The Liberty City Appreciation Thread

[Krooked_]

14 hours ago, Emmi said:

Some more snowy Liberty City impressions from my current winter playthrough. I'm loving this!

 

 

 

 

 

Never been a huge fan of these snow mods but this looks really good. Liberty City looks even more unwelcoming than usual haha

Edited August 9, 2022 by Krooked_

[Emmi]

1 hour ago, Krooked_ said:

Never been a huge fan of these snow mods but this looks really good. Liberty City looks even more unwelcoming than usual haha

I must admit I had to 'downgrade' to the previous version of the snow mod because v. 2.5. is too extreme in my opinion and changes the gritty look of the original IV too much. Playing through the story again in a snowy Liberty City is amazing and breaths some fresh air into it all. Can't wait until I reach Three Leaf Clover! 

[billiejoearmstrong8]

On 8/7/2022 at 2:18 PM, The Tracker said:

 

Francis International Airport and Alderney State Correctional Facility (In EFLC) would like to have a word with you. 

 

Honestly the airports are a big waste of space in every GTA game. They should really cram them full of interesting stuff if they're going to use so much map space on them but they never do. I think it's a shame there's never a point in either IV or EFLC where you can enter the airport without a wanted level.

[Cluckin Bell CEO]

16 hours ago, billiejoearmstrong8 said:

 

Honestly the airports are a big waste of space in every GTA game.

Eh not really. You can fly planes in SA and V. There's also the flight school there. It's only wasted space in IV since you can't fly planes.

[billiejoearmstrong8]

5 hours ago, The Artist said:

Eh not really. You can fly planes in SA and V. There's also the flight school there. It's only wasted space in IV since you can't fly planes.

 

Maybe SA since they don't take up as much relative map space, have several activities, and can actually be useful for faster long distance travel since taxis aren't a thing. It takes up way too high a percentage of the small (relative to the map) city in V though. I feel like being that size they should have multiple activities and be full of cool jumps etc.

 

I agree it is an extra big waste in IV though. Without planes they should've included some cool helicopters that are only accessible there (I think as it is there's no helicopters there at all?!), some type of side activities including helicopter races/time trails, lots of things to do stunt jumps off, and a way to visit without a wanted level.

[The Tracker]

56 minutes ago, billiejoearmstrong8 said:

 

Maybe SA since they don't take up as much relative map space, have several activities, and can actually be useful for faster long distance travel since taxis aren't a thing. It takes up way too high a percentage of the small (relative to the map) city in V though. I feel like being that size they should have multiple activities and be full of cool jumps etc.

 

I agree it is an extra big waste in IV though. Without planes they should've included some cool helicopters that are only accessible there (I think as it is there's no helicopters there at all?!), some type of side activities including helicopter races/time trails, lots of things to do stunt jumps off, and a way to visit without a wanted level.

 

You know, it's funny considering the fact that the airport was the common location in the online mode, it basically was the hub world of GTA IV's multiplayer. It's a good example of how at times it's the community itself that makes certain aspects the most special of a game, even the most unthinkable ones. 

 

Or maybe I'm just fooling myself and it was just those sweet, sweet Annihilators at the end of the terminal that made players go there 

Edited August 10, 2022 by The Tracker

[billiejoearmstrong8]

3 hours ago, The Tracker said:

 

You know, it's funny considering the fact that the airport was the common location in the online mode, it basically was the hub world of GTA IV's multiplayer. It's a good example of how at times it's the community itself that makes certain aspects the most special of a game, even the most unthinkable ones. 

 

Or maybe I'm just fooling myself and it was just those sweet, sweet Annihilators at the end of the terminal that made players go there 

 

Ah I never thought of multiplayer. Maybe it was a bit more useful than I give it credit for then. Same in V as well probably.

