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Well, here we are. It’s over. Four years, agonizing teaser trailers, gameplay leaks, perfect scores. Grand Theft Auto IV, the most awaited game since its predecessor San Andreas, has arrived. We were lucky enough to get our copy early and have been playing it non-stop so we can get our review out for the release date, 29^th April 2008. It’s been approaching slowly, but surely, and gamers will finally get a chance to enter the remodelled Liberty City. We’ve been playing the Xbox360 version and despite comments on the internet, we’re taking Rockstar’s word and judging it graphically in the view that the game is identical on both platforms. Have Rockstar raised the bar yet again or has the ambition crumbled into a pile of pap?

“This time, things will be different.” It’s echoed in the trailers and Niko Bellic, the game’s protagonist delivers the line throughout the game. Let’s get one thing straight before we get to the meat of our review. This is GTA. The game gives you an open world to play with, a complex mission structure, intricate story line and high fidelity graphics. Just like GTAIII re-created the sandbox genre, GTAIV takes it by its neck and shoves it face first into a wall, transforming it into something unrecognizable. You’ll look back on the previous trilogy and seriously wonder (in disbelief) how you put up with its shoddy controls, outdated graphics engine, and repetitive grind. You’ll still complete missions for a varied cast of wonderfully realised individuals. Again, most missions have been seen before; drive from A to B, pick up someone on the way, pop some caps in some asses and then reap the rewards of money, lush safe houses and the glamour of being involved in crime. What makes it different is the way Rockstar have presented this, how they’ve weaved every character into the storyline and finally how they’ve brought everything to life.

You’ll sit back, mouth gaping at everything about GTAIV. Games are often victims of hype and marketing but GTAIV completely delivers and it’s seriously difficult to decide where to begin. We won’t spoil the story line, and we’ll keep the moments that make you smile to a minimum. You’ll create stories of your own, tell your friends about incidents and revel in GTAIV.  It’s the complete package. Rockstar are correct; things are different.

The game loads (post install for PS3 owners) and instantly dives into the storyline, bringing Niko into the player’s sight. From the moment Niko opens his mouth, he instantly charms his way into your heart. His manner, accent, humour, dialogue, facial emotions all combine to create one of the best characters seen in the history of video games. He’s genuinely funny, (thanks to Rockstar’s superb writers) and has a smarmy boyish charm. He doesn’t take anything from anyone and you’ll be amazed how well you can relate to him. This is all helped by the new graphics engine. Body language, movement and lip syncing hits the nail on the head and makes you feel as though you’re watching a living individual.

This is amplified by the script. It’s the best yet from Rockstar and it weaves twists and turns into a blockbuster masterpiece. You’ll feel like you’re watching a Hollywood, high budget film. Each character that’s introduced has their own personality, swagger, and behaviour. You’ll meet some serious players in Liberty City, but no matter who it is, the script and voice acting enforces their character. It’s enthralling, entertaining and makes you laugh. It truly is outstanding.

After a ten minute cut scene, you’ll be itching to play. When the game finally releases control, you’ll be confused. Where’s the shoddy aiming system? Where’s are the slide-happy cars? Concerning the latter, you’ll career straight into a wall. Driving is different; to coin the phrase again. Thanks to the new physics system (which obviously means limitless possibilities for hitting pedestrians), every car handles realistically. Weight, speed and grip have real consequences. Cars can still be thrown into corners with the help of a handbrake, but you’ll find yourself driving carefully, watching what you hit. It’s an odd experience to begin with, but after 30minutes of play you’ll (again) wonder how you lived without it. Every car is different, and it’s hugely refreshing. You’re not driving cloned vehicles. Damage occurs as it should. Windows smash, Niko flies through the windscreen if needed. Panels crumple, bonnets fly. Flip a vehicle and it flies through the air, gathering momentum, acting upon its mass. This is the real world.

Rockstar have attempted to quell the past problems. With the cars sorted, the only major thing left was the control system and gunplay. They’ve brought a new cover system into play, which once you’ve got the hang of, fits right into the GTA experience. Hit the right bumper and you’ll slide into cover behind a wall, a car door, a bench or anything which can stop bullets. Then it’s aim and pop out of cover, gradually taking down those firing at you. You can blind fire, and move between cover. On occasion you’ll enter cover in the line of fire, but it’s easily overlooked. Strafing and firing can come in handy when on the move, but most of the time shooting will take place from behind the safety of concrete.

We’ve mentioned the controls, the cars, the story, and the characters. The obvious place to visit next is the graphics. This is the best looking GTA yet, but not the best looking game. It must be remembered that this is a large, constantly rendering world. Standards need to be different. Rockstar have done their best to subdue the framerate problems, pop-in and texture problems seen in past games. There is the odd low-resolution texture, rare slowdown and occasional pop-in, but nothing has a game breaking effect. Apart from that, everything is spot on. Car models are luscious, characters intricately detailed, buildings unique. Advertising plagues Liberty City and Rockstar taps into popular culture at every level. It’s sassy, tongue in cheek, and laugh out loud funny. From the dashboards in the cars, to the newspaper stalls, to the neon advertising, to the posters down an alley, it’s all there. Every bend there’s something new, something to delight. The level of detail is unprecedented. From flying a helicopter at night, to standing in a dark, dingy alley at daybreak, this is reality.

There’s enough there for everyone. There are countless places to visit and to explore everything is impossible. Each mission links to the next and you’ll feel like you’re part of a living world. There are boundless ways of completing the missions and it means every time will be different, (there’s that word again). GTAIV is long. If you attempt every mission then you’re looking at 50 hours plus. There are missions that advance the story, those than give you cash or create relationships. You can go out for a drink, play pool, go bowling, eat out, rave in a club, date women, browse the internet, watch TV, visit a show, race cars, run taxi fares, go on a helicopter tour, ferry druggies, assassinate targets, or simply enjoy the view. If you want to do it, you can. Rockstar have simply provided you with the tools for the job.

Accompanying you throughout Liberty City are a complete range of radio stations encompassing every genre imaginable. Each has a charismatic DJ and some old favourites make an appearance. Rockstar have done their homework and have picked some seriously classic tracks. Want to know a name of a track, call up your cell phone and it’ll tell you what it is. The cell phone acts as a portal to your life. You can arrange meetings, retry missions (very welcome), or simply text a friend.

There’s so much to mention, like how the police are more intelligent, yet easier to evade thanks to a new search area system. A welcome lack of HUD.  A more realistic economy. If we’ve forgotten anything, you’ll find it out soon enough. We haven’t touched the multi-player yet, and our impressions will be along shortly. Even without that, the prospect of downloadable content in the Autumn, or just the idea of what the future holds, we just can’t help giving this a 10. It’s GTA, yet evolved. It has reached unholy heights of brilliance. This time things are different and we completely love it. It adds to the genre, the industry and everything about video games. Go out, buy it, play it and rejoice. It’s here and it’s one hell of a ride.

Score: 10/10

(Grand Theft Auto IV is out on Xbox360 and Playstation 3. Xbox360 version reviewed.)

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