T0mmy Vercetti Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 You've heard the hype. Grand Theft Auto IV is going to be amazing... monumental... revolutionary... life changing... world altering... universe shifting... the best game of the year, if not the best thing in the history of EVER. Or is it...?! Well, yes, probably. GTA IV, however, won't be perfect. Even now, more than two weeks ahead of release, I can predict a dozen reasons the sequel might bug you, bother you or just plain disappoint you. Some are legitimate and some are stupidly nitpicky, but for fans accustomed to the absolute best, all merit and deserve discussion. Recalibrate your expectations accordingly... #1 - The Sandbox Has Shrunk-With each entry in the Grand Theft Auto series, the world gets a little bigger. Okay, a LOT bigger. Part of the feverish excitement in waiting for a new installment has always been the question "How friggin' ginormous can they make it this time?" We got a city. We got a state. Now, nothing less than an entire country, continent or planet will do! GTA IV, however, is actually smaller than San Andreas and includes only one measly metropolis. One! Call us spoiled, but size matters. Why it doesn't matter Just because the world is tinier doesn’t mean it will feel that way. What GTA IV lacks in pure scale, the game makes up for with sheer, overwhelming detail. Take a look at any screenshot and count how many unique signs, stores, landmarks and landscapes you notice. The dead space of San Andreas is nonexistent. When every single street is a new adventure, who needs a whole country? #2 - Liberty City... again? -News flash, Rockstar: America contains more than five cities. Why, from what we hear, they even have cities outside the US now! Some of them are apparently even pretty famous. Chicago? New Orleans? Paris? Tokyo? Any of these ring a bell? Could we at least go to Carcer City finally? Don't be silly. Let's head back to Liberty City, the fictional fetishization of New York City, for the SIXTH time. Maybe we'll get to drive a taxi! Why it doesn't matter Forget the Liberty City you thought you knew. This isn't the same place explored in five previous incarnations. This isn't a generically gritty burg or a barely recognizable amalgamation of three totally separate locations. This is the real deal. For the first time, Liberty City looks like New York. It feels like New York. If the 360 and PS3 had some kind of olfactory sensors, Liberty City would smell like New York. While the name isn't fresh, the experience promises to be. #3 - You won't recognize the music Vice City had Michael Jackson, Ozzy Osbourne, Luther Vandross and Run-D.M.C. San Andreas had 2Pac, Willie Nelson, Depeche Mode, Guns N' Roses and The Who. Turn to any radio station at any time... you're bound to hear something you know and pretty likely to hear something you love. From what's been announced officially, what's featured in trailers and what we've caught during our demos, the songs in GTA IV are more... eclectic. In other words, we don't recognize a damn one of them. Eastern European pop, Jamaican dancehall and Afrobeat? We already miss V-Rock. Why it doesn't matter Grand Theft Auto has grown beyond the predictable playlist of a college '80s or '90s party. The soundtrack in GTA IV won't be another collection of past hits because it has the potential to showcase a collection of future hits. Stuff that is unrecognizable due to originality, not quality. And if you discover a new track you really dig, you can even download it immediately via Amazon. How neat is that? #4 - You won't recognize the controls You've read about the vehicles in GTA IV... how they're supposed to handle more authentically than before. Sounds good, right? Well, you may change your mind when the only available car in sight is the gaming equivalent of a Ford Pinto and simply smashing the handbrake button no longer results in beautiful turns. With extra realism comes extra sensitivity and, inevitably, extra frustration. Why it doesn't matter Come on, the driving in previous GTA games sucked. Like an armless man learning to play the clarinet with his feet, however, we persevered until we mastered those controls. Now we may have to relearn some of them, but won't it be nice to have our arms back? #5 - The plot's not as fun You've heard the quote. GTA IV isn't a story of "rags to riches," merely a story of "rags to slightly better rags." In other words, you won't be climbing the career ladder from low level thug to criminal kingpin anymore. Unfortunately, the kingpins are the guys who can afford all the mansions, sports cars, girlfriends, henchmen, casinos and porn studios. You know - all the good stuff. If we wanted to spend 40+ hours working towards "slightly better rags," we'd... well, we'd just keep working at GamesRadar, thanks. Why it doesn't matter Vice City and San Andreas are big and bombastic, sure, but they're also over-the-top fantasy, with scenes stolen almost directly out of movies like Scarface and Boyz n the Hood. The latest GTA is attempting to avoid such clichés by focusing on a subtler and more intimate journey. In this world, nabbing a nicer jacket or a roach-free apartment may feel almost as rewarding as a house in the hills or a limo full of ladies. #6 - The protagonist's not as fun Tommy Vercetti was fueled by rage, revenge and a sh*tload of