VIDEO GAMES: Review: GTA4

*Posted June 5, 2008*

GTA is probably the series most responsible for the phenomenon of open world gameplay that we are starting to see in lost of other successful games (like Assassin's Creed and Elder Scrolls). Other games may have done it before GTA, but nobody does it better. In Grand Theft Auto 4, I promise that you could do zero work on the main story line, and still have a fun time. If you didn't do any missions, there's enough packed into the game to keep you entertained for days and days. Of course if you didn't do any of the missions, you couldn't unlock further places to visit, but still, i stand by that claim. You could explore every littered alley, every apartment rooftop, and every hokey tourist attraction. Or you could just run around killing people, stealing cars, and evading the cops. Or you could kill as many cops as you want and see how high your wanted level will rise. Or you could play the multiplayer mode that includes lots of different matches like deathmatch, cops and robbers, and free play. If you did do the missions, you would love that too. Niko Bellic's Eastern European voice is a little annoying at first, but it grows on you. There is so much depth for all the characters because there is more interaction and dialogue than in any other GTA game. The missions are much of the same: Rise through the ranks of organized crime using your skills as a shooter and driver, but along the way, you go on quite a ride. You can shop for dozens of outfits at 3 different kinds of stores (everyone loves custom avatar stuff), you can catch a magic show or comedy act (Ricky Gervais is hilarious). You can play darts, bowling, or pool minigames. You can still pick up prostitutes and pay for three different sex acts that are acted out (minus the nudity) (and yes you feel like a perv). But that's the point. There's is so much to do, and it's all executed more realistically and in a more entertaining fashion. There's a new (and better) wanted level sytem. There's a new (and better) aiming mechanism. There's the internet, with lots of satirized websites, and even hours of programming on the TV that is also very funny. I could go on and on, but the point is this. The story, gameplay, environment, radio, minigames, animation, and pretty much anything you can think of is much better than all the other GTAs. This game is a must buy for anyone and everyone. Since this is my first game review, let's just do it out of 10.RATING: 10/10