Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360)

The short answer to this question is no. Whilst there is always room for improvement in a game, you just can't fault R* for their choices in developing this game no matter how hard you try. The lead character Niko Belic is arguably the greatest protagonist a computer game's ever had. People naturally point to the actual character himself as a way of justifying this type of praise, but equal credit for this fantastic character goes to the actual depth of the game itself. Niko has been - as with EVERYTHING else in this game - generously fleshed out. Its not just that he's such a cool guy, which he is, its that he says so much, he does so much, he's involved in so much. Everyone knows the main thing wrong in previous GTA games was some aspects of the gameplay which were incredibly simple and outdated. Its all very well flying a harrier,mowing cops down with a combine harvester or owning a scarface type mansion. But the simple things like shooting and driving in the previous GTA games were, well, a little lacking to say the least. Half the time there was no rhyme nor reason to your death, other than bad luck because of the aiming system. With GTAIV however, both the driving and the shooting has had a complete overhaul - you are in complete control. The cars are alot more realistic which will put off some of the lesser skilled gamers - go play tetris for the rest of your life if you can't adapt to it I say! The shooting in the game has taken heed from titles such as Gears of War in that it employs a cover system so that you can judge when to shoot the enemy depending on a number of factors. Both these areas of development improve the game immersurably & add some much needed substance to the franchise.Also, you now have a customisable mobile phone which you are free to use to contact anyone you've phoned throughout the game, this is useful in so many ways, mostly for arranging leisure activities such as shooting pool, bowling, going to a strip club or taking one of your many girlfriends out for a meal. Taking your friends and associates out gifts Niko with different assets depending on the NPC, these range from a colleague who'll meet you anywhere at anytime to sell you guns, to a girlfriend who will help get the cops off your back in those more lairy GTA moments. The leisure side of things is a welcome relief from the constant slog of doing missions, its nice to inwind & go watch a comedy show or play some pool from time to time - or why not go home and watch tv in your safehouse? Thats right - you can watch tv too!The missions are generally the same as the GTA games before, although they do seem more original than they actually are due to the new shooting/driving system. Lastly i'll mention the quality of the other characters in the game. I've never seen a cast of characters like this in a game, or anywhere close. Almost as commendable as the improved gameplay is the dialogue & characterisation. You will really feel like you're taking part in a (top quality) hollywood picture on more than one occasion, due in no small part to the superb scriptwriting.The only negative thoughts i've dared conjour up during my GTAIV experience so far has been, "what have I done to deserve this fantastic game" & "I almost don't want to play anymore as it will make the game end sooner". It really is just too much, and too good.

Firstly, I think the hype could really do with relaxing, because frankly it harms the product by setting people's expectations ridiculously high. This game neither solves world hunger nor will it make you irresistable to the opposite sex. It does, however, redefine levels of narrative involvement in video games bringing to the table plotting and characterisation not often seen in cinema, let alone video games.Niko's is, in particular, a spectacular piece of social observation, embodying society's vague disappointment with the modern age, and self loathing in his oh too clear knowledge on 1) how it came about, i.e. at the expense of those who cannot afford to keep up and 2) how he came to experience it i.e. through a process that no-one could be proud of.It is a brilliant example of the inevitable disappointment of the 'grass-is-greener' mentality which is so often optimistically ignored.The rest of the cast are (even the real so-and-sos) lovingly rendered and enjoyable to watch and interact with with hammy affectations of movement and speach adding to their vibrancy.On the technical side, I couldn't help but be genuinely impressed. This feels like an actual place. The weather is convincing, the people are varied and, well, human-like and the interaction with it all is of a higher calibre than I have experienced before. The fighting feels much meatier than in the past, well animated and genuinely quite visceral and affecting, especially during firefights. Subtleties in character animation means there is a definite emotional reaction to shooting someone or knocking someone out, further bringing weight to the virtual world. The driving is now much weightier and solid-feeling too, creating a very convincing illusion of a one and a half ton frame of metal with an engine and wheels.This game is an immersive, atmospheric, unique triumph and marks a definite positive event in the evolution of videogames as a medium. It is, however, a relative slow-burner. Whilst it does immediately kick off in style and carry on as such, it does take time to build momentum, giving the player time to grow used to the controls (particularly with the vehicles, which are radically modified from previous games). As an example, it is to San Andreas what Apocalypse Now is to Saving Private Ryan. Not as immediately bombastic but, in the end, infinitely more rewarding.