Grand Theft Auto 4 is the first GTA game to come to the next gen consoles, however some of the features found on the previous versions at lacking in this game and is named by me as "GTA 3 with better visuals"
Plot: Niko Bellic (The character you play) is a Serbian immigrant who was previously a veteren of the Bosnion War. Since then he has joined the life of crime. He moves to the city of oppertunity Liberty City and moves in with his cousin Ramon. Ramon is a bum who lied to Niko before he arrived about his riches and luxeries. The truth his that hes constantly in debt with gangsters and can hardly provide for himself.
It is then later revealed in the game that you are in search of the person he blames for betraying his old army unit, Florian Cravic. So during his stay in Liberty City Niko constantly does favors and work for some of Ramons associates and bosses hoping that sooner or later someone might have some information and Florians whereabouts.
What did i think
of the plot? To me the plot seemed very average, something that you've seen in lots of movies. However there are some twists in the movie that do seem to jump you off you feet because of the excitement. Also the people you get to know and work for do give a lot of information about themself and their pasts which seem to add a lot to the main plotline.
How was the voice acting? The voice acting was very good. Not as well done as seen in some franchises like "Metal Gear Solid". But the voice acting is well done enough to match their characters. However you would think that a game that had a high production value of £100 million would have had more attention in its voice acting. The voice acting if the civiliand seem to get irritating, because a lot of their lines are repeated by other civilians to the crowd doesn't seem realistic and so breaks the enviroment of the game.
How was the visuals? Visually GTA is a stunning looking game. The RAGE engine works brilliantly on the next-gen consoles and it shows beautifully on GTA 4. The city itself is huge!! you will only understand how huge by getting on a helicopter and seeing it from above. When witnessing this its shocking to know that a huge city like this is active at all times and that the game has no load times during the game. The game also features the "Havok Physics System" which truely give the character models life, what i mean by this is that if you shoot a character on the leg they will be limping or if you run away this their car they will hold on to it. This make the more seem more realistic.
How is the gameplay? The gameplay is a real step up and the best feature of GTA 4. The targeting system has been upgraded so that you can use the classical lock-on system or if you prefer a free aim bode. The shooting in GTA 4 is also similar to Gears of War and Uncharted Drakes Fortune in that it has a duck and cover system. This works beautifully and is shocking that you will later realise that this was truly missing from the previous games. Driving has also been upgraded in that it is more realistic similar to Gran Turismo.
How is the online multiplayer? Although its not the feature that i spend most of my time on i have to say that it is a load of fun. I mostly spend my time and freerun where me and my friends can just reak havoc as we please. The multiplayer can consist of players up to 16 which is a lot for a sand-box game.
Are there are extra features not seen in other GTA games? There are many features, like the new targeting system, the duck and cover system. But the main feature has to be the mobile phone which is given to you by Roman. With it you can call or recieve characters that you have encountered, Or call the emergency services. The also contained its own tv channels with actual running shows for example a stand up comedy performed by the great Kat Williams. Or you can browse around at the halarious in game internet with made up websites or spoofs of other websites.
Overall What do you think of the game? I think that the game is fun while it lasts. The game can get boring after a while this is because of repetative missions and tasks. Also most of the customisation found in San Andreas like Cars, Gym have been removed therefore reducing the amount of customisation. But the level of realism can make this a fun game expecially when it comes to cop chases. Also multiplayer is a must see because its so much more fun when you reak havoc in liberty city with a friend. So overall i rate this game a Must Buy!!
Pictures of Grand Theft Auto 4 (PS3)
Beautiful in-game Render
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
What does the American Dream mean today? For Niko Bellic fresh off the boat from Europe, ... more
it is the hope he can escape his past. For his cousin, Roman, it is the vision that together they can find fortune in Liberty City, gateway to the land of opportun...
Advantages: Superb graphics, mass multiplayer modes, pure freedom, and excellent music/sound Disadvantages: Weak storyline, sometimes too realistic, and nothing to do when game is completed
Advantages: Superb graphics, mass multiplayer modes, pure freedom, and excellent music/sound Disadvantages: Weak storyline, sometimes too realistic, and nothing to do when game is completed
Advantages: Arguably the best selection of games of any current console. Great HD graphics. Disadvantages: Hardware may still be somewhat unreliable. Lacks innovations specific to the Wii and PS3.
Phantom_Wombat 07.04.2009 (06.04.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
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