Developer/Publisher:  Rockstar Games
Release Date:  29th April 2008
Price:  £39.99 online/£44.99 in shops
Platform:  XBox 360
Also available on:  PS3

After being caught up in the razmataz of the GTA IV release and being convinced even more of it’s quality following its sell-out, I was finally able to secure a copy of Grand Theft Auto IV for the XBox 360.  From the 29th April 2008 (GTA’s release date) I called and called, only to be told that the game was sold out in every shop in the local area.  I could tell just how annoyed the staff were getting at being asked the same question every two seconds.

The game starts with the games main character, Niko Belic on a ship.  The ship is close to docking at Liberty City and Niko is talking and moving around the ship.  As he does, the camera pans in and out, you see wide views of the ship, it’s complicated build and design swishes up and down the camera shots while large, integrated writing is emblazened onto the surfaces within those shots, naming the games makers, designers, testers, actors, etc.  Within seconds, you’re hooked.

Screenshot 1

When you take control of Niko, all the familiarity of the old control system is there but everything still feels fresh.  The character movement is excellent.  Simple movement actions like stepping up curbs and going up and down stairs touch the surface of a game that arguably contains more detail than any other before it.  Even more complicated movements such as climbing and leaping over railings effortlessly become part of a complicated but easy to use control system.  Fighting and shooting can take a little getting used to but once you do the balance of difficulty and fun is met perfectly.  Holding LT will lock on to enemies and using the right analogue stick at the same time will allow you to move the target reiticule to a head, leg arm, stomach or anywhere else you’d like to shoot.  Press the right analogue stick to zoom and really see your enemies go down!  Pressing RT will fire the weapon and, while the game provides a varied amount of weapons, the pistol will always hold a certain charm as it’s limited zoom, damage and fire rate will make the shooting that little bit more fun.  There’s nothing quite like popping a running pedestrian in the foot from a 100 feet and see them go down, leg first, into a pile on the floor.

Character interaction is another fine part of the game which carries with it some added benefits.  Not only can it give you a break from the norm (we all get tired of killing gangsters eventually) but the characters you interact with can provide you with a helpful bonus.  For example, take Niko’s cousin Roman to enough strip clubs and your relationship will improve enough for him to allow use of his cab business for free.  If you don’t fancy stealing one, call Roman and he’ll send a car straight out.  Activities such as bowling, darts and pool are mildly entertaining mini games, cabaret and strip clubs can produce some fair viewing and getting drunk in a bar then trying to get home/take someone else home can be a fine mini game in itself!  Get smashed in front of any love interests and walk into her too much will, just like in real life, leave you out in the cold!

Screenshot 2

The world is connected to you mainly by the use of your mobile phone.  Pressing up on the directional pad will bring the phone into view and options can be selected from the menu.  The phonebook contains the friends and ‘associates’ of Niko, any of whom can be called to arrange an activity and some can provide work for extra cash.  Occasionally, calls will be received for jobs or socialising and you can answer the call or decline it.  Sometimes you’ll be on a mission and unable to meet up with people and this will lead to a negative relationship with them but you can always call them afterwards, as long as it’s not too late/early.

Driving within the game is another area which will feel familiar and new and all at the same time.  While the behind the car views and movable camera remains the same, the control of the vehicles are a lot more realistic and therefore difficult.  But just like the controls, you’ll get used to the various cars, trucks and motorcycles as well as their respective suspensions, grip and handling.  The same realistic physics also affect Boats and Helicopters (not suspension though :-)).  Vehicle damage is very impressive as well, reminiscent of the superb crash physics in Burnout Paradise.  Even slight scrapes will result in scratches all down the side of your ride.  Big prangs can lead to half your engine disappearing into a pile of metal and glass as you fly out of the windscreen onto the road/obstacle ahead.  This all helps to make chases with the police (or anyone else for that matter) absolutely superb.  I don’t think there’s one GTA game that I haven’t just jumped on, purely to have a high speed police chase and see how many stars I can get up before I died/got caught.  The new police tracking system is smart as well.  As soon as you’re wanted on one star a flashing red and blue circle appears around your position on the minimap as well as any cop car locations.  Continuing crime or being spotted by the patrols will refresh the circle around your position, the size of which will get bigger if your wanted rating increases.

Screenshot 3

As if all that isn’t enough, online multiplayer is also a popular part of the game.  14 different types of scenario (although these include team versions of the some of the same games) are available for your customisable character.  Up to 16 live players can take part in the bigger games, the best of which include ‘Cops n’ Crooks’ - a cops and robbers type scenario in which the crooks are trying to get a randomly selected crook (known as the boss) to a safe point on the map, while the cops, complete with radar detection of the boss, try anything they can to stop them.  The ‘Mafya’ games pits crooks against eachother to complete missions before the other crooks can making this one an exciting free for all as well as more traditional multiplayer games such as Deathmatch and Racing.

This huge game oozes charm at every turn.  Every little detail has been refined into something that you will fully appreciate everytime you notice it.  The way the road and building surfaces glisten during a rainpour and your tyres splash water as you drive, the popped tyre that makes in difficult to drive during a chase, the way the less fortunate cars in the game backfire as you drive them, the way you have to lean out of the car to pay a toll at the bridges otherwise the police give chase.  The hype surrounding this game worried me as I thought that maybe I would expect too much but the rich storyline and lovable, realistic characters keep you playing in a world more immersive and accessable than could be expected.  Once you start playing this, you won’t want to stop until the end.  Next time a gaming revolution like this is coming out, I’ve learned my lesson, I’m going to pre-order!

98% - You have to go and buy this immediately, Go NOW!

The Good

- Large immersive world
- Excellent storyline and voice acting
- Limitless attention to detail
- Superb physics
- Great Multiplayer

The Bad

- Err…The Clothes?
- Some slowdown in built up moments