Good Game? Yes

[StanMarsh]

What did you expect? I hate to break people's balls, but I never thought this game was going to be revolutionary. Why? Well, how can you revolutionize the formula? You can't.

 

25% buildings accessible? That would have been cool, but I never believed for a second there would be many buildings one could access. It just didn't seem possible and I was right this time.

 

Also, as a side note, I was randomly attacked b a civilian, I've seen shootouts between cops and some random douches, I've seen cars break down and the driver get out and pop the hood, and many other things. These things do happen- you just have to wait and look. Also, as for gangs of thugs....this isn't SA. Gangs of thugs couldn't be walking around and crime in Liberty City is at an all-time low.

Wrong, Liberty City is based off of New York City but it's basically a made up city. Which means They could have made Liberty City as crime ridden as they wanted too. Magazines have said that quote "Liberty City if Rife with Crime" Which is what I was hoping to see. Gangs, thugs at night walking the streets, beating people up, prostitues and drug dealers walking around manhattan. fights breaking out, "A living breathing City" which is what I was hoping to see. I think GTA4 is a good game, but it's defenitely not revolutionary. The graphics are great but Rockstar should've focused on other aspects of the game that would've made the game much better then it is.

Check out the LCPDs website.

Case closed.

[Chukkles]

Firstly, Am I right in thinking this game was built from scratch???

 

If so it is definatly "Revolutionary", think about GTAIII, it was just the start, they have a base model they can then tinker with for the next games, Exactly what will happen here, GTA4 is just the start of a revolutionary game series that will set the example of how gmes should be.

 

Good game : Yes

Revolutionary : Yes

[Wilddtd]

How is it not a living breathing city? I have seen so much action going on around that is independent of the main character that it is simply amazing. Come on, everyone on the street does their own thing basically, there are also a bit more character spectrum then I have ever seen in a video game. Destructibility? I mean I am destroying the crap out of stuff, everything from scenery to interesting damages the cars receive, it really has a wow factor. Next, the cell phone. That in itself makes up for a lot of your so called promises. Funny thing is I'm sure a lot of what people were expecting was just made up from some gamer in his fantasy. A lot of clothing options, although any outfit really looks like trash on Niko, I guess that was the point though. The different helicopters, screw planes who cares? You wanna fly around in the city of New York just to get from Manhattan to Brooklyn, that isn't realistic. Everything is so realistic, the way people die, the euphoria engine makes GTA the best game ever made period, to create that engine in a game based on mayhem and massacre is the best thing I've seen. I mean do you guys think GOW 2 is going to have better graphics or something? Remember Epic already expressed that they fully used the potential of 360 on the first game, and no blu-ray? Anyways, by far this is the best game ever created, not only because of what it offers, just by adding the multi-player by the way sets it above anything else I have ever played, that environment is just nuts, but also because this is the start of the future of gaming and this game opens up the possibilities for a lot of other games. But, there will always be people who dislike it, but to say it does not deserve the awards it has gotten is just being ignorant. Do you even know the last game to get 10/10, and if you do, is it actually better then this game? I think not.

[fued10]

I'm sorry but there is a lot of nitpicking going on. Some of the additions that you are asking for would be nice but these things will not improve the gameplay. The game has taken a new step in direction to try and freshen things up.

[xxtremeguyxx2001]

Right first of all, if your gunna post a one line reply slagging me off, don't bother, I won't read it. If you're going to counter the points I make with reasonable arguments, good on you.

 

Anyway, I have to say I am slightly disappointed with GTA IV, it's a great game don't get me wrong and I'm enjoying the story mode (currently half way through). But I can't help thinking I was expecting a bit more, 10/10 would suggest this game was miles ahead of any other, is it ? To me it just seems like the old GTA with updated graphics and a nice physics engine, there are a little new touches but nothing major. We were promised a 'living breathing city', there are a lot of pedestrians I'll grant you that, but they aren't very interesting unfortunately, they'll all react in the same way which is, when you walk into them they'll stop, drop whatever they were holding, give you a glare and a insult, and walk off.

 

The 'nightlife' as such was disappointing as well, I imagined a street filled with clubs and pubs filled with drunk ped's starting random fights and generally having a good time, with clubs filled with people and loud music, just like you'd see in any town centre around the country on a friday night. But no, it's just, dead. There's only about a dozen places you can enter, all the bars and clubs require you to go in with a mate, the game's are quite tedious and the drinking scene you don't even see the interior of the bar ! Just the 'drunk effect' afterwards. I'll be honest, I was expecting around 25% of all buildings to be accessible.

