I was wrong about GTA IV... sort of...

[WhistleBlower]

To be honest, the game has a lot going for it.

 

Let's talk about the story. The story is depressing, yeah, but then again GTA games revolve around the criminal underworld so it's only natural that the developers take the dark and gritty route (not as dark and gritty as GTA III but you get the idea). All of the characters are well-written too -- Dimitri Rascalov being my favorite. There aren't a whole lot of eccentric characters along the likes of say The Truth from San Andreas or Ken Rosenberg of Vice City, but GTA IV still manages to work in regards to its story. The pacing isn't bad either.

 

Another thing that GTA IV has going for it are the mass improvements to its gameplay -- not necessarily in the fun factor -- but for the physics engine being introduced. Vehicles are a little more realistic in the way they handle and how they're damaged by other vehicles, if not from enemy gunfire. Same thing can be said for the player and various NPCs in the game as the ragdoll physics and A.I. that is more self-aware comes into play. I don't really have a problem with the graphics. They're fine, actually. It's just that blur filter. What was the point, you know?

 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that GTA IV isn't a bad game. It certainly has the best main theme in a GTA title (Soviet Connection) followed by the main themes from GTA III and Vice City. It's just that, unlike the GTA III era games where you deal with the '80s, '90s (mid-'90s if we count Bully and its New England setting), as well as the turn of the second millenium, 2008 is so boring. Lol. Bad music, bad television, fat police officers, unfunny radio DJs (I'm looking at you, Lazlow...) etc. Other than that, it's actually pretty good.

 

So yeah, I'm sorry for being a dick about it. Can you accept my apology? I realize that it's all a matter of preferences and the guys and gals who work at Rockstar Games can't please everyone. I'd give it an 8/10.

Edited May 19, 2011 by WhistleBlower

[AlexGTAGamer]

So yeah, I'm sorry for being a dick about it. Can you accept my apology?

Sure, not everyone likes GTA IV like not everyone likes COD or Mafia etc. etc. we all have our own preferences and that can't be argued with. I just hate those people who come on GTAF and say "GTA IV is sh*t!" and leave it at that, no constructive discussion, no seeing both sides of the argument, nothing.

[Mr.Moffat]

I have no problem with people disliking IV, it is an opinion and to be fair IV was different to older games, partly being its next gen and things would of course feel different, R* are one of the few companies I feel are actually making the most out of this gen and experimenting, many companies are just making games that have nice graphics and sound, but everything else could have been done on ps2/xbox. take gta4 there is'nt alot I could see being done on ps2.

 

It annoys me how so many people looked at what was'nt there instead of what was, and complained and called R* lazy and cheap, this is what pisses me off, these people clearly have no idea how much work, effort and talant was put into GTAIV.

 

Same can be said about people who don't like the story or soundtrack and proclaimed it was sh*t cause THEY don't like it. Fine you don't like it, but that does'nt make it sh*t, the story is well written, coherent, not convelouted and satisfying. I don'tlike the god father movies, but do I go around telling people that one of the best movies of all time is crap and gay? NO, yet I still respect the film and can understand why it is so highly praised.

 

Whistle blower I respect you, you did'nt like the game at first, but gave it another chance and appreciated what it did well and acknowleged the work that went into other aspects i.e physics, AI etc and you began to appreciate the deep characters and the games wit, yet it is still not your faveroute one, and I respect that because you at least gave it a fair chance!

 

I tip my hat to you good sir

[matajuegos]

So yeah, I'm sorry for being a dick about it. Can you accept my apology?

Sure, not everyone likes GTA IV like not everyone likes COD or Mafia etc. etc. we all have our own preferences and that can't be argued with. I just hate those people who come on GTAF and say "GTA IV is sh*t!" and leave it at that, no constructive discussion, no seeing both sides of the argument, nothing.

me too, i wanna kill 'em

[nlitement]

I'd just like to find out whether the GTA IV haters started on GTA III or later.

 

GTA 1 was my first GTA, and I think Rockstar has made the series evolve fantastically. GTA IV was basically the most polished GTA to date. It wasn't as crazy and feature rich as San Andreas, but it's still by far the game I've played the most in the past 3 years.

[WhistleBlower]

Whistle blower I respect you, you did'nt like the game at first, but gave it another chance and appreciated what it did well and acknowleged the work that went into other aspects i.e physics, AI etc and you began to appreciate the deep characters and the games wit, yet it is still not your faveroute one, and I respect that because you at least gave it a fair chance!

 

I tip my hat to you good sir

Thanks, man. I appreciate the compliment.

[na89340qv0n34b09q340]

Since I'm too lazy to summarize this here is an article about a website in GTA IV that might interest you.

 

Good luck with your hunt! I was always interested in the epsilon cult too.

[Blumpkin]

Sure, not everyone likes GTA IV like not everyone likes COD or Mafia etc. etc.

I was a little let down by Mafia 2. I had high expectations after playing the first one.

[Algonquin Assassin]

I don't think you need to make an apology dude. From what I've seen you have enough maturity without making yourself look like a dick even if you don't like the game.

 

Like Mr.Moffat I have no problem with people disliking GTA IV, but it does get a bit tiresome hearing the same old "there's nothing to do" crap over, and over again.

 

I've said this time, and time again the game isn't perfect, but I don't think it deserves the backlash it cops. You would think 3 years after release most people would be over it by now. By that I mean making complaints. I don't like the Halo series, but I don't go onto their forums stamping my feet about it.

 

Unless someone has any real ideas of how GTA IV's shortcomings could be improved it's mostly the same dribble from the last 3 years.

Edited May 20, 2011 by Miamivicecity

[Raptomex]

Vice City and GTA III theme's rule.

 

But yeah. I enjoyed GTA IV. I still feel the GTA III trilogy is the best but I do love GTA IV as well. It's feels different, improved gameplay, physics, real time damage, etc. It was especially great to play for the first time seeing the major improvements over it's predecessors. I think it's a great game. I can only hope they add more features to GTA V, like they did with San Andreas, instead of adding more stuff to the expansions. Not only that, that would make the expansions add even more.

[Official General]

I'm gonna keep this short, as I've already explained myself on this subject before.

 

I will admit that even though I liked GTA IV, I too was left feeling quite disappointed and a bit letdown by it after first playing and completing the game. My reasons were the usually cited ones like the removal of the best features from previous titles, the sometimes repetitive nature of the missions, the lack of gameplay variety and a few other things etc. I still feel that GTA IV could have been much better than it was....

 

However, I have played GTA 4 over again recently after a long time, and I've come to realise that it is a lot better than I initially thought it was. Also, playing the Episodes made the whole GTA IV experience a lot better for me and improved it a lot, especially with the Ballad Of Gay Tony (I really enjoyed Drug Wars and Yusuf was mad funny!). I even discovered new things to do that are very fun in the original GTA IV game when I started playing it again (Calling up Dwayne's boys to start crazy gunfights with other gangs). The whole Liberty City environment still looks graphically stunning to me, even though its nearly 4 years old. I have come to accept GTA IV for what it is, and I see more of the good in it than the bad. I now have the Complete Edition with all 3 games. I'd still highly recommend GTA IV+Eisodes to anyone who has not played it.