The most awaited game of 2008, best sandbox action adventure game, bigger the biggest of box-office hits, most controversial game ever-these are few words used by media to describe Grand Theft Auto IV. It did set records as expected with crowds gathering in front of GameStop stores in US for the midnight launch. Gaming site GameSpy decorated the game with a perfect 5 stars and judged it to be the master-piece that might change the way the world views video games.

Based on more than a dozen reviews compiled by Metacritic, an aggregator of gaming reviews, the PS3 version has scored a perfect 100, while the Xbox 360 version has achieved a 99. IGN.com had a valid point when it stated that GTA IV gives us gamers characters and a world with a level of depth previously unseen in gaming. “It elevates its story from a mere shoot-em-up to an Oscar-caliber drama,” its review read.

Contrive

For those who have not been following the development of the game and the numerous reports we published, GTA IV revolves around Niko Bellic, a Eastern European who lands up in Liberty city to fulfill his “American Dream.” The rest of the story like in other games in Grand Theft Auto series is all about guns, Cars, Prostitutes and music!

Liberty City

The whole game is set in this fictional New York lookalike city, which has many of its landmarks like Central Park, Empire State Building, Manhattan Bridge and yes, even the Statue of Liberty. The size of the city is not as big as the one in San Andreas but it will enable one to move around the whole city without hitting the load screen.

Improvements from The San Andreas

GTA IV has been improved vastly since San Andreas. Apart from graphics, the major change has been in the controls which are now smoother than in the past. They have gone from slightly choppy to extremely smooth. Niko uses a cell phone and can also use computers in the game to contact people and even surf the internet.

What happens – When Caught, Shot at:

When caught by the police, Niko might be imprisoned for a while. The time duration depends factors like wanted level and the kind of crime committed. It is also possible that Niko is shot at during his escapades. In such situations, he can go to nearest hospital and get himself cured, In case he is shot during a fight, he will awaken on a hospital bed!

PS3 version of the game needs to be installed while the Xbox 360 version is simply plug_and_play.
The game doesn’t allow custom sound tracks, the huge number of radio stations within the game is good enough!
Remember the concept of “bullet-time” from Max Payne? GTA IV has it too!

GTA IV – Expectations
Analysts are expecting the action-driving video game—GTA IV to sell more than 90 million copies and top last year’s record $300 million first-week sales of Halo 3. It is also expected break opening week record set by box-office smashes such as Spider-Man 3 ($337 million in the USA) and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End ($309 million)