Reviewer: JustPlainViewtiful
p>Different then most games Grand Theft Auto IV features no loading while in the open world. You'll only see it when starting a mission, loading a save, and going up an elevator, but everything else is load free. When you walk into your home or a store there's no loading, Niko will just push the door open. This is really needed now if games want to consider them selves realistic and Grand Theft Auto is one of the first do it. With a open world so big (Even though smaller then the previous game) there is no loading.

There is a huge amount of weapons in the game, this has also been toned down so you won't see any katanas or flamethrowers, but regulars like RPGS, snipers, grenades, shotguns, assault rifles, pistols, knifes, and sub-machine guns all make an appearance. You also get a lot of vehicles covering land, sea, and sky. You won't find planes, but helicopters are here and they work well. Vehicles range from knock offs of Hummers, Lamborghinis, and Porsches. The name of the vehicles have always been a fan favorite and Rockstar still delivers creating some of the most humorous names for their vehicles. This is also still seen in many other places like restaurants, the radio, and television.

Combat has greatly improved in GTAIV. Hand to hand is impressive now that Niko can actually counter attack an enemy when he's about to attack. The gun gameplay is still very enjoyable and blowing the hell out of everything with an RPG is as fun as ever.

Using the sniper rifle, the stealth option

Earlier I mentioned all you can still do and new things you can do while spending time in Liberty City. All you do is really fun like viewing a magic show or comedy show, watching TV, go bowling, take the subway, play pool, and surf the web (Many easter eggs can be found). You still get classics like visiting a strip club, hiring a hooker, and going on a homicidal rampage killing employees at your local fast food restaurants (Or maybe that's just me who does that).

For a series first Grand Theft Auto IV features a multiplayer mode that allows up to 16 players to play in multiple modes. These modes range from Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Freemode, Race, Bomb da Base II, Mafiya Work, Car Jack City, Turf War, and Cops & Crooks. There's plenty of more modes including two other co-op missions aside from Bomb da Base II there's Deal Breaker and Hangman's NOOSE. These modes need to played with 3 other people and team work is needed. My personal favorite mode is Cops & Crooks which is where one team plays as the cops and the other as the robbers and the robbers most protect their leader and escape from a crime before the cops stop you. You do have variations of all these modes to be played by yourself or with a team. There are huge problems to the multiplayer, with deathmatch modes dying is way to often and is a major inconvenience. It's more of a test of luck weather or not you'll kill someone or your kill will be stolen.

The AI is impressive, unlike other games, GTAIV features dynamic enemies. They'll act differently to your actions and are much more life like.

There's so much nostalgia involved with the series so many players may be turned off by the fact that the gameplay has been toned down, but true fans can easily enjoy Grand Theft Auto 4's unique brand of realism instead of an outrageous mess of gameplay. With so much to do there's no way to actually rent the game, to enjoy it you must buy it.

It seems like Grand Theft Auto IV has set the standers for realistic graphics in consoles. Cut scenes first of all are great, character interaction is believable and the story is easier to understand. The features of characters are amazing, now there not the level of Metal Gear Solid 4, but they look above level compared to other games.

The A.I works to give a believable atmosphere in Liberty City with the police even more real

The environment like I said before looks incredible. Liberty City is identical to it's real life counterpart, now this doesn't mean it's perfect, no Staten Island is disappointing. Star Junction is one of the most magical things to ever appear in a game, just standing in the center of the city is the revolution of games.

Explosions are impressive. The explosions ooze style and are the best ever seen. When something blows up beautiful streams of red, orange, and yellow then blooming into a mushroom cloud. Fire is also beautiful and gorgeous.

Sadly Grand Theft Auto IV does not feature the destructibility of games like Mercenaries 2. The vehicle destruction on the other hand is widely impressive. Cars will slowly break down from windows breaking to the bumpers falling apart. Other destructibility like obvious items found in New York like news stands will break down and papers will fly every where. Smaller details like this lead to it being one of the most detailed games found ever. Other small details are found in Liberty City like garbage found in the water and people interacting with you.

The animations found in Grand Theft Auto IV for you character are easily the best ever in a game, Niko or your multiplayer character will walk, run, push people aside, and even fly when hit by a car. The game uses the Euphoria engine which as been seen as the best animation engine and it holds true. Characters being shot will stagger if shot and shooting enemies in certain places will make them react like shooting someone in the stomach will make them hold their guts and if you shot them in their knee cap they'll hop on one foot holding there knee.

There are some problems with the graphics though, with any game textures can be bland. Other then that really theres no other problems about the graphics, characters look great, Liberty City is one of the best open worlds, and destruction is beautiful.

With so much to do in GTA IV, it's is very difficult for the game to grow monotonous

What's so stunning about Grand Theft Auto's sound track is that the franchise has always been known for a spectacular sound track from hits of each decade. The sound track is filled with some amazing bands and singers including Kanye West, R. Kelly, Elton John, ZZ Top, Bob Marley, Smashing Pumpkins, The Who, Queen and so many more. The game features radio channels when driving in the car. This includes comedy, interviews, and advertisments. Sitting in a car just listening to tunes on the radio is enjoyable.

 

The voice acting in the game is top notch. Niko's voice actor, Michael Hollick put his heart and soul into h