The Liberty City Appreciation Thread

[Official General]

The only thing I wish they would have included is the lower east side. It would have been funny to see all the hippies and punks walking around though some sections of Algonquin are similiar. Having a take on the Jersey Shore area in Alderney would have been good as well but I admit I live there so I am biased. I spent nearly a decade living in New York and I currently live in NJ and they got both places down pat.

I agree, there should have been a much better replica of the Lower East Side of Manhattan in Algonquin. The closest you got to that was a small housing project area in the Westminster district. It would be good if they had also put in some Spanish Lords too, as the Lower East Side has many Hispanic gangs there.

[.Ryan.]

Just to bring this thread up again lately I've been doing more thorough exploration of LC and I can't believe that even though the game is almost 5 years old I'm still discovering new places.

 

This game has a alot more enterable buildings than people imply. Sure most of them are just rinse and repeat, but I reckon I've found atleast 8 buildings I didn't even know could be entered.

 

I love how this game still throws curveballs half a decade later.

Edited February 10, 2013 by Miamivicecity

[Kifflom112]

Good job on this thread.

Yeah LC is arguably the best video game city. Some games coming out today still don't have cities that look nearly as good as LC.

Lately I have been more focussed on cars and physics, but sometimes I stop and just find myself looking at how beautiful this city is. It feels so complete, so sophisticated and detailed. I hope V is just as good, LC set the bar high.

 

One grime though, why the lack of interiors? I mean this is NY. It feels like a missed opportunity.

[Katve]

Algonquin look so awesome during the nightime that V vill probably never get the same atmoshpere. Also every bridge and freeway towards the Algounquin is awesome because you can see all the skycrapers. My favorite area is Bohan because it is just so beatiful and detailed. And it is so small that you can explore whole island easily. Also standard american suburb feeling on the northern Alderney is really awesome.

[AZAZEL]

Just to bring this thread up again lately I've been doing more thorough exploration of LC and I can't believe that even though the game is almost 5 years old I'm still discovering new places.

 

This game has a alot more enterable buildings than people imply. Sure most of them are just rinse and repeat, but I reckon I've found atleast 8 buildings I didn't even know could be entered.

 

I love how this game still throws curveballs half a decade later.

Indeed. And I just love that feeling when you aimlessly bump into one of those red doors, and it actually swings open. That's a good feeling.

[GoldenBlade]

Liberty City is just fantastic. There are so many things to say about it. Every time I play, I discover something new. It's like, everytime I play the game, I fall in love all over again.

[Kifflom112]

So I just had one of those moments where I couldn't help but explore Liberty City and admire it. I had a nice ass silver Feltzer to do that. I just had fun cruising, walking, observing buildings and views with my ak47.

It was fun and peaceful. Loved the weather too. It was either partially cloudy, rainy, or misty.

The detsil, grime, it's just stunning. I don't know if I'll love Los Santos as much as I love LC right now.

[Ferocious Banger]

I doubt whether I'm going to get the "big city feel" in Los Santos; The cluster of skyscrapers certainly helped IV to have that feel.

 

Anyways, standing under the Broker Bridge is the most awesome part!

Edited February 19, 2013 by Ferocious Banger

[Kifflom112]

You know that area where Packie and Niko were trying to steal a truck in South Fishmarket, Algonquin?

I like to stand on this wooden ramp leading into the water and gawk at the bridges, the small Downtown Broker skyline, the different levels and hills of Broker, it's coastline. All of that awesome stuff. I honestly don't get the people who hate on LC, they must just be simple minded and only care about blowing sh!t up.

As far as the sections of Liberty City that I enjoy, well there is no place I can say I don't like. I have a deep interest in all of them. So, I'll just go through all of the boroughs explaining why I love them:

 

Broker: There is just something special about this place. From the beautiful trendy apartments, to the industrial neighborhoods currently undergoing rennovation; from the previously beautiful but now run down neighborhoods, to the nice parks, hills and different levels around Easthook. It's just so wonderful. This is one of my favorite boroughs, so much culture and architecture. I love it's dark vibe as well. Hove Beach is among my favorite districts in this borough. It's different, and so close to it's real life counterpart.

 

Dukes: This area just feels more suburban, laid back, and rich. I can't say it's one of my favorite boroughs, but it contains my favorite neighborhood, Meadow Hills. This area is just so unique, and just about every building exists in real life. Love the tudor buildings, the affluent shops, and then the big houses surrounding it.

What I really love about Dukes is it's parks. This borough is the king of parks: Meadow Hills Park, Gantry Park, that area with the pools near those awesome townhouses(i love the view from there, the bridge, the yellow factory that's been deteriorated, the Algonquin skyline. So awesome), the cemetary, the beautiful park with the boardwalks and views of Bohan.

