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View Full Version : Jakuza's Review Corner: Grand Theft Auto 4.


Jakuza
05-09-2008, 11:48 PM
So I guess its safe to say I've completely beaten (the main storyline) of GTAIV. The game is nothing less than amazing. Right now I shall bring you the full review of GTAIV in hopes of it giving you an opinion on wanting to buy it or not.

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Before I get into the review, I noticed something; All of the games with chronological numbers, GTA1, 2, 3, and 4 were all set in Liberty City. Vice City and San Andreas were set in two pretty different places. I think this is why Rockstar didn't include VC and SA in the chronological series, leaving them as side stories.

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http://www.slipperybrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/grand-theft-auto-4-sales.jpg


The Story
This time around in GTA, your back in Liberty City. Your playing the role of Niko Bellic, a European man who seeks "The American Dream". His cousin, Roman, tells him about all the finer things in America, and to come there. Seeking a better like, Niko sets off on his trip.

When you arrive, your greeted by your cousin, Roman, and this oh-so "awesome life" he lives. When you, Niko, get back to the apartment, you realize Roman was completely lying about what he had; hot cars, woman, money, and a mansion. Roman explains to Niko that this dream he talked about through emails is 'coming', and Niko is going to help him achieve it. This is where the story takes off into a plot about money, betrayal, surprise, and revenge. I'll leave the rest of the story telling to you, if you play it.

If anything, I rank this storyline to be the HIGHEST of all the GTAs. Its so in dept, and it keeps you locked in for however long you play this. Unlike the other GTAs, where its mission, travel, mission, travel; The story in this game rises above all the storylines from all the GTAs put together. It'll make you angry, sad, happy, and keep you laughing through it all.

Perfect - 10/10


The Graphics
As most of you may know, GTA isn't known for its graphics, but just as a fun series, itself. This time around, Rockstar put a hell of a lot of detail into in GTAIV. The characters' looks are of gringy or dirty art style. New York..or..Liberty City is beautifully designed and the environment is massive. Facial expressions are perfect, cars are shinny, the sun at different times are amazing, everything looks lifelike, and its just has this overall goodness. The only flaw I see is the lighting at times. It can get VERY dark in the game, and you'd have to close all the curtains/binds in your house in order to see anything. I suggest turning up the brightness and contrast if you were to play this game.

Rocket launcher and grenade explosions are AWESOME.

Good graphics wasn't something I was truly expecting from GTAIV, but Rockstar pulled it off - 8/10


The Sound
Grand Theft Auto is known to have great voice acting. Yet again, they come at full force with a lot of good foreign/non-American accent voice acting. There are a handful of non-American characters in this story, and little American ones. In my opinion, I think this time around, the voice acting is at its best. Emotion is shown perfectly through the dialogs. Insult me for this, but the added LARGE amounts of cursing/swearing really adds on to the want of showing emotion.

The soundtrack to this game seems good enough for medium expectations. When I'm in/on a vehicle, I only catch myself listening to the Rap, R&B, Reggae, and Reggaeton stations. I don't know of the other stations, but the licensed songs on here are awesome. I wish they could've had more, though.

Gun, car, and environment sounds are lifelike, I have no complaints.

No real flaws in the sound category, but we all know nothing will ever beat Vice City's soundtrack. - 9/10


The Gameplay
The most important category in every game, the gameplay. Grand Theft Auto comes back with the same fun gameplay it has always had for the past 10 or so years. Adding on to that, is the new cover - fire system. It was mentioned in a few videos and reviews that it seemed like a Gears of War kind of thing. I guess I can say I agree. You can hide or get behind anything in a line of fire. The new targeting system is also a bit better. Auto-aim and manual aim are enabled with all the guns. The only downside, to me, of the new gameplay is the driving. I have to say it sort of sucks. Lets just say I don't want Grand Turismo driving physics for my GTA. I learned about E-brake late into the game, btw, haha.

Throughout the game, you'll be using your cellphone a lot. You call people to hang out, find out about jobs, text msg, input cheat codes (if your the type), some other stuff, and even access the multiplayer. The interface for the phone is right on.

