Grand Theft Auto IV Steals Reviewers' Hearts

• by Brandon Dimmel on 20080429 @ 09:53PM EST | google it | send to friends
• Filed under Gaming | Industry | (related terms: theft auto, grand theft, game, auto iv, gta iv)

Long heralded as the most open-ended franchise in history (well, aside from those 100-plus hour Elder Scrolls games), Grand Theft Auto has received both acclaim and criticism for its violent nature. However, the most recent installment, Grand Theft Auto IV, is receiving reviews previously unheard-of in gaming. All in all, these kinds of scores make Halo 3 look like Superman N64 (uh, the worst-reviewed game in history).

When it first launched shortly after the introduction of the PlayStation 2, there was little doubt Grand Theft Auto III had changed the way games were made. Granted, it wasn't much different than its predecessors in the way it placed gamers in the shoes of a common street thug. However, for the first time ever it blended cutting-edge graphics with a vast, urban environment where the player could do just about anything they chose. The immense popularity of the game led to two semi-successors, including GTA III: Vice City and GTA III: San Andreas.

Grand Theft Auto IV has been blessed with no such title. This, it appears, is a whole new game, and by the looks of reviews, a whole new stage in gaming. For one, the graphics are improved. Popular gaming site 1UP recently remarked that Liberty City (the metropolis in which the game is set) boasts "breathtaking vistas, incredibly varied scenery, and lived-in look...The city just feels alive." The new multiplayer element, a surprising addition to the franchise, is also being heralded as a fine piece of work. Up to 16 people can roam Liberty City causing trouble in the appropriately named "Free Mode". (Source: ign.com)

Aside from the freedom to roam, reviews thus far suggest that GTA IV boasts remarkably deep artificial intelligence. Liberty City's citizens act like real people; cyclists oogle good-looking girls, motorists slam into one another, and when they do, exchange formalities. That kind of detail will give gamers a good idea of what Rockstar has been doing with its time since San Andreas a few years ago. (Source: 1up.com)

GTA IV ships Tuesday.

Free eBook: Getting Started: Your Guide to Windows 8. Windows 8 is arguably Microsoft's most daring Windows Operating system to date. Featuring an unusual tile-based Start screen that's optimized for touchscreen devices, Windows 8 is now available on all new computers, laptops and ultrabooks, and hybrid tablets. Whichever device you use Windows 8 on, you'll need to know a few things. First, how are you going to get the data from your current operating system to the new one? Second, you'll probably be wondering where Windows desktop has gone. Finally, you might be wondering: why did Microsoft remove the Start menu? This eBook answers all those questions, and more. Click here to download this eBook now! Note: this eBook is free, but registration is required; after that, you can select more ebooks and videos for download without registering again. If you have questions / problems with the registration form, please read this.