Preview: Grand Theft Auto IV: Multiplayer impressions
Get ready for a new addiction -- Grand Theft Auto IV's multiplayer mode rocks!
In Rockstar's New York City HQ, Grand Theft Auto IV's highly anticipated yet never-before-shown multiplayer component was the star of the day. The cross-country trek earned me the prize of four fantastic hours of straight multiplayer play, and this is how the wonderful day went down.
GTA IV isn't technically Rockstar's first foray into multiplayer with GTA, as the PSP's Liberty City Stories launched with some head-to-head WiFi modes that were quite fun for a quick romp. GTA IV, though, is the real deal. In-game access via your cell phone enables you to jump straight into the action without a second thought. On Niko's Badger phone, you can choose from a Quick Play list, or create your own game with options akin to most online console games. But there are no clutter-y menus to clunk around with. Once you find the game you want, a clean lobby screen appears where you can adjust different options for each gametype. Alright, enough of the technicalities -- let's get to the good stuff!
GTA IV's online multiplayer takes some hints from the single-player storyline. Look for common themes and scenarios in both versions.
We played four modes from GTA IV's online multiplayer (though there are plenty modes that we can't yet reveal), three of which were competitive and one co-operative.
Team Deathmatch
The first mode we played was GTA's take on "team deathmatch," essentially what boils down to a feud through Liberty City. Team Deathmatch is a completely customizable experience right from the start. You can tweak an enormous list of options from location (tear through the entire city or set smaller boundaries), weapons, vehicles, police, traffic, weather and more. With 16 maximum players, it's eight vs. eight, or any combination in between.
The actual nuts and bolts of Team Deathmatch are just what you'd expect, with one exception: It's all about cash. In GTA IV's multiplayer, scoring a kill is only half the battle -- you've gotta grab the loot to boot. The team with the most cash at the end of the game wins, and though the game keeps tracks of kills and deaths, money's all that really matters. Running stats will also track your status and rank.
Weapon pickups display on each player's mini-map, and the type of weapons that appear can be configured by the game's host. We played a four on four match in a few small areas of Liberty City with all guns enabled. After getting dropped with a host of Uzi bullets, I found a rocket launcher, staked out some high ground, and rained rockets onto the other team. The trick is, though, to use the lively Liberty City to your utmost advantage. Using a vehicle can be a godsend, as well as finding a great piece of cover or lofty vantage point. But, be careful where you drive because you never know when a rocket-launching foe is ready to light you up like a Christmas tree.
GTA Race
Rockstar's race mode reminds of the popular race missions of GTAs past, but this time firepower is far more important. Sure, hitting each checkpoint on a predetermined number of laps seems simple enough, but try doing it when someone tosses a live grenade under your ride.
In GTA Race, getting out of your car can be just as important as racing in it. During our eight-player race, we found it almost impossible to get by without encountering obstacles such as opponent-made roadblocks and bullet-induced flat tires. During one such race through an airport, another player went rogue and constructed a 15-car roadblock that blocked the only route. Intent on getting through, I hunted down a rocket launcher and set the whole pile-up ablaze. Cars exploded one after the other in an orgy of explosions and fire.
GTA IV's Race mode is notable because you can exit your vehicle at any time to harrass other racers. Rockets, car barricades, and traps -- it's all good!
In Race, you can also have bountiful configuration options: the number of laps, locations, vehicle types, and lots more. We went Faggio scooters-only in one match, but you can easily ditch the scooter and grab a Banshee to escape the pack.
Cops 'N Crooks
By far our favorite mode of the day was called Cops 'N Crooks, a guaranteed multiplayer addiction. This round-based competition is much like Halo 3's VIP mode. The Crooks are trying to escort their mob boss out of town to an escape vehicle. Crooks can see the escape location on the map, but can't see the location of the Cops. The Cops, meanwhile, can't see the escape location, but are privy to the location of the Crooks (boss included). Get the boss out of town, and the Crooks win. Kill the boss, and it's a victory for the Cops. Simple!
Cops 'N Crooks has a great dynamic, largely because there are so many different strategies for each team. The Cops, for instance, can split up into different cars, or stick with one or two cars using several gunners. They can even attempt to guess the location of the boss's getaway vehicle, and hijack the ride before the Crooks even arrive. This happened once during our multiple rounds of play, as we (the Crooks) arrived to a getaway boat swarming with police, resulting in an untimely end for our mob boss.
The Cops 'N Crooks mode is a standout. The Cops team is out the kill the Crooks' boss, who must escape from town.
In 16-player matches, Cops 'N Crooks has the potential to be brilliantly hectic, with up to eight or more (teams can be set lopsided. 15 vs. 1, anyone?) cop cars chasing down a single boss on the run.
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