For GTA, the game play has gotten WAY better, and WAY funner. Its the most fun I have ever had with a GTA game. The gun battles are intense and so AWESOME - 9/10


Lasting Appeal // Multiplayer
I'll cram these two into one section. Depending on how long you play, daily, and your attention span (like IGN said) the game lasts for 25-48 hours. I beat it in two weeks. If the game itself wasn't enough for you to keep it, the multiplayer will surely keep you interested...

The multiplayer in this game has to have some of the funnest action, ever. There are a number of match types including, deathmatch, cops n' robbers, turf wars, other ones I can't remember, and the very fun free roam. The amount of people you can have in a match, max, is 16 players. You can choose to have matches throughout the WHOLE city, or certain boroughs. me and Dedinho were playing for 1-2 hours yestarday and we were having hilarious fun.

Character creation is kind of bland at first. You only get 4 different things to choose from in each category; shirt, pants, hat, skin color, etc. You unlock more as you level up.

I don't see no downsides to the multiplayer, at all, other than the few lag spikes here in there. You would expect that since your roaming the whole city with 16 other people - 10/10


Overall // Final Verdict
GTA comes back with IV and hits HARD, .... HARD. Perfect storyline, new cover system, multiplayer, and a good looking game to beat. This game is a MUST, F*CKING MUST BUY!


GTA will most likely be game of the year - 9.2/10

Paladinn
05-09-2008, 11:55 PM
What systems is it out for?
And is there any hot coffee?

Jakuza
05-09-2008, 11:59 PM
What systems is it out for?
And is there any hot coffee?

PS3 and 360.

P.C, dunno when.


And no, no hot coffee mods, yet. But there are alot of references to it in game.

MrWafflez
05-10-2008, 12:02 AM
The PC version will be game of the year when they finally release it. Honestly, imagine the online play.

Call of Duty on the 360 maxes out around what, 20 players per game? On the computer I have seen up to 60.

So 16 players per game on the 360 on GTAIV, image on the computer!

Paladinn
05-10-2008, 12:05 AM
Gawddammit, no good Wii titles lately.

Runahs
05-10-2008, 12:07 AM
The PC version will be game of the year when they finally release it. Honestly, imagine the online play.

Call of Duty on the 360 maxes out around what, 20 players per game? On the computer I have seen up to 60.

So 16 players per game on the 360 on GTAIV, image on the computer!

Trust me, you really don't want any more unless they add a lot more space. It already seems pretty cluttered atleast for me that is.

MrWafflez
05-10-2008, 12:10 AM
Can you explain what you mean by Grand Turismo physics? I haven't played GT in forever.


Gawddammit, no good Wii titles lately.

Dating back about 6 months..

Galaxy. SSBB. Mario Kart.

Moving very shortly ahead..

Deca Sports. Wii Fit + All the games that work with the board like We Ski.

silentx
05-10-2008, 12:10 AM
PS3 and 360.

P.C, dunno when.


And no, no hot coffee mods, yet. But there are alot of references to it in game.

Hot Coffee was in San Andreas they made it but rockstar disabled it, never removed it. And modders found it, enabled it, I doubt rockstar would be dumb enough to leave another mod like that in the game. It got enabled by modifying the game play save file. I think thats how it went.

hobosexual
05-10-2008, 12:14 AM
I liked 1

I liked 2

I liked 3

I loved VC

I loved SA








I didn't enjoy 4 at all...

silentx
05-10-2008, 12:15 AM
I liked 1

I liked 2

I liked 3

I loved VC

I loved SA






I didn't enjoy 4 at all...
I heard it sucked, but eh. I gotta play to find out. =D

Jakuza
05-10-2008, 12:16 AM
They tried to make the driving system 'real', or 'simulated'.

Paladinn
05-10-2008, 12:18 AM
Can you explain what you mean by Grand Turismo physics? I haven't played GT in forever.
Dating back about 6 months..
Galaxy. SSBB. Mario Kart.
Moving very shortly ahead..
Deca Sports. Wii Fit + All the games that work with the board like We Ski.

