Grand Theft Auto 4 (GTA IV) (Xbox 360)

Author's product rating:   

Gameplay/Playability	Excellent - great gameplay & playability
Graphics	Excellent Graphics - visually stunning
Sound	Excellent - makes full use of my speakers
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Immersive story, interesting characters, excellent graphics
Disadvantages:	Slightly weak multiplayer

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

GTA 4 Review

History

Grand theft auto was first introduced onto the PC platform in 1997. It was then introduced onto the popular console platform, 'Playstation,' a couple of months later. It was created by at the time a relatively unknown game company originating in Scotland named DMA designs. The name of the company then later changed to Rockstar and Rockstar North. Over the years there have been a number of sequels and add ons in the franchise. Below I have listed all of the games, beginning with the first and given a brief overview of the story. Grand Theft Auto was the first game that used a sandbox style design. This basically means that the gamer is placed in a wide open city or world, where they can approach completing the game their own method. The city is also alive with other people who seem to go around their daily life. They drive their cars and go around the streets at their own will. Even if that means attached to your front bumper. Gamers can attempt missions at their own pace and can complete these missions their own way. They can hide for cover or run around shooting like a madman. Sandbox style games definitely took the game world by storm and continue to do so.

1. Grand Theft Auto - This game was released in 1997 and was set in three main cities. These were Vice City, Liberty City and San Andreas. The game puts the player in the role of a small time crook who is trying to make ends meet by taking jobs from small time mob and gang bosses. In 1998 an expansion pack named, 'GTA London,' was released which placed the player in a 1960's style London setting.
2. Grand Theft Auto 2 - This sequel was released in 1999. This game didn't specify a city, however it was quite futuristic. In this game the player had to choose a gang and ensure that they were loyal to them or face the consequences. This game was released on the PC, Playstation and Dreamcast. A smaller port of the game was later released on the Gameboy Colour.
3. Grand Theft Auto 3 - This game was the one that set new limits in both playability and violence. Due to the graphic nature and excessive violence in the game many politicians were against this game and many media reports were issued stating that players of this game were committing violent acts in real world scenarios. This game was released in 2001 and was firstly placed on the Playstation 2 console and PC. An Xbox port was then later released. Grand Theft Auto 3 was a ground breaking title as it abandoned the typical face a boss and move onto a new level type gameplay which most games had opted for in the past. In order to navigate through a massive 3d sandbox style game they implemented a GPS system which worked exceptionally well. Grand Theft Auto 3 was a massive hit which sold millions of copies and made Rockstar a household name among gamers. This game was based in a fictional American City named Liberty City; however most of the inspiration for this game came from New York.
4. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - After the success of Grand Theft Auto 3 this game was then released in 2002, however it was set in 1986. This game was set in another fictional city named Vice City which was based on Miami. This game put you in the footsteps of Tommy Vacetti, a former mafia associate who has just come out of prison after serving 20 years for a hit which went wrong. Tommy then meets various other characters in the game who help or hinder him in becoming the cocaine boss of Vice City. This game was released on the PC, Playstation 2 and Xbox platforms.
5. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - This game was released in 2004 and was set in California in 1994. This game was one of the most controversial and popular of the series. Again you are placed in control of Carl Johnson who was come to San Andreas to bury his mother who has being murdered and help put his old gang back in control of the city. You soon however get involved with a crooked cop and find it harder and harder to survive in a city run by gang members and crooked politicians. This game was released firstly on the Playstation 2 and then the Xbox.
6. Two more games have being released for the Playstation 2 and the PSP named, "Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories," and "Grand Theft Auto: Vice city stories." These games weren't major releases and only acted to keep the appetite of gamers satisfied until Grand Theft Auto 4 was released. These games helped fill in gaps created in Grand Theft Auto 3 and Grand Theft Auto Vice City.

***Intro***

Due to the popularity of the previous grand theft auto games since the first ever 3d adventure in grand theft auto 3, people have been wondering how Rockstar games could keep this franchise alive and recently how they could make the transition from older systems to next generation systems. Next generation systems have much more power than previous gaming consoles which means even more possibilities for game designers and programmers. However we have seen many game franchises find it difficult to move onto next generation systems. The problem seems that too many developers put too much emphasis on graphics rather than gameplay. People do want to see nice, smooth graphics on these new consoles, however not at a cost to gameplay and fun.

