Welcome To Paradise: GTA IV Is The Best Grand Theft Auto Ever! (Page 3 of 8)

Getting Into Character

And that single-player experience stars a protagonist that may ultimately prove to be the most memorable GTA hero yet. Niko is an interesting character with a style and vibe all his own. The game's entertaining cinematic cutscenes that precede each mission does a great job of setting the proper tone and mood. Mission variety is also a strong suit of GTA IV: Niko is always doing something interesting, from completing hits to drug raids to bank heists and more. One of the more memorable missions I played had Niko driving a Trashmaster garbage truck to pick up trash bags full of stolen diamonds. With two helpers swaying on the back of the truck fending off the pursuing enemies, getting the ice to safety required some fancy maneuvering through the city streets, a task made all the more harrowing by the Trashmaster's lack of speed and manuverability.

Niko's life is also far more streamlinedthere's no property to buy and you don't have to do mundane things like eat food (unless you want health) or exercise to put on muscle; in other words, the game is about quality and not quantity. When you need firepower, Niko can visit a local weapons shop or make friends who provide guns as a service. You'll meet other connected individuals but you'll have to keep up relationships to keep on their good side. You can engage in activities such as playing darts, shooting pool or even hitting a local bar to maintain good relationships; ignore a friend for too long and you won't reap the benefits. And, of course, you can also go on dates and try to establish "friendships" that way.

A series first: Multiplayer allows for some interesting scenarios. Here, one player jumps off a pier to avoid his enemies.

A series first: Multiplayer allows for some interesting scenarios. Here, one player jumps off a pier to avoid his enemies.

Most of the missions in GTA IV prove to be incredibly fun, and a new combat engine and targeting system makes firefight feel epic. A cover system that feels reminiscent to Gears of War adds a nice layer of strategy, allowing players to target enemies and free aim on different body parts. An enemy's heath is displayed around the round targeting circle, and a headshot can take most foes down in one pop. Rocket launchers and grenades can light up any conflict, but submachine guns, Uzis and shotguns will probably prove to be your best friends. A pistol lets you perform an execution, which ties nicely into assassination-themed story missions.

Player's Choice

Of course, the variety of missions and weaponry speaks to one basic truth: the GTA franchise have always been about choice and empowering the gamer, concepts that GTA IV takes to an entirely new level. The game offers you a lot of freedom and gives you opportunities to make a lot of decisions. Some are trivialwhich type of car you decide to take on a mission, for instancewhile others have serious implications; I won't ruin any surprises but let's just say that there will be times when you will have to think long and hard before you take aim and pull the trigger. It's no exaggeration to say that GTA IV provides each gamer with their own personal gaming experience.

Thankfully, the game's presentation has received a major upgrade, making your time with the game feel far more intuitive and fluid. A prime example of this is Niko's smartphone, an all-in-one device that acts a telephone, organizer, and text- and picture-messaging device; it delivers pertinent information but never takes you out of the gameyou never need to access a submenu or hit pause. Contacts call you, and alternatively, you can call them, to initiate missions. Text messages keep you informed with quick updates and picture messages prove vital to locating specific targets. You can even use the device to replay failed missions, which is a welcome feature. And of course, in typical Rockstar style, the developers allow you to customize the smartphone with new backgrounds and ringtones, both of which can be downloaded through Liberty City's in-game Internet.

Taking cover isn't just a good idea, it's an essential survival tactic. Let the bozo run out of ammo then come out firing

Taking cover isn't just a good idea, it's an essential survival tactic. Let the bozo run out of ammo then come out firing

Sure, you could stand on the street corner and wave your arms like a chump. Or you can hail a taxi the GTA way.

Sure, you could stand on the street corner and wave your arms like a chump. Or you can hail a taxi the GTA way.

Though they're not as hardy as autos, motorcycles are still a fast and nimble way to navigate the city streets

Though they're not as hardy as autos, motorcycles are still a fast and nimble way to navigate the city streets

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Ahoy_and_Avast

You're telling me, guys. I want my damn copy right now!!! Considering Kotaku got theirs yesterday, I'm guessing our advance copies were sent out already and are sitting in some storeroom at the local UPS office. I almost want to go down there and cause a huge scene.

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