it didn't have to run on XBOX 360 also. The DVD-9 limitation of the 360 crippled what this game could have been.
  
  This game has maxed out at the 8.5GB mark, now picture what could have been possible with the entire 50GB of blu-ray and you'll see what I"m saying here.
  
  I'm not a PS3 fanboy, I actually own both systems, and have an equal amount of games for both systems. But a game like GTA should be free from limitations, and unfortunately the 360 put a major damper on this.
  
  Still an amazing buy and I highly recommend buying it for either system.
  
  

• Welcome to Liberty City

  
  By A1Q7EYOXGS0H0G on 2008-04-29
  I have few words about this game, I think I don't need to explain how good it is and if you want so just check IGN review, however it's worth the wait, every cent and time spent on producing it and the fun is just begin, you shouldn't miss this game whatever your gameplay style. there is so much of reality in gta about streets life, bad cops, gangsters and using phone in game etc. no more that could be asked for from gta.
  
  What's new in gta IV ? obviously new great story with new characters, improvements in graphic detail, load screen times are a little shorter, quicker and better, new targeting system much easier than old one, cover system, new multiplayer challenges support for up to 16 players with more than 10 modes such as races, deathmatch, team death matches and one co-op single player mission, there is also an autosave feature work after completing a mission, you have cell phone which you can use it even in-car anywhere and anytime and last but not least you will be able to track your statistics and feature competitions and awards based on player activity within the game through Social Club, it will be available on 17 April.
  
  it should labeled with "MUST HAVE" and I'm pretty sure it won't be ejected from your console for long time.
  
  Thank "you Rocks"tar!
  
  
• Much of the same.
  By AT2L9P49VHVY5 on 2008-04-29
  Anyone familiar with the previous Grand Theft Auto games will find much to like about this new title. Although the gameplay is very similar to that of the last edition, there are many small improvements that add up and contribute greatly to the overall experience of the game. Whereas the last game was clearly that--a game--this one has a more cinematic feel. From the opening scene that plays like the opening of a major film, to the amount of detail involved in traveling the city as a pedestrian and motor commuter, you are immersed in the the world of Grand Theft Auto like never before.
  
  Rather than simply running around and killing people (although you can do that, too) you walk around, take a cab, take the subway, your character gets drunk, you have to cultivate relationships with other characters, and you are given decisions about which course of action to take as the game progresses. Although I would not go as far as those reviewers who anticipated a game that would completely transform the industry, this increased amount of user involvement makes GTA IV an instant classic. And I haven't even tried online play yet!
  
  As far as faults go, the only one that I can find so far is that the graphics are not as good as other PS3 games. There is room for improvement in that respect, but considering all of the other factors involved in creating a dynamic environment that is a probably a compromise many are willing to make.
  
  Overall I'd say this is a great title that takes this style of gameplay to a whole new level, but it is not the transformative, world/industry changing title it has been hyped up to be.
  
  
• Rockstar took the fun out of it.
  By AJ6IKN18GPK5N on 2008-05-04
  I guess I was expecting a whole lot more from this game. Yes, the graphics are quite a lot better than the other GTAs, but the game play has seriously suffered.
  
  Driving: Flat out horrible controls, this is the worst part of the game, but should be the best. Hitting the handbrake just sends you into spins. No camera reset in this version like the previous games. So, when you're driving and you are turning around, you can't ever see what is in front of you.
  
  Walking/Running: Controls are a bit clunky. You kind of veer and lean when going around corners.
  
  GPS: Great addition to the game, makes finding your mission a lot easier.
  
  Dark, dark, dark: Even at the highest brightness and contrast it's a little difficult to see. I can barely read the text messages on the phone as well.
  
  Shooting: Much more difficult and less effective than previous versions. You used to be able to change targets and fire more efficiently. Doing that now is a bit awkward. Taking someone down with a pistol takes about six shots now as well.
  
  Fighting/Melee: Quite difficult and slow.
  
  
• DISAPPOINTING TO SAY THE LEAST
  By A2RUUTTFJQ7CBH on 2008-05-07
  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.
  
  
  
  
• +++ABOMINATION+++
  By A25AF2BI2P5B14 on 2008-06-07
  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.
  