Next generation consoles have also opened up even more the advantages of online gaming. With Xbox live and Playstation 3's equivalent providing many gamers additional hours of gameplay it is quickly becoming a part of every new game released. Apart from Saints Row which was produced by THQ and Violation, no other open world, sandbox game has offered online capability. Many people were dubious about how Rockstar would implement this into the game and whether or not it would work.

It is no understatement claiming that Grand Theft Auto 4 was the most eagerly anticipated game in 2008. In the UK in its first day of release it sold over 600,000 copies on both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. This was unprecedented for a game and these sales figures also included people who had pre ordered the game. Many stores were stating that they would not be selling this game for the first two weeks unless people were to pre order it. That is how much demand this game received. Many people in the UK who didn't pre order the game were left disappointed when it came to release day and they expected to walk into a popular entertainment store such as GAME or HMV and were told that they would have to wait another two weeks for new deliveries. According to GAME the Xbox 360 version of the game sold more copies than the Playstation 3 version, however both consoles versions sold extremely well.

This game was always going to be a big seller. However through independent gaming websites such as IGN and gamespot who received this game a few days early reviewing it and crediting it a 10, out of a 10 rating system definitely helped. No other game in history has ever being rated 10 out of 10 by this website and it is a feat which many thought was impossible. Both of these websites are notorious for picking games to pieces and being reliable sources of information. When they themselves were blown away by this game, fans went wild.

There were many rumours and false files on the internet for this game before release; however no pirated copies managed to get onto the black market. This in itself was quite an achievement for a games company.

***Setting***

Many game developers who have tried to create a game similar to grand theft auto have often failed due to the location which it is set in. It simply isn't enough to put numerous weapons in a city and let players run around in it. Streets need to have a sense of feeling. Parks need to have a real atmosphere to them. People have to be walking around doing their normal day to day activities such as eating, reading the newspaper, smoking etc. This is where Grand Theft Auto games have always come out on top. It is obvious that they have always put a lot of effort and thought into the setting for their games. All of the games though have not being based on any real cities. They have being stereotypical views of various American cities all blended into one. This has worked in the past, however with Grand Theft Auto 4 it is clear that Rockstar have tried to ensure that everything is as believable as it can be. From the cars to the weapons. It is only correct that the city is also as believable as it can be.

Grand Theft Auto 4 is set in a fictional American city named Liberty City. Liberty City has being used in previous games in the series; however it now has a whole new revamped look and feel. It is heavily modelled off current day New York and New Jersey. It includes the boroughs of Brooklyn (Broker), Queens (Dukes), Manhattan (Algonquin), Bronx (Bohan) and New Jersey (Alderney). Off course all of these boroughs are now even grittier, groughsome and violent as ever before. Hell has erupted on the streets of Liberty City and it isn't pretty!

Liberty City truly resembles New York and the city itself could have being a game where you simply walk around and admire the scenes in front of you. Not being from New York I cannot really say, however I have read on many websites people from New York stating that they have being able to see their own homes modelled into this game. That must be pretty strange and euphoric at the same time. Liberty city doesn't just borrow locations from New York though it also borrows various famous landmarks. These landmarks which have being renamed include:

• Statue of Happiness - Statue of Liberty
• Star Junction - Times Square
• Broker Bridge - Brooklyn Bridge

There are many, many more landmarks and parts of New York's skyline replicated to high detail and effectiveness in this game. I won't include them all though as some are truly astonishing and surprising as you find them yourself. The statue of happiness which is holding a coffee cup has to be one of the most impressive and comical remakes ever in video game history.

