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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Action Developer: Rockstar North Publisher: Rockstar Games |
many other evil deeds, but it is all at the cost of the main character, Niko Bellic’s soul. The game offers a world with a level of depth that
has yet to be seen in gaming and raises the story from a shooter to an Oscar worthy drama.
Players take on the role of Niko Bellic, an Eastern European trying to escape from his past and the horrors of the Bosnian War. He
arrives in Liberty City hoping to experience the American Dream, only to discover that his cousin Roman has filled him with lies in his
letters home. The game starts with Niko making a living as a hit man, however, the further into the story players get, the more they will
see Niko as a broken man who is willing to do anything to become someone other than who he was in the past. It is at this point that
many gamers will begin to sympathize with Niko and his struggles.
The city as a whole also plays a large role in the game. Liberty City is inspired by New York City and many of the parallels can be easily
seen. However, Liberty City exists in its own universe and it is probably better that way. Unlike many other open-world games, Liberty
City looks like it has been lived in before the game was turned on and every time it is turned on again, it is as if life continued after the
game last shut down.
Another element of the game that makes the city feels more real are the people walking the streets. At one point in the game I was saw
a man sitting on the street eyeing up a girl as she walked by. The emotions and actions of the citizens of the city are realistic and don’t
require any action from the player to take place. Players will also notice a change in traffic and pedestrian flow throughout the day.
When it rains people use umbrellas and newspapers to shield themselves while crazy doomsayers wonder the street speaking their
prophecies.
Liberty City isn’t as large as San Andreas, but there is a lot to see and do in a small amount of space. This time around entering
building doesn’t require load time, walk in the door and up the stairs to a room or the roof of the building. There are thousands of
buildings but only a few can be entered, including entertainment spots and mission areas.
To bring the game to more modern times, Niko now has a cell phone that allows him to receive phone calls and text messages from
friends and business associates. Answering a phone call launches players into a mission. Players can also use the phone to call
friends to hang out or just talk. The phone also doubles as an organizer to keep track of critical events throughout the game.
Missions have always been a staple to the Grand Theft Auto series and this time around “GTA IV” offers a twist, morality choices. There
are people in the game that when asked to kill them, players can make the choice whether to go through with the kill or to let them go.
Most of the choices don’t change the plot or open new missions, but instead the game is asking what kind of a person the player is.
There are two different endings that can be seen at the games close, both are worthwhile to see.
The game has over 90 story missions that will take players between 25-45 hours to complete depending on skill level. It would be
expected the missions would get to be repetitive at some point but they don’t. Though some missions are fairly simple and straight
forward, it never feels repetitive. This is probably the first game in the series that can justify multiple play-throughs.
There are many new features added to the game that bring a whole new level to the experience, from a new cover system, a new
wanted system, an upgraded driving system and more. Each has made the game a new and exciting experience for gamers of all
levels.
The best addition to the game, and the one most gamers have been waiting for is the multiplayer mode that is offered. Multiplayer is
accessed through the phone from single player mode and the entire city is open to 16 players. There are many different modes to play
in multiplayer, with the most popular being the standard Death match which involves killing friends as fast as possible. Of course “GTA
IV” isn’t the best multiplayer game on the market, but it has a good start for it being the first time available in the series.
“Grand Theft Auto IV” takes the many elements of hit games and combines them in perfect harmony. The story would amount to
nothing if not for the city and the city would be nothing without the AI and physics system. Again, the game has some issues, but overall
there are many more positives coming out of this revolutionary game that will lead to a greater future in gaming and hopefully an even
more revolutionary addition to the Grand Theft Auto series.
has yet to be seen in gaming and raises the story from a shooter to an Oscar worthy drama.
Players take on the role of Niko Bellic, an Eastern European trying to escape from his past and the horrors of the Bosnian War. He
arrives in Liberty City hoping to experience the American Dream, only to discover that his cousin Roman has filled him with lies in his
letters home. The game starts with Niko making a living as a hit man, however, the further into the story players get, the more they will
see Niko as a broken man who is willing to do anything to become someone other than who he was in the past. It is at this point that
many gamers will begin to sympathize with Niko and his struggles.
The city as a whole also plays a large role in the game. Liberty City is inspired by New York City and many of the parallels can be easily
seen. However, Liberty City exists in its own universe and it is probably better that way. Unlike many other open-world games, Liberty
City looks like it has been lived in before the game was turned on and every time it is turned on again, it is as if life continued after the
game last shut down.
Another element of the game that makes the city feels more real are the people walking the streets. At one point in the game I was saw
a man sitting on the street eyeing up a girl as she walked by. The emotions and actions of the citizens of the city are realistic and don’t
require any action from the player to take place. Players will also notice a change in traffic and pedestrian flow throughout the day.
When it rains people use umbrellas and newspapers to shield themselves while crazy doomsayers wonder the street speaking their
prophecies.
Liberty City isn’t as large as San Andreas, but there is a lot to see and do in a small amount of space. This time around entering
building doesn’t require load time, walk in the door and up the stairs to a room or the roof of the building. There are thousands of
buildings but only a few can be entered, including entertainment spots and mission areas.
To bring the game to more modern times, Niko now has a cell phone that allows him to receive phone calls and text messages from
friends and business associates. Answering a phone call launches players into a mission. Players can also use the phone to call
friends to hang out or just talk. The phone also doubles as an organizer to keep track of critical events throughout the game.
Missions have always been a staple to the Grand Theft Auto series and this time around “GTA IV” offers a twist, morality choices. There
are people in the game that when asked to kill them, players can make the choice whether to go through with the kill or to let them go.
Most of the choices don’t change the plot or open new missions, but instead the game is asking what kind of a person the player is.
There are two different endings that can be seen at the games close, both are worthwhile to see.
The game has over 90 story missions that will take players between 25-45 hours to complete depending on skill level. It would be
expected the missions would get to be repetitive at some point but they don’t. Though some missions are fairly simple and straight
forward, it never feels repetitive. This is probably the first game in the series that can justify multiple play-throughs.
There are many new features added to the game that bring a whole new level to the experience, from a new cover system, a new
wanted system, an upgraded driving system and more. Each has made the game a new and exciting experience for gamers of all
levels.
The best addition to the game, and the one most gamers have been waiting for is the multiplayer mode that is offered. Multiplayer is
accessed through the phone from single player mode and the entire city is open to 16 players. There are many different modes to play
in multiplayer, with the most popular being the standard Death match which involves killing friends as fast as possible. Of course “GTA
IV” isn’t the best multiplayer game on the market, but it has a good start for it being the first time available in the series.
“Grand Theft Auto IV” takes the many elements of hit games and combines them in perfect harmony. The story would amount to
nothing if not for the city and the city would be nothing without the AI and physics system. Again, the game has some issues, but overall
there are many more positives coming out of this revolutionary game that will lead to a greater future in gaming and hopefully an even
more revolutionary addition to the Grand Theft Auto series.
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