Never tried Galaxy. Can't afford Mario Kart, plus I have the DS version.
SSBB is kickass, but it gets boring after a month. All I'm doing now is completing challenges.

I heard it sucked, but eh. I gotta play to find out. =D

Could you specify which one, seeing as he listed like 6 different games?
I've only played VC and San Andreas. I prefer the latter.

Kn7ghT
05-10-2008, 12:35 AM
Screw it being goty. Spore, and if not spore, sc2 will kick it's ***.

TheJESTERJ
05-10-2008, 12:36 AM
Screw it being goty. Spore, and if not spore, sc2 will kick it's ***.

I think Spore and Duke Nukem Forever will be tied for Game of The Year.

Paladinn
05-10-2008, 12:37 AM
Oh crap, I almost forgot about Spore.
Am I still worthy enough to buy it?

FabianN
05-10-2008, 12:50 AM
They tried to make the driving system 'real', or 'simulated'.


Not the problem with the driving. I think I know whats wrong. I can't say for sure because I can't look at the code itself or get a conformation on this, but this is what I think is going on based upon how the various cars handle.


Through the whole game, there is only one engine. All the cars have the same digital engine that drives them. What is used to determine the top speed and acceleration is the weight of the vehicle. So, for the big semi-trucks, they had to make them really heavy to make them slow. But then to scale the speed up for the faster cars, they had to make them lighter. Unfortently, they had to make them lighter than the cars really should be.
So the fast cars end up flying all over the place and flip when go over a curb at 20 mph.


Thats the only problem I can really see so far. I've only played like four hours though, so I haven't gotten far into it. But I like it so far.
Now I need to get my own system and the game to finish it:)
(or wait for the PC version... we'll see which comes first)

woot
05-10-2008, 12:54 AM
honestly didn't enjoy it traded it in 2 days ago and got more money then i bought it for

Norrin Radd
05-10-2008, 02:32 AM
I have seen people admit to not liking this game, but they do so with a sense of guilt, as if they feel they should like it. It's my personal opinion that people are either too scared to admit any flaws, or too proud to admit flaws.

I've played this game, I think it's decent. A decent, fun game. It's not the second coming, it's not a game that entirely offers "freedom", and the excuses for the driving being shit are wearing thin on me. They didn't try to make it "real", cos that doesn't make sense. In a game so unrealistic as G.T.A. 4, it makes no sense to single the driving out and make it "real", it's just poorly executed.

Despite the fact this game is probably more overrated than Halo, I think it's a fun game, most (Not all) of the traditional Rockstar jerkiness is gone, but overall, I just get bored with it. I think the story is pretty much generic, because it's show up, make a name for yourself, get respect, take out the main guy who is usually someone you've known all along. It's ok, it works, it's not the worst or best storyline, it's not even bad, it's just...there. Like Gears of War or something.

raikun09
05-10-2008, 03:03 AM
I have seen people admit to not liking this game, but they do so with a sense of guilt, as if they feel they should like it. It's my personal opinion that people are either too scared to admit any flaws, or too proud to admit flaws.

I've played this game, I think it's decent. A decent, fun game. It's not the second coming, it's not a game that entirely offers "freedom", and the excuses for the driving being shit are wearing thin on me. They didn't try to make it "real", cos that doesn't make sense. In a game so unrealistic as G.T.A. 4, it makes no sense to single the driving out and make it "real", it's just poorly executed.

Despite the fact this game is probably more overrated than Halo, I think it's a fun game, most (Not all) of the traditional Rockstar jerkiness is gone, but overall, I just get bored with it. I think the story is pretty much generic, because it's show up, make a name for yourself, get respect, take out the main guy who is usually someone you've known all along. It's ok, it works, it's not the worst or best storyline, it's not even bad, it's just...there. Like Gears of War or something.
^^^^^^^



i played for a few hours and its good,

Satio
05-10-2008, 05:31 AM
Gawddammit, no good Wii titles lately.

