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I jumped along with so many other sheep as GTA IV was released last week. Been having a blast playing it. The controls are a bit tighter, the gun fighting and melee is WAY better, and the driving is more fun because it is more realistic (especially if you can manage to pull a few J-turns and side swipe police cars for an effective getaway).
What is really getting me about this title is my actual care for the main character. He's a troubled soul, there's no doubt, but there's a lot of good in him too. He's not a power hungry burgeoning crime lord. He's ex-military, with a dark past, and trouble follows him around like seagulls follow trash barges. Through all of that, he desires to protect his cousin, and his friends, even if it is through violence. Hell, you're only capping gang bangers and mafia mooks (and cops, etc.). Its a dark tale, to be sure, but a very intense one, now that the story is really opening up.
Rockstar has managed to infuse the game with even more social and political satire than the previous games, taking jabs mostly at neo-con ideals (one of the cartoons is Republican Space Rangers, and their directive is to fly across the universe, meet strange aliens, and kill them). As always, the radio stations add an incredible sense of depth and atmosphere to the game. They have a left-wing and a right-wing talk radio station, a wide variety of musical genres (including music from the 'old world' for Niko and Roman). So far, the Jazz station has been the most fun to run from the cops to, or chase down gang members and drug-dealers to the blare of saxophones and drum kits.
The humor is surprisingly sophisticated, and it is no wonder that some of the ultra-fanboys are in an uproar over how "crappy" the game is. One thing is for sure, if all you wanted was to fuck hookers then run them over, or cause massive mayhem, this game is probably not for you. You'd be better off playing Vice City or GTA 3. Although I purchased the game on the strength of the multi-player reviews, the story is so provocative and engrossing, I've not had any interest in hitting up multiplayer yet.
The game took a bit to grow on me, but now that it has, I am thoroughly enjoying every minute of game play, from buying new clothes, to hanging out with Niko's friends, to running drugs and guns, to pulling some fancy driving moves to escape the police... it was VERY worth my 60+ dollars.
What is really getting me about this title is my actual care for the main character. He's a troubled soul, there's no doubt, but there's a lot of good in him too. He's not a power hungry burgeoning crime lord. He's ex-military, with a dark past, and trouble follows him around like seagulls follow trash barges. Through all of that, he desires to protect his cousin, and his friends, even if it is through violence. Hell, you're only capping gang bangers and mafia mooks (and cops, etc.). Its a dark tale, to be sure, but a very intense one, now that the story is really opening up.
Rockstar has managed to infuse the game with even more social and political satire than the previous games, taking jabs mostly at neo-con ideals (one of the cartoons is Republican Space Rangers, and their directive is to fly across the universe, meet strange aliens, and kill them). As always, the radio stations add an incredible sense of depth and atmosphere to the game. They have a left-wing and a right-wing talk radio station, a wide variety of musical genres (including music from the 'old world' for Niko and Roman). So far, the Jazz station has been the most fun to run from the cops to, or chase down gang members and drug-dealers to the blare of saxophones and drum kits.
The humor is surprisingly sophisticated, and it is no wonder that some of the ultra-fanboys are in an uproar over how "crappy" the game is. One thing is for sure, if all you wanted was to fuck hookers then run them over, or cause massive mayhem, this game is probably not for you. You'd be better off playing Vice City or GTA 3. Although I purchased the game on the strength of the multi-player reviews, the story is so provocative and engrossing, I've not had any interest in hitting up multiplayer yet.
The game took a bit to grow on me, but now that it has, I am thoroughly enjoying every minute of game play, from buying new clothes, to hanging out with Niko's friends, to running drugs and guns, to pulling some fancy driving moves to escape the police... it was VERY worth my 60+ dollars.
