Grand Theft Auto IV (Classics) (Xbox 360)

Reviewed by Shaun on December 23rd, 2009

This game is without a doubt, hardcore awesome. Totally worth it. Its a free rome-so you can go ANYWHERE within the game, you can do practically ANYTHING within the game and to top it all off, you can even eat hotdgs. A great game with a great price and above all, a great reputaion.

Reviewed by Tony on December 12th, 2009

10/10 best GTA game ever.
graphics=realistic
sound= perfect voice acting music
story= really believable
characters= loved em
fun= 10/10

really great game should definitely buy it!!

Reviewed by Matthew on October 22nd, 2009

Let me preface this review with an introduction: I, like many others, am a pretty big GTA fan. I played the first GTA on the Playstation/PC and, admittedly, did not enjoy it very much. The overhead view was simply annoying to me. As you may guess, I had the same problem with GTA 2, though the game improved upon many problems.

Then, of course, there was GTA3. It changed the camera, turned the setting into a bustling city, and put in everything else that was known in the GTA series. Result? Complete success and massive influence on video game industry.

Several GTAs and series improvement later, we finally reached the next big installment: Grand Theft Auto IV.

And in all honesty, I'm rather disappointed.

Graphics

First thing's first, I want to talk about the graphics, which is what was on everyone's minds the first time they played this game. How will the graphics turn out? How bustling will the city be? What will the cars look like? And so on and so on. For some, the graphics will be everything they wanted and more. For others, it may be a disappointment, especially if you're playing on the PC. Me? I thought the graphics worked out fine.

Many other reviews expressed great amazement in the graphics, but I honestly do not see why. Yes, the game looks better than the previous installments, it has larger more detailed buildings, and etc. However, GTA4 was developed for an entire new generation of consoles/PCs. Wasn't all of this expected? Who out there expected GTA4 to resemble San Andreas?

From my perspective, GTA4 just wasn't that huge of a graphical upgrade from San Andreas. Character models, cars, buildings, and etc definitely have more detail and looks much better than San Andreas, but the difference just wasn't great enough to make a big impression on me.

Of course, that is not to say there is nothing impressive about the new GTA. One of the largest graphical improvements, if you could call it that, is also one of the more impressive things about GTA4. I'm referring to the new physics engine and the added realism. To begin, the physics engine in this game affects almost everything about how you play.

Just to present an example: Driving a car. When you are driving, if you hit a person, he or she will react depending on not only how fast you hit, but where you hit. It will be the difference between them falling down on their behind or flipping into the air over your car. Of course, this is if you hit the person at all. If you instead hit a pole, then it might mean YOU will come flying out of the car window. Doesn't sound like much on paper, but in action, it's fairly impressive.

Additionally, when I refer to the 'added realism', what I'm referring to is the various little details that makes the game more alive. When you come out of your car, if you leave the door open, then you can still hear your radio blaring (as opposed to it stopping completely in the other installments). When you walk the street, you will hear people yelling on their cell phones, having arguments, getting into fights, road rage, and so on. GTA IV did a lot to improve upon the concept of the 'living city' and it does a lot for the graphics of the game.

Enough about graphics, however, lets move on to the next most important features of the game: The missions.

Missions

This is one of the places the game begins to have big downfalls. Considering missions is one of the biggest parts of a GTA game; that is a huge problem. To elaborate, what exactly is the problem with the missions in the game? Well, lets start slow.

The missions are where a pattern began to emerge in GTA4 for. This pattern is roughly described as 'taking a step backwards', but to describe in greater detail, it feels as if all the improvements made by San Andreas were taken away for something more similar to older installments in the series. In other words, one may say that GTA4 is more of a sequel to GTA3 than it is to San Andreas, and this bears a lot of truth which I will explain in more detail as we go on.

First off, there is a lack of variety in the missions. Throughout the game, you will encounter four types of missions: Assassination, Chasing, Rescuing, and Defending. The four types which generally makes up the missions in GTA games. The problem then is that these are the ONLY type of missions you'll get. There is little to no variation. I can't even remember the number of times I had to chase someone down in a car or run through a building killing everyone inside, but it seems as if I'm doing it constantly.

Of course, there are some memorable missions, such as using a helicopter to chase down someone while your partner launches rockets at them or when you pulled a massive bank heist and had to run away through tunnels. However, these are few and far in between.

