Opinion - GTA IV - is it really that good?

[Platinum]

Maybe if they do a Shop Mobility version of GTA, think I'll be happy then?

Stanna stairlift drive by shootings?

[TiG]

Nick loves negative press, You should see the smoldering remains of that Forgotten Battles - Pacific Fighters review. Wow that was some response (but totally 100% accurate in my opinion).

I'm awaiting going round my brother in law's for a try of his copy before committing my own funds to it, but i'm interested in what's been commented on so far.

TiG

[Salazaar]

I dunno, maybe I just missed the bit where GTA 4 gets good... it just seems like a slog for me. Perhaps I'm getting old... Maybe if they do a Shop Mobility version of GTA, think I'll be happy then?

To be honest I think you may have missed that bit. I felt the same way as you about the majority of your points at first but I also think that they lessen in severity as the game progresses, either by becoming insignificant relative to the overall game or because you just get used to them (the odd camera in particular) to the point that they aren't a bother any more.

[Blackmage]

OK, i don't think its a 10/10 game. But is a 9/10 without fail.

[steve threlfall]

Agreed, its getting better and better for me, theres just no pleasing some people , This game is a great achievment and about the best they could do imo with the limitations of the console.

Theres no dissapointing some people either

Its just so slow and sluggish

How could they have messed combat up so badly. The less said about hand to hand the better but even the gun lock on feature is as bad as ever. Gutted

[MarkWarwick]

I'll be honest, I find the game good once you become used to it, but I have to sayt it's very awkward. Especially at first when driving, and when you get into your first fight, it does feel quite sluggish and un-responsive. Although I must say I love the story myself.

[TAKTAK]

I'm not gonna buy it, until i've borowed it off someone and find thats it's worthy- If it is, then wooo. If not, no wasted cash.

i Never get sucked into the whole people saying 'ooh preorder it now its soooo great' scenario, as TBH how do they know its great?? have they played it themselves???

otherwise you end up with something like crysis - all pretty but a bit s****y, as that in my opinion was a total balls up compared to how everyone was ranting and raving about it before it came out.

[Output]

Stanna stairlift drive by shootings?

I can't comment yet on what I think about GTA 4 since I haven't actually got around to play it yet - due to not really liking San Andreas that much, I decided that I won't just buy GTA 4 based on the hype and name, but rather rent it from Lovefilm or something before deciding whether I feel it is worth buying.

That was my original plan anyway, but it appears my brother is too impatient for that, and is buying it himself for my 360.

I am worried that it won't live up to all the hype though.

[Oobie-]

When was the last time a game lived up to its "hype"?
There's always something wrong with a game unfortunately, and it will always be like that.

[optimadam]

call of duty 4

[Ben_]

call of duty 4

[Ben_]

I can't comment yet on what I think about GTA 4 since I haven't actually got around to play it yet - due to not really liking San Andreas that much, I decided that I won't just buy GTA 4 based on the hype and name, but rather rent it from Lovefilm or something before deciding whether I feel it is worth buying.

That was my original plan anyway, but it appears my brother is too impatient for that, and is buying it himself for my 360.

I am worried that it won't live up to all the hype though.

I have said it once I am going to say it again.

Worried it wont klive up to the hype? its had the best reviews of any game. Period.

What more reason could you want for getting your moth ridden wallet out and buying it?

[Output]

I have said it once I am going to say it again.

Worried it wont klive up to the hype? its had the best reviews of any game. Period.

What more reason could you want for getting your moth ridden wallet out and buying it?

Whilst I appreciate that it's had great reviews, what I meant is that I was worried that it wouldn't live up to the hype in my own personal opinion.

[kalniel]

Worried it wont klive up to the hype? its had the best reviews of any game. Period.

Then it can't possibly live up to it's hype. Perfect in every possible way? I doubt it

[Stewart]

The game, while very impressive, is riddled with problems. It strikes me that rather than arseing about with all the special features, Ricky Gervais doing a turn, etc, they should have spent a bit more time on the basics.

Niko doesn't control very well, driving isn't very good, shooting is terrible, the cover system only passable, and the missions samey.

When you are in the middle of a firefight, a van full of FEDs pulls up, jump out and aim shotguns at your face, and when you pull the targetting bumper Niko turns around and targets a man holding a cup of coffee, 250 yards away, with his back to you, you just wonder why they didn't tell Gervais to **** off until the simple things were finished.

I know its been pretty much the same for most GTA games, but the health thing is crap, looking around for a burger - just get shot or run over on purpose. Getting arrested takes all your guns, but get killed and you lose only a few dollars.

And when I want to save, I want to press start, select 'save' from a menu, and thats it. Not arse about calling a taxi, then running up some stairs to a bed, or having to complete a mission.

And I hate the way its always running just slightly slower than you want it to.

And I hate loads of other things.

Great game, could have been the game IGN and GameSpot pretended it was, but just isn't really.

[Killer7]

Is GTA 4 perfect? No, not at all. But I can't think of many games that have been lucky enough to achieve that accolade. However, I disagree with many complaints about the game, especially when most of them are rooted in the forward advances Rockstar have tried to make. I think many simply don't like change, and would have been happy with another cookie cutter GTA.

A lot of people have lamented the car handling, but I actually prefer it over the OTT arcade handling of previous games. Yes, it takes some time to get used to, but it makes a change for a crappy old saloon the handle badly, whereas a sports car is able to take corners easier and feels much more responsive. In older GTA titles cars did handle a little differently, but all still had the same general feel, and could turn on a die (except trucks, maybe).

Yes, the on foot combat could still use some work, especially hand-to-hand, but the aiming (again, if you take time to get used to it) works very well. Just use the half-trigger to free aim, then squeeze in full to lock on. Simple, and hardly rocket science.

Yes Niko (with a K folks) is a little sluggish at times, but the game never punished you for this, except in rare instances where you get hooked on scenery, which is admittedly annoying. But as far as relating to him, again I disagree. Being white, and from a fairly decent upbringing, I've not got all that much in common with African-American gangsters fighting for their 'hood, but that didn't stop me from relating to CJ in San An, and the acting and general character design created a character that I actually cared about. With Niko, I think it's doubly so, as his character is far more believable than other GTA protagonists, and I'm really happy that Rockstar haven't made him a walking cliché, but instead a likable (if potentially murderous) guy.

As far as Stewart's comments on saving goes, you do realise the game autosaves every time you complete a mission or do something important, don't you? Yes, you can save in your safehouse, but you don't have to.

I must admit though, that AI driving skills are pretty terrible, and I've been rear-ended so many times, or even pushed into fights with the police as peds (and even cops) jump seemingly into my headlights. And Rockstar, please, please, PLEASE, for the love of the almighty, include mid mission checkpoints for some of the longer levels! Spending ages carefully moving from cover to cover and taking out foes only to be popped from out of the blue by a shotgun to the head and then having to restart the ENTIRE level isn't fun.