GTA IV General Chat

[FanEu7]

Just started to replay it again after 3 years and its still amazing. Sure graphics wise it has aged but there is just something special about the atmosphere of LC, it feels more "alive" than other open world cities and is still fun to explore. Not to mention the fantastic story and characters, easily the best of the franchise and I doubt that changes any time soon. 

 

It helps that the cutscenes are so well done too, while the NPC's during free roam definitely look off now the cutscenes are on point and well directed + with fantastic VA performances. The physics are still superior to any similiar open world game as well.

 

 

Edited January 10, 2021 by FanEu7

[ITSUMANGAMING]

Even putting aside the serious stuff like the story, just that I can knock hundreds of cops off a ladder one by one and then hang out with a drunk Packie singing Danny boy/Jacob hailing the praises of Jah and after that play Vigilante for a bit and then go boating around the Mrs Clinton Statue with Brucie with 1979 playing on the radio and then watch my car go flying blocks across off a swingset, IV has a lot of stuff like this and it makes for an experience like few other

[PhantomJawn]

The physics of the game is truly remarkable for a 10 year old product and it definitely feels the most cinematic of the series compared to the rest. IV is smaller than V yet it feels so more life like since the Liberty City is oozing with content as well. Probably the only GTA game where I kinda feel bad for killing people which is saying something.

[FanEu7]

7 hours ago, PhantomJawn said:

The physics of the game is truly remarkable for a 10 year old product and it definitely feels the most cinematic of the series compared to the rest. IV is smaller than V yet it feels so more life like since the Liberty City is oozing with content as well. Probably the only GTA game where I kinda feel bad for killing people which is saying something.

 

LC is probably my favourite city in any open world game, Rockstar really did a great job with it. It really feels like a living breathing city, even now 12 years later.

 

The physics are on another level than V, the latter was definitely a downgrade here

[.Ryan.]

I recently got a PS5 and had all intentions of it being my primary console HOWEVER I hooked up my old 360 just so I could keep playing GTA IV. It even still has the GTA IV theme I put on it a few years back and a GTA IV gamer picture. Needless to say I don't think GTA IV will be leaving my gaming library any time soon.

 

Even after playing some pretty impressive next gen games GTA IV still holds up amazingly well for its age. Better than the majority of games from 2008 infact. To me calling it a masterpiece is putting it lightly. It's a work of art and the soul reason I'm still gaming today.

Edited January 10, 2021 by Algonquin Assassin

[ddarko12]

It is an odd one because I think all of the older GTA's can be timeless, but it is hard to get into them because of how bad they look. GTA IV, while it has aged a lot, there's still an insane amount of detail and the game still has a deep atmosphere and good designs. I can't say I still play any other games from 2008, but GTA IV is something I can still happily play alongside my modded copy of V. It's not that bad, going from graphics mods/60fps etc back to GTA IV on my XB1 with its old graphics and 20fps. Still very fun.

[JD101]

i kept on murdering people, stealing cars, dealing drug packages, and illegal street racing. Its fun that I got freedom in Liberty City. GTA IV is one of the best R* Game Franchise

[Fake Lilina]

Let's go bowling.

[DJ-Jelly-Doughnut]

I had not played this game is 10 years.. easily. But thanks to the endless reminders in GTA V to Liberty City and the nods to the story in GTA IV.. I finally went back to run the streets of Liberty City. I have to say I'm still amazed how well this game holds up. Vehicle controls feel a bit off but it honestly just feels more realistic. The attention to detail is crazy.. NPCs reacting to rain.. cleaning up in the street.. going about their lives.. While GTA V is amazing in its own way.. you still notice the little things like this when you go back and play GTA IV. Great game. I feel bad I didn't come back sooner. 

[Goldn-Bayse]

I started playing it on PC for the first time and began another playthrough. After being used to the PS3 version, switching to PC has been eye-opening. Everything feels clearer and I'm spotting nooks and crannies in LC that I never noticed before. Coming back to the game after not playing for a long time has been great, it feels nostalgic. It's a shame that the PC version likes to crash on me at random times (Especially inconvenient since it crashes when I exit Qub3d thus halting me from attempting to 100% the game).

[FanEu7]

52 minutes ago, Goldn-Bayse said:

I started playing it on PC for the first time and began another playthrough. After being used to the PS3 version, switching to PC has been eye-opening. Everything feels clearer and I'm spotting nooks and crannies in LC that I never noticed before. Coming back to the game after not playing for a long time has been great, it feels nostalgic. It's a shame that the PC version likes to crash on me at random times (Especially inconvenient since it crashes when I exit Qub3d thus halting me from attempting to 100% the game).

 

The graphics are definitely better in the PC version and LC definitely feels more "alive" (way more pedestrians and cars etc.)

