For you, how did GTA IV's story felt special?

[TheOneLibertonian]

For me, one of the many things in GTA IV that really comes to mind is the story and characters. Easily one of the best things about the game is the brilliant storytelling, and the characters brought to life this one hell of a thrillride from start to finish. Let's start with Niko; I personally think Niko was one of gaming greatest heroes, or anti-hero, in which he is. He is incredibly relate able and entertaining at the same time. He is cynical, and world weary, but he has the heart and soul of a human being, he is not a cardboard cutout of a protagonist. He may be a complex character, but his struggles and how he overcome those problems is what really made him one hell of a character. Also the supporting cast of characters are also one of IV's shining moments during the storyline. They are also relate able, and they do talk like what people should. In a world full of criminals, Niko's journey in America is a incredibly written and well acted by the voice actors. The supporting cast is one of the reasons why Niko is a great character. He may not have the fun and excitement of CJ's story, but he had this incredibly sublime story in which all the characters are just relate able in every single way. The characters are what made the story so special to me in my opinion. It's not perfect by any means, and the pacing could have been better, but still it is one of gaming's best stories IMO.

Edited March 5, 2016 by Diamond Dogs

[Algonquin Assassin]

What I've always loved about GTA IV's story it it feels like a story with many stories within. Some people bash the "filler", but to me it adds layers and depth to the story overall which is further reinforced by EFLC.

 

For me personally I love that the characters feel more real and less cartoonish than their 3D era counterparts. Probably why GTA IV has the lest amount of characters I dislike in the series. In general they all offer something. Even the characters who don't play a huge role.

 

Regarding Niko there's honestly nothing else I could say about him that I haven't said before. The guy's just an amazing protagonist really.

[LiniArc]

Gta IV's story is special because its simply realistic and believable at every point. The game embraces you once you play it and motivates you to play it again after completion. I bet even if you play this game after 2 to 3 months you would feel fresh. The decisions are realistic. When you can call Roman after every mission to talk about criminal world is realistic. Date's with GF's and Hangout with cousin is just awesome with those mixture of emotional, hilarious, serious dialogues. This game can easily blend you in and make you feel like you are Niko and that's what actually matters!. Even if you fail some missions the dialogues that are shown or the phone calls make a difference(I miss them the most). Game gives you the perfect liberty to approach missions in your own way. And finally to wind-up the activities and sound track in it are fantastic.

 

Gta: Episodes from Liberty City added with this standalone masterpiece makes a legendary game for me. This is a perfect example of how to do story telling in any game.

 

As much as I wish R* to do good in Gta VI's story, I have a strong feeling that it is not going to happen. But then playing VC, SA, IV+parts are and will always be the golden part of my gaming life. I am aging so fast. Completing Gta III right now. Its shows me how far we have come and how far beautiful Liberty City has traveled.

[cryptorelic]

I can't help myself but to say the game just nailed it in every way possible.

 

From the logo, soundtrack, location and protagonist to the incredible background and ongoing story.

 

It's that one complete piece of greatness, and released around the best time frame ever, late 2007 / early 2008.

[Majestic81]

The characters, the music. I mean the whole plot is not that complicated or filled with twists or anything like that. Its mostly just Niko coming to LC for revenge and getting tangled up with the mob. But the characters, the conversations are what made the story special. Its also kind of realistic. Doesnt feel over the top. Its just kind of simple and practical and thats whats good about it.

 

A storyline doesnt need to be too flashy or too complicated to be good. Another example is the game Dishonored. Simple story and plot, yet very effective and gets you invested and hooked.

 

Also, the characters and story are believable. And thats what I care about. Older GTA's kind of had a bit of silliness and the characters just wouldnt feel real to you. They would feel like video game characters. The missions too when you think about them in older GTA's did not seem very believable. In GTA IV the missions were more thought out.

Edited March 5, 2016 by Majestic81

[DoctorStar]

It was very compelling. You always wonder what's going to happen next mission thus making the campaign addicitve. Niko's hunger for money was also making Niko one of my favorite characters. Dialogues between the characters were also perfectly written. It had a realistic theme for both story and the city.

