Review: Welcome To Paradise: GTA IV Is The Best Grand Theft Auto Ever! (Page 2 of 8)
"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
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
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
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 lonewolf, sometimes, bringing along backup is the smartest thing to do
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