[San An Strangler]

Keen for another replay. I miss LC

[Americana]

For me, the game is perfect. I wouldn't add or remove anything from it.

 

Also, when it comes to graphics - the game looks awesome.

 

 

 

Edited January 28, 2021 by Americana

[TWIST_OF_HATE]

This game will always have a special place in my mind and soul

I'm waiting for RevIVe project to be completed, so performance and z-fighting will be finally fixed for good

Not much people will understand, but IV in 2008 or in 2021, for me there is no difference, this game is still "hot", great and thrilling

[Americana]

True, whenever I do a replay of Grand Theft Auto V I immediately got bored because of the lame characters, boring missions and weird graphics. When it comes to Grand Theft Auto IV, however... I'm always hyped to do some missions and just drive around!

[Zed_Bosniak91]

It's an amazing game that captures the atmosphere of Liberty City (NYC) and life as an immigrant hired gun from a war torn country so well.

 

Remember in 2008 when GTA IV came out critically acclaimed and popular TV series like The Wire & The Sopranos had just finished and were at the height of pop culture at the time. You can see that the Dark atmosphere of the game took some inspiration from both of those series.  Liberty City just feels like a proper fully fleshed city environment. Just compare Liberty City in this game to Los Santos in GTA V and honestly there is no comparison. Los Santos feels like a generic fake city full of fake people. I am sure that whilst certain parts of Hollywood & Burbank are probably like that in real life the rest of LA most likely is not. In GTA San Andreas  R* at least the captured the ghetto atmosphere of South Central LA pretty well. I did not find any of that in GTA V. Los Santos just felt so boring and lifeless.

 

Whilst GTA Online was a success the single story player mode was sh*t with forgettable villains and characters. I also find that making the game more "cartoonish" and "saints row like" in the HD era was a huge regression. R* was probably influenced by some of the dumb critical fan responses because GTA IV lacked a country side and had little amount of zany and wacky missions and side events like SA did. Although GTA IV had an area based on Jersey like Westdyke that captured suburban north-east of US pretty well. Anyway That being said GTA SA as a game would not have worked so well in the PS3/PS4 era IMO. The way graphics evolved with PS3/PS4 aka HD era makes realistic games more ideal to the hardware specifications and graphical realities of today then something which appeals to more of a fun crazy-house mindset like SA & Vice City did.

 

GTA IV had a strong story from start to finish. Even some of the early henchmen guys like Vlad are more memorable than some main villain's in other GTA games who had a lot more screen time than old Vladdy boy did. Another great thing about the game is that Niko and most others stay true to their character. Whilst I enjoyed GTA SA as a game and is probably my 2nd favourite GTA game of all time I felt that the character of Carl Johnson was poorly written and buy the time you go to San Fierro he becomes an entirely opposite person  then you started out with. To make matters worse his character makes 180 degree reverse again during the end of the game when you reunite with sweet. I found myself not caring too much in the end tbh. Whilst seeing Tennypenny die  in the end brought some enjoyment I just did not have much sympathy for Carl like I did with Niko when he finishes off Dmitri & Pegerino.

 

One area that IV could have improved on is adding more city space in the map to make Algonquin more bulkier (maybe include MSG in the map), add a bit more of the projects &  yankee/swingers stadium in Bohan. They should have expanded Alderney to include more suburban areas with longer Plumbers skyway with faster moving traffic. I would loved to have seen more Sopranos references in the game. Middle Park should have been utilized more and should have been a haven for random interactions. Should have been at least a Dozen more of these in the game. More properties should have been available to buy and enter into as well. Aside from that the game was pretty much flawless. I rank it is my favorite GTA game of all time and one of the best video games of all time. The Story is definetley one of the best. Honestly If somebody could condense Niko's story into a 2hr 30 minute movie it would be worthy of getting an academy award nomination and free a visit from stephanie who sucks like a vacuum for the directors ,writers & producers invovled.

 

I am still playing this game and currently on a playthrough in which I try to complete the game + DLC's  in Chronological order at the same time. It's time consuming but worth every minute.

 

 

PS: TLAD is amazing as well. The Story between Billy and Johnny was great. If you have dealt with sociopaths before you would really learn to appreciate how realistic they made Billy & Johnny's animosity grow to the point that you just could not wait to finally get your hands on Billy at the end and finish him off for his own sake and for Lost MC. I honestly felt more satisfied getting Billy then Dimitri to be honest but that's just me and I only have ever ended GTA IV playthroughs taking the Revenge option. After all Roman surviving will always be canon end to me and I dare someone to prove me wrong lol

 

TBOGT despite it's flaws did well in wrapping up the diamonds plot and getting closure on Ray Bugarin (although he was portrayed as more of a joke villain which I did not like).  Another good thing about Ballad is that it showed you Liberty City from a more up-town perspective and did a good job at parodying the class divide in America which had exasperated after the financial crisis of 2008 which was alluded to in one of the conversations you have with Armando & Henrique. The Night Club scene was pretty interesting as well although it would have been better if it allowed you at least 2 more clubs to visit.