[AuSsIeThUnDeR36]

For me it's Niko. One of the best written characters in GTA history with such a dark, gritty and compelling tale. As you play IV, you feel the need for Niko to succeed at finding the person he is after. It's a sometimes sad story with a good mix of humor and danger mixed in for one heck of a rollercoaster of different emotions. There's something for everyone in IV.

[Badman_]

The realistic tone. Niko did lots of bad things and he payed for it in the end.

It's the classic "crime doesn't pay" thing. Tragedy all over it.

[Algonquin Assassin]

I've just completed "That Special Someone" again and I absolutely love the interaction between Niko and Darko. Feels so real and genuine. I spared him this time and I'm going to choose Deal. I think it's an interesting view sparing Darko and Niko seeking a similar redemption with Dimitri too.

 

Can't say I've ever tried that before. I normally end up killing Darko and choose Revenge on most of my playthroughs.

[PhillBellic]

It was the first Story told in the HD Era. Considering Video/Computer Games aren't exactly known for strong Storytelling, it was mind-blowingly complex. Additionally, it had some incredible depths, and the Characters each had their own Back Story, even if you found those details out through the Police Databases.

 

I think iw will be my favourite Story for many Years to come.

[Jonboy507]

There was a moment during my first run through the story when it felt real or something. I can't really describe it. Mallorie had just called to say Roman had been kidnapped, and then Dimitri sent his text, and the general atmosphere at that point felt as if the characters of the game could be anywhere. As if they didn't just disappear after a cutscene, they could come round the corner at any point. I felt like I was in a living, breathing world with these people.

 

As much as I like GTA V's story, no game will replicate the feeling and atmosphere that IV's story and map creates.

[MrEnigma]

Back before I took a nearly 3 month break from gaming (just got back into things this week), I alternated playing through V and IV and on my most recent playthrough of IV, I think what made things special for me was the way the characters and the environment complimented each other so well.

 

The characters weren't so cartoonish like in Vice City and had more depth than those in V. Additionally, the relationships between them actually felt sort of dynamic and not superficial *(where most of the main characters are concerned.........some of the smaller players feel like throwaways) . The environment.......wow. Liberty City has come into its own in the HD universe, being detailed, gritty and in a way, almost dystopian. At certain points, I felt like I was watching an episode of "The Wire".

 

The ending tied it all together and packed in some emotional resonance, being more realistic than VC and SA (in which Tommy and CJ eventually win out over the antagonists and emerge on top) and V (endings A & B feel forced due to the fact Steve Haines and Dave Norton felt kind of two-dimensional and Franklin never displays any kind of backbone while ending C doesn't do it for me because Michael/Franklin/Trevor never develop the kind of close ties that would make such an ending more satisfying).

(

that I'd listen to when driving around, or in between missions) Edited March 16, 2016 by MrEnigma

[Azirah]

My first playthrough, I was young and I didn't really give a sh*t about the story or pay attention - I was 10 or 11. All I knew was there was Niko, Roman & Mallorie. Could really give a sh*t about anyone else... I broke the game so I just didn't play it for awhile. I kept buying it each time I broke it - idk what was attracting me to the game so much, but I guess it's a good thing. When I was 17-18, I finally got serious with the game.

 

I paid attention to all the detail - realized how f*cked up the characters were in Liberty City, the story was captivating and I actually gave a f*ck about the characters. All of the characters felt REAL, it was almost like I was playing a movie. The story, again, felt very realistic and I found myself wanting more. They paid a lot of attention to detail... As in, Mr. Fuk's Chinese place, the RON building & seeing Niko's breath when it was cold.

 

They had lots of Easter eggs & i felt like the game was top notch. The game was so dark, so gloomy and was serious - nothing like V where you play with 3 protagonists. I don't even care about any of the characters.. I actually cared when Kate died, I was pissed when Dimitri betrayed Niko & I was like WTF when I found out Michelle was working for the government. But I was so immersed into the story that when tough choices came like saving or killing X, I would pause and think about what I would actually want to do. The one thing I loved about TBOGT was how it felt lively and a fresh breath of air, but it again, was still dark and gritty.

