Game/Publisher/Developer
Grand Theft Auto IV, Rockstar Games, Rockstar North
The Trailer
My Reaction
It was so legitimate. Liberty City felt alive in a way earlier entries hadn’t quite managed and just cruising around causing chaos or chasing down missions never got old.
Overview
Grand Theft Auto IV follows Niko Bellic, an Eastern European immigrant with a dark past who arrives in Liberty City chasing the American Dream his cousin Roman sold him on. Instead he finds a city run by corrupt cops, loan sharks and gangsters and gets pulled into a life of crime while working through his own history of betrayal and violence. Rockstar North rebuilt Liberty City with a heavier, grittier tone than the series had shown before, backed by a new physics engine and a more grounded approach to driving and combat.
What I Liked
- Liberty City is dense, detailed and genuinely fun to just drive around in.
- Niko is a more grounded, complex protagonist than the series had offered before.
- The physics and driving model add a weight to the world that earlier entries lacked.
What I Didn’t Like
- Some of the mission structure leans repetitive, with a lot of drive-here-shoot-that pacing.
Verdict
Grand Theft Auto IV is a genuinely fun ride through one of the series’ best-realized cities, even if the mission variety doesn’t always match the ambition of the world around it.
Rating
83/100