[Ray Carter]

I think the best GTA's have been the ones set in Liberty City. San Andreas was obviously good too with size and variety. The GTA series could have worked just as good or even better with ALL GTA's set in Liberty City, but still set in different decades. GTA3's Liberty City would have had to include a lot more though to support multiple stories/games. This is why the cities changed so differently in 2-3 years with the PSP prequels.

 

My only issue with GTA IV's map is that Liberty City is a fictional place, and didn't have to base it solely on one location: NYC. Rockstar could have used the opportunity to include other influences like Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore and Philadelphia. Gotham City in the Batman films is a good example as they used New York City for wide and exterior shots, but filmed mostly on the streets of Chicago. Liberty City could have been just as famous and associated with the GTA series as Gotham is to Batman.

[billiejoearmstrong8]

On 8/13/2022 at 8:34 AM, Ray Carter said:

 

 

My only issue with GTA IV's map is that Liberty City is a fictional place, and didn't have to base it solely on one location: NYC. Rockstar could have used the opportunity to include other influences like Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore and Philadelphia. Gotham City in the Batman films is a good example as they used New York City for wide and exterior shots, but filmed mostly on the streets of Chicago. Liberty City could have been just as famous and associated with the GTA series as Gotham is to Batman.

 

They kind of did that with GTA III, where Liberty City really isn't recognisable as NYC with very few landmarks etc and is only loosely inspired by it. I guess they decided to go the other way and recreate real cities much more closely. I like it tbh, the level of attention to detail they put into it with all the small details and capturing the NYC vibe while still making it its own thing at the same time is very impressive. Even made me want to learn more about the real history/geography of NYC!  I think mixing cities would've been more likely to just create a less distinctive location (something like Gotham in Batman is a rare thing and mostly works so well because of the very stylised dark atmosphere - a GTA city wouldn't be as stylised as a comic book location).

Edited August 14, 2022 by billiejoearmstrong8

[.Ryan.]

On 8/15/2022 at 2:34 AM, billiejoearmstrong8 said:

 

They kind of did that with GTA III, where Liberty City really isn't recognisable as NYC with very few landmarks etc and is only loosely inspired by it. I guess they decided to go the other way and recreate real cities much more closely. I like it tbh, the level of attention to detail they put into it with all the small details and capturing the NYC vibe while still making it its own thing at the same time is very impressive. Even made me want to learn more about the real history/geography of NYC!  I think mixing cities would've been more likely to just create a less distinctive location (something like Gotham in Batman is a rare thing and mostly works so well because of the very stylised dark atmosphere - a GTA city wouldn't be as stylised as a comic book location).

I believe this is the reason R* wanted to revisit Liberty City again for GTA IV as they felt as if NYC wasn’t given the justice it deserved. GTA III’s Liberty City is cool, but its NYC influences are sparse and few between.

 

I like that for GTA IV R* made Liberty City more life like compared to its inspiration, but at the same time it still feels “fictional” with R*’a classic artistic touch.

 

As someone who’s never visited NYC before I know I could never navigate NYC just by playing GTA IV, but it’s helped me understand it more. Before GTA IV I only had a limited understanding of NYC, but now I feel confident enough to point of landmarks and such all thanks to the inane amount of hours playing GTA IV.

 

 

[ddarko12]

On 8/13/2022 at 2:34 AM, Ray Carter said:

My only issue with GTA IV's map is that Liberty City is a fictional place, and didn't have to base it solely on one location: NYC. Rockstar could have used the opportunity to include other influences like Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore and Philadelphia. Gotham City in the Batman films is a good example as they used New York City for wide and exterior shots, but filmed mostly on the streets of Chicago. Liberty City could have been just as famous and associated with the GTA series as Gotham is to Batman.

I'm very glad they didn't do that. Almost every other game does this, they create a location that's a blend of multiple cities. It's not really original anymore and is pretty generic to me. I prefer to see something based on a real city with a twist instead. Use the resources of a real city but make them your own, and that's what they did and it's a cool approach IMO.