  
• Definitely NOT a next gen game!!!
  By A1NO13CQTPCI9Q on 2008-04-29
  Driving/fighting/shooting/running controls are sluggish and suck! Graphics are great, for a PS2 game. Radio is a waste of time and they should have had a c.d. player option to access the music on your hard drive... Should have had a 1st person view too! Couldn't connect at all with Online (neither could many friends) so I can't comment about the online function other than I CANT CONNECT!!! Frame rate gets choppy at times. Areas are too dark with no flashlight function. Camera angles suck! After playing Call Of Duty 4 this simply will not do... Now for the positives. Environment is huge and I positively want my money back...... Don't believe the hype! This game will sell a ton just like really crappy movies make money but it doesn't make it a quality product... I'm not a hater and after the hype I WANTED TO LOVE THIS GAME but I don't! Judge it for what it is and not what your being told it is!!! At this point in gaming I expect allot more..... Hopefully it will get me by till HAZE comes out!
  
  
• From great hype to great tripe
  By A3BTSXV2OP7FJK on 2008-05-15
  Well, over two weeks after it came out and it still isn't getting better. My first reaction was disappointment and it has only grown into a hatred of GTA IV. In my opinion the graphics are amazing, which is the only positive thing I have to say about the game. From the beginning it felt like a polished version of GTA III which is a turd by todays standards. From that point of view, Rockstar simply polished a turd with GTA IV. All the variety the series had developed with Vice City and San Andreas was removed in favor of a very straitforward and boring series of missions. It really feels like the same two missions over and over again, bouncing back and forth between incredibly easy and incredibly tedious. The lack of safehouses makes for having to constantly drive great distances. After a few days I just started taking cabs everywhere and skipping the drive. Where is the fun in that? I have to mention the soundtrack as well. I was concerned about it based on the info that was released in the months before the game came out. It turned out to be far worse than I could have imagined. Rockstar's decision to remove the custom soundtrack station was asinine and based on greed. After a week of being incredibly annoyed by it, I turned the music all the way down in the menu. I'll probably give Saint's Row 2 a chance in the fall but I can't see spending my money on a Rockstar game again after this rubbish.
  
  
• Don't Buy Until Rockstar Fixes Freezing Issues
  By AHDV58OLSYEQ0 on 2008-05-03
  On my 60GB machine Grad Theft Auto IV keeps freezing and now won't even load. Even after following Rockstar's instructions on the problem the game keeps getting stuck in an infinite loop while loading the last saved point. Don't buy until Rockstar provides a patch. No other game on my PS3 has had a problem.
  
  
• Could be much better
  By ADNDX9LIZKXCF on 2008-04-29
  To be honest I cannot for the life of me understand why people are giving this game 10/10 . 10/10 implies that it is a perfect game but the Frame rate and visuals is at times,absolutely shocking . The content in this game is superb but when you play this game you will see things that could easily make it a better gaming experience . I would say buy a copy but I think there are better PS3 games out there. I think both Uncharted and COD4 are better games .
  
  
• Great looking but glitched out!
  By A112D9SINNKFJJ on 2008-05-03
  WAY too many glitches to be worth it. I've never had an experience like this with a video game. For the longest time I couldn't get through to multiplayer. Then it started freezing up. If I try to stop the game it will restart the entire system. I loved the other games and the graphics are stunning and the physics are cool in this one. But wait until they fix the bugs before you purchase. What makes this thing so funny is that Take 2 interactive is trying to avoid being hostily taken over. They argue that they are worth more. I think instead of the game that saves them this might be the game that sinks them.
  
  
• a small warning
  By AJ1KUNYZLOHU1 on 2008-05-06
  This is just a small warning before buying this game. My husband recently got this game for the PS3, we installed it and had been playing it for several hours but when we turned the system off and back on the message 'data corrupt must restore hard drive' greeted us. This game ruined our hard drive. We don't play a lot of games or 'hack' into our system and when we phoned the game store they said they had 5 other people call in recently. I wish they told us before we bought this game.
  So there's a warning to you guys, the game is good - if you can get it to play. After reading forums some people say the game only freezes or stops their console from reading discs any more. By the way, Xbox 360 also has similar problems.
  
  
• Great game, too bad it locks up!
  By A349P3NDH3H37N on 2008-05-04
  The game seems real fun, but it is unplayable because it locks up constantly. I have even heard reports that after playing this game, some people have experienced lock ups on other games, so it could be that this game fries your PS3. STAY AWAY FROM THIS GAME until the lockup issues have been resolved.
  