In order to truly capture the atmosphere of New York many different forms of people have being included in the game. Business men now walk among foreigners trying to make deals. Tourists also mingle at all the popular tourist spots trying to find their way around while being mugged and car jacked by opportunists. You may be standing eating a hot dog while a drug dealer speeds past you with four police cars hot on his tail. This game truly echoes what it feels like to be part of New York Cities day to day goings on. Below is a brief breakdown of what to expect in each of the city's five boroughs:

1. Broker - Here you will find churches, hospitals and housing projects. All appears to be calm and peaceful in this district. Everyone seems to be mucking in to clean up its image as well as the local immigrants. Be warned though not everything is as it seems.
2. Dukes - Here you will find the airport, nice people smiling and expensive houses that only crooked politicians can afford. Don't let the calm sub urban environment fool you though. Those nice gardens and patios are rich with blood. Hopefully not yours though.
3. Algonquin - This is the finance capital of Liberty city. Brokers, bankers and insurance agents all flock to this part of the town to make millions. Tourists come here in their thousands to visit all the famous landmarks. Many opportunists also come here. Tourists, bankers, they all equal money for the smart criminal.
4. Bohan - This borough has been dragged down to hell and spat back out. This area is ripe for re development; however no one has the nerve to even go into this area, let alone re develop it. If you are caught in this area all of the guides and police forces state to stay calm and make sure you aim that rocket launcher where you want it to hit!
5. Alderney - This borough includes small houses and large industrial plants. If you ever want to escape the city and view twisted steel in all its many forms then come to this area.
The city in Grand Theft Auto 4 is remarkable. It is the most detailed and immersive city ever found in a video game.

*** Story Line***

This game unlike other previous games in the series has quite an unusual story line. Roman Bellic who we meet early in the game moved to America a long time ago from an Eastern European city which we are never told of its name as it is only referred to as 'the old country.' Roman is in search of the American dream which he has seen on many American television shows. Money, fast cars, women, condos, all of it. When he arrives in America however he soon realises that it is not as easy and you have to work for every cent. He starts his own cab firm and soon becomes known in the local community as a legitimate business man. He is however slightly eccentric and likes to tell his family back in the old country that he is living the American dream. His aunty, Mrs Bellic and cousin Niko Bellic believe that he has fast cars, women, a mansion with a swimming pool and all the power that comes with it.

Niko, however lives a different life to the one his cousin lives (mainly in his head). He joined the army as a young man and soon became a grizzled war veteran. He saw incidents which made him cold and bitter to the stomach. He believes he is cursed to live a terrible life of both poverty and murder. He was also backstabbed by a former friend in his regiment. This meant that all but he and his former friend were left alive from an ambush. He never saw that treacherous backstabber again; however his every waking moment is filled with the want for revenge. Revenge for himself and his comrades who died. After the war ended Niko similarly to other ex service men in his country couldn't find work. He decided to turn to a life of crime to pay his way. By his own words he has hurt people, killed people and smuggled people. He has worked with many high powered Russian mobsters including one Mr Petrovich who blames Niko for a smuggling boat that sunk. Niko though with nothing else left to lose decided to join up with his cousin in America after working on a boat which docks in Liberty city and enjoy some of his cousin's wealth and good fortune.

Upon arriving in Liberty city Niko soon realises that all those letters that he read from his cousin Roman were simply fantasy. The reality is that Roman runs a down market, dusty old cab firm and lives in squalor. To quote a line from the game Niko states that the only thing big in Romans life is "the cockroaches." Instead of a mansion Niko finds himself in a small flat in a rough part of town. Even worse the flat is dirty, cold and damp. Niko soon realises that the American Dream isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Roman also enjoys gambling. However he isn't good at it and also enjoys borrowing money from local loan sharks. Roman however isn't very physically gifted and when these violent loan sharks come looking for their money he often is on the receiving end of a vicious attack. In order to combat this Roman seeks the help of a local Russian mobster, Vlad. Vlad provides protection at high rates which Roman with his gambling debts simply can't afford to pay back. This now means that Roman has loan sharks and Russian mobsters wanting him dead. In order to pay back Roman's debts Niko is forced to work for Vlad, however the jobs a Russian mobster needs doing aren't washing his windows. Niko soon finds himself in the underworld of American organised crime simply fighting to keep his and his cousins head above water. He must shoot and kill his way out of debt or die trying. The story takes many twists and turns as the player plays through the game and many you will not see coming.

***Characters***

The people over at Rockstar games have spent a considerable amount of time working on the characters in order to ensure that they are life like and have as many human traits as possible. Gone are the days of simple artificial intelligence in games which make no difference to how you play the game. These characters will influence you and also provide you with real story lines that play out like a Hollywood film. Characters in this game provide emotions such as jealousy, betrayal, friendship and trust or the lack of it. Each character in the game feels unique and has their own personality which will alter the way you interact with them and the outcome of various missions and activities. Each character has individual needs and expresses themselves in the game differently. This game has all the character plots of a movie film and in some cases the characters are more developed and interesting than a movie. Be warned, however many characters will change throughout the game. Don't think that just because someone is smiling to your face that they actually like you...

