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| Game Details | Released
28 April 2008 | | Format
Xbox 360, PS3 | | Developer
Rockstar Games |
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Grand Theft Auto IV
 Review
Let's get one thing straight: GTA IV doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. The much-anticipated next-gen incarnation boasts the same mission-based structure as its predecessors, is crammed with a similar cache of challenges and sees no need to retool the freeform, sandbox adventure pioneered by the series back in 1998. What GTA IV does do is polish every facet of the franchise to perfection – from the bustling streets and cinematic presentation, to the brutal gunplay and dizzying car chases – in turn creating the ultimate GTA, a game that will delight the hardcore and newbies alike, and a title virtually guaranteed to be 2008’s biggest videogame.
Ditching the series’ over-the-top badasses in favour of a realistic, downtrodden anti-hero, GTA IV adopts a more mature and less frivolous approach to its murderous plot, a move that will be welcomed by fans who’ll see how the series is growing with them. But while this restrained take allows for a grittier, more believable atmosphere, it’s the little things that make GTA IV an unfettered joy.
From the new GPS that uses coloured lines to guide you through the busy streets – allowing players to focus on the action with the GPS in their peripheral vision, rather than constantly taking your eye off the road to squint at the tiny map – to the stripped-down displays that remove clutter from the screen, GTA IV feels friendlier and more accomplished than its predecessors. Moreover, while the developers introduced clumsy RPG elements in GTA: San Andreas that often brought the action crashing to a standstill, GTA IV’s more streamlined action means players can get straight down to business, gratification coming from seeing their character juggle relationships with key members of the criminal underworld, rather than buffing them out by pounding tedious gym machines for hours.
Other clever tweaks – including the ability to restart missions, rather than trailing across the map to resume challenges – remove the niggling frustrations that hampered previous editions, but where GTA IV really shines is in its combat: unlike the ham-fisted shooting of old, which relied as much on luck as skill, the gunplay is sharp and instinctive, allowing players to lock on targets, nudge the reticule to take head- or leg-shots, or even duck behind cover and engage in tense shootouts. And with improved controls that allow for stylish drive-by shootings, wielding weapons in this latest GTA is more rewarding than ever.
In terms of presentation, GTA IV is also spot on, thrusting players into a colossal city where the wrong side of town is squalid, threatening and has smacked-up hopheads aimlessly wandering the streets, areas in marked contrast to the rich residential districts where the stench of affluence hangs in the air. New ‘ragdoll physics’ – which allow the bodies of virtual humans to react like their floppy, real-world counterparts – also makes the game feel more earthy, and will be an endless source of amusement for sickos as they drive through crowds of bystanders to see their wobbly bodies bouncing off the hood of their ride.
A wealth of new music, cars that handle like real-life vehicles and new multiplayer duels also help make GTA IV the most engaging release so far this year. And while it might have been interesting to see the developers experimenting with a new approach to the carnage, as an evolution of the world’s best-loved gangster game, GTA IV is damn-near perfect.
Reviewer: David McComb
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Average user rating for Grand Theft Auto IV
| Grand Theft Auto IV... The Best GTA Game Ever And The Best Xbox 360 Game Out There, Well In My Opinion Anyway. | | | Grand Theft Auto IV, GTA IV For Short, Is The Best GTA Game Of All Time, If Not, The Best Xbox 360 Game Of All Time, For Sure. It Is Amazing. Even Better Than San Andreas. Now That Was A Good Game, Seeing As It Was Full Of Loads Of Things To Do, Such As, Flying Airplanes, Gambling And Even Dancing. Rockstar Had To Do Much Better Than That To Win Our Hearts Again.
The Plot:
You Play As Niko Bellic, Who Has Literally Come Off The Boat From East Europe. You Meet His Cousin, Roman Bellic, Who Ha... Read More
| | | 23mike95 About me | | 20:01, 04 May 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | | ok | | | the gaming at first was good and simple however like all games it got more difficult, so difficult im finding it very hard to complete the game now, however the online experience is amazing one of the best online games apart from COD4 ofcourse. ... Read More
| | | bernardben About me | | 16:30, 15 September 2008 | Report This Post | |
| | | | | | An easy to complete game that was fun.
But I did get bored half way through and got pretty sick of it after a month or 2.
But all in all OK! ... Read More
| | | malrey06 About me | | 00:09, 31 August 2008 | Report This Post | |
| | | | Monkfishjoe (Bottom of the page) is gay!! Ha | | | Loved it. Easily best game of the century. Truly incredible. Amazing graphics, cars, guns, everything. Packie's the coolest character. Also anyone who thinks otherwise will die.....slooow! ... Read More
| | | CD Empire About me | | 20:28, 24 August 2008 | Report This Post | |
| | | | RE: WOW!!! | | L: TrailMix
GTA is a really great game, but as excited as I was when the game came out, it has kind of wore off on me. I honestly haven't played the game in only a week because I feel like the missions become somewhat monotonous. Basically, its drive to some enemies location, kill that enemy, avoid cops and drive back to safe house. It's still a great game though and I am sure I will start playing again soon.
rue. Not even close to being the Best Game of the Year, more like Overhyped Ga... Read More
| | | Spectator of Suicide About me | | 01:04, 13 July 2008 | Report This Post | |
| | | | RE: GTA 4 | | I wonder if this franchise has peaked......i mean how can it better itself?
I wasnt a big fan..........lets hope for a return to the 80's and a much bigger Vice City ... Read More
| | | Lang About me | | 00:30, 11 July 2008 | Report This Post | |
| | | | RE: Still not bored of it | | | While I love the main game, I find the multiplayr dull, and not very well implemented either. The lobby system is a mess. The Halo and CoD4 lobbies are far superior.
I cannot fault the main game though. Top rate stuff.
... Read More
| | | jcthefirst About me | | 18:45, 11 June 2008 | Report This Post | |
| | | | Still not bored of it | | | I haven't played GTA for a few days and am getting withdrawal symptoms. I loved the bank heist mission and was glad when i died down in the subway as I got to watch the cut scenes again (the acting was ace and you could feel the intensity). The game as a whole is a great experience and although I can appreciate everyone saying its repetitive I personally never got bored the missions. ... Read More
| | | Burry83 About me | | 16:34, 04 June 2008 | Report This Post | |
| | | | Still not bored of it | | | I haven't played GTA for a few days and am getting withdrawal symptoms. I loved the bank heist mission and was glad when i died down in the subway as I got to watch the cut scenes again (the acting was ace and you could feel the intensity). The game as a whole is a great experience and although I can appreciate everyone saying its repetitive I personally never got bored the missions. ... Read More
| | | Burry83 About me | | 16:34, 04 June 2008 | Report This Post | |
| | | | RE: WOW!!! | | GTA is a really great game, but as excited as I was when the game came out, it has kind of wore off on me. I honestly haven't played the game in only a week because I feel like the missions become somewhat monotonous. Basically, its drive to some enemies location, kill that enemy, avoid cops and drive back to safe house. It's still a great game though and I am sure I will start playing again soon. ... Read More
| | | TrailMix About me | | 19:11, 29 May 2008 | Report This Post | |
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