This is an example of taking a step backwards. In San Andreas, there was an enormous amount of variety. Not only did you pull bank heists and chase down people in various vehicles, but you did things like use a toy car to blow up vehicles, parachute jump down to an assassination mission, use a construction vehicle to bury someone alive, and so on. GTA4 has nothing like that and it shows as you play through the game. The missions steadily become repetitive.

This is to add to other problems encountered in the game. For example, the newly implemented GPS system. In GTA4, Rockstar added GPS to all cars, which allows players to navigate to places easier. However, it seems to be as if they were too eager to get users to make use of this feature. Almost every mission starting point in the game is ridiculously far from each other and when you go to that spot to accept the mission, the location you have to go to is frequently in another island from you.

This problem pervades the entire game and it seems to me as if Rockstar realized it. This is why transportation issues were really tackled in the game. There are numerous ways to travel in the game. You can call a taxi (off the street or through a friend) to drive you wherever you need, use a train, and, if you fail a mission, you can use the cell phone to get you back to right where you were. It really makes completing the missions more tedious than it has to be.

As if all of that wasn't enough, there are also times in the game when taking missions become erratic. At some points, you may have missions from people all over the city to do, yet at other times, there may be absolutely no mission at all, and you have to drive around waiting for someone to call you in order to activate a new mission location. Argh!

San Andreas vs Grand Theft Auto IV?

Remember how I said before that it felt as if GTA4 was more a sequel to GTA3 than to San Andreas? Let me elaborate on it here.

Lets say that Vice City and San Andreas never existed and GTA4 came directly after GTA3. Well, if that was the case, then GTA4 would have been a phenomenal improvement. Almost everything would be better. There would be more vehicles, more things to do, more weapons to use, more mission variety, larger city to drive through, more diverse city to explore, and more and more and more. This goes on.

However, now lets go back to reality and acknowledge San Andreas existed, and compare it to GTA4. In this case, GTA4 becomes a step backwards. San Andreas had more vehicles, more weapons, more mission variety, an even larger city, a much more diverse city, and more and more and more. This goes on.

First off, what do I mean by more vehicles and more weapons? I mean exactly that. SA had so many vehicles and of such different variety that you had to go to different cities in the game just to get certain vehicles...and it would be worth it. Nothing matches the feeling of taking a plane from the desert and then flying it to your neighborhood and landing/crashing it into the middle of a road. Or going to the countryside to take a Monster Truck and driving it back to the city in order to drive over cars. Furthermore, SA had so many weapons that it came in sets; three sets to be exact. There was a civilian class (weak weapons), authority class (mid power weapons), and military class (high grade weaponry); this is ignoring the melee weapons, which can be a class of its own. Each class of weapons have their advantages and disadvantages; take your pick for what you need.

Now how does GTA4 compare? Well, in the department of vehicles, you get regular cars, motorcycles, and a helicopter. That's it. As for weapons, you have one set with some upgrades; I can't even describe them as two sets because only certain weapons have an alternative. For example, you can get a better version of the submachine gun, machine gun, sniper rifle, and shotgun, but that's pretty much it. Everything else will remain the same.

As for the larger and more diverse city? Why don't we take a stroll through the various locations available in San Andreas? First, we have Los Santos, the gang ridden city. Then we have San Fierro, a more business-like place with skyscrapers. Then we have colorful Las Venturas lined with casinos. Now then, moving outside those places, we also have the country with have various small towns, and we have the desert, which is most empty except for a few special places. And of course, each of the cities described above have their own little variety, such as wealthy suburbs, trollies, and etc.

Now lets stroll through GTA4: Everywhere is filled with skyscrapers and grimy alleyways. The end. Obviously, I'm exaggerating a bit, but it is largely based on the truth. Much of GTA4 really do look like each other and seeing something different can be a rare treat, but it is exactly just that: A rare treat.

Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh in this respect. After all, San Andreas is based on California while GTA4 is based on New York, so of course there's going to be significant locale differences. Still, I can't help but be bothered by the lack of variety as it's now essentially meaningless for me to go to any particular part of GTA4 since everywhere looks the same anyway. Nonetheless, I decided not to hold this against GTA4 as I understand the circumstances Rockstar was under.

Still, the problems I described above are pervasive throughout GTA4. Rarely will you encounter anything in GTA4 that is superior or even equivalent to what is available in San Andreas. As far as I can see, the only two things that qualify as superior are the graphics and physics engine, and the only equivalent things are the mini-games and the player capabilities (climbing, swimming, etc).

Even the stories between the two games aren't really comparable.