Dukes is arguably the best borough for parks.

 

Algonquin: I disagree with Official General, this place was not a waste. It's such a beautiful and culturally rich island and has sooo much. I cannot say which neighborhoods I love more, the architecturally rich run down sections of North Algonquin, the wealthy condominiums and luxury hotels of east Algonquin, the pier and factory rich sections of west Algonquin where factories are being converted into condos and what not, the skyscrapers of middle Algonquin, Middle Park with all of it's glory, the luxury rowhouses of Soho and Easton, the beautiful civic citadel of lower Algonquin, or the executive towers of the southern exchange. There is just so much to this wonderful borough.

It's full of alleyways(some having surprises), beautiful buildings, and it's just so diverse.

 

Bohan: Bohan... It's dirty, ghetto, gritty, and sometimes depressing. Just about everything is rundown except for Welham Park(which I personally adore. It's a beautiful park in the middle of the ghetto. It's also one of the two parks to have a lake. I love the lake as well). I love Boham for it's gritty mood. It's streets show a lot of history. Some areas looked as if they used to be pleasing, but now they're revolting.

Another thing I love about Bohan is the parkway, it gives awesome views of Dukes and Algonquin.

I also love the center of bohan. Part of it is all dark and hilly because of the trains, but the other part is nice. It has this street that has lots of shops and this nice looking flat iron shaped building. It's my favorite area om this island.

 

Alderney: Alderney is,one of my least favorite boroughs, but it still is nice and I love the two sides to it. It contains both a gritty feeling and a laid back, wealthy or suburban feeling.

In North Alderney I really love the suburbs. They feel digferent compared to LC, more out there. It's calm and pleasant. In Central Alderney I love downtown and the colorful, wealthy townhouses of Berchem surrounding it.

Then you got the lower half, it's nasty, dirty, old, run down. Part of it is factories and dead residental properties. The other part is this grimey biker infested suburb with random uninviting shops.

 

Sooverall, I love LC to death. It's extremely diverse, unique, and it's the best video game city ever. Point, blank, period...

Edited February 11, 2013 by Kifflom112

[Official General]

Algonquin: I disagree with Official General, this place was not a waste. It's such a beautiful and culturally rich island and has sooo much. I cannot say which neighborhoods I love more, the architecturally rich run down sections of North Algonquin, the wealthy condominiums and luxury hotels of east Algonquin, the pier and factory rich sections of west Algonquin where factories are being converted into condos and what not, the skyscrapers of middle Algonquin, Middle Park with all of it's glory, the luxury rowhouses of Soho and Easton, the beautiful civic citadel of lower Algonquin, or the executive towers of the southern exchange. There is just so much to this wonderful borough.

 

 

@ Kifflom112

 

Sorry bro, I have good reason to have this view.

 

Algonquin looked amazing, no doubt. And Star Junction was a great, and very realistic re-creation of Times Square, as I've been to Times Square in real-life and Rockstar did a great job of it in GTA IV. However, I say quite a bit of Algonquin went to waste because there was not enough going on or happening within the borough when you consider how big and varied the place was. There should have been much more things to see and do, and places to enter. T

[Kifflom112]

Algonquin: I disagree with Official General, this place was not a waste. It's such a beautiful and culturally rich island and has sooo much. I cannot say which neighborhoods I love more, the architecturally rich run down sections of North Algonquin, the wealthy condominiums and luxury hotels of east Algonquin, the pier and factory rich sections of west Algonquin where factories are being converted into condos and what not, the skyscrapers of middle Algonquin, Middle Park with all of it's glory, the luxury rowhouses of Soho and Easton, the beautiful civic citadel of lower Algonquin, or the executive towers of the southern exchange. There is just so much to this wonderful borough.

 

 

@ Kifflom112

 

Sorry bro, I have good reason to have this view.

 

Algonquin looked amazing, no doubt. And Star Junction was a great, and very realistic re-creation of Times Square, as I've been to Times Square in real-life and Rockstar did a great job of it in GTA IV. However, I say quite a bit of Algonquin went to waste because there was not enough going on or happening within the borough when you consider how big and varied the place was. There should have been much more things to see and do, and places to enter. T

I guess I can agree on that a little bit. But I don't really focus on what to do and all of that. I just sightsee, drive, walk, and gawk at structures/buildings. It doesn't bother me but yeah, I guess there could've been more to do. My only real grime on Algonquin is the lack of interiors. Should've been more lobbies, restaurants, and hotel rooms and safehouses.

[Official General]

I guess there could've been more to do. My only real grime on Algonquin is the lack of interiors. Should've been more lobbies, restaurants, and hotel rooms and safehouses.