Edited January 30, 2021 by Zed_Bosniak91

[Americana]

Quote

Just compare Liberty City in this game to Los Santos in GTA V and honestly there is no comparison. Los Santos feels like a generic fake city full of fake people.

 

Not only is Los Santos small... it feels like it's made for landmarks and some important locations. Like, the whole city consists of some important buildings, and famous landmarks.

 

Suburbs? Dude, here - have some houses. 

[FanEu7]

On 1/29/2021 at 11:16 AM, Americana said:

True, whenever I do a replay of Grand Theft Auto V I immediately got bored because of the lame characters, boring missions and weird graphics. When it comes to Grand Theft Auto IV, however... I'm always hyped to do some missions and just drive around!

Honestly I really like GTA V too (its at least as good as VC/SA in terms of story and better in terms of gameplay) but GTA IV is just on another level and easily the best part of the series. I don't think Rockstar will ever deliver a GTA game like it again

[JD101]

I hope GTA IV will be released in PS5

we all know that GTA IV will look like this in the PS5 gameplay:

 

[The-Ghost]

I think the last time I played GTAIV was in 2012 on a crappy PC that couldn't even run it properly, then I played EFLC on consoles at some point during 2017 I think, I am planning to replay both of them soon since I am getting a PC that can actually run the freaking thing, so glad I kept my physical copy around.

It's a nice looking game, I dislike the driving but I will have to put up with that for old times sake lol

 

[Kirsty]

Re-purposed and pinned this topic in case anyone in the community wants a general place to congregate over IV. Cheers.

[IVCavalcade]

6 minutes ago, Kirsty said:

Re-purposed and pinned this topic in case anyone in the community wants a general place to congregate over IV. Cheers.

Nice one - I've been casually working towards 100% in IV and wondered why there wasn't a general chat pinned for all the miscellaneous comments and questions that don't fit into any other topic/weren't worth creating a new one for.

 

Honestly I've been enjoying my time with IV now more than I ever have - it might be the fact I'm getting older, but I really appreciate the slower pace, and all the detail and immersion of the city this time around. I just wrapped up the story, and I felt much more invested in each character this time, and I feel like I have a deeper understanding and appreciation for what they were going for with the story - it's much more of a character drama than any other GTA, and in retrospect, the Eastern European immigrant angle was totally out of left field and quite a ballsy move for Rockstar. GTA IV was totally not the obvious move after San Andreas, but they pulled it off.

 

One question I have if anyone can answer, in relation to the the achievement for meeting all the strangers, No More Strangers - I chose to kill one of the characters during the story that later becomes a stranger mission if you spare them, have I locked myself out of this achievement? 

[ITSUMANGAMING]

1 hour ago, Chazza354 said:

I just wrapped up the story

I envy you dude. I have been trying intermittently for months to pass the final mission but I always fail at the helicopter part I can't turn the damn heli properly and always end up crashing or going in the wrong direction 

 

Anyway I've talked a lot about that elsewhere, for conversation sake what story choices did you make on this playthrough? 

 

1 hour ago, Chazza354 said:

One question I have if anyone can answer, in relation to the the achievement for meeting all the strangers, No More Strangers - I chose to kill one of the characters during the story that later becomes a stranger mission if you spare them, have I locked myself out of this achievement

Dont know myself but I'm curious lol,

Spoiler

Ivan or Cherise? I'm guessing you capped Cherise?

 

Edited November 8, 2021 by Wayne Kerr
Spoiler tag

[IVCavalcade]

5 minutes ago, Wayne Kerr said:

I envy you dude. I have been trying intermittently for months to pass the final mission but I always fail at the helicopter part I can't turn the damn heli properly and always end up crashing or going in the wrong direction 

 

ah bro that's frustrating - maybe just practice your heli skills outside of the mission around the city before you next try? I'm not sure if you use a controller, but you can use LB/RB (not sure what the keyboard equivalent) is to help turn it. You'll get it soon I'm sure.

 

7 minutes ago, Wayne Kerr said:

Spoiler

Ivan or Cherise? I'm guessing you capped Cherise?

 

Spoiler

Bro I capped everyone that was optional in this playthrough loll, I was feeling like a stone cold hitman and I wasn't about to let someone go after I've already killed dozens of random people through the missions up to that point haha - I was just doing my job for Vlad when I killed Ivan, even though I knew Vlad was a piece of sh*t with bad motives, I still took the job so I felt like I had to finish it. killing Cherise felt wrong, that one was more impulsive, I'm sure that one is weighing on Niko's conscience in my game lol.

