Glen Atwell
Shaun InguanzoGrand Theft Auto IV Review
May 6th 2008 10:47
Console:
Playstation 3
Article:
Review
Score (out of 10):
9.5
Author:
Glen Atwell
Online Multiplayer:
Grand Theft Auto IV is the best next-gen title available, but don't believe it's bulletproof
To begin this review, I need to vent. Grand Theft Auto IV is not perfect. If you're seeking to read another 10/10 or 100% review, exit your browser, power down the computer and stare at yourself in the mirror for a few minutes.
When you've come to realise that you too, are not perfect, read on with an open mind and a loaded Uzi.
GTA IV is easily the best next-generation title available on gaming consoles. It pushes the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 hardware to the limits and continues to blur the boundary between reality and the virtual world.
Liberty City is a thriving, pulsating metropolis, brimming with wealth, economic growth and cruel anti-social behaviour. Organised crime is rife, threats of terrorism strike fear into the hearts of citizens and car alarms do little to deter skilled thieves.
In the world of GTA IV every action has a consequence; run into a little old lady and she will fall, probably never to return to her feet. But bump into a cheeseburger wielding, puffy jacket wearing homey and you'll be pursued in a fit of testosterone fuelled rage.
GTA IV sounds amazing and, for the most part, looks stunning too. The in-car FM radio makes an impressive return and will keep city roamers entertained for hours and hours.
Graphically, Rockstar has created an almost seamless environment and horizon rendering is barely noticeable.
To keep the polygons streaming, the developer has laid a mesh-like layer on the game. It's something I've never seen before, and I'll discuss its benefits and ramifications a little later on.
The name's Niko... Niko Bellic
Niko Bellic is the most dynamic, diverse and rich character ever developed for a game. Mr Bellic, an illegal Serbian immigrant, comes to the land of opportunity on the promise of his somewhat stupid cousin Roman.
Niko's personality is intriguing, aggressive and secretive. His troubled past leaks into the tightly woven script like a dripping tap. It's both engaging and highly entertaining. You'll be anxiously waiting for the next cut scene, time after time.
It is Niko that has fundamentally changed the reason gamers enjoy playing the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Given a choice in past offerings, most would prefer to casually roam Liberty City with a fast car and an unlimited weapons and ammo cheat.
In GTA IV, mass killing is mostly accidental and attracting the attention of police is not usually desirable. Of course there are times when shooting defenseless civilians is fun, but you'll soon be straying back to the single player missions, thanks mostly to Niko's mobile phone.
If Liberty City is Rockstar's master creation, then its in-game mobile phone is a stroke of pure genius. By pressing up on the directional pad, the mobile phone display appears in the bottom-right of the screen.
Niko can make and receive calls, send and receive messages and restart failed missions. At the start of the game, the phone rings constantly. It is usually Roman wanting to visit the strippers, drink beer or play darts. As the story progresses, the phone becomes a tool for acquaintances to contact Niko and convey important information.
The sounds of Liberty City
Liberty City is awash with wonderful sounds. Wander down the street and you'll hear pigeons chirp, cars crash and sirens wail. Sit behind the wheel, add the blood curdling sound of a civilian's spine snapping under the weight of your front bumper and the soundtrack is almost complete.
Now turn on the radio.
GTA IV's in-car FM radio is one of those things that just makes you smile. It's a feature that makes you look forward to turning on the game. Grand Theft Auto III introduced the concept, and to be honest, GTA IV doesn't revolutionise the idea. More stations and more music are the key additions, and the range of genres has been improved.
I remember feeling disappointed moments after I had driven down a pedestrian laden board walk, killing countless civilians, only to realise I had forgotten to adjust the FM dial to the jazz station.
I paused, found the frequency, slammed the shift into reverse, and listened to the sweet sounds of trumpets and death. Now that's relaxing.
Graphical goodness, and glitches
GTA IV looks unbelievable, and for the first few minutes of play, you'll struggle to take it all in. Liberty City is an absolute overload of the senses.
The task of drawing, designing and rendering a fully blown living and breathing city is nothing short of an uphill epic. Many of Liberty City's buildings can be entered by Niko; clothes shops, diners, fast food outlets and bowling alleys are just a few of the many places you'll find yourself visiting.
Up close, GTA IV is faultless, so too are its cut scenes. They look remarkable and are presented perfectly. It's the long range rendering, of the city skyline and far away horizon that causes a few minor problems. To blend the close and the distant, Rockstar uses a mesh-like texture on everything not within 50 metres of Niko.
The result is a mixed bag. If the mesh effect has allowed the game to be graphically lag free and the city to be almost pop up free, then it is a necessary evil. Driving down a long, downhill road and seeing nothing but activity ahead and the setting sun in the distance is pure pleasure, but the mesh coating does generate some 'that looks weird' moments.
There's one cut scene, early in the game, where the mesh is overly obvious, to a point where it distracts from the dialogue.