 

Shootings nice. But there just doesn't seem an awful lot to do really while roaming the streets, can start a fight/shoot-out with people, get a wanted level then run away. Then there's the several stunt jumps and pigeon shooting etc.. I expected gangs of thugs roaming the streets, especially at night, and YOU'D actually get approached sometimes and mugged, rather than everything having to be started by you.

 

Another annoying feature was I heard before hand the environment was destructible, is it ? I did a mission where I had to a escape from a building, I was at the back and there was a window boarded up with a few wooden planks, I thought great, I'll just shoot through them and make a quick exit. Wrong, the bullets rebounded off and I was forced to go out the front door where envitabely loads of cops will be.

 

All in all I was left disappointed, I know it's partly down to my own fault for expecting to much, but I can't help but think we got mislead by a few previews. I'd probably give this an 8.5/10.

I agree with you. I mean what happened to the "Living Breathing City" we were promised? I mean this was blasted everywhere on every magazine, every news article. It was even on the news section of this forum on the front page. It's no wonder people people are disappointed. The media hyped the game, which was then hyped by us fans. I remember reading magazines about San Andreas that people were supposed to have there own lives which ended up not happening. If you followed a car they would drive to a store, get out of the car and walk around and do nothing.

[rdank]

I agree completely. They definitely improved on the execution of a "living breathing city", but they have a long long way to go.

[Jaytow]

Wow keeps amaze me.. 1000th topic this week 

YES WE KNOW SOME f*ckS DONT LIKE IT !!!

 

why bother making such topic ? just accept gta4 is good.

sigh

 

Why can't anyone here respect someone else his opinion ffs ?

/ double agree

[[email protected]]

Army.

 

You sure are expecting a lot out of this game, it is R*'s first next gen titles with a DECENT engine.

 

Sure its probably the same game underneith the fancy physics and visuals but it still has that GTA feeling.

 

Sure they rasied our expectations too high, but all devs do that these days, best you take what they say (and reviewers) with little consideration, lots of features did not make the cut, its a shame, but don't let that drag the whole game down, your enjoying it, great !

 

Good to see people can make rational comments.

 

Man i wunna stop talking about this game and bloody play it !

[NTFC Army]

How is the game not revolutionary? Are you thick?

How ? Read the points I made you c*nt, I don't have a problem with anyone disagreeing with me, but when you can't even come up with ONE reason why ONE of my points wasn't valid, it's frankly pathetic.

 

 

I have admitted to being left disappointed because I MYSELF over-hyped and expected too much, but that's not too say I feel mislead by previews. I don't think it's a bad game, I think it's a great game and have played it a fair bit considering I'm not much of a gamer. I just don't think I'll play it once the main story-lines finished (I'm halfway through), the comment about 25% of buildings being accessible is probably excessive I agree, but there simply isn't enough at all. ONE Strip club, ONE cabaret club, TWO bars, ONE pub, FOUR clothing stores, and some small retail outfits such as the gun stores. Is it too much to ask to have one street that is filled with clubs and pubs for a active nightlife, all of which you could enter at you're own free will ? I don't think so. I applaud Rockstar for what is a great game, but I really do think the game could be a lot more in-depth.

[merlinsteele]

I agree with the original poster; Even though I didn't really get pumped up about the game like a lot of people did, I guess I did expect a bit more out of it. However, I'm not thru with the game, so maybe it will get a bit better. But it does seem like something's missing, or maybe it's me, maybe I'm just not getting into it as much as I thought I would.

[Mallrat]

Agreed 100%.

 

I was so disappointed at first. Yes, it's a good action game and a giant leap forward for the open-world genre as a whole. But as revolutionary as the jump from GTA 2 to GTA III? Hardly. Anyone who thinks that is so naive. I will never forget the first time I got in that Kuruma with 8 Ball and drove through Portland. GTA IV, so far, hasn't done anything to really make me impressed in the same way.

 

The little things like getting taxis and trains and stuff, are things that you just come to expect. There's nothing that's really surprised me. It's a solid 8/10, while the story is definately 10/10.

 

I am proud to own it and it IS a great game. But we were promised too much. It's not a GTA 3.5 (as some people have said), but it's nothing revolutionary. If they want to do that, then they're going to have to put everything they've gone in 3D and go back to the drawing board - that's always where the new, amazing stuff happens.