Below I have included a list of the main characters that you will meet early on in the game and a brief description about them:

Niko Bellic:

This is the playable character in the game and one you will get to know intimately. He is a character that you want to sympathise with and find yourself easily doing just that. He originates from an Eastern European country and fought for numerous years in many wars. This has left him cold and hard to the ways of the world. Seeking a new start and solace in America, Niko soon realises that no matter in the world you are you will still have the same baggage.

Roman Bellic:

Roman Bellic is Niko's cousin and even though he lies about his wealth and position in America, he is a character you soon begin to like and empathise with. He does however have moments where you want to throttle him. He is also the reason why Niko finds himself submerged in America's seedy underworld. He is an optimist though who won't let anything keep him down. Will six feet worth of dirt keep him down though?

Malory Bardas:

Malory is Romans girlfriend and is the only part of his life he tells the truth about. She is beautiful and hard working. She and Roman seem to have an 'open' relationship though, which may result in trouble in the future for both Roman and Niko.

Vladimir Glebov:

Vlad is a Russian mobster who provides protection for Roman at heavy prices with interest if he doesn't pay. Vlad likes to see himself as a woman's man with a lot of influence in Liberty City. The truth however is that no one particularly holds him in high regard and think of him as a low level Russian who is always sucking up to the other higher members of the Russian criminal underworld.

Little Jacob:

Little Jacob is a Jamaican arms dealer who speaks with a Jamaican accent that even Bob Marley couldn't understand. He is a friend of Romans who Niko meets while working as a taxi man. Being an arms dealer he could be useful in the future to Niko. Niko however must ensure he doesn't become too intoxicated from the fumes from Little Jacobs 'special cigarette.'

Above is only a small set of the characters that you will meet early in the game. Many, many more characters each with unique traits and personalities will be opened up later on in the game.

***Relationships***

As you progress through the game Niko will meet many characters. Many of these characters for some reason will take an interest in Niko and want to become his friend. In order to allow people to contact Niko he is given an old mobile phone from his cousin early on in the game. This can be upgraded to a more advanced version later on in the game. Many characters will contact Niko through this phone to arrange activates with him. You can also contact your friends to ask them out for a drink for example. By taking various friends to places that they enjoy they become fonder of you. In many games doing this doesn't have any real significance. It does in this game though.
By taking friends out to activities that they like you can unlock special abilities.

******SPOILER******

For example if you become friends with little Jacob and he likes you he will provide you with weapons at a discounted rate. This becomes extremely useful throughout the game, especially as Little Jacob will come and find you.

******SPOILER******

You can also take girlfriends out on dates which will unlock special abilities. Who knows maybe Niko can stay over for coffee?
You can take friends out on various activities such as:
• Pool
• Darts
• Drinking - Don't drive though
• Eating at various different food vendors around the city
• Bowling
• Comedy shows
In this game you really should nurture friendships to ensure you receive the full benefits of their friendship.

***Gameplay***

With the title of the game it is pretty obvious that somewhere in the game you would be stealing cars. There are two ways to steal cars. You can either car jack them as people drive past in them or you can simply break a park cars window and hot wire it. The later of the options is the more favoured one in order to ensure that police aren't notified. Driving is done simply with the Xbox 360 version of the game by pressing the right trigger to accelerate and pressing the left trigger to brake. In order to perform a hand break turn simply press the A button. These controls can be changed however through the in game options. The driving system on this game has being completely revamped from previous versions. In this game driving cars and motorbikes feels more like the real thing. This is hard to explain to people who have never played computer games before, however for those who have played computer games the old arcade style driving has gone and being replaced with a more Furza style driving style. This is difficult to use if you are used to the older style of gameplay, however you soon pick it up. Casual gamers don't worry as it is pretty much pick up and play controls.

