GTA IV is a 'must own'
By Joseph Phung
There’s a good reason why Rockstar Games’ “Grand Theft Auto” series is getting plenty of attention these days, and it’s not because of its controversial past, but because of how great the latest entry to the series is.
“Grand Theft Auto IV” puts you in the shoes of Niko Bellic, a European immigrant who has just arrived at the New York City-inspired Liberty City on a cargo boat, and is looking to achieve the American Dream, just like his cousin, Roman, did (or so he thought).
He discovers that there’s no mansion, no hot girls and no money, but instead loan sharks after Roman for money that needs to be paid back. Niko decides to take matters into his own hands to get rid of these people, and gets dragged into more criminal activities as you progress through the game.
The great thing about the “GTA” series is that you can take your time going on the game’s main missions, as there are so many other activities available, like watching some television shows (which are actually hilarious to watch), surfing on fictional websites, going for a game of bowling or even hitting some bars to get drunk. It’s just unbelievable the amount of things Rockstar Games allows players to do here.
The combat system in “GTA IV” is much better than it was before, as you can now go behind objects for cover with a press of a button. Whenever you decide to pop out from cover, you can now target specific body parts on an individual, using any gun.
Vehicles still play a role in the game, and there are a variety of different kinds to jack. A nice touch, though, is that some vehicles have certain features, like a voice GPS found in high-end cars, or if you have the balls to jack a police car, you’ll have access to their computer to locate potential targets.
If the massive single player experience wasn’t enough, “GTA IV” includes a slew of online multiplayer modes for up to 16 players. Yet the Free Mode is definitely the best one here to play, as it allows players to do anything they want with or against each other, and that makes for some crazy mayhem in Liberty City.
Visually, the game looks nice, and all the little details that were added, like the several hundred different types of fictional brands that exist, make the city feel much more realistic. Lots of work has also been done with the animations, as characters move and interact more like humans should. It’s actually quite cool to stop and see how the people of Liberty City engage with one another.
Even with no notable actors here, the voiceover work was still excellent. Another plus with the sound department was the extensive amount of license music tracks from various artists like Iggy Pop and Kanye West, which can be heard by listening to the radio stations while driving a vehicle.
As one of the most anticipated games to come out this year, “Grand Theft Auto IV” doesn’t disappoint, as it truly delivers an amazing experience with its engaging storyline, lengthy single player experience, fun multiplayer modes and top-notch presentation elements. Every Xbox 360 and PS3 owner needs to add this masterpiece to their collection.
Originally Published: Issue 647 - May 7, 2008
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