Opinion - GTA IV - is it really that good?

[Stewart]

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.

Yes, thats why I said '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.'

Why can't I press start, select 'save' from the menu, and save? There is no reason to need to do more than that, if I'm off mission and want to save.

[directhex]

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

Search Results from Metacritic.com

showing as 5th on the 360, and 2nd on the ps3. and review scores only ever get worse with time, as more well-reasoned and less paid-for scores are handed out. bioshock fell from 2nd to 26th, for example, as more critical reviews appeared

[Ben_]

It took them long enough to make this game, I read they took a week off after SA then started this, so I think they probably made it as good as they could this time around.

I agree about the combat situations it is annoying.

But if you cant get it right in 4 years, then its not going to happen is it

[directhex]

But if you cant get it right in 4 years, then its not going to happen is it

don't have high hopes for duke nukem forever, then?

[Ben_]

Have less than no interest in anything related to duke nukem.

[Saracen]

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?

Well, as someone that's written thousands of reviews over 20 years, I can tell you that opinions vary.

There have been more than a few times when I've read reviews of a product I've reviewed and wondered if the other person is talking about the same product. There have been times when a statement in a review, either about something a product supposedly does, or doesn't do, has made me doubt my own opinions and ability, or sanity ..... until I've gone back and checked and found that that statement was total cobblers. And that's been for paid reviews in publications where a review has gone through at least some process or review and editing.

And there have been times when I've spoken to PR people or product managers about reviews only to find them fuming at the incompetence. There have been "reviews" that have turned out to be based on prototype or pre-production units (without telling the readers that that is what it is). There have been reviews of limited-availability products where the company concerned swears blind the "reviewer" has not been sent the product.

And that's for reviews on factual issues. It's even more complicated when you get reviews that are forming subjective opinions.

If you got me to write a review on Marmite, it'd be a glowing one, because I like it. Lots of people can't stand the stuff. If you got me to write a review of brussel sprouts, it wouldn't be glowing because the horrible things make me puke - literally. But my wife loves them.

If you get a teenager to write a review of opera music, or Bach, there's an above-average chance they won't like it, as indeed there is if you get me to write a review of most modern chart hits which, in my opinion, are all-too-often (though not always) horrible tuneless garbage produced by talentless wannabees.

That's the thing about opinions, and especially about reviews giving opinions. You're very much relying on having the same taste or subjective preferences as the reviewer. And it is far from the case that that will necessarily be true.

Which is why when I write a review, I'll give you an honest opinion, but you don't have to agree with it.

[CaseyV9]

Just got the chance to start playing it today.

One thing that hit me is that it isn't simply another GTA game. It's very different in the way it feels.

The others are very cartoony and over the top. The AI was crap and that made for hilairious carnage.
Things just errupted into total chaos and it was often the stupid AI that made me crack up laughing.

This one feels different. I have got hold of any weapons yet. When fighting I found it worked well if you dodged and countered them. So in that aspect I found the fighting really satifying.
It really feels like you connect with the world and the people.
Like when you drive over someone of the way they bounce of your car.
And the way you fly out the windscreen in crashes.
You can't just get in a car, and go round corners at 80mph in this one.

I reckon when I finally get my mitts on some fire arms it'll really get good.

Like it or hate it, I have never played another game that has made me really feel I'm physically connecting with NPC's like this. It's impressive that.

[CaseyV9]

Playing some more.
Getting used to XBox controls, handling cars and have been having really intense shoot outs.

This really good stuff. The way people drop their shopping when you run into them.
The characters in this game are great.

Nick, It really is that good, and some.

[gtech]

Not as good as MGS gonna be.......*HYPE HYPE*

[CaseyV9]

Not as good as MGS gonna be.......*HYPE HYPE*

Or FALLOUT 3?