 

[ITSUMANGAMING]

2 hours ago, Kirsty said:

Re-purposed and pinned this topic in case anyone in the community wants a general place to congregate over IV. Cheers.

Do we have to use spoiler tags when talking about the story especially things like the endings and story choices considering a general chat thread might have newcomers seeing too, or is it okay to not use them considering the game is over a decade old? 

[billiejoearmstrong8]

6 hours ago, Chazza354 said:

 

 

One question I have if anyone can answer, in relation to the the achievement for meeting all the strangers, No More Strangers - I chose to kill one of the characters during the story that later becomes a stranger mission if you spare them, have I locked myself out of this achievement? 

 

Killable ones don't count so you're good. You can't lock yourself out of any achievements or 100% tasks in the game.

Edited November 8, 2021 by billiejoearmstrong8

[Kirsty]

4 hours ago, Wayne Kerr said:

Do we have to use spoiler tags when talking about the story especially things like the endings and story choices considering a general chat thread might have newcomers seeing too, or is it okay to not use them considering the game is over a decade old? 

Given how much time has passed I personally think it’s OK by now to not use them, but I’ll leave that to your discretion. If the topic becomes active and regulars prefer spoiler tags then that’s fine too  

[ITSUMANGAMING]

Holland Play is a really interesting choice for me. To me it wasn't that straightforward to choose between Playboy and Dwayne if you don't consider the rewards.

 

Niko himself says Playboy was fair with him more or less, and paid him well. Playboy is the rising star looking towards the future whereas Dwayne is the pessimistic bum who can't adjust to the present, makes Dwayne more sympathetic maybe but I kind of felt like why cut Playboy's wings when hes trying to make it big over this bitter dude who always seems to be moaning and complaining. I sort of gravitated towards Playboy over Dwayne but Niko in the cutscenes seemed to relate to Dwayne, he reminded him of himself in his own words.

 

Niko doesn't like when Playboy suggests to cap Dwayne but he did say Dwayne wanted to whack him too and sure enough Dwayne calls Niko to say that, though you can say that he was only doing it to beat Playboy to the punch but the argument can be made for both sides. So is interesting to think about how Niko would go, whether he would stick with Playboy who's paid him well or Dwayne who he has a good feeling about

 

Unfortunately  I knew what would happen beforehand and there's no way I couldn't side with Dwayne when the rewards are so lopsided in his favour.

 

IMO should have been like, if you sided with Dwayne you get the crib and Dwayne as a friend but if you side with Playboy you get the cash and the ability to call Playboy for his goons as assistance. Instead almost all the benefits go to siding with Dwayne, you only get cash from Playboy and his 25k is kind of irrelevant come the ending so almost like nothing and to top it off he starts guilt tripping you about what he made you do. So dumb. 

 

It's nice in an unexpected way that while it seems like Playboy is the more rewarding choice beforehand, sticking with Dwayne gives you all the rewards, I wish the rewards were like I suggested. Would have been more balanced and been a more interesting choice as a result, now it feels Dwayne is the right/easy choice by far. Though if it was like siding with Playboy gives you the goons then idk what Dwayne's friendship perk would be but I'm dumb and I'm sure they can think of something as a substitute. 

 

Really though why did Niko have to obey either Playboy or Dwayne he should have just told both of them to sod off lol. 

Edited November 8, 2021 by Wayne Kerr

[billiejoearmstrong8]

I think Dwayne's death scene/aftermath of his death in general is so gut wrenchingly sad and makes you feel so guilty that it would still be a horrible choice even if you got an amazing reward for it. But I agree that before you know what the results of your choice will be it's a much closer decision.

[IVCavalcade]

6 hours ago, Wayne Kerr said:

Really though why did Niko have to obey either Playboy or Dwayne he should have just told both of them to sod off lol. 

This is a flaw in the structure of GTA games in general tbh

 

6 hours ago, Wayne Kerr said:

Spoiler

Holland Play is a really interesting choice for me. To me it wasn't that straightforward to choose between Playboy and Dwayne if you don't consider the rewards.

 

Spoiler

I like all your points, and I guess it just comes down to perspective - for me personally it wasn't a difficult choice, I had a lot of empathy for Dwayne's situation, and I felt like the way Playboy conducts his business was too immature and lacking respect for the game. He didn't really help Dwayne to get set back up after he went to jail, even after he did his time and didn't snitch on anyone. X was selfish and reckless in my opinion - as you say, it's an easy decision once you know the rewards.

 

 

6 hours ago, Kirsty said:

Given how much time has passed I personally think it’s OK by now to not use them

That makes sense, but I will personally continue to use the tags, you never know if someone is browsing who's playing for the first time