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Grand Theft Auto IV
| Genre | Action |
| Developer | Rockstar North |
| Publisher | Rockstar |
| Modes | Single/Multiplayer |
| Rating | BBFC 18 |
| Released | 29.04.2008 |
Grand Theft Auto is back and this time the franchise takes its first steps into the next generation of gaming. You are Niko Bellic, a European immigrant who hopes to escape his past and realise the American dream. As you and your cousin sink into debt, you are forced to turn to the criminal world in an attempt to make money. The game is set in Liberty City, which bears close resemblance to New York in the United States. Noticeable parodies of the city's land marks are found throughout the game such as the Statue of Happiness or Statue of Liberty and the Rotterdam Tower or Empire State Building.
The hype surrounding the release matched that of Halo 3, meaning that this game had to be something very special to satisfy the gaming world. In most areas the game exceeds these extremely high expectations, with outstanding graphics, story and gameplay. However the game falls a bit short in some aspects. It seems that Rockstar have focused so much on making this the most realistic game in the series that they have missed out some of the classic trademarks that we have all grown to love. Customisation in the game has taken a big step back from the days of San Andreas. A very limited selection of tops, trousers and shoes is about as far as it goes. Aside from a larger range of clothes and accessories, in the previous title you could go to the gym, style your hair and even customise your car. It would have been nice if Rockstar had left these features in but there are quite a few new activities to make up for this. The introduction of a mobile phone to the game means that the friends you meet in the story can call or message you to arrange anything from a peaceful game of bowling to a bank raid. While this is a fun addition to the game, the constant calls from your cousin and other friends asking you to take them to the pub can get a bit annoying. Another cool feature is being able to access the internet where you can read your email or look at amusing sites.
The story in Grand Theft Auto IV is a massive improvement on San Andreas with missions that are a lot more focused on the central storyline. The game sports a non-linear, character-driven storyline where you will be forced to make a series of key decisions to affect the outcome of the game. Without giving away the plot, your decisions will have direct consequences and you will want to play through the game at least twice to see how things could turn out differently. You can probably complete the main story in about 30-40 hours but to get the most enjoyment out of GTA IV, I recommend that you complete all of the side missions and just explore the city as best you can. The controls in the game are easy to master and give a realistic driving and shooting experience. The game offers you the ability to choose between auto aim and standard aim as you play depending on how skilled you are.
This is the first game in the GTA series to offer multiplayer and it is about time too. Up to 16 players can take part in several well constructed game modes on Xbox Live. Cops and Robbers, Racing, Free Roam and Deathmatches are just some of the game modes you can play with your mates. The online option brings a whole new side to the game and most importantly it is great fun. After some initial online problems, Rockstar released a patch to make the online experience as smooth as possible and there is now very rarely any lag.
Graphics are another massive plus point for the game. They are easily the best in the series so far and they make full use of the high definition technology that the game is built for. The draw distance is fantastic and you can admire the views of the city's landmarks from afar. The character modeling and animation is top notch. Special effects such as explosions bring the action to life and are as realistic as you could hope for in a videogame.
As always, the audio in the game is brilliant. The radio stations offer a wide mix of musical genres, whether you are on a rampage to russian dance music or enjoying a peaceful drive to the latest Kanye West song, you will not be disappointed. The voice acting in the game and on the radio is perfect. It has the perfect mix between comedy and seriousness with hilarious radio commercials and dramatic voice acting, this game really does deliver. Sound effects are spot on and add to the realism that the game has boasted so much about.
It seems almost inconceivable that Rockstar can put a foot wrong with the GTA series and the return to Liberty City is another step in the right direction. The game is simply enjoyable with a brilliant storyline, breathtaking graphics, stunning audio and very realistic gameplay.