drugs. Carl Johnson fought to protect his family and friends. Even the mute hero of GTA III had that whole scorned lover thing going for him. Niko, meanwhile, is a no-nonsense, hard-working immigrant with an overweight cousin and a fondness for track suits. Honorable? Yes. Realistic? Maybe. Exciting? Not so much. Why it doesn't matter Niko doesn't fit in with the other protagonists because he isn't a cardboard cutout or cartoon character. His background, personality, motivation and relationships appear more complex... and more mysterious. The fact that we can't pigeonhole him into an archetype yet is fantastic; hopefully, we'll learn what drives him throughout the entire adventure instead of merely the intro sequence. #7 - The canon has been erased Speaking of Tommy, CJ and the gang, wouldn't it be cool to visit those guys again in all their next-gen glory? Or at least pop them in a quick cameo, so we know what they're up to in 2008? Or at least allow them to walk by in the background somewhere? Or at least leave a voicemail? Or at least be alive? Or at least still exist? Apparently, no, that would not be cool. Sigh... Why it doesn’t matter Credit Rockstar for creating such massive, multi-layered epics in each of their games. With so much weight, the entire saga's close to collapsing. Sure, the branching storylines and interconnecting casts were a blast while they lasted, but for the sake of newcomers and forgetful old timers alike, the reset button had to be pushed. Don't you feel lighter already? #8 - You've been grounded No more planes! No more jetpacks! No more parachutes, mountain bikes or tractors! No more swimming underwater, climbing mountains, hiking through forests or off-roading through deserts! No more freedom! San Andreas removed the training wheels and said "go crazy." In GTA IV, it's back to the basics... and the back to the boring. Why it doesn't matter GTA IV is promised as a perfection of the basics, not just a return to them. The unrestricted wildness of San Andreas was purposefully scaled back so that the tried-and-true methods of transportation like cars, motorcycles and helicopters could be enhanced and expanded. Would you rather crawl around the farm on a tractor, or smash out your car windows and unleash bullets in any direction? Would you rather putz around on a back-mounted toaster oven, or dangle dangerously from a helicopter's landing gear hundreds of feet above Liberty City's skyline? We've made our choice. #9 - The multiplayer is limited When Rockstar first announced that GTA IV would have multiplayer, the world began to dream. Some imagined a full-fledged MMO, featuring a truly living and breathing city where every citizen, cop, and criminal is inhabited by a real human being. Others imagined a complete co-op mode similar to Crackdown's, in which two or more players could finish all the missions, side quests and item collection together as a team. The game delivers neither. Why it doesn’t matter Um, have you read what the multiplayer DOES deliver? Unchecked mayhem between 16 players across the entire swath of Liberty City oughta keep us entertained just fine. Plus, while we really do wish we could tackle the campaign with a buddy, we know that option would only be detrimental to the storytelling. Remember anything about the plot of Crackdown? We didn't think so. #10 - The customization is limited Gamers aren't satisfied playing a locked and pre-determined hero anymore. They want to play themselves and, if that's not an option, they want to mold the main character to be as much like them as possible. The Sims understands this phenomenon, as do Mass Effect and GTA clone Saints Row. Heck, even San Andreas understood. Has GTA IV taken a step backwards here? Niko can switch outfits, but he can't switch hairstyles or physiques. As for the multiplayer, Kotaku claims you can choose only "male or female... four different heads, four torsos, four legs and several types of glasses and hats." Oh boy... hats. Why it doesn't matter Sorry role players, but Rockstar's right. Niko shouldn't change. His characterization is distinct; dressing him up in a pimp suit or trucker hat would totally ruin that uniqueness. As for the physique part, we expect most gamers will be ecstatic to see the San Andreas exercise regime gone. Multiplayer's a different story, but... seriously, have you read about what this sucker is supposed to deliver? #11 - What happened to all the celebrities? Sam Jackson, David Cross, James Woods, Peter Fonda, Ice T, Axl Rose, The Game, Andy Dick, George Clinton, Chris Penn. Ignore the star-studded casts of GTA III and Vice City... the voice talent in San Andreas alone puts most games - and many films - to shame. Moreover, these celebrities' presence in the Grand Theft Auto universe has always lent a bit of credibility to our hobby, no matter how much they got paid to participate. Meanwhile, take a look at the currently announced cast for GTA IV. While this is a very, very far from complete list, there's no denying it's also a very, very depressing list. Even the esteemed Rob Smith, Editor in Chief of Playstation: The Official Magazine, couldn't recognize many names... and he's finished the game! And watched the credits! Why it doesn’t matter As far as we can tell, the triple-A names are mostly gone from GTA IV, but that doesn't mean the actual talent is missing. Trust