What would you change about GTA IV's story to improve it?

[FanEu7]

GTA IV has easily the best story of the franchise but nothing is perfect. What would you change about its story to improve it?

I always thought Bulgarin should have been a major villian in GTA IV instead of TBOGT. He felt out of place in TBOGT and Niko never really resolved his issues with him.

 

 

[Algonquin Assassin]

10 hours ago, FanEu7 said:

I always thought Bulgarin should have been a major villian in GTA IV instead of TBOGT. He felt out of place in TBOGT and Niko never really resolved his issues with him.

 

This. I would also...

 

-Make the conflict between PBX and Dwayne longer. I really love this subplot, but it feels a little short.

-Enable the choice of killing Phil or Ray in "Pest Control" like how it was originally supposed to be.

[FanEu7]

4 minutes ago, Algonquin Assassin said:

 

This. I would also...

 

-Make the conflict between PBX and Dwayne longer. I really love this subplot, but it feels a little short.

-Enable the choice of killing Phil or Ray in "Pest Control" like how it was originally supposed to be.

 

Good suggestions. I don't really get why Niko hated Ray so much, he didn't really do anything bad to him yet even after he kills him he calls him a "snake". Maybe something more was planned?

[Fake Lilina]

I think Ray Bulgarin and Jimmy Peggorino should've swapped places as the Final Boss.

 

There was a post on the "Ruin a Scene" topic where they had Niko call Peggorino to tell him that Dimitri was a traitor, so Peggorino orders Niko to put a bullet in Dimitri's head.

 

They could've used this so that Bulgarin shows up to the wedding and kills Kate.

Edited December 30, 2020 by Fake Lilina

[Homicidal Hipster]

More Russian mob, less guido mob. Bulgarian petrovic Dimitri and faustin were far more interesting as characters and fit the theme of the story more. The pecorino and phill bell sh*t was pretty dull and took up way too much of the story. 

[FanEu7]

15 hours ago, Thelema93 said:

More Russian mob, less guido mob. Bulgarian petrovic Dimitri and faustin were far more interesting as characters and fit the theme of the story more. The pecorino and phill bell sh*t was pretty dull and took up way too much of the story. 

 

I agree that more Russian mob focus would have been good. I liked the Italian mob stuff (especially the diamonds arc) & it made sense since the game took place in New York but it was definitely a bit too long,. Hell at least half of the McReary brothers missions was doing stuff for the mob + then we had Ray, Phil and Jimmy as well.  And of course  the Jon Gravelli missions.

 

You can get rid of some stuff and add more with Bulgarin and even Kenny Petrovic (we never see that dude)

[billiejoearmstrong8]

Yeah I like some of the Italian mob stuff but it's a bit too heavy on it towards the end, after already doing a bunch of missions for Ray Boccino the last third of the game you're exclusively working for different mob guys. I know there's technically some Russian mob stuff included (eg chasing Dimitri's guys in Buoy's Ahoy or having a gunfight/stealing from Russians in Catch the Wave) but it's only killing npcs in gunfights so not really the same. Some more missions fully involving Dimitri/Bulgarin/the Russian mob towards the end of the game would've been good 

Edited January 2, 2021 by billiejoearmstrong8

[Algonquin Assassin]

On 1/2/2021 at 10:25 PM, billiejoearmstrong8 said:

Yeah I like some of the Italian mob stuff but it's a bit too heavy on it towards the end, after already doing a bunch of missions for Ray Boccino the last third of the game you're exclusively working for different mob guys. I know there's technically some Russian mob stuff included (eg chasing Dimitri's guys in Buoy's Ahoy or having a gunfight/stealing from Russians in Catch the Wave) but it's only killing npcs in gunfights so not really the same. Some more missions fully involving Dimitri/Bulgarin/the Russian mob towards the end of the game would've been good 

 

Some more focus on the Russian mob would've been good, but I think the focus on the Italian mob isn't that heavy. We have to remember GTA IV's setting in based on a city that for years/decades has been the home of Italian organised crime. If anything by 2008 the Italian mob was on the decline in NYC/NJ so it's probably not as heavy as it could've been set in a more prosperous time period when the Italian mob were more at their peak.

 

When I first played GTA IV I remember thinking it took forever before seeing anything relating to the Italian mob. Ray's missions are awesome IMO and I like working for Phil, Pegorino and Gravelli. By that point of the story Niko feels like he's hit his stride as a hired gun/hitman for the mob so it feels fitting to me.

