MobyRank MobyScore
PlayStation 3
96
3.7
Windows
85
3.9
Xbox 360
95
3.5

Description

Grand Theft Auto IV is the ninth title and the fourth main game in one of the most successful and iconic series in the history of videogames, and it is also the first title for the seventh generation of consoles.

Following the tradition of the 3D transition of the series, GTA IV is entirely located in one of the three cities of the original GTA, Liberty City, but now in present time, and with an environment constructed much like GTA III but bigger and more detailed. Liberty City is a virtual city based heavily on New York, where the player's avatar, a Serbian ex-soldier called Niko Bellic, has to gain respect, welfare and power throughout the game. His main goal however is to offer services in exchange for information locate a few Serbians from his past who betrayed him.

Like in most GTA games, the rise to power of the mobster apprentice begins with parts of the whole map inaccessible. He starts in Broker (based on Brooklyn), and, in order to access the other three districts of the city (based on the other major boroughs of New York City), the player has to make progress in the storyline. To do this, GTA IV has the usual structure based on missions, but with the major difference that, this time, there is not a "mission state" which prevents Nico from doing anything else. In GTA IV, the player can engage in various missions at the same time, and even has free access to the non-mission features of the game while doing one.

Free roaming is also a defining feature of GTA games. Most of the usual elements of exploration and interaction with the city are included in GTA IV, but they have been enhanced regarding previous games. Niko can cause mayhem in the city, hijack cars, listen to radio stations, observe the behavior of the citizens, enter thematic buildings, work as vigilante, taxi driver, ambulance driver, and much more. But he can also watch television programs or connect to the Internet, look for criminals in the police department database from a police car, walk from the ground floor of a building to the very roof, observe the improved A.I. of the pedestrians, hire taxi cabs to go where he wants, use the mobile phone extensively (like as an event reminder, for example), hire a prostitute, go to a strip club, and a lot of other things.

In addition, this GTA game is one of the first games using the euphoria motion engine, an alternate middleware solution much like ragdoll physics which makes all people in the GTA IV world move realistically depending on the situation around them. For example, every time Niko enters a car, a different animation will be generated depending on his position relative to the car.

Some features may be missing (like no drivable airplanes in this case, except for a helicopter), while many others become more complex or are totally new, but, summarizing, GTA IV follows the evolution of the major titles in the series. That is, any new GTA game has more features, is more detailed and is technically improved. The most notable addition for this edition is multiplayer, the first time for the console versions. The same free-roaming environment is offered for up to 16 players in 15 modes. Certain modes narrow down the environment to make sure players remain somewhat in each other's vicinity.

Compared to the console releases, the windows release features high resolution graphics, customizable multiplayer for up to 32 players, a video editor to capture and edit in-game footage and the possibility to customize the radio station Independence FM with own songs.

Alternate Titles

  • "俠盜獵車手4" -- Taiwan title
  • "グランド・セフト・オートIV" -- Japanese spelling
  • "GTA IV" -- Common abbreviation
  • "GTA 4" -- Common abbreviation

Part of the Following Groups


Merchant Title Platform Price  
Amazon
Grand Theft Auto IV Xbox 360 $16.98  
ebay.com
Grand Theft Auto IV    
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User Reviews

The Splendors and Miseries of Liberty City Windows Unicorn B. Lynx Bronze Star Contributing Member (59403)
Cars, Culture and Crime. Xbox 360 So Hai Bronze Star Contributing Member (286)
Underneath this sloppy port hides a great GTA experience Windows yoav2424 (26)
Another leap forward. Xbox 360 Fluxxed (10)
mixed Xbox 360 kent c. koopa (24)
It's good and you should buy it. No question. Xbox 360 Brandon Tabbert (19)
The best game so far Xbox 360 Jason M. Majors (15)
GTA returns better than ever PlayStation 3 Simon Koetsier (387)

The Press Says

Totally Gaming Network Xbox 360 May 01, 2008 10 out of 10 100
Avid Gamer Xbox 360 Apr 28, 2008 10 out of 10 100
UltraNinjas Xbox 360 May 09, 2008 10 out of 10 100
Game Shark PlayStation 3 May 13, 2008 A 100
Tilt.tv PlayStation 3 May 07, 2008 10 out of 10 100
GBase - The Gamer's Base PlayStation 3 May 04, 2008 10 out of 10 100
VicioJuegos.com Xbox 360 Apr 29, 2008 98 out of 100 98
Atomic Gamer PlayStation 3 May 07, 2008 95 out of 100 95
Lawrence PlayStation 3 May 14, 2008 9.4 out of 10 94
Game Revolution PlayStation 3 May 06, 2008 A- 91

Forums

Topic # Posts Last Post
Go PC! 4 Indra Depari of 'da Clan Depari Bronze Star Contributing Member (13159)
Jul 06, 2009
US$100 million 8 Daniel Saner (1120)
Jun 14, 2008

Trivia

Like past GTA's, GTA IV contains references to other open world games. The area Stillwater ave. is named after the city from Saints Row. The hotdog vendor slogan, 'You can't beat our meat', is also the same as the slogan for the Freckle Bi****s restaurant in Saint's Row. Finally there is a 'squids row - budget seafood' billboard which may be another reference to Saints Row. Some people also conclude that this could be a reference to the term "skid row".

The mission 'concrete jungle' may be a reference to the poorly received Predator open world game.


This entry was contributed by MichaelPalin Bronze Star Contributing Member (836) and Sicarius Bronze Star Contributing Member (44708)
 

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