If any game deserves its own thread, it's this one.
Already got your copy ? I got mine (Xbox 360) on Saturday since I was lucky enough to find an earlier-selling shop.
I am not the greatest GTA-freak on earth, sure i've played Vice City, San Andreas and a little bit of GTA III and they were fun, but GTA IV puts the whole franchise on a whole new level. It's way more than just an update in graphics.
I especially disliked San Andreas for its "black gangstaz in da hood"-setting, I think it was nothing but dumb. Storytelling has never been a strong point in the series, but that's changed now. The characters aren't over the top anymore, but believable and when reviews pointed out that players would care about the characters, I was sceptical. But it's true. Especially Niko Bellic, the game's protagonist is a really lovely guy IMO although he's done "many bad things in his life" as he puts it. I only finished 10 % of the game, but for the first time, i'm truly interested in a GTA-story.
The amount of detail found in Liberty City is astounding. For example while I was driving around I hit a traffic light post, knocked it over and you could see the cables being ripped off and the flashes produced by electricity. The lighting effects on the cars are also great to look at. Speaking about cars, every model feels differently when driving and slowly turning yours into a wreck is great fun because of all the bruises.
When I tried to steal a car, a pedestrian ran up to me and started beating me up to help the guy I tried to steal the car from. Pedestrians interact with each other realistically and don't walk like zombies anymore (do you still remember the green-haired "zombies" in San Andreas' Grove Street ? xD ). People will use their newspapers as shelter when it starts to rain, and also make calls using their mobile phones. I even remember a guy answering a mobile phone call speaking German.
Yesterday I was chased by the police and stole a motobike to escape. While looking at the map for a second I hit the back of the car in front of me, flew over the car and landed on the car's hood which made the woman driving scream:"Oh my god no ! This is my first car !"
In contrast to previous GTA games, I also like the humor in IV very much. I won't spoil any jokes since it's way cooler if you hear them in-game, but I've been lying on the floor about a dozen times already.
If you own a Playstation 3 or an Xbox 360 you should at least rent IV to check it out, but you have to play this game if you get the chance.
So what's everyone's view on Rockstar's latest blockbuster ? Already got it ? planning to ? what's your opinion about it ? what have you experienced in this wonderful metropolis that is Liberty City ? Share your thoghts.