 

The GTA formula is a great one, but if they want to lead by this "revolutionary" example, they're going to have to lay it to rest and think more about crime itself - why do people do it, what pushes them and how does ORGANISED crime work? THAT'S what I want to see more of. Yes, we know Niko is after someone and has been sort of forced into the situation. YES, it pays. But what exactly are we paying for. For one particular mission I got a stupid amount of money, which means I'd never have to work again. Yet he still does it "for the money". To me, that takes away some of the believability.

 

Well done Rockstar for creating a benchmark for how to tell a deep, intricate story that isn't fraught with conspiracy stories and fictional politics (I'm looking at you, Hideo Kojima) but put your money where your mouth is if you're going to create something "revolutionary"

 

/end rant

[bossoner]

its a great game , i think we all expected a little too much from this game i know i did.

ah well we can hope for gta 5.

 

[R3VOLUTiON16]

I love this game, but it's not really revolutional...

[uniqueGTA]

 

Wow keeps amaze me.. 1000th topic this week 

YES WE KNOW SOME f*ckS DONT LIKE IT !!!

 

why bother making such topic ? just accept gta4 is good.

 

You sir, are a f*cking moron. It even says in the topic title that I think it's a good game. I can't understand why all of you get so defensive when someone isn't amazed by it, I never said it wasn't good, infact I think it's great, I just expected more.

 

And it's not like I'm the only one judging by other replies, I appreciate the people who actually switched their brain on when they made a post.

Well as you said in your post, you are a moron you are the one expected oooo' so much of it and in the end mister gets dissapointed ooooh sad

''the people who actually switched their brain on when they made a post''

You specialy typed that for yourself then i guess?

[xKiNGP1N]

at first when i played the game i was unsure but after a while i really got in to it and love it now, great game btw cops n crooks best multiplayer mode

[Algonquin Assassin]

It was all the hype, simple as that. Really it's peoples' fault that they got caught up in it, and expected more then what they eventually got.

 

I love the game to death. Is it revolutionary as a whole? Not really. Is it as far as GTAs go? Yes. It's not as big of a leap as GTA 2 to GTA 3, but it's changed alot from the last gen games.

 

I've played it every day since release, and I absolutely love it. There are a few things that could have been worked on, but this is the first GTA on this gen's consoles.

 

I bet people were exactly the same when GTA 3 first came out.

 

R* done a excellent job on GTA IV as far as I'm concerned.

[Southside Dukes Ballas]

Did this live up to expectations? Hell Noooooooo. Was it a great game? Hell yes. GTA SA is still by far my overall favorite GTA because it added so much but 4 is great. I mean like SA alot of things that were supposed to be in game were cut or weren't even used the way that R* initialy said but 4 is my 2nd favorite game.

 

GTA 4 is no where near revolutionary but it's a great step foward and the upcoming GTAs will be great as well as the next batch pf free roam crime games all together.

[Slick Willy]

I agree overall with the original poster. I am a bit disappointed with the game, but I believe it was way overhyped. This is the fault of both the gaming media and my own high expectations. Face it, we can't honestly expect the kind of "revolutionary" transition we saw with GTA III. The formula is just too good already and will take something we haven't even fathomed yet.

 

Now, specifically, there are a few things in the game that annoy and frustrate me. The biggest problem has been around since III, traffic disappearing in certain areas at certain times, especially when I need a car for a mission or am running from the po-nine. Another technical disappointment is the lack of variety in the radio station starting points. Most of the time when I tune in to certain stations they start at the same generic point. Just seems like something they would have noticed and fixed.

 

Next is the cell phone. While a great idea in theory, in practice it takes away a huge element from past games in the series. Most of the missions I could have previously done by visiting actual people or things like pay phones, I now have to use the cell for. It just makes it seem like there is a lot less to do. The same goes for hidden packages and the lack of rampages. I remember with the past games I would explore specifically to find hidden packages, but now I don't have that incentive to look for pigeons to shoot.

 

EDIT: I forgot to mention the whole "relationship" scheme. I personally hate it, it just strays away from the story line and doesn't seem to serve any real purpose (correct me if I'm wrong). The activities are all pretty boring and don't compare to playing the actual game, although I did enjoy the Kat Williams standup. I've actually been annoyed with all the calls I've gotten from "friends" to hang out. It just seems like a lot of the work used for the system could have been applied to other parts of the game.

 

There a few other things I dislike that are based on my personal opinion and expectations, most are omissions from past titles. But, overall the game is amazing. I still play it for hours on end like the past three. It looks good given the size of the game. The city does feel more alive, but isn't quite revolutionary yet. The soundtrack is great and so is the story. I'm not sure I would give GTAIV a perfect 10/10, but my score would be pretty damn close.

