One of the better things I can say about this game is that...it grows on you. When GTA: San Andreas was released I thought it was a triumph. There were so many great things about the game from the motorcycles (which had been introduced in GTA: Vice City) to the fact that you could actually swim in the game, working out, changing clothes, the story, the weapons, the large scaled free roaming replica of Cali/Vegas it was everything that I wanted in a game and more. Sure the characters were a bit stiff at times and I never understood why they didn't have actual fingers but hey...everything about San Andreas was bigger and better! Then when it was announced that GTA IV was going to be a next gen game I tried to contain my excitement.
In May 2006 the game was introduced at E3 06 as going multisystem which meant I didn't have to plop down a chunk of money on an over priced PS3 and could revel in the enjoyment that is my Xbox 360. Still it was a long wait with the game being pushed back from October 2007 until April 29, 2008. When I got home to play the game I geared up for what was going to be the most exciting night of my gaming life...*crash*
Not only did GTA IV not live up to my expectations I really, for a moment, thought about going back to EB Games and getting my $60.00 back. Still, now after I spent my past sunday playing all day, I am okay with the fact I spent $60.00 and it has grown on me but there's a lot to be desired from the gamemakers that at one time revolutionized open world game play.
The big guns in the gaming world have given GTA IV 9's and 10's across the board. Saying in no uncertain terms that it is a masterpiece of exceptional single player open world gaming. However, those are the mags and websites that depend on ads from gaming companies such as Take Two, Ubi Soft among others. The smaller mags and websites may actually have hit the nail on the head when they give the game something more like a 7.5 or 8. Since I don't have any ad space I'm rolling with the 7.5.
The main question for myself when I sat down to write this review was; "is this better than GTA: San Andreas?" and the answer is a resounding NO! Just because it has more to do and the graphics are slightly better doesn't make it better. Sorry guys.
Let's start with the positives though, first, there is simply more to do. According to the professional gamers if you only play the missions and don't do anything on the side the game takes between 30-36 hours to finish. Think about that. That's a hell of a lot of playing with only doing the mandatory stuff to get through the story. Any fan of the GTA series knows there's so much more than the story lines (which are almost always fun in themselves) to be done in any of the GTA games. So having that much to do certainly lends credence to the amount of replay value the game can have. You can even view the city a tremendous amount of ways from driving yourself, to riding in a cab, to going on a helicopter tour, to taking the subway. But if you're prone to first person motion sickness then you might want to avoid viewing the game through taxi cab windows and subway rides. I almost chucked once doing that. I haven't gotten on a helicopter tour yet but I'm gonna wager I won't be able to do that either without feeling like I'm bout to go into a nauseated seizure.
Second, the graphics have improved. Slightly. This is next gen mediocre. You can certainly see the difference between San Andreas and IV. The characters now have fingers and the vehicles are much improved in detail. But when you're basing your game in Liberty City which is the fictional version of NYC and its burroughs you have a lot to work with. This weekend, under my control, Nikko finally got to see the amazing Times Square remake and I have to say the lights never seemed brighter! I loved it but look what you have to work with. NYC, Times Square in particular, is something to behold even if it is the gaudiest tourist trap in the world. You still have to see it when you visit. However, we'll get to how the graphics fall short in a second.
Third, the cellphone & internet additions are cool! The one thing I hated in San Andreas was trying to keep in contact with the girlfriends. They were just way too annoying and seemingly on their own schedule not the one that the book said they'd be on and they were way too tempermental. The cellphone makes connecting with not just girlfriends but important friends easier! It also allows for some cool options like getting your cousin to send a cab for you when you just don't feel like driving around town. Or calling up your homeboy Little Jacob for a gander at his "arms on wheels" when you need a weapon (he'll even come to you when you're on a mission). The internet is just a way I think that the RockStar folks wanted to goof with us. There's so much to do and see on the internet that I think that in itself may take a few hours or days to sort through. The internet is a much needed advance because like in our real world its where you can find love, work, fun and creepy stalkers all with a tap of your fingers.
Fourth and finally for the positives, the storyline. The one thing that I've always thought about the GTA games (GTA 3 through San Adreas but not counting Liberty City stories) is that there have been good, even great, storylines. Yes, they are always filled with the sophomoric bawdy humor that only most 16 year old boys get; but they always serve to titliate and entertain. This time is no exception. It's almost the only thing that's really saving this game from really being a brick. The storyline is intricate and opens for you like a good mystery novel. Nikko, the main character, is sympathetic and ruthless. The characters around him are stereotypical archetypes that actually don't make you hate or love them. They are who they are with no pretense. As always the story around the main character makes you cheer for the "bad" guy and hope for the best. And for 360 players we'll be treated to new episodes for download in the Fall. Which makes owning the 360 version a much better deal.