Of course, I understand that this is subjective, but GTA4's story really does seem lacking to me. While one can argue all day whether SA's 'ghetto gangster' storyline is superior to GTA4's 'European immigrant' or not, I felt that the biggest reason the story in GTA4 was lacking compared to SA was due to the lack of emotional impact, which may be a result of the game's lack of focus.

To illustrate further through comparison, in San Andreas, there were generally two bad primary 'boss villains'; one of which is known right away while the other remains hidden until the latter part of the game. Furthermore, along the way, new villains are created, and old villains are killed in a really cinematic way. Finally, the ending of the game was incredibly cinematic; an intense, emotional confrontation followed by a chase towards the final villain.

GTA4's storyline, when viewed in 20/20, isn't really all that different. You come to a new place from another crime ridden city (similar to SA), then you eventually face the prospect of having to chase two primary villains, one of which is an old friend (similar to SA again). Even the ending is startlingly cinematic; the ending was a chase followed by an intense, emotional confrontation.

Alright then, since I claim they're uncannily similar in concept, why do I also say SA's storyline is superior? Simple. It's because of the presentation. The thing with the storyline in SA is that it really ingrains you into the characters before tossing you into an intense emotional event. When you meet characters, you do a series of mission with them, and learn to like them or hate them. Furthermore, whether you love them or hate them really makes a difference in the emotional impact of the game as the storyline progress, and you learn more.

By comparison, in GTA4, the character development either doesn't work or doesn't ingrain you enough. Just using an example, the first primary character you meet in the game is Niko's cousin, Roman. Throughout the story, it's blindingly obvious that Niko cares deeply about Roman, and Roman is supposed to come off as someone caring towards Niko too, but the storyline goes about it all wrong. It shows Roman as an awful gambler who consistently gets himself in trouble through his gambling, his own stupidity, or sheer cowardice.

Of course, by the time an event comes in the game which requires you to care about him, you have a hard time doing so just because he's such an idiot. It also doesn't help that Roman often blames you for any trouble that comes up even though part of the blame lies with him; it just works to make him that much more unlikable. Any attempt the game makes to try to get you to care about him or have an emotional scene concerning him comes off as not very emotional at all due to these issues.

And this is a problem that occurs with other characters in the game too. It seemed that Rockstar screwed up badly trying to get you to feel the right way about characters towards the game. Almost all of the characters, save for Roman, lack the necessary character development/story involvement to get you care at all about them, nonetheless like and dislike.

Later on in the game, an enormous glaring example of this issue became apparent through one of the characters. I won't say who it is to avoid spoilers, but I'll give a hint: it's a female.

I suspect that Rockstar knew about this, which may explain why so much of the story seems to be developed through cell phone conversations, which is a horrible way of storytelling. Most of the time, it really feels tacked on, especially when you're driving down the road trying to swerve away from cars when your cell phone suddenly goes off, and you decide to listen while driving.

Due to these various issues, the game has a distinct lack of emotional impact, and it really shows whenever one of the game's emotional events comes up.

Recommendation

Enough of these details, however. Ultimately, what is my recommendation concerning Grand Theft Auto IV? I can summarize it in a few words: Don't expect too much.

GTA4, as with most other GTAs, is a fun game to play. Doing the missions can be fun, driving around can be fun, mini-games are also fun, and so on. However, the biggest mistake you can make in regards to this game, at least from my perspective, is to expect the same level of or more features than San Andreas.

This was perhaps my primary mistake when I started playing GTA4. Of course, I knew before its release that it was not going to have as many features as San Andreas, but I got the impression that it was largely in the vehicle department. Truth is that GTA4, as I said above, is a huge step backwards in many ways, not just vehicles, and it's disappointing to say the least.

If you avoid my mistake and simply expect a better 'GTA3', then GTA4 will definitely come out impressing. Improved graphics, much better physics engine, and just an overall more alive world to explore, there is a lot to be enjoyed about GTA4.

My recommendation is for everyone to at least play GTA4 and experience what it's like. On the other hand, if you truly want a new gen GTA experience, we may have to wait until the third iteration of GTA again (if it even comes since GTA4 took longer to develop this gen than GTA3 did for the previous gen).

Reviewed by Martin on October 20th, 2009

This is definitely one of the best games ever. Grand Theft Auto 4 provides free mode which is something that lets you do anything "literally". From walking in the streets to creating mass distruction in town, anything is possible in this game which is what makes it so dam fun. :)

Reviewed by Cam on October 3rd, 2009

I have to say, if this didn't come with my xbox, I probably would've never ended up buying it as I just never was a big fan of the GTA series.

