Blockbusters are usually synonymous with movies. But this year seems to also be the year for big games and what bigger game can there be than the Grand Theft Auto series? Well there is the Deadliest Catch the Game, you know you want to Game Fly it!!! With all the hype surrounding the game, there’s also the controversy much like the Water Gate scandal, Enron, and El Nino (when there’s a problem blame it on El Nino). But once you put all that behind you and assess this product for what it is, IT IS ONE HELLUVA GAME!!!!!!

GTA IV is set back in the good ol’ town of Liberty City where violent crimes and prostitutes inhabit the land running free like Gazelle in the open plains of Africa. Well not really, but for anyone that knows the GTA series, you know what to expect here. The story focuses on our non-hero Niko Bellic who hails from some kind of Eastern European country. He is in town to visit his cousin who really is up to no good in Liberty City. There’s a lot to like about this guy in the sense that you can’t really tell which side he’s on in terms of the story. He’s basically a loner and tries not to associate himself in the affairs of others. But somehow trouble always seems to find Mr. Niko everywhere he goes indicating that he has some sort of dark past. Compared to the other GTA games, the story is top notch and almost on the caliber of some Hollywood movies.

As always, there’s some tie in to real-life people that happen to be in the media today. For example there’s a certain lawyer who doesn’t agree to violent things because they make our children do violent things and well needs to be dealt with. (Well at least the real-life court dealt with this individual by disbarring him PWND!!!!!) The story has a better involvement to your character more than the other games in the series. Ultimately Niko is presented with a choice at various points throughout the game and during certain cut scenes. These choices affect the outcome and leaves room for various endings.

Gameplay
GTA IV has to be hands down the most varied when it comes to gameplay. There is insanely so much to do here. As a “sandbox” game you pretty much just make your own fun because the developers have done such a great job with creating a living, breathing city. The very first time I popped in the game I literally sat for hours driving through the city looking at the sites while listening to the radio stations in the car. There is so much detail in the way you interact with the city crowd. People push you back when you bump in to them, they cower as you shoot at the cars, there’s even a point where I attacked a character and some dude just gets out of his car to help the victim (at least until I bum rushed him!!!) Sometimes this inactivity can be too much fun because it ends up detracting you from the main story missions.

And in all actuality, the story missions are great and they are not as redundant as compared to the past GTA games. Another noticeable detail goes into the TV. I applaud Rockstar’s efforts in making Liberty City seem like it’s a “real” place to be in. The TV mechanic in the game is like watching real television. There is hours of content on there and basically gives the player insight on items in the game, locations to visit, and overall some pretty funny @%^#! There is even comedy show featuring the comedian Kat Williams which can be seen at the comedy club in Liberty City.

Multiplayer
Aside from the sandbox part of the game and story missions, GTA IV also has an online multiplayer game. This mode alone extends the lifetime of this game simply because of the variety. You have your standard deathmatch, team deathmatch, and capture-the-flag (represented by capturing the territory instead). But there are some more interesting modes such as “Car Jack city”, “Mafia Work” and “Cops and Crooks”. Any of these modes can be played with your team vs another team, or simply like 2-3 of your friends against like 13 other people. Multiplayer allows up to 16 people and can make for some late night gang banging and no not that kind you sickos out there!

Graphics
Graphically this game is amazing and definitely defines what next generation titles should be like. You see buildings in the far off landscapes, cars have different dent patterns thanks to the Havok physics engine, the weather changes making you feel more immersed, the strippers give you the 2 for 1 special….(records scratching..) Well that’s not physically “ALL” what looks pretty in the game. The characters facial animation works well with the dialogue. You can see so much detail in the textures. Lighting and effects come together nicely when things explode and such. There’s a very nice blur effect if your character gets a little um…ahem intoxicated. I found myself having to close my eyes a few times because it does an uncanny job of simulating something that we here at 3GK do not condone…..”Friends don’t let friends drive drunk in GTA 4 while playing GTA 4 drunk because it gives you epilepsy”. Overall the game’s graphical style and presentation makes it one to rival most games in the industry. They are by no means perfect, but being that nitpicky about the graphics and flaws makes no sense simply because a lot of work has been put into the development and it pays off big time. And at no period what so ever do these flaws detract from the gameplay.

The Sounds of Liberty City
GTA IV heavily exceeds well in the sound department. You hear the patter of rain, the chatter of turnin tricks, even the locales getting pissed off when you haphazardly smash into their cars while trying to run away from the cops. The game sports an excellent Dolby Digital surround soundtrack which gives you an atmosphere to compliment the graphics. One note that all gamers wonder about is the radio system. If you liked it before you’ll love it more than ever. All the hilarious talk show and fictional advertisements are back along with an awesome musical soundtrack. There are many different flavors of music and fit the lifestyle of Liberty City. I still can’t get enough of Jill Scott’s “Golden” or Kanye West’s “Flashing Lights” playing in the background at the strip club. (Ok we at 3GK do not condone of virtual strippers although I seem to mention them a lot in this review) The most noticeable thing is in the details. For example the TV can be adjusted louder and the way the sound is engineered, it gives the player the illusion that they are cooked up in a crummy hotel room watching a crummy old TV. Other subtle things would be if you receive a cell phone call, the radio will have static until you answer the phone.

Overall there is so much more things to go into about this game, but what fun would that be for you guys? I think this game is definitely a tough act to follow in terms of the presentation as a whole. This game can take you several hours or several months to complete dependant on how dedicated you are to finding every little thing in the game. Even after completing the game, multiplayer will have you coming back time in and time out because it’s simply that much fun. Regardless of what console you own both games are very strong, with the exception that the 360 version will have exclusive downloadable content in the future. As to what that content will be, who knows??? Well that’s still up in the air for now. GTA IV has been touted as the Devil’s step child of video games by the media and governmental electees, but amidst from all that controversy it succeeds very well as a solid and entertaining game.

GOD KING GRADE: (A)   ★★★★★