Many sandbox titles have often failed miserably when it comes to shooting controls. Grand Theft Auto 4 has improved from previous instalments greatly. In order to shoot the user simply presses the right trigger. If in a car the left bumper works surprisingly well. In order to view where to shoot in the car the right analogue stick is used. Aiming has been done through the left trigger. This works remarkably well when on foot however you can't auto aim when in a car. A new feature of the game is a covering system. This helps to add to dramatic gun fights when playing. In order to take cover at the nearest object the right button is used. The player can then either free aim around objects or auto aim and pop around from the cover and shoot. This cover system works well when there are few objects which can be automatically classed as cover objects, however when there are large amounts of objects near Niko sometimes the game glitches and you find Niko taking cover or crouching near objects you don't want to. This can lead to sudden deaths.

Weapons are galore in this game. There are over twenty different weapons. These include pistols, knives, bars, sniper rifles, automatic rifles and the famous and loved rocket launcher. All of these weapons are available for you as soon as the game starts, however some may be more difficult to find than others.

As the game is based on cars there are plenty of cars and motorbikes at your disposal. There aren't any actual licensed cars in the game; however there are many imitations which are extremely similar. For example instead of a Suzuki motor bike there is a NRG. There are many cars. Three doors, five doors, SUV's, supercars etc. You will often see old bangers rolling next to high class sports cars drove by only the most rich and famous in Liberty city. Each car just like in real life handles differently. For example a bus tends to be harder to corner than a super car when running away from the police. If it wasn't enough that you have to remember how different cars handle you also have to take the weather into account. In this game the weather will change. It could be a bright sunny day or an overcast day. Storms can also happen and as the rain hits the floor the cars grip will be affected.
As well as driving cars, boats also make a return in this game. There are four main types of boats; Barges, speedboats, fishing boats and yachts. Some of these boats are more suitable for different missions. For example no one wants to run away from the police after killing a mob boss in a fishing boat. I think a speedboat would be more suitable. Boats handle similar to cars with each boat having its own unique driving capabilities.

Helicopters also play an important role in this game. There are many different helicopters however I am not going to say what they are as this could ruin some of the playability and fun factor for you. Helicopter are easy to fly and extremely fun. In order to ascend the right trigger is used and the left trigger is used to descend. The analogue stick along with the right and left bumper buttons are then used to control the helicopters flight path. Helicopters are a great way to see the city's skyline and also to cover large distances in short time across the vast city.

There are vast amounts of vehicles in the game and it will take days to try them all out and even longer to master them.
The other main aspect of the game is off course the missions. In order to progress through the game you will have to complete missions. These are in the form of going to see someone and then them telling you what the problem is and then Niko going and doing whatever is needed. For example early on in the game you are told that a local shop owner isn't paying their protection money. This is a problem therefore you have to drive their and then throw a brick through their window to remind them of who's boss in the neighbourhood. Missions in this game are extremely varied and you will not be bored with them. Many missions especially towards the end of the game can be quite difficult, however the difficulty in the game is manageable and isn't past the capabilities of any gamer who plays it on a regular basis. The missions can towards then end become slightly tedious however they are still enjoyable and worthwhile. After playing each mission successfully you truly feel rewarded when the missions are completed.

Apart from the main storyline there are also side missions such as driving drug packages around for Little Jacob, however they are only side missions, but they do provide more game time and enjoyment. Some of the missions upon completion also provide unique rewards.
During the game you can take part in various activities which will provide hours of enjoyment and could be a game in themselves. Below I have included a list of these and explained them slightly:

• Pool - This can be played either with a friend or on your own. The rules are simply. Pot a set of coloured or striped balls and then the black. Do this before your opponent and you win. The aiming system in this game is easy to control and the actual movement of potting the ball is done through the analogue stick. Pull it back and release it to shoot. This works however it can be problematic at times.
• Darts - The object of the game is to throw your darts and try and finish on a double. The aiming is extremely easy for this mini game and it could have being made slightly harder in order to improve the game. It is slightly too easy to win these games.
• Bowling - You can decide to either bowl a full game or half a game. The controls are again easy for this game and in order to control the speed at which the ball is released the analogue stick is pulled back and then snapped forward and released quickly. This sounds complicated however it is soon picked up. Once the bowling ball is released you can alter its course slightly with the right analogue stick. This game can become addictive and the difficulty is spot on.
• Comedy Shows - The comedy shows feature real comedians and acts from all over the world. These include Ricky Gervais and Kat Williams. These comedy shows are extremely funny; however look away if you are easily offended. The amount of content is outstanding and can keep you amused for hours.
• Watching TV - In this game you can also watch TV from within your apartment. This sounds incredibly boring but you can sit and watch the shows for hours and be happily entertained.