 

I would've liked to have seen more of the Russian mob at the start rather than the end, but that's just me.

Edited January 3, 2021 by Algonquin Assassin

[FanEu7]

12 minutes ago, Algonquin Assassin said:

 

Some more focus on the Russian mob would've been good, but I think the focus on the Italian mob isn't that heavy. We have to remember GTA IV's setting in based on a city that for years/decades has been the home of Italian organised crime. If anything by 2008 the Italian mob was on the decline in NYC/NJ so it's probably not as heavy as it could've been set in a more prosperous time period when the Italian mob were more at their peak.

 

When I first played GTA IV I remember thinking it took forever before seeing anything relating to the Italian mob. Ray's missions are awesome IMO and I like working for Phil, Pegorino and Gravelli. By that point of the story Niko feels like he's hit his stride as a hired gun/hitman for the mob so it feels fitting to me.

 

I would've liked to have seen more of the Russian mob at the start rather than the end, but that's just me.

 

The mob focus definitely fits the setting and was better done than in any other GTA game (even though LCS revolved around that they kind of f*cked it up). But it definitely felt heavy with Packie and Gerald (indirectly) + Ray, Phil, Pegorino & Gravelli. 

 

I think some more Russian mob focus would be good, especially so that Ray Bulgarin becomes one of the main villians. He was wasted. While Jimmy is a fine character he didn't really fit as the final bad guy in the Revenge ending (the canon one imho), that seemed a bit random.

 

 

 

[billiejoearmstrong8]

10 hours ago, Algonquin Assassin said:

 

Some more focus on the Russian mob would've been good, but I think the focus on the Italian mob isn't that heavy. We have to remember GTA IV's setting in based on a city that for years/decades has been the home of Italian organised crime. If anything by 2008 the Italian mob was on the decline in NYC/NJ so it's probably not as heavy as it could've been set in a more prosperous time period when the Italian mob were more at their peak.

 

When I first played GTA IV I remember thinking it took forever before seeing anything relating to the Italian mob. Ray's missions are awesome IMO and I like working for Phil, Pegorino and Gravelli. By that point of the story Niko feels like he's hit his stride as a hired gun/hitman for the mob so it feels fitting to me.

 

I would've liked to have seen more of the Russian mob at the start rather than the end, but that's just me.

 

I don't actually dislike any of the Italian mob missions but it does feel quite heavy on them once you get to Alderney, you've already done a large number of missions for Ray plus some other mob related stuff through the McRearys and then you find yourself working for Pegorino, Phil Bell and Jon Gravelli at once. Whereas during other parts of the game there's a bit more variety (eg when you're working for the Russians you're also doing stuff with Little Jacob and Brucie, when you're working for Puerto Ricans in Bohan you're also working for others elsewhere). Seems like it could've been a good time for Bulgarin and/or Dimitri to make a couple more appearances to break things up a bit, and to provide some more advanced/not early tutorial type Russian mob missions.  

Edited January 4, 2021 by billiejoearmstrong8

[Algonquin Assassin]

1 hour ago, billiejoearmstrong8 said:

 

I don't actually dislike any of the Italian mob missions but it does feel quite heavy on them once you get to Alderney, you've already done a large number of missions for Ray plus some other mob related stuff through the McRearys and then you find yourself working for Pegorino, Phil Bell and Jon Gravelli at once. Whereas during other parts of the game there's a bit more variety (eg when you're working for the Russians you're also doing stuff with Little Jacob and Brucie, when you're working for Puerto Ricans in Bohan you're also working for others elsewhere). Seems like it could've been a good time for Bulgarin and/or Dimitri to make a couple more appearances to break things up a bit, and to provide some more advanced/not early tutorial type Russian mob missions.  

Fair enough. It doesn’t really bother me that much because I love the Italian mob (Massive Goodferlas fan here) so the more the better in my book.

[Dr Busta]

I don't know the story is pretty decent

But there was some magic in the first arc until killing Mikhail I still don't know what it is . But I will do my research and return with some valid points.

My guess right now is because there was more Roman and because Niko had simpler Intentions that the player was cabable of fully understanding.