That's my point exactly

 

For it's huge size, Algonquin should have had way more accessible interiors in it's buildings to explore. We should have been able to enter a cafe, bar or restaurant in every district. There should have been more night clubs and entertainment spots to enter too. For it's size Broker had quite a lot of accessible interiors to explore, a lot more things appeared to to happening in that borough compared to Algonquin.

[.Ryan.]

I agree about Algonquin. I actually didn't mind the ped density in Star Junction however General is right in saying there should've been more enterable buildings.

 

Grand Easton IMO should've been enterable. Would've looked amazing inside.

[matajuegos]

I agree about Algonquin. I actually didn't mind the ped density in Star Junction however General is right in saying there should've been more enterable buildings.

 

Grand Easton IMO should've been enterable. Would've looked amazing inside.

I agree with you, in fact I was quite surprised that the Grand Easton Terminal wasn't accessible

[.Ryan.]

I agree about Algonquin. I actually didn't mind the ped density in Star Junction however General is right in saying there should've been more enterable buildings.

 

Grand Easton IMO should've been enterable. Would've looked amazing inside.

I agree with you, in fact I was quite surprised that the Grand Easton Terminal wasn't accessible

Unfortunately there's a huge lack of enterable iconic cityscape in general. Most are just generic project buildings.

[Kifflom112]

I agree about Algonquin. I actually didn't mind the ped density in Star Junction however General is right in saying there should've been more enterable buildings.

 

Grand Easton IMO should've been enterable. Would've looked amazing inside.

Oh god. That would've been superb. I could just imagine the Grand Easton Terminal having an interior in this game. Would've been so nice

Well I guess we can all agree that lack of interiors was a missed opportunity that would've been stunning.

Running through lobbies, hotel rooms, penthouses, random apartment,rooms, diverse restaurants, more offices like 44 Ameythst(the Shyster Law Office). But not, we got generic interiors and only a few interesting ones. Really disapointing.

 

I still love Algonquin though, it's still amazing. And I don't care about that Star Junction density issue because I barely hang out around there.

[Katve]

I would also like houses with elevator in the southern Algonquin like one of the safehouses. Skycraper e.g. Empire State would have lobby and elevator and one floor up there. (I know you can teleport to the top of the building, but no interiors.

[MikeMyth]

I would also like houses with elevator in the southern Algonquin like one of the safehouses. Skycraper e.g. Empire State would have lobby and elevator and one floor up there. (I know you can teleport to the top of the building, but no interiors.

It does have a lobby.

[.Ryan.]

And I don't care about that Star Junction density issue because I barely hang out around there.

I don't think it's an issue at all. I mean people always complain that it's not like the real Times Square, but imagine how taxating it would be on consoles if it was?

 

Whenever I walk around Star Junction I notice a decent amount of peds/cars do actually spawn. Yeah it's empty compared to Times Square, but it would be pretty difficult to accurately portray that. Even next gen consoles would probably have a hard time trying to replicate it.

 

 

[Official General]

And I don't care about that Star Junction density issue because I barely hang out around there.

I don't think it's an issue at all. I mean people always complain that it's not like the real Times Square, but imagine how taxating it would be on consoles if it was?

 

Whenever I walk around Star Junction I notice a decent amount of peds/cars do actually spawn. Yeah it's empty compared to Times Square, but it would be pretty difficult to accurately portray that. Even next gen consoles would probably have a hard time trying to replicate it.

In GTA IV, a lot of peds do spawn on the streets, you just have to wait in one spot in any area for a while for this to happen. I think the game has to load them up and needs a bit of time to do it.

[Kifflom112]

And I don't care about that Star Junction density issue because I barely hang out around there.

I don't think it's an issue at all. I mean people always complain that it's not like the real Times Square, but imagine how taxating it would be on consoles if it was?

 

Whenever I walk around Star Junction I notice a decent amount of peds/cars do actually spawn. Yeah it's empty compared to Times Square, but it would be pretty difficult to accurately portray that. Even next gen consoles would probably have a hard time trying to replicate it.

In GTA IV, a lot of peds do spawn on the streets, you just have to wait in one spot in any area for a while for this to happen. I think the game has to load them up and needs a bit of time to do it.

Yeah this is actually correct.

 

And I usually move the camera down for a split second when driving, then back up. It makes more cars and peds spawn.

[.Ryan.]

 

And I don't care about that Star Junction density issue because I barely hang out around there.

I don't think it's an issue at all. I mean people always complain that it's not like the real Times Square, but imagine how taxating it would be on consoles if it was?

 

Whenever I walk around Star Junction I notice a decent amount of peds/cars do actually spawn. Yeah it's empty compared to Times Square, but it would be pretty difficult to accurately portray that. Even next gen consoles would probably have a hard time trying to replicate it.