There are television shows that mimic real life events and shows. Again don't watch this television show if you are easily offended or female.

Throughout the game Niko will commit various crime which the police won't be happy about. A star system is used. The more stars you have, then the greater the resources the police will throw at you to capture or kill you. Don't expect for the police to take kindly to killing a fellow officer though. In order to avoid police capture or a trip to the morgue you have to run away from the police and ensure that they can't see you. You can then either wait until the police lose interest in you or hideout at a local pay and spray car shop and have a new paint job while you're there.
In terms of gameplay I really have to applaud this game. Every element of this game comes together and works in union with each other.

***Sound / Music***

Any game which is trying to be as realistic as it possibly can be needs to have good sound effects and noises. Grand Theft Auto 4 does these wonderfully. I have to say that I haven't heard one sound or effect that didn't sound correct or fit in with the environment and setting. All gun sounds sound realistic and you can even hear bullets ricocheting from walls and nearby objects. Different noises are made for when bullets hit different materials like wood, concrete and metal for example. This is the great amount of detail that Rockstar have put into this game. You can even hear rubbish swishing past you in the street. I do not admire the sound engineers who helped create this game. There must be hours of sound effects included in the game.
Previous grand theft auto games have often used popular actors such as Danny Dyer for voice casting. In this game however Rockstar have decided to use lesser known people for their voice casting. I feel this has helped give the game more originality. The voice acting is especially good even in places where some characters speak in a very stereotypical manner. This can be noticed with Romans girlfriend as well as various mafia associates in the game.

When Niko enters any vehicle in the game he can choose to play a radio station. There are various different radio stations within the game which represent different music genres. Most of the music in the game is from lesser known artists and features many independent artists and groups. There a few talk shows which provide very entertaining dialect. There are a total of 19 radio stations. These include:

1. Electro Choc - Electric music
2. Fusion FM - Disco music
3. IF 99 - International funk music
4. JNR Jazz Nation Radio - Jazz music
5. K109 The Studio - Disco and electric music
6. LCHC - Hardcore rock music
7. Liberty Rock Radio - Rock music
8. Massive B - dancehall music
9. Radio Broker - Alternative rock music
10. San Juan Sounds - Latin music
11. The Beat - Rap music
12. The Classics - Classic rap music
13. The Journey - Ambient music
14. The Vibe - R and B music
15. Tuff Gong - Reggae music
16. Vladivostok FM - Eastern European music
17. WKTT - Talk show
18. Public Liberty Radio - Talk show
19. Integrity 2.0 - Talk show

There are hours of music within these radio stations and many humorous talk shows and radio commercials.

***Multiplayer***

Apart from an earlier open world game named "Saints Row," no other open world game has offered online multiplayer capabilities. Unfortunately the main storyline in this game is single player only. However there is a multiplayer option which means you can play in a variety of modes through Xbox Live. Xbox Live requires you to either pay a one off fee to use the service or subscribe and pay £4.99 a month. For more information regarding Xbox Live log onto www.microsoft.com.

This game incorporates a ranking system starting at 0 and working your way to 10. In order to rank up you must earn cash by performing various criminal activities. The ranking system works well, however it does take a considerable amount of time to rank up and receive that prestigious 10.

In order to access multiplayer on this game you simply call on your mobile phone by pressing up on the D - Pad and then select the multiplayer option in the list that appears. It is self explanatory and you shouldn't find difficulty in this. You are then able to select a variety of options which relates to gameplay. Below I have listed these and described them:

1. Player Match - This opens up game modes which can be played where your statistics such as how many people you have killed and how many times you have being killed aren't recorded. This is helpful when you first purchase the game and don't want your statistics showing you to be a weak player. This allows you to get a feel for online play and learn the ins and outs.
2. Ranked Match - This option opens up modes of play where your statistics will be recorded and added to the Rockstar overall leader board. This leader board can then be accessed from the Rockstar Social Club. Players who play in this mode of play are often skilled and have being playing the game for some time.
3. Party - Here you can create a party with your friends over Xbox Live and play in various different modes of play together. This is useful due to the random matchmaking which is used for online play on this game.