 

I've beat GTA IV about 15 times and do not regret it. I still load up my 360 to this day just to drive around, listen to the excellent music that doesn't seem to get repetitive & just admire the view.

[PhillBellic]

My first playthrough, I was young and I didn't really give a sh*t about the story or pay attention - I was 10 or 11. All I knew was there was Niko, Roman & Mallorie. Could really give a sh*t about anyone else... I broke the game so I just didn't play it for awhile. I kept buying it each time I broke it - idk what was attracting me to the game so much, but I guess it's a good thing. When I was 17-18, I finally got serious with the game.

 

I paid attention to all the detail - realized how f*cked up the characters were in Liberty City, the story was captivating and I actually gave a f*ck about the characters. All of the characters felt REAL, it was almost like I was playing a movie. The story, again, felt very realistic and I found myself wanting more. They paid a lot of attention to detail... As in, Mr. Fuk's Chinese place, the RON building & seeing Niko's breath when it was cold.

 

They had lots of Easter eggs & i felt like the game was top notch. The game was so dark, so gloomy and was serious - nothing like V where you play with 3 protagonists. I don't even care about any of the characters.. I actually cared when Kate died, I was pissed when Dimitri betrayed Niko & I was like WTF when I found out Michelle was working for the government. But I was so immersed into the story that when tough choices came like saving or killing X, I would pause and think about what I would actually want to do. The one thing I loved about TBOGT was how it felt lively and a fresh breath of air, but it again, was still dark and gritty.

 

I've beat GTA IV about 15 times and do not regret it. I still load up my 360 to this day just to drive around, listen to the excellent music that doesn't seem to get repetitive & just admire the view.

Marvelous Post, Alisha.

 

How on earth did you manage to break so many Copies?

[Azirah]

 

My first playthrough, I was young and I didn't really give a sh*t about the story or pay attention - I was 10 or 11. All I knew was there was Niko, Roman & Mallorie. Could really give a sh*t about anyone else... I broke the game so I just didn't play it for awhile. I kept buying it each time I broke it - idk what was attracting me to the game so much, but I guess it's a good thing. When I was 17-18, I finally got serious with the game.

 

I paid attention to all the detail - realized how f*cked up the characters were in Liberty City, the story was captivating and I actually gave a f*ck about the characters. All of the characters felt REAL, it was almost like I was playing a movie. The story, again, felt very realistic and I found myself wanting more. They paid a lot of attention to detail... As in, Mr. Fuk's Chinese place, the RON building & seeing Niko's breath when it was cold.

 

They had lots of Easter eggs & i felt like the game was top notch. The game was so dark, so gloomy and was serious - nothing like V where you play with 3 protagonists. I don't even care about any of the characters.. I actually cared when Kate died, I was pissed when Dimitri betrayed Niko & I was like WTF when I found out Michelle was working for the government. But I was so immersed into the story that when tough choices came like saving or killing X, I would pause and think about what I would actually want to do. The one thing I loved about TBOGT was how it felt lively and a fresh breath of air, but it again, was still dark and gritty.

 

I've beat GTA IV about 15 times and do not regret it. I still load up my 360 to this day just to drive around, listen to the excellent music that doesn't seem to get repetitive & just admire the view.

Marvelous Post, Alisha.

 

How on earth did you manage to break so many Copies?

Basically not taking care of my things - I think I broke like 4 copies before I finally bought it digitally, lol.

[Doctor Dollars]

It's hard to explain. I related to a lot of the details of the game, I lived in a low income area around the time GTA IV came out and related a lot to Elizabeta Torres' and Manny Escuela's storyline because that's what I imagined would happen in my neighborhood. I also related to Niko when he just arrived to Liberty City and all he had was Roman. Everyone I knew in middle school was playing the game so it felt like we were kinda all going through it together. No other game really captures the same respect I have for the GTA IV.

[gooeyhole]

It stuck with me. That's it. It made a lasting impression on me. That...that, is what makes a story good.