But that has now changed. This game has awesome graphics and an excellent story line to go with it.

The cars and weapon handling is also great and very life like. I also like the fact that everything is fairly close to each other unlike San Andreas where every thing is miles apart.

I would recommend this game to anyone even if they haven't been fans of the previous games like myself. 5/5

Reviewed by Satnam Singh on September 21st, 2009

This game was excellent, although there may be some small things in the game which may get very irratating, e.g your "Cousin" Always calling you up asking to go BOWLING in the middle of a mission, gettin tapped by a vehicle causes you to go flying away, But otherwise this game had the best story line in any gta so far, and also is VERY fun to play!

Reviewed by Shaun on September 5th, 2009

The best GTA in the series and starts of the forth saga brilliantly. The seamless way of liberty running itself instead of you running it. The realistic new ways of exploring a GTA city is by far the best I've seen in any game! New features such as mobile phones, friends (wow I didn't think for a second that Tommy, Claude, and CJ had no friends, but they didn't.) Taxi's, Helicopter rides and a whole lot more (I can't really name them all.) To wrap this up, the real reason I love this game is because it's a new way of playing GTA!

Reviewed by Carol on May 3rd, 2009

Okay, so it may not be the real New York City, but the nice people at Rockstar games have given us this.

Welcome to Liberty City, your paradise or hell. You are Niko, who has recently moved to Liberty to move in with your cousin and share a slice of his ''Celebrity Lifestyle''. Of course, nothing goes as planned when you are Niko Bellic.

This is the 'Alpha Dog' of next gen sandbox games.It mixes the serious with the comedic and has graphics that can outshine many games of today.
Superb for followers of the GTA franchise, or a great start for those who have not experienced the GTA lifestyle before.
Re-playability may be an issue with some games, and GTA IV may experience this at times but the new feature of being able to decide some of your enemies fate changes this.
Play Mr NiceGuy or get down to the serious business.

Reviewed by Kevin on April 21st, 2009

Even though the game was released a year ago I still find it a very intriguing game with some flaws and alot of controversy. I still found hard to believe is that New Zealand recieved the watered down version of the Game designed specifically for Australia when NZ was supposed to get the UK cut. Beside that It was worth every cent spent on this game.

Reviewed by Nick on March 4th, 2009

This game is awesome awesome gameplay some cool fast new cars that you can tell what they look like in real life its awesome, you can go to strip clubs and get a lap dance for $$$ its really cool, The missions are also fun every mission is so different not just driving people around its awesome, the hardest mission in the game is cool you get to rob a bank that mission is so fun and it raises you heaps of money $$$. Highly recommended. go buy it.

Reviewed by Kevin on January 21st, 2009

Honestly I was gobsmacked by how great this game was graphics and detail wise. Shame NZ got the Aussie cut instead instead of the proper UK cut. And it deserved the three gamers awards at the 2008 spike tv video game awards in the USA. Go Rockstar let the DLC expand the GTA IV universe.

Reviewed by Myles on January 11th, 2009

This game is perfect by far better than any grand theft auto released, one of the most realistic games Ive ever played, the storyline is full of twists and turns and is absolutely superb. The graphics are stunning and are like nothing you've ever seen. The new cover system and game-play leaves all other grand theft autos behind in the dust. Some reviews complain about the lack of content of this game, but the amount of depth and density of the city is something to marvel at. Truly a work of art and worth every cent.

Reviewed by Grant on September 27th, 2008

GTAIV really is, what gamers crave, all in one nice package.

The gameplay runs smoothly, and is very addictive. The story and characters have alot of depth to them, which really connects you with them and the graphics are top notch.

Although, you've probably heard people complaining about the free roaming aspect once finishing the main storyline missions, because they cant parachute off skyscrapers like on GTA : San Andreas. But i personally thank god for getting rid of the parachute etc, they were useless, stupid additions to the Grand Theft Auto series.

This game will last you 30+ hours for the average gamer on just missions and the occasional exploring the newly designed Liberty City. This game is for any true gamer, and newcomers alike.

(Just don't complain if you enjoying parachuting on games......)

Easily, 5/5

Reviewed by Jacob from Auckland, NZ on August 14th, 2008

This is the best game I've ever played, ever. Deserves a review I think.

