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

You can say what you want about the blokes at Rockstar but there is no denying this: Much like the characters that star in their games, they know how to stay cool when things get hot and heavy.

It's good to be back home: Grand Theft Auto IV is set in the familiar Liberty City, where the grass is green and the girls are definitely pretty...

It's good to be back home: Grand Theft Auto IV is set in the familiar Liberty City, where the grass is green and the girls are definitely pretty...

Hot GTA IV Links!

EDITORS' NOTE: The PlayStation 3 version of Grand Theft Auto IV is largely the same as its Xbox 360 cousin, but there are a few key differences. The game runs at a slightly lesser resolution, resulting in a slightly "softer" look, but the game still looks crisp and vibrant. We also noticed deeper, more robust use of color throughout the PS3 game, though these findings could likely be replicated on the Xbox 360 version by fiddling with your television's video options. The PS3 version also has noticeably less "draw in" than the Xbox 360 version, which means it's rarer to see trees or buildings pop into view on the PS3.

Otherwise, the PS3 version differs in only a few small ways. You must install the game before playing on the PS3, and the install process takes about seven minutes and consumes a little over 3GB of hard drive space. But installing grants you faster load times, so you'll wait less in between missions on the PS3. The PS3 version also has (optional) Sixaxis motion-sensing controller support, which allows you to drive motorbikes, boats, and helicopters using the Sixaxis. The Sixaxis controls are fun to play around with, but the boat is the only vehicle that's easily controllable with Sixaxis; the other two vehicles are too demanding to use Sixaxis. You can also activate a Sixaxis-reload function, where Niko reloads his gun when you jerk the controller vertically. It's a nice touch, but nothing worth screaming about.

Overall, the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Grand Theft Auto IV are remarkably similar. If you care about Xbox Live and your Gamerscore, then the best choice would be the Xbox 360 version (read the review here). Otherwise, you can't make a wrong decision with GTAIV -- both versions are excellent in their own subtle ways. Viva la choice!


Full review follows.

Lesser companies would have crumbled under the weight of the controversy and the intense media scrutiny that the company has had to endure. But not Rockstar: if anything, the adversity seems to have made the company stronger and, most importantly, smarter.

GTA IV at a Glance

PROS:
  • It's the best GTA ever, in all ways. If you thought the other GTA titles were impressive, just wait until you get your hands on GTA IV.
  • We're serious. In terms of city size, gameplay mechanics, mission types, narrative story and user empowerment, GTA IV is without a doubt the finest distillation of the GTA formula yet.
  • In short, the game succeeds on pretty much every level. That's not hyperbole, people: it's fact.
CONS:
  • There aren't many things wrong with the game. But if we had to nitpick, the story gets weighed down at points by the introduction of too many characters. You practically need a program to keep track of who's who and what's what.
  • The trademark "GTA glitches" also abound. Clipping issues and other wonky behavior will have you either rolling your eyes or laughing your ass off.
  • But as far as negatives go, that's about it. Even if there are other problems, you'll be too busy having the time of your life to care.

And not only are they dealing with political pressure from outside the industry, they're also going head to head with the most nefarious beast of all: fan expectations.

Working on one of the most anticipated game of the year has to be a nerve-wracking experience, especially considering the success of the previous titles. Add in the fact that the series was making the jump to the more powerful new-gen consoles and you have a perfect storm scenario for what could have amounted to a colossal letdown.

In short, Rockstar had the wolves snarling at their throats. And what does the company do under these adverse conditions? They go and develop a Grand Theft Auto title that not only trumps all the others but manages to overshadow nearly every other game released in this generation.

GTA IV isn't just a game. It's a testament to the immense talent and take-no-prisoners mentality that has made Rockstar the company that it is today. Oh, and it just happens to be a heck of a lot of fun. We don't use the words "must-own title" very often here at GamePro but if you don't rush out and buy this game on day one, you will miss out on one of the best gaming experiences ever produced.

So strap yourselves in and ride shotgun with Senior Editor Chris Morell as he guides you around the ins and outs of Grand Theft Auto IV. Trust us when we say that he's got one hell of a tour lined up for you.

And if you see us walking around the virtual streets Liberty City, be sure to stop and say hello.

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Comments [50]

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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?

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