“Without question, Grand Theft Auto IV is the best game since Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.” That’s the line Hilary Goldstein uses to lead into her his seven-page review of Grand Theft Auto IV, the only console game to ever receive perfect 10s in every IGN category, from presentation to graphics, sound, gameplay and lasting appeal.
If Goldstein and fellow reviewer Chris Roper are to believed, GTA IV is one for the history books.
There’s nothing I can say; I haven’t played the game. But in four days, perhaps you can — and then you can judge whether their words ring true.
The only flaws mentioned by Goldstein are a tricky cover system…
While GTA doesn’t have many issues, I will admit that the cover system is not perfect. There are times where you will take cover on the wrong side of a corner, leaving you exposed. These instances aren’t too common, but over the course of dozens of hours, you’ll certainly encounter them. You also un-stick from cover when you use your phone, which can sometimes make calling Dwayne for backup or Carmen for a health boost a little trickier than necessary.
…a lack of buildings Niko can enter and no real way to distinguish which he can and which he cannot…
The only frustration is that there are literally thousands of buildings in the city, but most of them cannot be entered. With the exception of some clearly marked entertainment hot spots and mission-specific areas, there’s nothing to indicate which buildings are open for business. So you might find yourself walking into a lot of doors trying to find which one will magically open. It’s a little much to expect to have the interiors of every building rendered, but that doesn’t make it any less bothersome that you can’t go where you please.
…and a backhanded compliment about the story.
The only issue with making friends is that it’s a distraction from the main story. For the first time in a GTA game, the story is actually a greater draw than city exploration. That’s not to say driving around the city hunting for Easter Eggs isn’t enjoyable, but the story is so compelling, you may find yourself singularly focused till its conclusion.
And yes, for those who were wondering, it seems that Grand Theft Auto IV actually is “meant to be played on PS3.”
For those wanting to know which version looks better, the edge goes to the PS3. The textures and framerate are comparable, but the PS3 has far less pop-in. The 360 has richer colors, but the PS3 has better anti-aliasing making it look a little cleaner. Because GTA IV can preload onto the PS3 hard drive, the in-game loads are faster. Don’t worry Xbox owners, the load times are rarely more than 30 seconds and don’t occur very often. The slight visual edge goes to PS3, but the 360 is no slouch. Either version will do you proud.
April 29th, 2008.
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