Lock up your valuables and ground your children prematurely … there’s a new Grand Theft Auto on the market! Rockstar Games recently released a fourth installment of this electronic juggernaut, providing parents the world over another convenient scapegoat for why their children are hoodlums. And by my humble estimation, it is the best in an already great series. Gamers, start your thumb pressing!!The plot is waist deep in illegal immigration, drug trafficking, murder, car jacking, and dealings with the mafia. You play Niko Bellic, a renegade Slavic desperate to find closure for atrocities he was forced to take part in during some undisclosed war. He steps off the boat from a long sea voyage to stay with his cousin and hopefully make it big in America. It is the typical immigrant story just itching to slip into depravity, mayhem and crime.
Grand Theft Auto IV takes place in a fictional version of my favorite metropolis, New York City. You’ve got every major land mass (renamed of course), from Brooklyn to the Bronx, Manhattan to Jersey shore, and even Liberty Island with its famous statue. Well known areas such as Central Park, Time Square, the Metropolitan Museum and St. Andrews Cathedral are so well done it’s like you’re right there among them. There are lots of little nuances to enjoy as well, such as hot dog vendors, multi cultural cursing, graffiti everywhere, beat cops, and an overbearing attitude you either love or hate out of fellow New Yorkers. Rockstar went all out for this one, recreating the city in breathtaking detail.
Of course, having been to New York City before, I can report how ludicrous it is to think you can drive at ANY speed through these famous streets. If you’re not in a taxi or a limo, more than likely you’re hoofing it toward the nearest subway. That’s fine by me. I have a feeling this virtual model of the city is the only safe way to fully explore it by car, bike, chopper or boat.
Now let’s be honest; Rockstar Games did NOT make it big by publishing the highest quality software. They climbed the ranks solely by their willingness to push the boundaries of good taste and social taboo. In fact, I’d go so far as to claim this is their trademark, and why so many frustrated teenagers are desperate to get their hands on these games. They’re guaranteed to see lots of blood, hear lots of cursing, cruise lots of women, and witness a few sexually suggestive scenes (from a car bouncing with the purchase of a hooker to a cutaway while the character scores with his latest date).
There are some aspects I don’t like about the Grand Theft Auto series. The game’s engine sucks, and Rockstar refuses to do anything about it. There are so many possible actions to choose from, the button scheme is a nightmare. At times, the character seems to have a mind of his own. It can make accomplishing objectives frustrating. This becomes even more tedious considering where the player is forced to start if they are killed during a mission: waaaaaay back at the beginning, which could be across town and through a couple different plot revealing cut scenes.
With that said, I’m thoroughly enjoying this game. The story is interactive and perfectly executed. The level of challenge is enough to keep you playing for weeks on end (trust me on this). I have to admit though, I play like a homo. My driving is so slow, the secondary characters I transport give me grief about it! Also, I’ve collected just about every pair of shoes you can purchase in the game. That’s just how I roll baby.
FINAL ANALYSIS: 8 out of 10 points. The game kicks ass, but Rockstar ... PLEASE tighten up that engine of yours. I don't care how exciting, action packed, or raunchy your product is, failing because of faulty character movement just ain't fun.
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