  
• The King of all Kings has come back
  By A2NZWYHT9EQPCL on 2007-04-11
  Yep, GTAIV is by far the greatest entry to the GTA series. Liberty City feels so damn real that you could almost breath in the smog from the city. Really what else can be said, GTAIV Rocks. Can't wait for GTAV(Vice City)
  
  
• Greatest Game Ever!
  By AAB2XQFK326D2 on 2008-04-29
  This is without a doubt one of the greatest games ever. GTA in New Yawk City, detailed map, subway system, Woo-Hoo!
  
  GTA has been a successful genre catering to the thug-wanna-bes. This is without a doubt the best GTA so far. The game engine is ingenius. From the opening scene -- which I'm watching now -- to the game interface, this is the best in gaming of present technology people.
  
  I play it in 720p on a 24" PC monitor with the DVI hook up. Movies and cut scenes are flawless. No heating problems like lame box 360. Will have to try it on my 1080p HDTV later.
  
  GTA IV on PS3 = Best gaming design on best hardware. Can't get better than this people! I went out and bought this game even though I have internet game rental service. LoL
  
  and remember, I'm playing it right now!
  
  
  
  
• Freezes on PS3 - Known problem - Do Not Buy!!!!
  By ALONJ1MTG2WD9 on 2008-05-03
  It's only been out a few days and there have been many reports that the game freezes while loading just after the splash screen and during actual game play. I have the 60Gb version and have experienced both freezes. It's happened about SIX times thus far in two days. Some have said that using cheats causes the freezes. Although I use some of the cheat codes, all of the freezing has happened before I used the cheat codes a few hours ago.
  
  DO NOT BUY THIS GAME UNTIL A SOFTWARE PATCH IS ANNOUNCED. The developer is well aware of the issue. You can search online in various forums [...]
  
  I've giving it two stars b/c I'm sure a patch will be released.
  
  
• Freezing Issues! Won't play on my 60GB PS3 at all!
  By A3LOOGDJ7S01LA on 2008-07-12
  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!
  
  
• A great game, but worth the wait?
  By AENFJCMCOGM8X on 2008-04-30
  I went to a midnight opening to make sure I had GTA4 as soon as it was released. After all, it had been three(?) years since the last game. I thought San Andreas was about as good as it could get, as far as plotlines, backstories, and free roaming actvities. So when this release was announced, needless to say, I was extremely stoked.
  
  First, the positives. The storyline of the game is very intriguing. Niko, "running away" from his home country, hoping to make it big in America with his cousin. It has all the makings of a great movie. And the beginning cutscenes treat it as such. I like the fact that on some missions you have a choice about the outcome (for example whether to kill someone or let them go) can change the way the game will progress. That gets you even more involved with the game. The free roaming parts are still top notch, as many other reviewers have pointed out. And I am sure after more playing, I will find even more.
  
  The negatives. I think the graphics, while very good, could have been better, especially since it is supposed to be played in blu-ray format. I think the earlier missions are too similar to the previous GTA versions. Was hoping for more creativity there. While I do understand that the early missions SHOULD be easy, so the gamer can get familiar with controls and so forth, the missions could have been a little more challenging. I was pretty bored in the beginning. I hope with further play, it will hold my interest a little more.
  
  Was this game worth the wait? The jury is still out. I think that it is showing a lot of promise. But I can't say this game had the same hold on me like San Andreas did early on. So, I don't know if that is a sign of things to come. Stay tuned.
  
  
  
  
• Niko's first day in Liberty City - the first of MANY.
  By A1C139F5C7Y38P on 2008-05-01
  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.
  
  
  
  
• More of the same
  By A15MX8YJMBNDB0 on 2008-05-04
  I'll give it 2 stars for great graphics and amazing acting, but nothing else is even worth bothering with.
  
  You've seen every mission in the other GTA games, so what's the point? The only fun to be had with GTA4 is running over people, who now have ragdoll physics. In fact I'd recommend not even bothering with the main story, because you'll soon get 10 people calling you constantly wanting to go "hang out" and do boring stuff, and if you refuse, you'll lose like/respect points with them, so why even bother? It gets so boring so quickly - its back to Oblivion for me then.
  
  
• One step foreward and three steps back
  By AI6MDE69UFPW9 on 2008-06-19
  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.
  
