Grand Theft Auto IV: Multiplayer impressions (page 2 of 2)

GTA IV multiplayer launches with 16-player online competitive modes, as well as four-player online co-op missions.

GTA IV multiplayer launches with 16-player online competitive modes, as well as four-player online co-op missions.

At a glance: Hangman's NOOSE (Co-op)

As a team of four, work together to extract a crime boss to an escape point after fending off hoards of Liberty City cops. With a five or six-star Wanted Level, armored cars and helicopters will be your best friends.

Cooperative Missions

GTA IV's multiplayer mode isn't confined to competitive play. There are several four-player cooperative missions that allow several players to work together to accomplish a specific goal. Co-op play is separate from single-player, but these missions are still story-based.

There was only one co-op mission playable this time, called Hangman's NOOSE. The goal here is to use your teammates to escort a crime boss, alive, to an extraction point. With cops teeming at an airport, fending off loads of police is just part of the challenge. After securing the boss in an armored car (or any vehicle of your choosing), a high Wanted Level will bring chaos upon you and your buddies. We used helicopters and armored cars to get the boss to safety, but it wasn't exactly child's play. Rockstar provides different difficulty levels, so you can adjust how tough you want to the cops to be. We're told that there are plenty of other co-op missions launching with the game, and we see plenty of potential for downloadable extras.

Measuring Multiplayer

With heaps of GTA IV multiplayer modes still under wraps, we're incredibly excited about the online content in the game, and think it will make a perfect pairing with the dazzling single-player story. These four playable modes were impressive, with Cops 'N Crooks stealing the show. The graphics seemed to be slightly toned down in the interest of smooth online play, and we noticed a blip or two of slowdown during mega-explosions or massive car pileups. But some fine-tuning from Rockstar should help clean up any nagging issues before the end of the month because, come Hell or high water, we're hitting the servers on April 29th.

Hosts can customize everything from location to weapons, vehicles and more in GTA IV multiplayer.

Hosts can customize everything from location to weapons, vehicles and more in GTA IV multiplayer.

You though peering through a rifle scope was fun in single-player? You ain't seen nothin' yet.

You though peering through a rifle scope was fun in single-player? You ain't seen nothin' yet.

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