In GTA IV, a lot of peds do spawn on the streets, you just have to wait in one spot in any area for a while for this to happen. I think the game has to load them up and needs a bit of time to do it.

I notice this aswell. Beechwood City gets really crowded at night time. Generally speaking GTA IV has good ped density.

[Kifflom112]

One thing baffles me however.

You know Beaverhead Avenue, that rural road on the northern Westdyke outskirts?

Well it seems to have a LOT of traffic all of the time and I don't know why.

It has more traffic than most streets in southern Algonquin. You'd simply assume that it would have less traffic desity because it appears to be warn out, rural, and thin, but that's just not how it is.

Maybe it's because it's around a suburb? Who knows.

[Linki]

 

Next time you're playing GTA4, visit this alley in Alderney during the night time, on foot of course.

[Kifflom112]

Did some more exploring today and yesterday. Found this weird area in East Hook along the water that had tons of propane tanks. The area look battered and the was also this long dark tunnel and two concrete levels. It was pretty interesting and I've never been there.

 

I also spent the morning moving some of my saved cars around to different spots, but was in no rush and just cruised. With the Oracle I found myself just driving around, mostly around Broker and Meadow Hills. Those areas are just so diverse and beautiful. It made me wonder how R* did all of this, fit so many unique buildings into this game, and most of them are well done too. It's crazy. I have yet to see a game so diverse in buildings. The only game more diverse in buildings from my view is SC4(with the use of many mods), but that's a whole different genre.

 

I also discovered something new yesterday.

There is this area in the center of Bohan named Fortside and based on Bronx Hub. To the north west of the triangler shaped building(across the street actually) is this huge block of buildings. To the south it sort of curves and the road sort of smoothly dips down and up again towards the north(this description isn't well I know but I am on my phone. When I get my computer fixed I will replace this crappy description with a picture of the block). Well in a parking lot caved into the southwestern end of the block was a latter heading to the roof. I climbed it and found this huge roof area with a few more roofs to to climbup to and what not.

I liked this discovery really because it gave me wonderful views of Bohan and the surrounding areas of Fortside.

Edited February 17, 2013 by Kifflom112

[Ferocious Banger]

@Linki - I didn't find anything noteworthy?

[H.I.M.]

Liberty City..I totally fell in love with it (except for San Andreas) when I first installed GTA IV on my PC. It had this awesome feeling in it. It looked grey but it seemed good, it fitted with the story f Niko. How he went into this new, unknowing place where almost everyone hates him. The grim places, the opulent sides, the bridges.. all felt awesome..

 

I love this place.

 

 

[albanyave]

I like Hove Beach the best. It feels like home right from the start. There is so much life there and so much to do. Roman's business was just down the street a little ways. The beach is perfect and the skyline across the Humboldt River is absolutely amazing.

 

I enjoyed my first meal at this restaraunt. I loved the rude staff and the food disappeared way too quickly. Stand in the wrong place on this corner or accidently bump someone and there could be a real fist fight to deal with. Never mind that the friendly neighborhood LCPD was just a little ways down the street.

 

[DoubleOGJohnson]

I dont really like going to Star Junction like that, it's too touristy for me. I like to hang out with Fam on Uprock, Beaumont, Joliet, Coney Ave, Dukes Boulevard, and Firefly Projects. I used to hang out in Firefly PJs ALOT more but not as much ever since the homie Sharrief got killed at the Beach on Firefly Island by the Pancho Street Ballas from Beechwood around summer of 2011. I left LC soon after and went back home to Los Santos/Ganton for awhile to the original block. And it's true Beechwood Tower PJs is live at night time, I remember when the Seville, Glen Park, and Grim Relatives from Tutelo used to put in work on Rollin Heights and bikers up in Beechwood Towers from like 2008 to 2011 but that died down. I like Westminster Towers and Galveston Ave in Holland too because that strip is also live. Sometimes I chill in Steinway near Dukesbridge and Joseph Lehman Towers off Morris Street listening to Nas "Illmatic" and Mobb Deep reminiscing about 90's hiphop. I like Uptown from Holland through Bohan, the east end of BK, and Dukes more than Midtown and Lower Algonquin. Too many suits and ties down there. I'd rather be on Uprock and the shopping strips in the hood.

[Shah Sam]

I agree General. Broker is awesome. Just the grit and grime I mean wow. I sometimes wonder why people think everywhere feels the same though. Broker has that run down sort of feeling and when you go to Dukes say Meadow Hills for example it feels "homely". Broker and Bohan are easily the most ghetto parts of the city.

 

I actually feel that Bohan is pretty "homely", anyone else who does?