"I'm looking for that special someone."
Game: Grand Theft Auto IV& Episodes from Liberty City
Developer: Rockstar North
Rating: Mature
Platforms: Xbox 360 & PS3
M.S.R.P: 39.99
Ever since Rockstar announced "GTA V" people have been eagerly awaiting more details about the upcoming entry. Besides a trailer being released, the most info we have to go on are rumors and lies spread by fans. I for one am excited to see the next chapter in the GTA universe and I am celebrating with GTA IV the complete edition. Originally released in 2008, this edition carries both the original story of IV and the add ons, "The Ballad of Gay Tony" and "The Lost and The Damned". Is this a joy ride you should pay for? We'll find out.
Story:
There are three stories to GTA IV told by different protagonists which intertwine at different points. The original story of GTA IV revolves around a serbian immigrant named Niko Bellic. He arrives at Liberty City (a city fashioned after New York) to start life anew away from the debt he owed mobsters in Europe. Living with his cousin he hopes to have an honest job, however his cousins gambling addiction and debts lure Niko back into a life of crime, to which he and his cousin must do their best to survive in a city where money is everything.
The writing is spectacular and the game is the most mature entry in the series to date. While there is still alot of the GTA society satire to be found, in terms of how Niko interacts with the world is more realistic than cartoony. The game is essentially a commentary on the American way of life, its capitalistic greed, its unrealistic oppourtunities. While all GTA games require one to suspend their disbelief, GTA IV unlike the last games doesn't feel like too far of a stretch. You sympathize with this character and in the end, you want him to win, which is a rarity for the jerks the series usually has you control.
Grade: A
Gameplay:
The gameplay has remained, in principal relatively the same since GTA III. In an open world map you control the character and the game allows you to go anywhere you please. You steal cars to get to locations faster, or take cabs or trains. And yet there are tiny details the game goes for, that make it a memorable experience. The streets are populated with pedestrains who will do everything from, carrying a bag of groceries, talking on celphones, having conversations or even being bums sleeping under some shade. One can walk down the street and get hot dogs, pay a subway musician some change or even simply take a train ride. This game has a massive potential of violence to be sure, but the creators went up and beyond to make this feel like a real breathing world, and it shows.
In terms of combat, the series has finally been upgraded. In this entry you can autolock onto enemies easier and a dynamic cover system has been put in place. Litterally anything you see in the city you can use as cover in a gun fight. (From a nearby dumpster to the car your driving). Driving itself has also changed as the shoulder buttons now accelarte and decelerate the car to create a more realistic feel. ( As opposed to the usual buttons) There are also tons of mini games to play, like bowling, darts and pool and each have so much detail they can be games on their own. If you played GTA before you know what to expect and you will have a blast.
Grade: A
Graphics and sound:
Unfortunately the graphics in GTA IV are starting to look a little dated. While this version of GTA IV actually upscales the details to a degree (yes there is a noticeable difference in this version compared to a regular version of gta) when compared to more recent games like Red Dead Redemption or even Mass Effect 3, the game does not look as spectacular as it did when it first game out. That is not to say that it isn't still stunning, it merely got old.
The music however is why I run to buy GTA games when they first come out. The games radio stations have the greatest songs ever made and fit the atmosphere the game is trying to make. It plays everything from cool jazz to indie rock, to kanye west hip hop and even bob marley. The music and sounds will blow you away and that is something that has to be considered.
Grade: B
Verdict:
Buy this game. If you already have GTA IV and the dlc episodes, then I suppose it is a waste of money to buy it again. However if you havent, sell your GTA IV copy and pick up this one. (Especially f you havent even played GTA IV yet) get this and you wont regret it.
Final Grade: A-
Is it worth your money: If you're new to the series yes! If you already own all the episodes and an original disc, save your money.
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