Yup, on top of that Wii decided to release Mario Kart the same week as GTA IV, one of the dumbest moves they could make. We're ****ed this year until we see some innovative games, or at least good.

Grand Theft Auto IV is probably game of the year though, honestly that game looks so perfect, I would be suprised if there was a game that surpassed it (MGS 4?).

MrWafflez
05-10-2008, 05:42 AM
...

You guys are funny.

Metal Gear Solid.
I'd say if the developers didn't **** up, Gran Turismo will be great.
SSBB is already a huge contender for GOTY.
WAR.
SC2.

And of course, spore.


I could name a bunch more that are right up there as contenders, because GTAIV won't get many votes if it's even nominated.

Norrin Radd
05-10-2008, 06:11 AM
Yup, on top of that Wii decided to release Mario Kart the same week as GTA IV, one of the dumbest moves they could make. We're ****ed this year until we see some innovative games, or at least good.

Grand Theft Auto IV is probably game of the year though, honestly that game looks so perfect, I would be suprised if there was a game that surpassed it (MGS 4?).

Chill out, the game is far from perfect, in any technical sense, and I'm pretty sure no sensible person would claim it's perfect to play no matter how big a fan they are.

xXTraitorXx
05-10-2008, 06:28 AM
I rented it I really liked the game played it for a whole day strait but I could never get myself to like the multi of this game dunno if I was playing bad game types or idk but i will buy it when the price goes down to finish it up overall great game tho.

Jakuza
05-10-2008, 08:39 AM
I was as honest as I could be. What Norrin said about people 'being too proud', I can agree with. Some people saw past the flaws and just rated it a perfect game. As you can see, by my review, GTAIV did not get the perfect 10/10 it got from Gamespot and IGN. There are flaws in this game, and I have to say it.. did ruin the experience at times.


People, expect my review for MGS4, also. Coming in June! (If I beat the game in June!) :)

Bryan
05-10-2008, 01:34 PM
Jak, people might think this is a byist review...

Jakuza
05-10-2008, 01:38 PM
And why is that?

Bryan
05-10-2008, 01:42 PM
And why is that?

Because you're the PS3 fanboy on OnRPG, I didn't mean it offensively in any way. everyone knows you've been a huge fan of the GTA series, and I can see why. I don't know, maybe it's just all of the comments about reviews I've seen lately on GTAIV. People calling the reviewer a byist GTA fanboy, it's a great review, anyways.

Jakuza
05-10-2008, 01:51 PM
Word? If GTAIV was exclusive to PS3, I would've given it a 10. /sarcasm


Why does it matter than I'm a PS3 fanboy? This game is on the 360, also. It doesn't matter if I've been a big fan of the series, I pointed out flaws, right? I didn't rate it a perfect game.

Give me GoW2 and a 360, I'll review that. If I give it below a 9, you can kill me. But you never know, the game may not turn out the way people are expecting it to be.

Deimos
05-10-2008, 05:35 PM
i think with the driving the designers wanted to make it more technique based rather than just hold down x all the time whilst occasionally handbraking corners. the old driving system was really simple and didnt have much physics to it, if you kept the car flat on the ground it was ok.

i think the new system was supposed to be a better simulation of driving so you get things like proper suspension which affects handling on corners. since driving is such an integral part of gta i think thats why the designers focused on it and decided to make it more "realistic". i havent played that game but this is the impression i got from all the reviews like jaks and the various gameplay videos there are.

i think it just boils down to what you prefer. if you liked the old driving system then you might not like the new system and will call it rubbish. its just personal preference really, its not down to how good you are at the game because its a pick up and play title. its just what you like personally.


i think gta gets mixed responses because whenever something is hailed as the greatest or best that practically invites people to come rip the shit out of it. the more hype a game gets at one end of the spectrum the more people from the other end will want to attack it even more harshly. i dont see why though, who cares what the world and his wife thinks, youre the one paying for the damn game and playing it.

elterrible
05-10-2008, 05:50 PM
no doubt GTA4 is a must! GTA4 FTW!