May 7, 2008 - Well it's finally arrived, three and half years of cold
turkey for us car jacking junkies. People of the world, male, female, black, white, teenagers and extreme pensioners are currently locked away in their
homes powering through the 40 hours of required gameplay to finally discover Nikkos fate.
It seems the Rockstar and Take Two anti-hype has worked wonders. Secret screenings, minimal TV skits and a few huge posters have seen GTAIV obliterate anything before on opening sales, eclipsing even hollywood movies.
The secret to the GTA series' success is not complicated or classified information, the "sandbox" personified but seemingly impossible to replicate. Games such as Saints Row and various others have tried but failed to recreate the X-Factor Rockstar have captured. It's this simple yet illusive recipe that means any future release with a GTA in the title will no doubt shatter sales record yet again, regardless of quality.
I have always loaded a fresh copy of any GTA game into the drive with the thought "they can't have ruined it, can they?" and this expereince didn't differ. A new generation of console, improved visuals will be a given, but the revised physics engine has the potential, however remote, to ruin the special something that sets this series apart. I took a deep breath and pushed in the tray.....
As expected the presentation, where Rockstar have always excelled, is nothing short of perfect. Simple, clean with a well chosen soundtrack and ultra classy cinematic intro set the scene and immerse you in the world. The visuals are, given the next gen hardware, as expected. More could have be done, including resolving the very occasional tearing experienced along with some frankly pretty poor shadowing but this will never detract from the experience. GTA has never been the most graphically precise game and this is always excused by the player whos mind is elsewhere. As with any relatively new platform the best is yet to come once the dev guys have got their enormous noggins around the hardcore zeros and ones.
Soundtrack, check. Fresh, vast and perfectly presented. Add in the simple yet brilliant ZiT function for Track ID and you couldn't ask for more.
The real plus points and leaps forward in GTAIV are two fold. Firstly the storyline is epic, absorbing, expertly written and directed and the improved cut scenes mean you are never tempted to skip them to get back to the action. All of them hold important information as Nikko's new life unfolds.
Secondly the implementation of the mobile phone as the game portal. This controls the interaction, mission allocation and various other features that make the experience that bit sweeter than the previous San Andreas jaunt. Its a joy to be hold.
Does GTAIV fall over? In my view, it's more of a stumble. The basic premise of the entire game remains the same as every other GTA game. Drive somewhere, accept a mission, drive somewhere else, shoot some one, drive back. Variations on the theme provide some respite but these amount to perhaps 2 hours of true entertainment amoungst the other 40 hours of auto-targeting uzi firing and setting waypoints in the map and navigating A to B to A. It can become tiresome for all but the hardened GTA g33ks.
Taking nothing away the overall package is clearly the most entertaining game available today and sets a new benchmark for others to follow. The mission structure will need to be refreshed for GTAV to keep this at the top of the pile but another 3 years will pass before then so time is on our side.
The extras such as Multiplayer, enjoyed previosuly by PC gamers on San Andreas, will keep you entertained following completion of the main story as will collecting packages and shooting pigeons chasing the illusive 100% achievement.
As good as it is, I can't help feeling San Andreas was a leap forward whereas this is rather more of a large stride. On the bright side, Rockstar have lots more potential to extract from the platform and no doubt vast reserves of creative talent to exploit. It should keep us carjacking, gun tooting, empire building, burger munching addicts hooked on the series and emptying our pockets when the big V turns up.
Lets hope the next one isn't strangled by the badge of EA as the takeover looms. Get back to work boys, the holiday is over.
9.5 Presentation
Cinematic, atmospheric, mesmerising and distinctively GTA.
9.0 Graphics
Yep, it's all there and makes the game fresh and pretty. A hugh improvement, immersing you in the world like never before. However, this platform does have more to offer....
9.0 Sound
Never going to dissapoint, you will still be discovering new tracks after 5 hours play. Liberty Rock for the win!
8.5 Gameplay
Sandbox perfection as expected, but the drive..shoot..drive with minor variations is getting ever so slightly tired
9.5 Lasting Appeal
40 hour main game, multiplayer, flying rats, secret tunnels and vehicles. You could play if for the rest of your life. Longevity thats never been seen before
9.0 OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)
