Trick Games Grand Theft Auto IV: Reviewed
Ahead, the light turns green. But you're stuck in traffic, and although your GPS charts you a reddish line straight through the junction, the cop car up ahead casts a shadow across your hood that whispers, just try it. Your girlfriend is waiting for you across town and you're dodging calls from your cousin, who wants to drag you out drinking again. It's Liberty City, it's Wednesday night, and it's raining.
Perhaps the highest praise we can heap on developer Rockstar -- and believe us, praise is coming -- is that Grand Theft Auto IV can make that prosaic setting into something not only tolerable, but downright gripping. Watching developers haul out claims to "a living city" is getting a little old, but Rockstar's latest attempt is the first game not only to capture the monotony of city life perfectly, but to brilliantly spoof it at the same time.
But then, they're old hands at this, and they know their tools: umpteen radio stations with side-splitting DJs, ads with a razor-sharp satirical edge, an Oscar-worthy voice cast and an engine that lends itself to hilarious coincidences. Under the surface of Grand Theft Auto IV, for all its gory, irresponsible, prostitute-murdering pretensions, lurks a backbone of humor that's both accessible and deeply, deeply black.
Niko, Grand Theft Auto IV's hero, is by far the closest the series has come to the actual definition of the word. No wordless thugs, reactionary oafs or Ray Liotta clones here --helped by a superb script and best-of-class voice acting, Niko's concern for his fellow man is tangible. When Niko faces a life or death choice, so do you, and his supporting cast, though appearing stereotyped at a casual glance, are all characterized well enough that you'll care about their fate.
Niko's phone constantly twitters, keeping you in touch with your not inconsiderable list of acquaintances. It's tough to restrain a grin when he's exchanging fire with a small army of cops and his cousin calls to invite him to a strip club; Niko's always ready with a witty comeback. You can customize his phone with downloadable ringtones and backgrounds, too -- it even has a camera and an organizer that'll remind you of appointments.
"GTA IV's realistic, wide-open world offers unprecedented opportunities for delightful mayhem, and a level of polish, detail and quality that's genuinely groundbreaking."
Though it's indeed smaller than cities in previous games, touching on all the entertainment Liberty City offers would still take hours. Pool, bowling, billiards and darts all await the player. Police cars, fire engines and taxis all offer side quests. Some friends have optional quest lines and will dole out more rewards to those who complete them. Cabaret clubs offer performances voiced by real-life comedians, including the inimitable Ricky Gervais. Even the TV in the corner of Niko's low-rent apartment offers hours of beautifully-produced programming.
Perhaps GTA IV's biggest step forward, in the context of the series as a whole, is the superbly tight integration of multiplayer with the regular game. It's all handled via your phone and offers a generous selection of modes and a 16-player maximum. GTA's traditionally explosive hijinks translate perfectly to the online multiplayer environment, and it's absolutely certain to be tremendously popular. Rockstar promises additional downloadable content in the months to come -- yes, yet more content for what's already one of the biggest and most detailed worlds yet created -- so no doubt the experience will improve even more over time.
Alas, nothing's perfect, and although GTA IV unquestionably rolls with the elite posse worthy of the "best games ever made" moniker, it's not without its glitches. Series fans will be familiar with the way GTA's scenery can suddenly pop-up out of nowhere, and for all our next-generation hardware, the problem's still present on occasion. Close combat is a bit clunky, although the overhauled controls are a big improvement. And if we're honest, the missions are a touch formulaic compared to the more imaginative offerings. Deal breakers? Not even jokingly. You'd be a fool if you let these quibbles put you off.
Besides, she's not going to wait forever. The police car's tail-lights are still gleaming off the rain-soaked blacktop ahead of you, and time's running short. You'll have plenty of chances to lose the cops on your way over the lengthy bridge crossing, and your options stretch almost as far. Snipe the cop through the car window? Slam your car into reverse and leadfoot it around him? Blow off your date, and ignore the resulting calls? Although the joy of unfettered choice is already familiar to Grand Theft Auto players, GTA IV's realistic, wide-open world offers unprecedented opportunities for delightful mayhem, and a level of polish, detail and quality that's genuinely groundbreaking. What more could you want from the next generation? The GPS chimes. "You have arrived."