Grand Theft Auto IV - a Shinohan review by Adam Lavis
Spoilers are included in this review
Let's be honest. Most of us have been chomping at the bit waiting for the release of Grand Theft Auto 4 for quite some time. And that would very likely still be the case even were it not simply a case of bringing an old (albeit hugely successful) formula to the current next generation consoles. There is just something about Rockstar's signature piece that we can't seem to get enough of. Is it the violence? Unlikely, since with titles like Condemned already on the shelves it is hardly the best/worst example of gratuitous bloodshed on offer today. Maybe the driving? Again, there are some dedicated driving titles out there that really cannot be compared to. Story? Music? Humour? The only answer is that it is all these things and more. And it would appear that Rockstar have succeeded where so many others have failed by paying attention to what every player, be they a stalwart fan or harsh critic, has ever said about the previous GTA incarnations and then set about improving nearly every aspect for this latest release.
It is clear by now that not since Halo 3 has a game enjoyed such frenzied anticipation prior to its release. But that is where the comparison ends between Rockstar's fourth act of Grand Theft Auto and Bungie's final instalment of the Master Chief's opus. As the former continues to receive favourable write-ups and near perfect scores from most reviewers, why is it that GTA4 has not suffered from the same criticism as so many other sequels (including Halo 3) that the game was simply not enough of an improvement? We are certainly a tough crowd to please and comments like “Sure the graphics might be better, there might be a few other weapons in there but there is nothing new!” are commonplace when reading reviews for a lot of sequels, next-gen or otherwise.
So let us be crystal clear about this. GTA4 is not original and nor does it even try to be. Sales figures alone will tell you that the GTA scenario is not broke, so why fix it? If you have played any of the previous titles in the series, there will be few surprises in gameplay for you here. The simple mission-based sandbox structure sees you starting small by fetching and carrying items and people before you can progress to later missions that feature a full scale armed bank heist complete with subsequent bloody getaway with countless challenges and collectibles to distract you along the way. If, like many others, you were less than impressed by the pop-culture induced stories and larger than life characters portrayed in either Vice City or San Andreas, then you will be equally pleased to see the main character revert back to an understated anti-hero similar to the original back in 1998. Niko Bellic's realistically ugly past and his search for truth, revenge and the American Dream provide the bones of this massive game; deftly drawing you closer and allowing you to make it all the way through to the conclusion while still caring about the fate of Niko and those around him.
That said, along with some beautiful pastel graphics, the usual unparalleled collection of random music, and a genuine improvement in animation due to the developers' use of 'ragdoll' physics on all characters (be it Niko himself or the innocent bystanders you plough through just to watch the way they crumple), the real joy of playing GTA4 and what makes this a sure bet for 2008 game of the year are all the little things. For example, your interface with the world around you is, appropriately enough, your mobile phone. You will use it to contact everyone you know, arrange missions and features like the camera and text messaging even play a large part in completing a number of missions. Beyond that you can do almost anything else you can think of with it; from changing ringtones and backgrounds to calling 911 in order to hi-jack the resulting police car. What emerges is a much improved method of employing RPG elements into the game. Again (art imitating life and all that), it can become tiresome to keep in contact with all your friends and periodically spend time with them in order to keep them happy. This pales in comparison however to the annoyance of regularly having to visit a gym to stay in trim, such as in the earlier San Andreas.
Another majorly tweaked improvement is in combat, which, while still some way from being on a par with an FPS, now has a fluid and simple targeting method that makes the whole experience far less frustrating and no longer seems like success is due more to luck than skilful shooting. Other improvements include the behaviour of bystanders and police. Every person you encounter within Liberty City will react differently, so if you hijack a car, the occupant may run screaming or pull a gun on you. If the police observe you committing a crime, a 'wanted area' opens up a perimeter around your position from which you much escape before things return to normal with the size of the net they throw up to catch you (and the mood they're in) depends on the seriousness of your crime.
All this amounts to breathtaking levels of detail thrown into an already near perfect bundle, and amazingly, all translate perfectly to the varied multiplayer options available which range from straight-up deathmatch through the Liberty City streets, to objective based versus missions, to mario kart-style racing. So, while not containing anything wholly unexpected and ground-breaking, GTA succeeds in honing all the things we loved about earlier versions while removing all the niggling frustrations that brought the pace and action to a grinding halt in the past. Not so much a revolution in the Grand Theft Auto franchise as the perfect evolution of a game that you probably already know you will love.