us - celebrities do make appearances in the game. A lot of the time, they'll even portray themselves. Not all of them are glitzy marquee names, but this time, Rockstar seems to be casting more for quality and authenticity than for glamour. #12 - The violence is no longer funny You commit some truly heinous crimes in the Grand Theft Auto series. Robbery. Assault. Prostitution. Carjacking. Mowing down old ladies as they cross the street, then firing rockets at the paramedics trying to save them... Somehow, though, none of it ever seemed wrong because none of it ever seemed real. In GTA IV, however, the pedestrians appear alarmingly lifelike and their physics are modeled using the "natural motion" Euphoria engine. How will you feel when that old lady crumples and splatters just like a real old lady would? Will the guilt - no matter how tiny - spoil your giddy fun? Why it doesn’t matter Don't worry. In the still exaggerated world of GTA IV, the old lady is much more likely to spin wildly off the hood of your car, soar dozens of feet through the air, rebound on the plastic cone of an ice cream truck and slide (or bounce) into a terrified throng of pedestrians. If you don't find that funny, maybe you shouldn't be playing GTA IV to begin with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeRizzle Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Is there a reason you had to copy and paste that to here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTAFan1990 Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Nice effort, But I got bored after the "You've heard the hype.." Cba to read all that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gta-guru Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Everything you have posted is nonsense, GTA4 is perfection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capricornus Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Well, every game has it's disappointments, so there is a chance that IV will disappoint in some aspects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazybones Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 so wots ur point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starion Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 STOP COPYING OFF IGN YOU IDIOTS. Bloody hell, it's on the GTA4.NET front page, why do we need it here? mod it with Nitrous Oxide and chassis dyno. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ledzepp18 Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 My god why are you on this forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geachie Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Everything you have posted is nonsense, GTA4 is perfection. Nope not exactly right lets take Assassins Creed for a good example the hype that got was astonishing they hyped it so much that they forgot about the gameplay yeah you could jump buildings climb to the tallest tower and see the whole city with no draw distance problems yeah thats all nice but the game was dull and boring when it all comes down to it the gameplay matters the most. What i am trying to say is that they could hype GTA IV so much and they could forget things and make it a dull and boring game dont everyone attack me because i said this it is only my opinion and i have the right to an opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REELHigh_Roller Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 How can you make a topic based on something you stole and call it your own, thats just sad and lame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieScream Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 GTA4 will be the game to end all games. Yes, I'm serious. In the future, gaming will be referred to as "before 4/29" and after "4/29". That's the difference I feel GTA4 will bring to our little gaming hobby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apollo_33 Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 YOURE THE BIGGEST DUMBASS EVER! I THINK ITS AN APRIL FOOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooji Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 They picked quality over quantity, lots of the stuff in san andreas werent needed..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REELHigh_Roller Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 GTA4 will be the game to end all games. Yes, I'm serious. In the future, gaming will be referred to as "before 4/29" and after "4/29". That's the difference I feel GTA4 will bring to our little gaming hobby. True like before GTA 4 everyone compared games to GTA 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apollo_33 Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Guys, the guy is not hating. They only took some complaints from the WWW and answer them by WHY IT DOESNT MATTER! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REELHigh_Roller Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Guys, the guy is not hating. They only took some complaints from the WWW and answer them by WHY IT DOESNT MATTER! Its that he didn't cite his page where he got it from soo I give him a bloody F for plagiarizing. Word! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apollo_33 Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/f/grand-thef...411114228696050 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now