A Trip to Liberty City
As someone who hated Grand Theft Auto games (mainly because the graphics were ugly, the cities were boring and the gameplay was awful, especially San Andreas constantly upgrade system), Rockstar Games convinced me with their succesfull marketing to take another trip to Liberty City. Now, it's time to give my opinion...
So, most people I know play GTA because the possibilities are endless, not because of the story (like me). In fact, I think most die-hard GTA fans like to hijack a plane, kill people on the street who are eating hotdogs etc., etc. To be fair, GTA games always had a minimalistic plot, just to make the sense you play in a big city. However, this time Rockstar wrote a very, very good story. Sure, it isn't the best story you will ever meet, but it's still very good for a videogame. The story is typical gangster GTA-style, but it also makes you emotional at sometimes with Niko Bellic, the lead character in this GTA game. Also, at certain points, you will have to make choices a la BioShock-style (think Sander Cohen and the Little Sisters) which will play a crucial part in the end. The story is simply something you shouldn't miss, clear and simple.
As I mentioned before, Niko Bellic is the player you will control during your adventure through Liberty City. He's 30 years old and a war veteran from former Yugoslavia. He goes to Liberty City to start a new life and to pursue the American Dream, mainly because of stories told by his nephew Roman, a wannabe gangster who owns a taxi depot and has no guts. However, Niko quickly finds out that Roman was lying all the time. This will cause several conflicts during the game, some dramatic, but also some funny ones. Of course, the GTA game consists of different characters who Niko works for, some good, some bad.
Something you will notice from the start of the game, is that the graphics are top-notch. I can understand why the graphics of GTA games were always poor (because it contained enormous cities), but this time around, Rockstar made graphics which are actually decent, almost realistic. It looks beautiful to see that Liberty City is crowded with people and they all move fluently and doing their thing. It's beautiful to see the sun go down. Rockstar finally put more attention in the graphics department. Of course, it will not be the best thing you will see, but it doesn't hurt your eyes like the previous itterations.
What's a GTA game without music? Not a GTA game, in my opinion. GTA IV contains 214 songs, from which all are top notch and just fit in Liberty City. You have Kanye West (it's actually sad to hear that 50 Cent wanted his music in the game and that Kanye won, again...), Bob Marley, LCD Soundsystem, Black Crowes, Smashing Pumpkins, Justice and many others. GTA lovers could hate the music, simply because GTA games were always meant to be a parody of the American life. Likewise, the music was also a parody of the American music. I don't have any problem with this and I think most people don't have problem either. But don't worry, the commercials and talk radiostations are still hilarious to hear. Also, you will have the ability to watch TV in your appartment, which is also full of parodies.
Speaking of parody, Liberty City is still full of parodies. I won't reveal too much, but think every billboard, every stereotypical thing about Americans, every thing what makes New York City so special, is parodied in the game. Yes, that includes the Statue of Liberty... Liberty City looks great by the way, it's huge and beautifull created. Sometimes, I just turned my cell phone off and just drove through Liberty City, enjoying every aspect about it. It's not as big as San Andreas, but much more crowded and better made. Every thing just lives. I have never been to New York City though, but after I played through GTA IV, it felt like I was on vacation. Sometimes, you will be just mad that you don't have the ability to make pictures of it and print it out.
As I mentioned before, you will have cell phone. You will get the cell phone early on in the game (Roman gives it to you, because he has a new one, the bastard...), just to do simple things. I think you will wonder: "why the hell do I have to call to someone?" Thats simple, because in GTA IV, you're boss can call you while you're having sex just to make sure he has some jobs for you. It can also be a friend who is lonely or a girlfriend who just wants to eat you (you know what I mean). You can even call them, if you want. Seeing friends more often has positive effects. Every friend has a special ability, from making bombs (I mean GiantBombs) to give you more health. However, not seeing your friends also has effects, though it won't be crucial ones. This system Rockstar had made is wonderful, especially if you want to do something then killing people.
Gameplay is also something I hated about the previous GTA games. Once again, Rockstar made combat a lot easier. In the previous GTA games, it was plain simple, you pick up weapon and start shooting people. This time around, you pick up the weapon, aim at one you want to shoot (aiming = intimidating) and you pull the trigger. The combat style is similar to the one from Resident Evil 4 and Gears of Wars, so if you are a fan of these games, you wil like this game too. Of course, when you're acting as a criminal, there's the police. Only this time, it's (too) easy to escape from the police. If you have a one or two star rating, the police attempts to arrest you. If you shoot at them, the area where the police agents are searching for you is expanding. The area is circular, where the agents who are following you are in the centre. Also (for the fans), no tanks, just the SWAT (or something like that). Also note that the most islands are locked for you in the beginning with a good reason: terrorists. Everything makes sense. Something which is coming more popular these days, is a cover system. Rainbow Six: Vegas had one, which was very effective and very realistic. GTA IV also had one, only a bit clunky. What I liked about it is, is that you run to an object or wall, press the button and Niko will slide to it. Thing is, if you are pointing at something and press the button (to release yourself from the wall or object), Niko is automatically going to the object/wall you were pointing at. Also, it's actually kinda stupid to see Niko walking relaxed during a fire fight, simply because you always have to press the run-button.
Then we have the online multiplayer. It works pretty good. Imagine yourself, with your friends in the same city, killing every citizen they want. You can also kill each other, but like I said, Liberty City is huge! It isn't fun after a while. Also, the aiming isn't very satisfying in the multiplayer. And remember, auto-aim is not included in the online multiplayer, because that would make everything to easy.
So there you have it. Grand Theft Auto IV is has a great story, beautiful graphics, perfect gameplay and even a multiplayer if the city wasn't to big for you. However, the multiplayer and some gameplay elements could fit more on the PC version, so that's something you will have to keep in mind. Nevertheless, Grand Theft Auto IV is a must-own game, a masterpiece and a experience you will remember for years.
