Grand Theft Auto 4: First Impressions
May 20th, 2008 Posted in Games, Reviews
Well, it took a while, but Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA4) finally arrived on my doorstep, and none too son, let me tell you. I was very close to being totally uninterested by the time it arrived (hey, that’s just who I am, I get pissed off at things, and the more they annoy me, they less interested I get).
But… arrive it did, which made me a happy man. Wasn’t so happy it arrived after my week-long holiday from work, but what can you do? Nothing. Anyway, I digress.
A couple of posts back, I advised that I wouldn’t be writing a full review of the game, mostly because I don’t like writing full reviews (due to the fact the net has plenty of them), but also because I know I won’t finish the game in its entirety. So what I will do is write up my first impressions- after literally only about 2 or 3 hours of play. That way if you’re thinking about getting it, you might have an understanding of how you might feel towards the game when you first lay hands on it.
So where to start? Let me provide a little background- where I stand in regard to the previous titles. To be perfectly clear (well, I hope so at least), I don’t hate the GTA franchise, I have just been… hmmm… disenchanted by it. When GTA3 came out, I was blown away, and so was much of the video game world. Played its ass off, then sewed its ass back on, and played its ass off some more. Vice City oozed ’80’s cool, but it also oozed… plain old GTA. Played through maybe 75% of the game. San Andreas… was again just another GTA. I played it for 15 minutes tops. Did not interest me in the slightest.
Then I got GTA:Liberty City Stories on PSP. Played the crap out of that game, but mostly because it was good for long trips, and I had long trips to make. It was still just GTA, but it had been a while since I partook in its velvety gaming goodness, so I enjoyed it while it lasted. But I never finished it. Got really bored about half-way through (and I’m probably exaggerating).
So that’s where I was at. Wasn’t sure about GTA4, then I saw the videos, heard some of the stories, and thought, “This one’s gonna be different.” So I got it.
And I must admit, I was swept up in the hype, as I often am. I read quite a few reviews, and tried to gather as much info as I could- and I was really excited about some of the prospects in the game- Internet, mobile phone, oh-so-sexy graphics, the realism of the city. I was hooked before I got it.
Then it took two weeks to arrive (kids, spend that extra $10, get it express post). And my love died swiftly.
After playing it, however, I can say… It’s still just GTA. You go from one mission to another, never quite knowing what is expected from you (and hey, it’s a sandbox game, so nothing really is expected), and you do what the game tells you, when the game tells you. The basic format of the game hasn’t changed, and I found that disappointing. Then again, not sure what I was expecting in THAT regard.
That said, I love GTA4 so far. While it is still just GTA, it’s well dressed (it really does look that good- I’ve spent some time just looking around, and I rarely do that in video games), and it comes with some cool new toys (the mobile phone is put to great use- you can customise it for chrissakes! Not only that, but I actually spent a good 15 minutes just watching the TV, and I want to go back and watch the rest of the shows- awesome!). And there are a lot of other little things that make it better– improved car physics (although it takes time to get used to the fact they move like real cars… sigh), easier weapon and hand-to-hand combat– both of these things make the game more enjoyable for me to play, especially because the combat is one of the reasons I wasn’t a fan of the previous games.
But still… It comes back to the fact that it is still just GTA. To be honest, for the first hour or so, I was quite unimpressed. In fact, I kinda thought I wasted my time and my money (not to mention my all-important “excitement jelly”). But I persisted, if only because I paid for it, and I wanted to find the 10/10-edness that everyone else seemed to find easily. The visuals made that easy (then again, I read a review that mentioned that it was disappointing you couldn’t walk into any door you wanted, because it seemed so real that you expected you could… Disagree, myself. It’s mostly obvious where you can and can’t go). And now, after… maybe 3 hours… why do I find myself enjoying it more and more?
Simple. The story. It is the first video game in a long, long time, where I have actually enjoyed sitting down and watching the ([cue minor complaint] almost excessively long) cut scenes. The characters are great, they’re funny, and they are well acted. Bravo. I can actually see myself finishing GTA4 based on the story alone.. But also because I want to check out every part of the city, and try out all that is on offer.
So, what am I saying here? Well, after a few hours, I have been re-converted to a GTA fan. Born-again, so-to-speak. If only I got another birthday… It’s fun, and it is a worthy purchase. But, of course, this is only based on a few hours of play. If my opinion changes, I will follow up, never you worry.
It’s a great game. But it’s not 10/10. That’s just me.
Agreed, its good but not GREAT! OMFG! THE GAME ROXXOROSOSOSOSSSSSS.
Hehe, exactly
I agree with Gregory. 7/10 is all I give it.
However, shooting people in the strip club is fun, and I aim to do it again. With my date. To make her displeased.
And drinking is also fun. But walking sucks.