 

Glad to have an intelligent conversation here for once.

Edited May 3, 2008 by Slick Willy

[Dr Doidberg]

i dont think intelligent conversations can happen talking about a video game. haha.

 

i love gta. every one of the games is great. gta4 is amazing. i played it for 4 hours at a friends house and i couldn get enough of it. there will be more content for those who were expecting too much. speculate some more or wait and find out wtf they are doing.

[NTFC Army]

Wow keeps amaze me.. 1000th topic this week 

YES WE KNOW SOME f*ckS DONT LIKE IT !!!

 

why bother making such topic ? just accept gta4 is good.

 

You sir, are a f*cking moron. It even says in the topic title that I think it's a good game. I can't understand why all of you get so defensive when someone isn't amazed by it, I never said it wasn't good, infact I think it's great, I just expected more.

 

And it's not like I'm the only one judging by other replies, I appreciate the people who actually switched their brain on when they made a post.

Well as you said in your post, you are a moron you are the one expected oooo' so much of it and in the end mister gets dissapointed ooooh sad

''the people who actually switched their brain on when they made a post''

You specialy typed that for yourself then i guess?

Well from someone calling ME a retard, who can't even spell 'disappointed' and 'specially' correctly, I can't even take your post seriously.

 

Some nice replies so far, I agree about the Taxi feature, it's a nice touch but it somehow takes a lot away from the game, although I suppose you're not forced to use them. I can't understand why we cannot just enter the bars and clubs by ourselves and chat to random people inside like in Mass Effect. I still haven't been attacked by anyone without provoking it yet, and I'm halfway through the story-line, I think they could have implemented a sort of 'mugging in-game' where someone grabs you from behind puts a knife to your throat and you have to bash a different combo of buttons quickly to escape or tap A to hand over some money.

 

Also, what's the purpose of money ? It says it's not a Rags to Riches story, but I have $250,000 in my bank account, what's the point ? All I can buy is clothes and weapons, in theory I won't have to work again like someone in the previous post said.

[FriTheAntiHero]

I agree with OP. And there seem to be lots of ignorant pricks that don't READ THE THREAD BEFORE THEY POST.

[hitterhunter]

everything we were promised has been delivered in my opinion. some people just overemphasised the things that we were promised

 

ps3 and especially an xbox 360 isn't capable of miracles. and besides this game is geared towards the story. it's nothing like gta3 at all... if you think it's gta3 updated. then you don't understand the direction rockstar is taking the game.

 

besides in order for gta to evolve changes/sacrifices have to be made, and in the process they are going to lose gta fans. especially with the hype being put on it. i personally think it's epic.. gta3 didn't have the same scale. and that's not just the actual city. the story, characters, dialogue, gameplay. it's still gta but it's very different from gta3.

 

people give it 10/10 for a reason. but if u think it's a revamped gta3. then you don't understand, and therefore will not like this game. thats why saints row is there.. they cater to people who like all the stuff rockstar cut out.

[NTFC Army]

everything we were promised has been delivered in my opinion. some people just overemphasised the things that we were promised

 

ps3 and especially an xbox 360 isn't capable of miracles. and besides this game is geared towards the story. it's nothing like gta3 at all... if you think it's gta3 updated. then you don't understand the direction rockstar is taking the game.

 

 

I disagree, some of the things listed ARE capable on the 360, you could rob stores on the Warriors came on the PS2, if you can go into clubs with a mate why can't you go by yourself ?

[linedraw]

Were this many people disappointed with San Andreas too? I can't fathom why you'd be disappointed with IV. It's beyond words amazing.

[Algonquin Assassin]

Were this many people disappointed with San Andreas too? I can't fathom why you'd be disappointed with IV. It's beyond words amazing.

No because SA had planes, and parachutes which are SO amazing, and made the GTA series.

[goodsmeagol]

Heh I love it, I read no reviews, watched no previews, had NO EXPECTSTIONS, other then GTA4... and this game is AMAZING

To place this much detail in HD, is uneblievable, the disc restrictions must have played a huge role in how many building can be entered(although I think you may be surprised at how many you can... I have found a few doors here and there...)

 

Planes and Parachutes, an SA AWSOMENESS!!! However.... how many times do you see people sky diving over NYC? Uhm Terrorist attack?