  
  
• Not what I expected at all
  By AXV02FA0LTVIA on 2008-04-30
  First, I like most of you waited in line at midnight anticipating what I hoped for was going to be the greatest game ever. After playing for 10 hours all I can say is good thing we had good weather.
  
  I have been a fan of the series since the start. GTA 3 and Vice City are 2 of the best games ever made, period. I liked the concept of San Andreas but the game freezing all the time made that one suck. Since hearing about GTA 4 and watching the demo's I thought this was going to get me back in the series full force but I cant say I am pleased.
  
  I am very happy to be playing another Grand Theft Auto game. The new features like the cell phone and email bring the game up to date. The negatives however make me want to take the game out and go right back to COD 4.
  
  Negatives;
  
  Graphics!!! I did buy my game for the PS3 but it feels like I am playing it on a PS2. Maybe since playing COD 4 for the past 3-4 months I thought gamers could make games with the same quality graphics but GTA 4 doesn't even come close. The people are definitely not next generation. Not even close to anyone's standard. The buildings are a nice fix but it seems like they are way too dark.
  
  Shooting!!! It seems like it is the exact same as GTA 3. Couldn't they have just copied or paid someone that made COD 4 to help out in this game.
  
  Driving!!! Come on, driving is the worst thing about the game. I thought for sure they would have done something to make driving better but again, just disappointment. The best thing they did for driving was make Roman give you your personnel taxi or just simply calling for a taxi and skipping the driving altogether. Plus, WTF is up with trying to chase someone and if you get hit just a little your car ALWAYS LANDS THE EXACT OPPOSITE WAY! Also, is it just me or does it seems like the cars seem to drive right in to you while you're driving?
  
  People, like me, are going to buy this game no matter what solely based on being GTA alum. So no matter what we say they will just have to see it for themselves. For now I will just play it and hope for the best. Unfortunately I do see myself back in the COD 4 swing of things very soon.
  
  
  
• 12 hours in, things are starting to feel a little too familiar...
  By A2EGREBX94GUFH on 2008-05-04
  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.
  
  
  
• Keeps you coming back for more
  By A1TW9ZGRDQQZ2Y on 2008-05-12
  GTA IV is worth the hype in my book. It is similar to the other games in the series (not a bad thing), but the graphics are much improved and the acting/storyline are outstanding. The missions are fun, but if you get bored you can always grab a shotgun and raise hell at any moment. This game just feels big. I remember driving my car off the bridge into the water, crawling out the window, swimming around and just staring in awe at the night sky with the city glowing in the background. Just an all around amazing experience.
  
  
• not what I expected based on the hype
  By A10PCTJ1P5TUW2 on 2008-05-14
  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
  
  
• Awesome Game!!
  By A2XBM9AI9MK341 on 2008-04-30
  Wow is what came to mind when I first started playing this game today. The graphics are amazing. Sure, maybe not as good as some other PS3 titles but far superior to any previous GTA title. The realistic look from characters to car damage is amazing.
  
  For owners of previous Liberty City titles, don't expect to see the same old town. This one has changed alot, for the good! It's confusing at first because you think you know where stuff/streets will be and they arent!
  
  
  
  
• Grand Theft Frustration
  By A22WSJOL8OG21A on 2008-04-30
  GTA 4 is as good as all of those reviews say it is, but I thought I would throw out some of the negatives for people on the fence (it's easy to find a list of positives).
  
  The game is far less accessible than GTA games of the past, in my opinion. It takes a few hours to get your hands on weaponry, the majority of the city is locked off from the get-go, and the driving controls take some serious getting used to. I am a decent gamer, and play a ton of games in all genres, and I had to retry quite a few of the early missions due to some seriously tough vehicle handling. that's not to say that it's bad, but rather that you won't immediately be zipping around, pulling off perfect drifts and turns. The combat, however, controls brilliantly, and is a blast.
  
  So, basically, this game's amazing, but not without its flaws. If you get frustrated easily, it's still worth getting, just because there's so much "free play" stuff to do.
  
  

• Grand Theft Auto IV Signature Series Guide (Bradygames Signature)
• Full Auto 2: Battlelines
• Intec PlayStation 3 Controller Cradles
• PlayStation: The Official Magazine (1-year)
• Electronic Gaming Monthly

• PlayStation 3 Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller
• Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
• PlayStation 3 40GB
• Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote
• Assassin's Creed