Astounded, floored, in awe of it awesome greatness. Don't even bother playing anything else untill you play this. Theres a good reason every single reviewer gave it a ten, they would have givin it an eleven if it was possible, thats professional reviewers that get payed for reviewing games everyday, highest rated game on gamerankings ever. I bought this twice infact, and one even for a console I don't have just because it's so damn awesome. Only problem with it is I've allready played it.

Graphics 10
Gameplay 10
Audio 10
Replay 9

Some people just don't get it, and thats fine, it doesn't have anything to do with how much "stuff" they put in it. In my opinion this does what the original super mario bros. did for gaming, total revolution, other games can't even be compared to it. Destroyed. Game over man, game over. Rockstar you win.

Reviewed by Aubrey from Gisborne, NZ on August 14th, 2008

I fully agree with "1 step forward, 2 steps back". I loved San Andreas, it had tonnes of stuff to do. The story for it was fantastic and there was still plenty to do once i had finished the game. e.g side quests, taking over gang territory and such. I finished GTA4 and was completely unimpressed. There was nothing to do once the game ended, you can still roam the city but theres no after completion things to do apart from things like taxi jobs and crap like that. I did all the side quests while doing the main quest, which didnt take long.

This Reminds me of when the Playstation 1 came out. They made a whole lot of crap games in 3D, just showing off the graphics and completely forgetting about game play. GTA4 had some good points but definately not worth the hype and wait. Hopefully some decent downloadable content might make up for its lack of substance.

Reviewed by Gary from Waiuku, NZ on August 2nd, 2008

Too many people rave about this game, and they all seem to have forgotten good old GTA: San Adreas. GTA4 is 1 step forward, 2 steps back. Let me tell you why... Features! When San Adreas was released the feature list was as long as your arm, or longer! Where did it all go in GTA4? Here are just a few missing features not included in GTA4:

- Paramedic missions
- Fire Brigade missions
- Articulated Trucks
- Flying planes
- Tanks?
- Parachute
- Cycling
- Gym
- Selection of food at diner's/fas tfood
- Getting fat or thin
- Skilling up on riding motorcycles, swimming, etc...
- Pimp my ride!
- Train driving
- Gangs

I'm sure there is more I missed. The city itself is also very limited. San Andreas had a vast and dynamic map. With different themed towns, a mountain, woods, outback, trailer parks, etc... All of Liberty City seems the same. Where's the rich housing estates? Where's the trailer trash? The whole city is just one big hole. A dump. Unless you look at the map it can be hard to know which island you're on.

Lastly, the story line is average. There is only one small thread that seems to hold the story together. The fact that Niko is looking for someone. I have yet to finish the game, but San Andreas had an excellent storyline that you could actually feel for. GTA4 has a story so it can give you missions, that seems about the only reason. Its easy to get confused about who is who, who is good, bad, which family is which? Time will telll though, perhaps the ending will be good.

Overall, this is still an excellent game, and great fun. But its not a revolution. Its not feature packed, and if I'm honest, not a great attempt to bring the series forward.

Reviewed by Matt from Pukekohe, NZ on July 14th, 2008

Finally, there are some new variations in how you get people out of their car lol, now you don't just pull 'em out, but you may hook them in the head or kick 'em in the liver or something, it freakin rocks lol!

8/10 = 4/5

Reviewed by James from Auckland, NZ on May 13th, 2008

Love this game i never got into the last GTA games the cover system needs more work but u can live with it
as of the frame rate issues ive got no problems my frame rate is fine i dont know what people are crying about
online is fun think theres 15 modes to play but it has one of these shit cod4 lobbys that just dont work as well

Reviewed by Peter from Ferntree Gully, Australia on May 9th, 2008

This is one awesome game. It is the funniest since GTA Vice City. Alot of thought put in to make make it a realistic virtual world. Just go on a taxi ride, and see what I mean. Gameplay is just as fun as ever. Plenty of things to do between missions, eg. darts, bowling, drinking, going to Cabaret Show and Comedy Club, going out with girlfriends and other people you meet. I'm still finding new things in the game. The best GTA game so far. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Phillip from Rotorua, NZ on May 7th, 2008

I can't say this offering is bad, that would be a lie. I love the detail on the cars, bullet holes and blood stains are just fantastic. However I am not convinced this is the best GTA. It is the next installment of GTA 3 but it is not up to the content of GTA San Andreas. SA had a much more diverse world, where as like GTA 3 we are back to a limited city.

I do like the game but was really expecting GTA to continue on from San Andreas not go back to GTA 3.