I will now list the exact game modes and explain them:

• Free Mode - Here you are placed in the city with up to 24 other players and let run wild. In the pre game lobby the host of the game can select multiple options such as whether or not to have police mixed in with the action. Free mode provides many hours of fun and enjoyment as you and your friends go wild in a living breathing city.
• Death match - This is a free for all with everyone killing everyone else. Run over, shoot or stab to death, it's up to you. Earn money from killing people and then looting them. The player with the most money at the end wins. From 2 - 16 players.
• Team Death match - This is similar to death match however you are put into two teams and the team with the most money at the end wins.
• Car Jack City - Mr Petrovich, a Russian mobster wants certain cars delivered to him. Only thing is he doesn't want to pay for them. With up to 16 players, run the city looking for these cars and deliver them to the Russian. The player with the most money when the time runs out wins.
• Team Car Jack City - Just the same rules as car jack city, however you now must work as a team in order to get these cars and make your money in a wild, wild city.
• Cops N' Crooks - This is a team based game with two teams. One is the cops and the other is the crooks. The cops have to kill all of the crooks before they escape through the city to their escape boat. The crooks must get their as quickly as possible and ensure they stay alive. Each team has a round when they are both the cops and the crooks.
• Mafia Work - In this mode you work for a mafia boss and when he calls, you must perform whatever job he needs doing before the other players do and earn the cash. Jobs vary from smashing cars to killing politicians. With up to 16 players running around working for the mafia it is going to get ugly!
• Team Mafia Work - Exactly the same rules apply as before, however you must work as a team in order to complete the jobs that need doing and earn as much cash as possible.
• Turf War - Both the Russians and the Jamaicans want to run Liberty City. With three neighbourhoods in each borough to control violence is bound to happen. Work in a team to gain control of the city and earn money as you do so. The team with the most money at the end of the game wins. Sounds simple doesn't it.
• Race - Up to 16 players. Race in a variety of vehicles to the finish.
• GTA Race - In true grand theft auto style this is a race where anything goes. Nudge your opponents, pass them on a corner or hell, get out of your vehicle and send a RPG up their exhaust!
• Deal Breaker - Working as a team with three other people you must drive across the city and 'interrupt' a meeting between some bikers and mobsters. I don't think either side will take too kindly to a polite 'Excuse me,' either.
• Hangman's Noose - When a Russian mobster decides to return back to America it is up to you and three other friends to protect him from police forces packing automatic rifles who want to see him bleed. You must get this important man out of harm's way.
• Bomb Da Base 2 - In this game mode you and three other players must show some new crooks that in Liberty city it's all about respect. They are moored on a ship trying to import/export cars back to Russia. Explosive action follows.

Multiplayer also supports microphone chat as well as general game chat. Personally I feel that the multiplayer modes are adequate however don't expect to be playing them months after you purchase the game like Halo 3 or Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare for example.

***Conclusion***

Grand Theft Auto 4 is a game that caused much hype before its release. It is also a game that has lived up to its hype and being able in some areas to surpass it. This game is liked by both the hardcore gamer as well as the casual gamer. Many people who either didn't like previous Grand Theft Auto games or didn't play them have now being introduced to the series in the best possible way. This games offers hours of gameplay from just playing the main missions. This doesn't include side missions, activities and other secret things that can be done in the game. Add to this the time that the player will stand ogling and soaking in the atmosphere and you have a game that can never truly become boring. The team at Rockstar have made a game that I personally feel no other game will surpass. Many will try and many will fail. Even if this game doesn't sound like one you could enjoy it is worth purchasing just to see how Rockstar have implemented textures, sound, music etc. Add to the fray multiplayer and this game will stay in your console for a fair few months. I personally have played through this game multiple times and each time I see something new I haven't seen before or have a new gameplay experience.

Thank you for reading my Review.

NOTE: THIS GAME CONTAINS ACHIEVEMENTS EXCLSUIVE TO THE XBOX 360 CONSOLE.

WARNING: THIS GAME IS NOT FOR PEOPLE UNDER 18. IT DOES CONTAIN SEXUAL REFRENCES, PROFANITY AND EXCESSIVE VIOLENCE.

©Kade Neaverson 2008