Despite this niggle, the sheer size of Liberty City gives Rockstar the benefit of the doubt. It also makes the massive install of game content on the hard drive worth the time and space.
The best game ever?
To close, I did not want to focus on another particular aspect of the game, but just recount some of the moments when I sat, jaw gaping, and marveled at the brilliance and ingenuity of GTA IV.
My first 'wow' was the lack of load time. The first time I exited Roman's apartment, I expected a load screen before I hit the street. No way, Niko pushed open the door and Liberty City was instantly waiting. Pure bliss.
Soon after, I discovered that each and every person in Liberty City is different, and reacts to certain situations in different ways. You can't just expect to steal anyone's car without bumping into a few tough guys.
Push a bikie off his motorcycle and you can expect a handful of shotgun shells up your ass before you can say 'boo'.
One time, I was in the emergency department and I 'inadvertently' punched, kicked and slapped the triage nurse, just to see what would happen. Within seconds, the police were on their way and a group of angry patients attacked Niko in defense of the respected nurse.
Minutes later, I attacked a homeless bum on pedestrian filled walkway, and no-one blinked an eye. GTA IV has class.
So is GTA IV the best game ever? It's hard to say. I haven't played every game ever made, and don't feel compelled to compare current offerings to the blockbusters of old.
Could anything be better than playing Mario 64 for the first time? Or controlling Link in Ocarina of Time? What about Gran Turismo? Or Donkey Kong?
It's like comparing apples and oranges.
Wherever Grand Theft Auto IV sits on the 'best of all time' scale, one thing is for sure. You must purchase this game, now, take two weeks of leave and say a temporary good bye to the real world.
Liberty City is much more exciting.
Meet your new best friend - Niko Bellic
To begin this review, I need to vent. Grand Theft Auto IV is not perfect. If you're seeking to read another 10/10 or 100% review, exit your browser, power down the computer and stare at yourself in the mirror for a few minutes.
When you've come to realise that you too, are not perfect, read on with an open mind and a loaded Uzi.
GTA IV is easily the best next-generation title available on gaming consoles. It pushes the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 hardware to the limits and continues to blur the boundary between reality and the virtual world.
Liberty City is a thriving, pulsating metropolis, brimming with wealth, economic growth and cruel anti-social behaviour. Organised crime is rife, threats of terrorism strike fear into the hearts of citizens and car alarms do little to deter skilled thieves.
In the world of GTA IV every action has a consequence; run into a little old lady and she will fall, probably never to return to her feet. But bump into a cheeseburger wielding, puffy jacket wearing homey and you'll be pursued in a fit of testosterone fuelled rage.
GTA IV sounds amazing and, for the most part, looks stunning too. The in-car FM radio makes an impressive return and will keep city roamers entertained for hours and hours.
Graphically, Rockstar has created an almost seamless environment and horizon rendering is barely noticeable.
To keep the polygons streaming, the developer has laid a mesh-like layer on the game. It's something I've never seen before, and I'll discuss its benefits and ramifications a little later on.
The name's Niko... Niko Bellic
Niko Bellic is the most dynamic, diverse and rich character ever developed for a game. Mr Bellic, an illegal Serbian immigrant, comes to the land of opportunity on the promise of his somewhat stupid cousin Roman.
Niko's personality is intriguing, aggressive and secretive. His troubled past leaks into the tightly woven script like a dripping tap. It's both engaging and highly entertaining. You'll be anxiously waiting for the next cut scene, time after time.
It is Niko that has fundamentally changed the reason gamers enjoy playing the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Given a choice in past offerings, most would prefer to casually roam Liberty City with a fast car and an unlimited weapons and ammo cheat.
In GTA IV, mass killing is mostly accidental and attracting the attention of police is not usually desirable. Of course there are times when shooting defenseless civilians is fun, but you'll soon be straying back to the single player missions, thanks mostly to Niko's mobile phone.
If Liberty City is Rockstar's master creation, then its in-game mobile phone is a stroke of pure genius. By pressing up on the directional pad, the mobile phone display appears in the bottom-right of the screen.
Niko can make and receive calls, send and receive messages and restart failed missions. At the start of the game, the phone rings constantly. It is usually Roman wanting to visit the strippers, drink beer or play darts. As the story progresses, the phone becomes a tool for acquaintances to contact Niko and convey important information.
The sounds of Liberty City
Liberty City is awash with wonderful sounds. Wander down the street and you'll hear pigeons chirp, cars crash and sirens wail. Sit behind the wheel, add the blood curdling sound of a civilian's spine snapping under the weight of your front bumper and the soundtrack is almost complete.
Now turn on the radio.
GTA IV's in-car FM radio is one of those things that just makes you smile. It's a feature that makes you look forward to turning on the game. Grand Theft Auto III introduced the concept, and to be honest, GTA IV doesn't revolutionise the idea. More stations and more music are the key additions, and the range of genres has been improved.
