Grand Theft Auto 4: Seventh Installment

Pack your bags everyone. We’re going to Liberty City. GTA4 is the 7th installment (not counting the ones for the PSP) of the critically acclaimed and widely controversial series. Everyone had high hopes for this game (including myself) and I’m not going to make you wait. This is probably the best installment yet.

GTA4 starts out with main character Niko Bellic arriving by boat to Liberty City, GTA’s twisted version of New York. Upon arriving you are greeted by your cousin Roman who has been pestering Niko to visit the city forever.

Niko finds that life in Liberty City isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be, with the mafia, the shootings, and the drugs. It’s actually quite the dreary place. Through Roman, Niko finds odd jobs (some legal, some not so much) to do around the city. The story then takes several twists when betrayal and dishonor slowly make life worse for Niko and his associates.

Fans Of GTA might be surprised and amazed with the gameplay changes. First is the aiming system. It is now easier to target your enemy thanks to the new lock-on feature. You can now target specific body parts instead of just aiming and hoping for the best like in the older games.

Another big change is with car handling. Every car has its own weight distribution making car choice important. You don’t want to use an SUV (which is very top-heavy) during a car chase. Likewise, you don’t want to use a convertible during a gunfight. GTA4 makes everything relevant, and I mean everything. No more just hopping into parked cars. If the car is locked, you first have to smash out the window and (if need be) hotwire your new ride. You will even notice your brakes squealing if you’ve pushed your car too hard.

The last thing I’m going to mention is your cell phone. Once you start meeting people you can get their numbers and call them to hang out with you. Your phone is also a major part of getting missions. Sometimes the only way to start a new mission is to wait for a phone call.

I could go on and on about all of the little details that make this a great game, but there’s not enough room. I suggest you try it for yourself and take it all in.

Graphically, GTA4 is fantastic. Everything is detailed, from the zipper on Niko’s jacket to the feathers on the pigeons--this is the most visually spectacular game I’ve played in years. The only problem I have is with the facial animations. While spectacular, sometimes a person’s face will stretch while they talk, but who cares when everything is so pretty.

Controls are great--once you get used to them. At first, I was pressing the wrong buttons all the time, often resulting in my death. Sure it’s frustrating, but once you get the hang of everything, you won’t have a thing to complain about. My only gripe is shooting while driving. For some reason, it feels really clumsy (might just be the X-Box version). Other than this, the controls are super once you get the hang of them.

I have a couple of my own disclaimers about this game. First off, this game is not for kids. Please don’t let your young children play this. The content is very explicit ( I’m not going into details) and is intended for mature players. Second, I didn’t get to try the multiplayer but I hear it’s awesome. If I hear more or if I actually play it, I’ll write a review.

So in conclusion, this game is awesome. It’s going to be hard to beat for game of the year. So if you’re old enough, try this beast out. You won’t be let down.

Worth It?

Grand Theft Auto 4
Platform: X-Box 360 and PS3
Rating: M (Mature)
Price: $59.99
Final Score: 9.5 out of 10

Posted 1 month, 3 weeks ago by Zach Hannestad | Email | View Zach Hannestad's profile.

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