Its NYC based, lets see,

Planes.... NYC... Planes.... NYC.... Oh thats right, some one did have that idea, enough people have enough bad things to say about this game(who dont play), lets not allow us to crash planes into buildings shall we? I must say,

R* SAVED THEIR ASSES ON THAT ONE!!!

 

Why would ANY ONE want to goto a fake bar, and get fake drunk, in a fake game, why? sounds loserish to me, I want to play with my friends, kill them, stab them, or play with them to kill others, OH WAIT!! I CAN! THANKS R*!!

 

Any thing in the past I have anticipated, has never reached my expectations, movies, games, sexy girl...

You can think all you want, but unless your a game engineer, take what you get, otherwise outdo them.

 

Off to shoot up a bank...

[NoBigThing]

Why would ANY ONE want to goto a fake bar, and get fake drunk, in a fake game, why? sounds loserish to me, I want to play with my friends, kill them, stab them, or play with them to kill others, OH WAIT!! I CAN! THANKS R*!!

 

 

Because it adds to the interactivity? The bars are there, the interiors are there. I want to go in there at any random time of the day, get myself a seat, have drunken conversations with other bar go-ers and hear funny stories told. Why should we be able to go in a bar? Because it's FUN. Is any more needed? It's pretty much the same with everything this game lacks.

 

I love the game but it's lacking lots of things that I hope will be featured in future editions of GTA.

 

 

[moonracer1313]

There are a couple reasons why I think people are disappointed.

 

1. The game uses the same play format as previous GTA games, so it feels the same, looks the same and you are doing the same things. I think most people want that. It wouldn't be GTA otherwise. That's why some people complain about the cover system. It doesn't feel like old GTA.

 

2. A lot of game reviewers and people who praise the game have a fairly in depth understanding of what goes into game design and publishing. They know what can and can not be done with todays technology and they know what most developers are and are not doing with new games. A lot of the things this game does to push limits and break the norm of what is done today are arguable subtle changes which won't blow minds of casual gamers.

 

3. The terms "next-gen" and "revolutionary" are so much more advertising BS than any thing else. Next generation games just means the games are on the new consoles. Everything for the XBOX360, Playstation 3 and arguably WII is "next gen". The stupid thing is that a lot of those games are nothing special. The main reason much of them can't be on older systems is because they have nicer graphics.

 

All that said, I think GTAIV is revolutionary. Especially multiplayer. Even with an over the top PC I have not seen a multiplayer game handle that many players, vehicles and NPCs in such a massive and complex landscape work so well (or at all). The single player mechanics are quite impressive as well for many reasons.

 

My guess is that a large number of game developers are playing this game right now thinking "how the hell are we going to compete with this?"

[goodsmeagol]

Why would ANY ONE want to goto a fake bar, and get fake drunk, in a fake game, why? sounds loserish to me, I want to play with my friends, kill them, stab them, or play with them to kill others, OH WAIT!! I CAN! THANKS R*!!

 

 

Because it adds to the interactivity? The bars are there, the interiors are there. I want to go in there at any random time of the day, get myself a seat, have drunken conversations with other bar go-ers and hear funny stories told. Why should we be able to go in a bar? Because it's FUN. Is any more needed? It's pretty much the same with everything this game lacks.

 

I love the game but it's lacking lots of things that I hope will be featured in future editions of GTA.

If you read... I was blasting the people whgo want to have multiplayer bars, inside game entertainment is one thing I agree, a fun side mission if you will, however to go online, and sit in a fake bar, on a fake game, and get fake drunk... pathetic...

To play the game, take a few min break from gameplay, sit down have a drunjken conversation that will make you laugh, great.

 

[NTFC Army]

Why would ANY ONE want to goto a fake bar, and get fake drunk, in a fake game, why? sounds loserish to me, I want to play with my friends, kill them, stab them, or play with them to kill others, OH WAIT!! I CAN! THANKS R*!!

 

 

Because it adds to the interactivity? The bars are there, the interiors are there. I want to go in there at any random time of the day, get myself a seat, have drunken conversations with other bar go-ers and hear funny stories told. Why should we be able to go in a bar? Because it's FUN. Is any more needed? It's pretty much the same with everything this game lacks.

 

I love the game but it's lacking lots of things that I hope will be featured in future editions of GTA.

If you read... I was blasting the people whgo want to have multiplayer bars, inside game entertainment is one thing I agree, a fun side mission if you will, however to go online, and sit in a fake bar, on a fake game, and get fake drunk... pathetic...

To play the game, take a few min break from gameplay, sit down have a drunjken conversation that will make you laugh, great.

No-one's said they want bars featured in multiplayer...