Oh and Steven don't just guess that it was made for PS3 first, go find out. Game developers have said that they prefer Xbox as it is easier to develop for thanks to Microsoft and its collection of developing software. I don't personally know or care which came first but if you want to make a comment at least find out. The game will be the same on both, it just depends if you like to nit pick.

Reviewed by Damir from Auckland, NZ on May 6th, 2008

I have never been a fan of the GTA series, so I was a bit hesistant to purchase the game initially, but I am glad that I did anyway. This is easily the best GTA in the series; gunplay has been hugely improved over what was seen in previous versions, the main character Niko is easily the most charismatic (a must for an anti-hero), mission retries are a welcome change (although mid-mission checkpoints would have been better), and obviously the graphics are a lot nicer.

Speaking of graphics, unlike what someone below has said, the differences between the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions are negligible. Some sites like IGN and 1up have preferred the PS3 version (on the account that it had less texture pop-in) whereas Gameplanet's own reviewers have preferred the 360 version on the account that it has a better colour scheme. Both version suffer from rare slowdown, which absolutely does not effect gameplay. What the 360 version does have that the PS3 version doesn't is exclusive downloadble content and achievement points, which is why I bought GTA IV on my 360 and not on my PS3.

So regardless of what console you have, GTA IV is a must purchase. If you only have one of either the Xbox 360 or the PS3, then the purchase is a no-brainer. If you own both machines, then weight up the possibly slight improvement in graphical fidelity of the PS3 version, over the extra content and achievement points of the 360 version. Regardless of what version you do go for, you're bound to have a blast playing the game.

Reviewed by Steven from Auckland, NZ on May 1st, 2008

Played this on 360, like the reviews from Gametrailers and IGN, both talks about frame issues for the 360 system, which IGN claims is not in the Ps3 version. I guess this game was developed for the Ps3 and transfered over to the 360..

9/10 for Xbox360
10/10 for Ps3

Reviewed by Sy from richmond, Australia on April 30th, 2008

the thing is i bought gta today morning, i didnt play yet, but if you want to know more about gta and why the game merite to be buy, check this out on youtube, come back here and order it as soon as posible http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O51l7S7Sx3g
I think on xbox you will get more experience online than other game.

Come join us gameplanet store is amazing they sended me my cable in 24 hours brisbane to melbourne, fast they aare, don't worry about time, with gameplanet you are always on time, come on, buy it guys i need more peolpe online from aussie...

Cya on xbox live my gamertag adamso1 enjoy

Reviewed by Ross from Auckland, NZ on April 29th, 2008

Have been playing the game all day after receiving it nicce and early this morning.

I have to say: This is one darn brilliant gaming experience that shouldn't be missed.
I recommend it so much as once you play it you will see just how STUNNING it really is.

The Graphics are much better than I expected, and the city feels so alive, that you actually will be sucked in to it like it is real life.

All that was missing from previous GTA games has now been fulfilled. There is constantly tons to do (possibly a tad too much at once) and it is all presented in sleek menus and with a cool mobile phone in-game, which triggers most of your missions.

There is plenty of violence and offensive language, which of course adds to the experience.

The cops feel smarter than ever, the GPS in cars helps you navigate through the city that is easily as big as the entire San Andreas.

Plenty of characters, Stellar voice work, and a fair soundtrack across the car radio stations.

Guys - THIS IS NOT JUST THE COOLEST GTA -...... ITS THE COOLEST GAME EVER!

Presentation: 9.9/10
Graphics: 9.4/10
Sound: 9/10
Gameplay: 10/10

OVERALL: 9.9/10

Reviewed by John from Auckland , NZ on April 28th, 2008

Unfortunately, this isn't the game I hoped it would be. What spoils it for me is the cover system. It is buggy and unreliable. The game also has no mid-mission or quicksave feature, like the ps2 GTAs, so expect much frustration when the cover system fails and you are killed by a shotgun-toting bad guy. The targeting system is also unreliable, much like the older GTAs too. The graphics are fairly good, but the character models aren't great. The size of the city is impressive and there's some handy new features like GPS navigation to make it easier to get around. The new physics engine is also nice - just try shooting a petrol pump 'til it explodes sometime!

But all up, I'm afraid this is somewhat of a let down. San Andreas and GTA3 remain my favourites in the series to date. More work should have gone in to making a cover system that works properly.

Reviewed by Nick from Auckland, NZ on May 16th, 2006

Microsoft confirms next Grand Theft Auto is coming to Xbox 360 in October 2007; Rockstar Games confirms simultaneous launch on PS3.