So, most people I know play GTA because the possibilities are endless, not because of the story (like me). In fact, I think most die-hard GTA fans like to hijack a plane, kill people on the street who are eating hotdogs etc., etc. To be fair, GTA games always had a minimalistic plot, just to make the sense you play in a big city. However, this time Rockstar wrote a very, very good story. Sure, it isn't the best story you will ever meet, but it's still very good for a videogame. The story is typical gangster GTA-style, but it also makes you emotional at sometimes with Niko Bellic, the lead character in this GTA game. Also, at certain points, you will have to make choices a la BioShock-style (think Sander Cohen and the Little Sisters) which will play a crucial part in the end. The story is simply something you shouldn't miss, clear and simple.
As I mentioned before, Niko Bellic is the player you will control during your adventure through Liberty City. He's 30 years old and a war veteran from former Yugoslavia. He goes to Liberty City to start a new life and to pursue the American Dream, mainly because of stories told by his nephew Roman, a wannabe gangster who owns a taxi depot and has no guts. However, Niko quickly finds out that Roman was lying all the time. This will cause several conflicts during the game, some dramatic, but also some funny ones. Of course, the GTA game consists of different characters who Niko works for, some good, some bad.
Something you will notice from the start of the game, is that the graphics are top-notch. I can understand why the graphics of GTA games were always poor (because it contained enormous cities), but this time around, Rockstar made graphics which are actually decent, almost realistic. It looks beautiful to see that Liberty City is crowded with people and they all move fluently and doing their thing. It's beautiful to see the sun go down. Rockstar finally put more attention in the graphics department. Of course, it will not be the best thing you will see, but it doesn't hurt your eyes like the previous itterations.
What's a GTA game without music? Not a GTA game, in my opinion. GTA IV contains 214 songs, from which all are top notch and just fit in Liberty City. You have Kanye West (it's actually sad to hear that 50 Cent wanted his music in the game and that Kanye won, again...), Bob Marley, LCD Soundsystem, Black Crowes, Smashing Pumpkins, Justice and many others. GTA lovers could hate the music, simply because GTA games were always meant to be a parody of the American life. Likewise, the music was also a parody of the American music. I don't have any problem with this and I think most people don't have problem either. But don't worry, the commercials and talk radiostations are still hilarious to hear. Also, you will have the ability to watch TV in your appartment, which is also full of parodies.
Speaking of parody, Liberty City is still full of parodies. I won't reveal too much, but think every billboard, every stereotypical thing about Americans, every thing what makes New York City so special, is parodied in the game. Yes, that includes the Statue of Liberty... Liberty City looks great by the way, it's huge and beautifull created. Sometimes, I just turned my cell phone off and just drove through Liberty City, enjoying every aspect about it. It's not as big as San Andreas, but much more crowded and better made. Every thing just lives. I have never been to New York City though, but after I played through GTA IV, it felt like I was on vacation. Sometimes, you will be just mad that you don't have the ability to make pictures of it and print it out.
As I mentioned before, you will have cell phone. You will get the cell phone early on in the game (Roman gives it to you, because he has a new one, the bastard...), just to do simple things. I think you will wonder: "why the hell do I have to call to someone?" Thats simple, because in GTA IV, you're boss can call you while you're having sex just to make sure he has some jobs for you. It can also be a friend who is lonely or a girlfriend who just wants to eat you (you know what I mean). You can even call them, if you want. Seeing friends more often has positive effects. Every friend has a special ability, from making bombs (I mean GiantBombs) to give you more health. However, not seeing your friends also has effects, though it won't be crucial ones. This system Rockstar had made is wonderful, especially if you want to do something then killing people.
Gameplay is also something I hated about the previous GTA games. Once again, Rockstar made combat a lot easier. In the previous GTA games, it was plain simple, you pick up weapon and start shooting people. This time around, you pick up the weapon, aim at one you want to shoot (aiming = intimidating) and you pull the trigger. The combat style is similar to the one from Resident Evil 4 and Gears of Wars, so if you are a fan of these games, you wil like this game too. Of course, when you're acting as a criminal, there's the police. Only this time, it's (too) easy to escape from the police. If you have a one or two star rating, the police attempts to arrest you. If you shoot at them, the area where the police agents are searching for you is expanding. The area is circular, where the agents who are following you are in the centre. Also (for the fans), no tanks, just the SWAT (or something like that). Also note that the most islands are locked for you in the beginning with a good reason: terrorists. Everything makes sense. Something which is coming more popular these days, is a cover system. Rainbow Six: Vegas had one, which was very effective and very realistic. GTA IV also had one, only a bit clunky. What I liked about it is, is that you run to an object or wall, press the button and Niko will slide to it. Thing is, if you are pointing at something and press the button (to release yourself from the wall or object), Niko is automatically going to the object/wall you were pointing at. Also, it's actually kinda stupid to see Niko walking relaxed during a fire fight, simply because you always have to press the run-button.
Then we have the online multiplayer. It works pretty good. Imagine yourself, with your friends in the same city, killing every citizen they want. You can also kill each other, but like I said, Liberty City is huge! It isn't fun after a while. Also, the aiming isn't very satisfying in the multiplayer. And remember, auto-aim is not included in the online multiplayer, because that would make everything to easy.
So there you have it. Grand Theft Auto IV is has a great story, beautiful graphics, perfect gameplay and even a multiplayer if the city wasn't to big for you. However, the multiplayer and some gameplay elements could fit more on the PC version, so that's something you will have to keep in mind. Nevertheless, Grand Theft Auto IV is a must-own game, a masterpiece and a experience you will remember for years.