So the second reason is null because it's related to the story development

But I think if we had more Roman we would have had more Niko talking with him and understand more and I just noticed that that can be done if I hung up with Roman so still null

Edited January 5, 2021 by DR:BUSTA

[FanEu7]

24 minutes ago, DR:BUSTA said:

I don't know the story is pretty decent

But there was some magic in the first arc until killing Mikhail I still don't know what it is . But I will do my research and return with some valid points.

My guess right now is because there was more Roman and because Niko had simpler Intentions that the player was cabable of fully understanding.

So the second reason is null because it's related to the story development

But I think if we had more Roman we would have had more Niko talking with him and understand more and I just noticed that that can be done if I hung up with Roman so still null

 

Yeah more Roman later on would have been good, at least there are the friend side activities with him + some good phone calls after important missions.

 

And I think the first arc was a bit more unique since it was just about an immigrant settling in + the focus on the Russian mob is also something you rarely get in any game (or in general crime stories). My favourite part of the story is later on though, the whole Bank heist + Diamonds (including kidnapping Gracie) story arc  were the best

Edited January 5, 2021 by FanEu7

[Homicidal Hipster]

Michelle should of had more to do with the Iaa  missions. Maybe a ride along or a death scene. No closure whatsoever. f*ck Kate what were they thinking making her a main love interest..

 

woulda been cool if the final chapter took place back in hove.. ending where it began... 

 

wedding mission should of been an interactive shootout instead of two short cutscenes that end abruptly. Similar to the sleeping dogs wedding shootout .would of added more weight and shown the characters grief.. 

[FanEu7]

5 hours ago, Thelema93 said:

Michelle should of had more to do with the Iaa  missions. Maybe a ride along or a death scene. No closure whatsoever. f*ck Kate what were they thinking making her a main love interest..

 

woulda been cool if the final chapter took place back in hove.. ending where it began... 

 

wedding mission should of been an interactive shootout instead of two short cutscenes that end abruptly. Similar to the sleeping dogs wedding shootout .would of added more weight and shown the characters grief.. 

 

Why do you hate Kate? She is a bit bland but not bad. Michelle was more interesting though..although its sad how she became more evil later on (GTA V)

[Homicidal Hipster]

5 minutes ago, FanEu7 said:

 

Why do you hate Kate? She is a bit bland but not bad. Michelle was more interesting though..although its sad how she became more evil later on (GTA V)

Don’t hate her per se.. just think she’s one of the worst things to happen to the story. I like her and Niko’s conversations, because you get to learn about Nikos past, like romans mother being raped and killed etc . I don’t think she should of been a main story love interest. She should of been a side character you do missions for... simple mundane tasks where you ward off a male rival or something to that affect. Something to meat up the mccreary storyline and keep her revelant. I get the feeling not too many players even called her for dates making her pretty moot altogether bar a few weak appearances in missions. And she’s still one of the major points to the revenge ending and she isn’t even introduced until the second act of the game. Meh feel like her character was just poorly executed all together. Or maybe I’m just pissed she didn’t put out 

[FanEu7]

16 minutes ago, Thelema93 said:

Don’t hate her per se.. just think she’s one of the worst things to happen to the story. I like her and Niko’s conversations, because you get to learn about Nikos past, like romans mother being raped and killed etc . I don’t think she should of been a main story love interest. She should of been a side character you do missions for... simple mundane tasks where you ward off a male rival or something to that affect. Something to meat up the mccreary storyline and keep her revelant. I get the feeling not too many players even called her for dates making her pretty moot altogether bar a few weak appearances in missions. And she’s still one of the major points to the revenge ending and she isn’t even introduced until the second act of the game. Meh feel like her character was just poorly executed all together. Or maybe I’m just pissed she didn’t put out 

 

Yeah I didn't call her at all in my first playthrough so her death lacked impact. I think the point was that both endings are bittersweet/sad so you need someone else Niko cares about a lot. Kate fits, she is basically there for Niko to think about moving on from the criminal lifestyle and then die.  If anything she should be more important in the main story.

[String]

I'd make the Holland nights decision more balanced in terms of rewards. Right now the benefits are heavily in favour of Dwayne, I guess I'd make it like if you side with Dwayne you get him as a friend plus the penthouse while if you side with Playboy you get the 25k + the ability to call him to get backup(like you can do with Dwayne, except this would work similar to how you call Francis to remove wanted level I guess)

Edited January 5, 2021 by Utopianthumbs
typo