GTA IV is nothing new. But what it does, it does right.
Grand Theft Auto IV is not inherently challenging or difficult. It is not inherently unique, nor does it do much to differ from its predecessors. But it does manage to do everything that it sets out to do, rarely falling below the mark. What it lacks in originality, it makes up for in variety. But most of all, it manages to be fun. A lot of fun.
As I began the game and progressed through it, I felt the grip of the main character, Niko Bellic, continually tightening around me. Everyone has praised him up and down as being so intensely likable, and I'm proud to say that he is. He is a compelling character who, through controlling him during the course of the game, you can't help but become attached to. At his roots, Niko is just another guy who wants to live a normal life, not having to worry about anything. But those he is surrounded by are constantly dragging him down, back into the firefight-engulfed streets.
Which brings me to the rest of the "cast." Rockstar has crafted some truly amazing and original characters. The voice acting is superb, and the dialogue is entirely entertaining. I won't go into the characters in detail, but the people with which Niko interacts manage to help make the game what it is without stealing the spotlight from him. One or two may get on your nerves, but those same characters may be another person's favorite. Basically, there is something for everyone in this regard.
These same characters will have you going on side missions for them and even going on "dates," so to speak. In the game, you are provided with a virtual cell phone with which you can call up people you've come in contact with. You can ask your friends to go bowling, throw some darts, hit up a strip club, or go get drunk, among other things. And the best part is that there is no catch. You actually go bowling and play darts and pool and get drunk yourself. Getting drunk was perhaps my favorite thing to do when interacting with the other characters. The reason for this is the amazing rag doll physics, which I am a sucker for. You stumble and fall on things/people, and move "realistically." The same applies when you get hit by a car, or exploded (yes I said "exploded.")
The main plot is merely ok. It's got a twist or two, sure. But it's nothing you'd enjoy seeing in a movie theater. The reason I loved the plot is the dialogue. It's great and flows very smoothly. What trumps this, in my opinion, is the engrossing world in which you play. The ambulance picks up injured people. The police really arrest crooks on the street and, after chasing them down, cuff them and put them in the back of the patrol car. The firefighters actually can be seen going to work in the morning at the station. All of it comes off as very "real," and it's a great feeling.
As for gameplay, the main story arc is fairly repetitive. It gets to the point that you realize it isn't "if" but "when" the crap is gonna hit the fan. So-and-so sent you to protect someone? Well expect a hit squad to try and mess you up. Someone sent you to deliver some drugs? Oh, well, surprise! There are some more dudes you have to cap. It's a good thing Grand Theft Auto IV's gunplay is very polished. While it is by no means deep, it works, and it works well. You can hide behind cover, pop out and shoot, and return to cover a la Gears of War.
There is an auto-aim system in place that is accessed by holding down the aiming trigger completely, but free-aim is utilized by only halfway depressing the trigger. It's very easy to use. This comprises the majority of the "campaign." The good thing about the story missions is that the folks at Rockstar manage to keep the ways in which you kill people very diverse and very entertaining (sadistic, I know). It never really gets stale. Just when I felt like I was going through the motions, something new was tossed my way and got me right back into the action.
The main story can be beaten in less than 30 hours (I think I completed it in around 25 hours). Of course, it doesn't stop there. Plenty of other activities litter the streets of Liberty City. You can participate in street races, steal cars for a couple of your contacts to earn money, deliver drugs, assassinate people, and chase down crooks. You know, just your average run-of-the-mill activities (note: sarcasm). But more than that, you can go on the previously mentioned "dates" with friends, even going so far as logging on to a virtual "internet" of sorts that exists only within the game. This allows you to find singles to date and fake websites to read, all of which are hilarious and well worth your time. You can go to a comedy club or spend your time watching fake TV shows in your apartment, or even playing a made-up arcade game called "QUB3D."
Essentially, there is a good deal of things to do to keep you busy. I was entirely overwhelmed when I first started. There are many, many things in this game, and the graphics engine does an impressive job of rendering it all. The graphics in this game are nice. They aren't awesome, but they are nice. I have no complains as far as this topic goes; they get the job done. Sometimes things might look a little clunky, and sometimes they take a little too long to render. This last part is only a complaint when you are driving too fast and something appears right in front of you. It is incredibly annoying.
The sound in this game is very remarkable as well. There are a number of radio stations to choose from while driving. Though there aren't a whole lot of tracks on each station, the fact that, as a whole, there is so much music is a welcome feature in the game. Hard rock, the classics, alternative, jazz, take your pick. They're all here. The sound effects themselves are not wholly outstanding but there isn't anything that is to be desired.
Now here go my complaints (and where things turn cynical). Your friends within the game can get annoying. They incessantly call you because they are apparently extremely lonely without you. They always want to do stuff with you, and if you say no, then you lose "reputation" with them. Luckily there is a way around losing your rep (say yes then cancel plans), but I still started loathing answering the phone. Another annoying thing is getting hit by a car. If said car just so happens to run over you and stop on top of you, you die instantly. If anything stays on top of you, you die instantly. This is widely regarded as a very bad thing. It happens at very inopportune times and it sucks. Also, sometimes the AI gets stupid. This only happened to me two or three times though, so it's not too big of a deal when they decide to run out and get killed. Also, it's beastly hard to drive vehicles. I got used to it, but it's still daunting.
Here is a sort-of short description of multiplayer: You join a game. There are a ton of gametypes. You hope the gametype that you feel like playing is "race" or "deathmatch" or some deathmatch variant, because if it is "Team Carjack City," no one else will play with you. You get in said game and have a lot of fun, but all these noobs are wailing and hollering because the host had auto-aim turned on. You suffer these peoples' annoying voices, and play what is a pretty fun multiplayer game. It has no depth, but it's fun. It's especially fun with friends, so if you have any, tell them to play with you. Picture four of you in a single car, arms all out the windows, doing drive-bys. It's extremely fun. But when someone makes you explode, it sucks. And there you have it.
Grand Theft Auto IV is not a great game because of any one aspect. If anything, it would be due to the variety of things you'll find yourself doing and enjoying as a whole. You can do whatever you want, whenever you want, and have fun doing it. If you want to watch fake TV in the game, you'll have fun doing it. If you want to try outrunning the cops on a 6-star rating (which was not discussed in this review), you'll have a grand ole time. The game is a great game, and while there isn't a whole lot of replay value, I've already logged in something like 65 hours into the game. That's a lot more than any other game I own. It's not perfect by any means, but it is great. I'll be holding onto it for a while, that much is certain.
