Grand Theft Auto 4

[Anarchemitis]

Grand Theft Auto 4
Developed by: Rockstar North, Rockstar Toronto
Published by: Rockstar Games
Designed by: Rockstar
Xbox 360, PS3, PC
2008
(Rated Mature for Intense Violence, Blood, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Partial Nudity, Use of Drugs and Alcohol)

Spoiler: Other reviews by me.

Tangled [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.247813]
My Top 10 Favorite films [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.201625] (outdated)
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.181134]
Star Wars Battlefront [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.193918]
Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of World War II [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.145860]
The Arrival by Shaun Tan [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.67522#600389]
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.86412]
Sid Meier's Railroads! [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.68483]
Gang Garrison 2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.77975]
Lego [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.72355]

My first experience with Grand Theft Auto was Vice City, the game touted for its revolution in large game worlds and sandbox gameplay, alongside that the risque content with wrought video games as a medium into its adolescence. It was sort of fun, I recall, but I never loved it.

Recently it came to pass that my brother saw fit to buy it, and as far as I have observed, he has only played the game as much as required to unlock all areas of the game level and weapons, much to the depreciation and ignoration of the game story, often electing to simply fool around (with cheats) in the sandbox nature of Liberty City. While he was at work one day, I decided to play some of the game. The first thing I noticed was the rather high amount of skill it required to drive the cars in the game (one of the most important methods of transport in the game). Leaving the notice aside, I assume ease of driving is something that comes with time and practice. After that, I took time to take in the atmosphere, which I quickly felt unappealing; the omnipresence of profanity and innuendo-heavy imagery left a quite fowl taste in my mind, and after dicking around with various cheats and activities of the game (driving the helicopter and boats, dodging cops at higher star levels, shooting cops, driving over cops, driving over pedestrians, driving over hot dog stands, driving over cops at hot dog stands etc.) my opinion resolved to being a statement that Grand Theft Auto 4 has relatively shallow appeal for its sandbox nature.

At this, I decided to try out a mission. In it there was an interesting cutscene with a Jamaican fellow, which lead to me driving out to an alleyway and shooting a bunch of people, then driving the Jamaican back to his house. From what I observed in that mission as well as seeing numerous others that my brother had done, and a few videos online, the gameplay aspect of the story is relatively samey but does make the most of the combat mechanics, and the career of Niko does have some interesting conversations, twists and commentary on the nature of organized crime, vices and the American Dream (I suppose).

It then occurred to me that my brother had yet to do any of the Date side-missions. Taking it on myself to try one, I resolved that it would be the one thing if anything that might make me be able to emotionally relate to Niko and the game itself. I set out from the safehouse in a nice suit, to a conveniently parked sports car and procceded to use the cell phone to call Michelle and set up a date. The phone then stipulated I had to be at her place by a certain time, which mandated that I had to get there as fast as responsible in order to not be late. This concerned me, as I did not want to smash up the sports car (which I would assume would make Michelle unimpressed), so I set off being as careful as I could be while still doing rather irresponsible driving to avoid large clusters of traffic which I imagine the game intentionally conjures in order to encourage such behavior. It came to pass that I had succeeded in driving through a large causeway in rush hour by driving inbetween the lanes of traffic with nothing but a cracked headlight, until I reached a tollbooth which did not open. Thinking it inconsequential, I drove through it, but it instantly gave me 1 star, garnering the chagrin of a nearby police car. After a short and annoying car chase, I was three blocks away from Michelle's house with no stars, all my windows[img_inline width=300 caption="We hardly knew ye"]http://www.teamfortress.com/images/posts/crazylegs.jpg[/img_inline] broken and the hood and left door missing, defeating my intentions of arriving with a pristine sports car and making me wish I had called a cab instead. Regardless, I found a new sports car of the same kind and in different color and decided I would take it since the game would not penalize me for that anyways, and the first thing Niko did was put his leg through the window. Lovely, now the car was damaged again. I picked up Michelle and knowing that there were many venues to attend in the game, checked a walkthrough to find a thing to bring her to in order to make her happy. In reading that a Bar was a good choice, I brought her to the nearest one. About five seconds and $50 later, Niko walks out stumbling like a crazy legs Scout and Michelle complains about the joint we had just been in. I had displeased Michelle, which made me sad and worried further after the crash-tastic trouble I had already had getting her to the bar. Knowing that I was no idiot, I decided I would have a taxi take the two of us home, but due to Niko obviously being a stupid drunk, I managed to spectacularly fail to hail a cab by in order, getting hit by two cars, standing frozen beside a taxi for about two minutes, jacking the driver and driving the cab into a lamppost. At this, Michelle quipped "I'm not having very much fun." to which I indignantly responded "That makes two of us.".

I quit immediately thereafter, realizing that gameplay-wise, GTA4 had nothing I was interested in. Surely the sandbox was fun for some variety of persons, and the story definitely had intrigue albeit very violent and profane, and therefore did not have enough redeeming qualities to retain my interest.

 

[Lost In The Void]

An entertaining review and one that was very descriptive too so I could easily follow your train of thought. The funny thing about this review though is while you point out that it sounds very ranty, I actually found that adding that sentence actually hurt the review ending for me; I recommend removing it as it clashes really bad with the ending.

As for the game, I have to say I enjoyed the game a lot; the story was the best the series has ever had, gameplay was fun and I swear I'm one of the few that actually enjoyed the writing. Its actually my favourite GTA game thus far but I do see where it can turn off those looking for the zany fun action.

 

[Anarchemitis]

Removed that bit. Thanks for the compliment!

 

[Randomorific]

I didn't think of this game as much of a sandbox really as very little can be destroyed and there is only so many times you can go on a rampage down the street with a machine gun. I personally feel that GTA San Andreas was a better sandbox, with its larger, more varied map and more modes of transport etc.

Anyway I liked your review very much, it made good points about the driving and also the whole being drunk system. Also the swearing and innuendo are basically a staple part of GTA now. To be honest I don't think that you gave the game that much of a chance to impress you really, you didn't play many missions however you do say you found the story interesting. However I don't like how you use GTA's violence and swearing against it, surely violence is to be expected in this type of game and whilst I admit the game does go overboard with swearing somewhat its something that you just learn to deal with really.

Overall however I liked the review and hope you keep up the good work.