Now here's the bad...listen...its a grower not a show-er. And because of that it can't get a 10. or even a 9. Maybe an 8 if you're really into the storyline but yeah...not a 10.
Let's go back to graphics. We are in NEXT GEN people! The characters in this game should look, move, and feel damn near human. They needed to hire some of the folks that made Assassins Creed or Gears of War or even BioShock to see how humans should move and look. With Assassins Creed that was one of the strengths of the game, Altair actually felt real (when you were with him in 1100 AD). The puppeteer system worked well allowing all the limbs and movement to feel fluid and human. Nikko visibly leans to the side when you make him turn a corner. WTF? The physics system and graphics of this game should not be so strange. I think thats the best word for it. Its simply strange. Not of this earth strange. I don't know how much those Rockstar folks get out and walk or drive or run around but they need to do it more often since they don't seem to have the hang of what humans look like when they walk or how cars run.
Speaking of which...
While there is a great improvement on how the various cars look...there's been a tremendous reduction on how they run. I am not one of those people who is a fan of driving games but one thing I've always loved in the GTA series was driving and when motorcycles were introduced I freaked! Screw cars I'm moving on to the two wheelers! And while the driving system has always taken a tad bit to get used to, it never truly pissed me off. That is until now. I'm not sure if they drive too much because every car is too touchy! Even my beloved motorcycles are annoying. Admittedly, after playing all day on sunday I've kinda gotten the hang of it but seriously I've never had to play a GTA game all day just so I could sorta get the the hang of the driving system. That goes almost the same for the melee combat system, which I think is awkward and the weapons/targeting system. Eh. That's all I'll say about that.
The other things that are not quite up to par are the voice acting, not that great but a'ight and the controls are just not really user friendly (but this might be different on the PS3). Xbox controls tend to be wonky to me on any game. I do miss having the character work out and finally now that I can get Nikko into some other clothes thats cool but its not something that improved my outlook on the game those are just the little extras.
The thing that GTA has been known for since GTA: Vice City has been the music! The radio station which was one of the things I was hyped about in GTA 3 blew up in Vice City. If you don't know Vice City was set in a florida-esque 80's city. The music was off the chain!! Sure it was all 80's and late 70's stuff but it was all real artists and songs that I grew up loving! I could listen to every radio station from the V Rock station to the Flash FM station and love almost every song! Then with San Andreas my love affair with the radio stations continued. I wasn't a big fan of KJah and the country station but either one could be on and I wouldn't feel an immediate desire to change the dial or turn it off. Of the 19 radio stations in GTA IV, I really only like 3. Hmmm...3 out of 19. That's just ridiculous! I've sort of tuned into the talk radio stations which quite frankly in any of the three series from GTA 3 to San Andreas have been the most entertaining but I expected more from the music. Most of the songs I've never heard of and don't want to hear. It's easier for me to turn off the radio or have it on the talk stations rather than listen to the goop they call music. *sigh* The music for the game was my most searched aspect because Vice City and San Andreas had such great soundtracks. Not so with GTA IV.
Ultimately, the test is; could I go back and play GTA: San Andreas with the same enthusiasm as when I first played it after playing this sequel? Actually, yes, I could! While the graphics are a tad bit better in IV, GTA: SA is still the better game overall. That's my litmus test. See, I can't go back and play GTA 3 or Vice City. While I love the music in Vice City and the concepts in 3 and VC; San Andreas just simply topped them. When I tried to go back to play them (GTA3 & VC) not too long ago I abandoned them in the first hour finding them too antiquated for who I am as a gamer now. But I keep them because they are like treasures in a series of excellence.
Do I think that GTA IV has lived up to its hype? Definitely not. I wouldn't say don't go buy the game. Nah, if you're a true GTA fan like I am you'll like the new extras enough to give the storyline and the game a bit of a chance. Like I said in the beginning its a grower not a show-er. And you'll put up with the wonky physics and stupid driving/targeting/melee controls just long enough to sort of get the hang of it so at least your play experience isn't completely ruined.
Is GTA IV a 10? Nope. A 10 is only given to a game that immediately hooks you; with a combination of storyline, awesome graphics, and user friendly controls. GTA IV is mostly a 7.5 maybe the next GTA will take a hint from other next gen creators who have gotten it right.
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