Welcome To Paradise: GTA IV Is The Best Grand Theft Auto Ever!

"We can pick the game, Niko Belic, but we cannot change the rules." -Dimitri Rascalov
Make way for the bad guy: newcomer Niko Belic just may turn out to be the best GTA character ever

Make way for the bad guy: newcomer Niko Belic just may turn out to be the best GTA character ever

As they showed seven years ago with their industry altering hit, Grand Theft Auto III, Rockstar Games is a company that can not only change the rules but completely rewrite the rulebook. And just when you think the controversial company has nothing new to say, they unveil Grand Theft Auto IV, a game that pushes the envelope further than anyone could have expected.

Though controversy, delays and other setbacks haunted the game's development, Rockstar still managed to produce a game that meets, and in some cases, exceeds, our ridiculously high expectations. Sure, it doesn't reinvent the wheel but much like Apple and its constant refinement of the iPod, developer Rockstar North has tweaked the GTA formula to the point of near perfection. GTA IV is not only the culmination of almost a decade of hard work, it also represents the pinnacle of interactive entertainment and game design.

With a simple yet compelling story, a memorable protagonist, top-notch voice acting, and an intriguing online multiplayer component that offers a long-lasting customizable experience, GTA IV is, without a doubt, the complete package.

Coming to America
Zoom zoom zoom: As with past GTAs, expect to take part in a lot of vehicular shenanigans on the city streets

Zoom zoom zoom: As with past GTAs, expect to take part in a lot of vehicular shenanigans on the city streets

Niko Belic arrives in Liberty City, a fictional yet strikingly accurate representation of New York City. Niko is an eastern European immigrant lured to Liberty by his cousin Roman, who fills Niko's head with visions mansions, money and beautiful women; thinking he is about to live the American dream, Niko arrives to a much starker reality: cousin Roman is not the self-realized success that he had portrayed himself to be. Instead, he lives in a rundown apartment and runs a struggling taxi business. But Niko didn't survive as long as he has by sweating the small stuff. He takes his cousin embellishments in stride and sets out on his journey through Liberty Cityif the good life won't come to him, then he'll go and hunt it down. And of course, there's something larger and more personal at stake for Niko. So begins the next chapter in the GTA saga.

Much like the previous titles, GTA IV sets you loose on the streets with a single contactyour cousin Romanwho slowly dolls out small tasks and errands. From there, Niko branches out from his dilapidated apartment in Liberty's take on Brooklyn, Broker, to more interesting and often times dangerous locales. These include Dukes (Queens), Bohan (the Bronx), Algonquin (Manhattan) and finally, Alderney (New Jersey). The story in GTA IV is definitely simpler and more streamlined than in past games and you never feel like you're muddling through the 25-plus hours of single-player mode, a testament not only to the developer's writing skills but the excellent gameplay experience that they've crafted.

The huge open city provides for a lot of interesting sights, as well as some nifty vantage points for you to take full advantage of

The huge open city provides for a lot of interesting sights, as well as some nifty vantage points for you to take full advantage of

This is a familiar scene to any experienced GTA veteran. Just be warned that the new wanted system is a tricky beast

This is a familiar scene to any experienced GTA veteran. Just be warned that the new wanted system is a tricky beast

Though Niko is a lone wolf, sometimes, bringing along backup is the smartest thing to do

Though Niko is a lonewolf, sometimes, bringing along backup is the smartest thing to do

Comments [50]

post a comment

MikeTheGreat

Well thats good the PS3 version is practically the same in awesomeness as the 360 version.

BinStabbin

3 gb of harddrive on this game....more gb's for metal gear solid. i feel sorry for 20gb owners

mstrmrdr82

BinStabbin Posted at: 05/27/08 at 4:45 PM PST 3 gb of harddrive on this game....more gb's for metal gear solid. i feel sorry for 20gb owners
why do u feel bad for 20 gig ps3 owners...i had to spend 170 dam dollars just to upgrade my 360 hdd to 120 gigs, when i only had to spend 40 dollars to upgrade my 20 gig ps3 to a 200 gig hdd....and the real sad part is the hdd are the exact same thing except micrsoft locks there hdd so u cant change it yourself

Sire

this game isn't that good, . . . it's dark and depressing. . . i have tried like hell to like it, but I can't get anywhere cause my temper has me killing anyone that talks shit to me, . . . . . . and it's old man, . . they keep making the same game, . . I don't get if people really like it, or they like it because they are supposed to like, either way, the hype died down in like three days just like I said it would and just like it did for the last one, the only people hyping it are the people writing articles, who is still talking bout this game? In what forum? On what site?.......and now they are hyping up the PS3 version because of the fixes and they leave out the fact it underperformed on the PS3, . it's home turf, and they are desperately trying to move more games before MGS4 comes out and blows it out of the water, and it's forgotten about completely.

saosin23

why do u feel bad for 20 gig ps3 owners...i had to spend 170 dam dollars just to upgrade my 360 hdd to 120 gigs, when i only had to spend 40 dollars to upgrade my 20 gig ps3 to a 200 gig hdd....and the real sad part is the hdd are the exact same thing except micrsoft locks there hdd so u cant change it yourself
where and what did you buy to upgrade your ps3 HDD to 200 for only 40 dollars?

Post a Comment