Edited October 27, 2022 by ddarko12

[Sonny_Black]

On 8/9/2022 at 12:58 AM, Emmi said:

Some more snowy Liberty City impressions from my current winter playthrough. I'm loving this!

 

 

 

 

 

 

f*cking great, looks like some old gritty mafia game. GTA 5 whish he was that atmospheric.

[Americana]

These screenshots remind me of Max Payne so much!

[ddarko12]

I love this city so much that I actively use the Liberty City remix mod in GTA V. This city has an irreplaceable charm to it.

[AngelilloBubus]

GTA IV is a game that I still playing to this very day since day one. I bought the special edition that cames with the bank box. I remember my first day in LC like it was yesterday. My first drive in hove beach ohh boy got shocked by the buildings, the people,the cars everything. My first knockout with my dear baseball bat still in my memory ,that was love at first sight. I spent countless hours driving, fighting with peds, evading police and walking. I like to walk and look at the buildings discovering small details even today after more than 15 years playing. I love the universe that Liberty City is itself. Her neighborhoods from Hove Beach to Bohan Sur to then get lost in the greediness of Algonquin. I love to hear the peds talking, calling or just saying sh*t while driving. Small details like web on the internet and get hooked reading the hilarious websites. Liberty City is beatiful during the day darker and dangerous at night. Unique. She lures everyone into her with the impressive skyscrappers or the beatiful parks and landmarks and then when you get there she shows you the truth. She rules the place with a macabre humor. The beauty of the architecture blends with the blood spilled on the streets for those who don´t understand that once you are in Liberty City you can´t get out you can´t be good anymore. I´m so glad she lures me to her back in 2008. I love Liberty City.  

[Tommy "Nightmare" Smith]

I too feel like LC is the city with most character/soul of all the different settings. What I particularly appreciate is that, back when IV was launched it really felt like you really where a tiny human being in a big, big city. I've a very good photographic memory and enough sense of direction but it took me a very long time before I got to learn the map by memory and navigate to where I wanted without using the GPS. A feeling that I've never had with any other GTA. I hope we will get to visit it VI someday 

Edited March 24, 2024 by Tommy "Nightmare" Smith

[TJ10]

On 3/25/2024 at 2:59 AM, Tommy "Nightmare" Smith said:

I too feel like LC is the city with most character/soul of all the different settings. What I particularly appreciate is that, back when IV was launched it really felt like you really where a tiny human being in a big, big city. 

I only recently got to play GTA V for the first time while I've been playing IV for almost a decade at this point. LC in GTA IV has a soul that makes me feels things. 

San Andreas and LS, even though physically bigger and arguably prettier to look at, never gave me the same emotions as just driving around LC, listening to the radio and just taking in the atmosphere.

Edited March 30, 2024 by TJ10

[Funktipus]

On 8/16/2022 at 9:38 AM, Harwood Butch3r said:

I believe this is the reason R* wanted to revisit Liberty City again for GTA IV as they felt as if NYC wasn’t given the justice it deserved. GTA III’s Liberty City is cool, but its NYC influences are sparse and few between.

 

I like that for GTA IV R* made Liberty City more life like compared to its inspiration, but at the same time it still feels “fictional” with R*’a classic artistic touch.

 

As someone who’s never visited NYC before I know I could never navigate NYC just by playing GTA IV, but it’s helped me understand it more. Before GTA IV I only had a limited understanding of NYC, but now I feel confident enough to point of landmarks and such all thanks to the inane amount of hours playing GTA IV.

 

 

Being a native New Yorker, I can tell you GTA IV LC is tiny compared to the real NYC (you could probably fit all of Algonquin in lower Manhattan). Folks don't realize how big this city really is. It's impossible to recreate NYC block by block in a video game, but I thought Rockstar captured the "essence" of this town.

 

Having said that, GTA III LC is my second favorite map after SA. I love its overall creepiness.