Grand Theft Awesome (Grand Theft Auto IV (PC))

Member Name: Splend42

Product:	Grand Theft Auto IV (PC)
Date:	22/08/09 (7 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Luscious graphics, great carnage, compelling story

Disadvantages: Annoying when contacts ring you up for drinking dates.

I have been a fan of the GTA series of games since they first came out. While I did not enjoy GTA: San Andreas very much, I feel that GTA 4 is a return to form for the series.

The game's plot follows Niko, an immigrant who stays with his cousin Roman, tries to keep him out of trouble and cleans up his gambling debts and wotnot. And by 'plot' I mean 'immersive and detailed story that puts films like The Departed to shame'. It's epic, verging on brilliant. High praise indeed for a video game.

The graphics and game engine are astounding at times. The attention to detail is brilliant - if you bustle past someone who's carrying something, they drop it. If you smash into a car at sufficient speed, the driver goes through the windscreen. If you commit unspeakable acts of violence, the bloodsplatter looks great.

The missions are much the same as in previous games; steal this car, rob that guy, kill those people, fly that helicopter. But the sandbox you play in is so much more impressive and the story is so immersive that you don't mind that you've played the missions time and again in previous games. The characters you meet are so engaging (though some are highly annoying - I'm looking at you, BRUCIIIE!) that you barely notice the actual game itself is not that unique, because you actually care about the outcome of this story.

Downsides? Well, the fact that you have to take your cousin (and what feels like every other contact you make) out drinking or playing darts can get repetitive and annoying, especially when they call you up and you're two islands away from them. That and the ease with which you can now escape the police; simply driving down the road shouldn't really be enough to shake them!

In all, it's great fun, a real interactive tale of tragedy and revenge... with lots of car chases and explosions!

Summary: GTA 4 is a real return to form for this excellent series, with improved graphics etc.