I remember feeling disappointed moments after I had driven down a pedestrian laden board walk, killing countless civilians, only to realise I had forgotten to adjust the FM dial to the jazz station.
I paused, found the frequency, slammed the shift into reverse, and listened to the sweet sounds of trumpets and death. Now that's relaxing.
Graphical goodness, and glitches
GTA IV looks unbelievable, and for the first few minutes of play, you'll struggle to take it all in. Liberty City is an absolute overload of the senses.
The task of drawing, designing and rendering a fully blown living and breathing city is nothing short of an uphill epic. Many of Liberty City's buildings can be entered by Niko; clothes shops, diners, fast food outlets and bowling alleys are just a few of the many places you'll find yourself visiting.
Up close, GTA IV is faultless, so too are its cut scenes. They look remarkable and are presented perfectly. It's the long range rendering, of the city skyline and far away horizon that causes a few minor problems. To blend the close and the distant, Rockstar uses a mesh-like texture on everything not within 50 metres of Niko.
The result is a mixed bag. If the mesh effect has allowed the game to be graphically lag free and the city to be almost pop up free, then it is a necessary evil. Driving down a long, downhill road and seeing nothing but activity ahead and the setting sun in the distance is pure pleasure, but the mesh coating does generate some 'that looks weird' moments.
There's one cut scene, early in the game, where the mesh is overly obvious, to a point where it distracts from the dialogue.
Despite this niggle, the sheer size of Liberty City gives Rockstar the benefit of the doubt. It also makes the massive install of game content on the hard drive worth the time and space.
The best game ever?
To close, I did not want to focus on another particular aspect of the game, but just recount some of the moments when I sat, jaw gaping, and marveled at the brilliance and ingenuity of GTA IV.
My first 'wow' was the lack of load time. The first time I exited Roman's apartment, I expected a load screen before I hit the street. No way, Niko pushed open the door and Liberty City was instantly waiting. Pure bliss.
Soon after, I discovered that each and every person in Liberty City is different, and reacts to certain situations in different ways. You can't just expect to steal anyone's car without bumping into a few tough guys.
Push a bikie off his motorcycle and you can expect a handful of shotgun shells up your ass before you can say 'boo'.
One time, I was in the emergency department and I 'inadvertently' punched, kicked and slapped the triage nurse, just to see what would happen. Within seconds, the police were on their way and a group of angry patients attacked Niko in defense of the respected nurse.
Minutes later, I attacked a homeless bum on pedestrian filled walkway, and no-one blinked an eye. GTA IV has class.
So is GTA IV the best game ever? It's hard to say. I haven't played every game ever made, and don't feel compelled to compare current offerings to the blockbusters of old.
Could anything be better than playing Mario 64 for the first time? Or controlling Link in Ocarina of Time? What about Gran Turismo? Or Donkey Kong?
It's like comparing apples and oranges.
Wherever Grand Theft Auto IV sits on the 'best of all time' scale, one thing is for sure. You must purchase this game, now, take two weeks of leave and say a temporary good bye to the real world.
Liberty City is much more exciting.
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Comment by Glen Atwell
Sport Talk
Gamer Herald
Check it out here
We'll post multiplayer impressions as soon as the situation is resolved!
Comment by Joseph R. Terrazzino
Koovies
GTA overshadows everything else out there. Even World of Warcraft, I think.
Later
Comment by Brad Gaylard
Movie Catcher
Mens Zen
However, I'd make reservations about calling it the best next gen console game out there. I think the handling on the cars is a bit of a bitch (although my opinion on that is probably informed by just coming off playing Burnout Paradise for the past 2 months).
I think it has yet to wrestle the title of best on the next gen from CoD 4: Modern Warfare... which blew my mind at first glance more than GTA IV has.
That said, I'm stil very early in the game and will reserve judgement until I've played it more.
Good review, though.
Comment by Brad Gaylard
Movie Catcher
Mens Zen
It's got some classic dialogue from the characters, and I love that they don't mind dropping F-bombs all over the place.
Comment by Shaun Inguanzo
Blogocratic Nightmare
I also like how in some missions you can choose to let people live or not. Challenges the gamer's morality, in a sense.
Good review Glen - glad you didn't give it a 10!
Comment by Glen Atwell
Sport Talk
Gamer Herald
Hey Brad, it was a big call, but I think as an overall package it is the best next-gen. GTA is a game that appeals to fans of every genre, it pulls the gaming community together like no other title.
CoD4 was great, I must admit I didn't spend too much time with it. But GTA IV's fun factor makes it much more enjoyable - IMHO
Glen
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
cheers
fog
(must get my nephew to visit with his box and play it!)
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Shaun Inguanzo
Blogocratic Nightmare
It's less noticeable on the 360 version, but on the PS3 it shows up, particularly in the distance.
You get used to it after a while, and it becomes part of the game.
Just don't go firing up GT5 Prologue and then switching back to GTA4! You'll definitely see the difference lol.