GTA IV First Impressions

[DozertheDozaria]

Well, it's the day after what was probably the biggest release of the gaming year. It's the first game I've gone out at midnight to get in years... In fact, the last time I think I did that was when I got the third or fourth PS2 in my town when it was released... Anyway, so let's look at my quick impressions based on about 5-6 hours of gameplay.

The first thing I noticed was the production values. The intro felt like a movie intro with the story playing out even as the credits laid over the various surfaces, staying neatly out of the way of the characters. It just sets up the great feel that this game has overall...

The controls are pretty straight-forward. The gameplay is slightly more robust than the previous GTA games. The graphics are not as perfect as you might hope; they are great, but there are better graphics on other games. GTA does so many styles of gaming (Action, Platforming, Racing, Adventure...) that I'm amazed that each one performs as well as it does. There are flaws, to be sure, but nothing that takes away from the gameplay.

The characters, at least at the beginning of the game, are easy to get into and you develop a real opinion about them quickly. (I still want to stick a knife in Vlad's throat.) I haven't gotten far in the love subplots, but I did get a kiss. It's interesting, though. When you go out for a date, there are minigames depending on where you go. When you go bowling, you actually get to bowl. When you go for billiards, you play pool. Good stuff.

The Multiplayer is where we seem to jump around here so I'll give ya my initial impressions of that as well. It sucks. It's not Call of Duty. It's not Halo. Now, that being said, the statement of "It sucks." is true if you try to play the game like Call of Duty or Halo. If you compare the multiplayer to those games you probably will think it sucks. I heard that constantly last night while I played.

The multiplayer, although I haven't played a lot yet, is good. It's different and that's what I wanted. I was getting burnt out on CoD. This is a good change of pace. Play the different modes. Try it for yourself. It's not bad at all... I'm not sure what my favorite mode is yet, but I'm working on it.

Well, that's it. My initial impressions are pretty simple: It's a great game that's worth the wait. I can't keep from thinkin' about it and I want to fire it up as soon as I walk in the door after work.

BUY THIS GAME.

That is all.

Dozer

[wicked_d365]

One of the best games, EVER! Thats right, I said it, sue me. I love this game. Right out of the box, the music grabs you and your off. I liked how they set up the into, it looks and feels like a movie. Then you see it, Liberty City in all it's glory, it's beautiful. I haven't gotten but maybe 5-7 missions in, cause I can't stop wondering the city and playing with all the new cars. I like how if you do a burnout long enough, your tires blow out. Thats cool as hell. Niko is a cool guy, like all the reviews said, you would want to have a drink with. The city itself is the greatest character of all, it's so alive and full of detail, I can't get enough of it. The missions so far haven't been anything amazing, but again, only a few in. I did take Michelle out one time and ended up banging her and getting the warm coffee achievement. All in all, this is a great game, any true gamer will love it. Go buy it now, you will be very happy you did.

:hail::hail::hail:

[Reclaimer]

I played the game for about 45 minutes yesterday. I don't want to play the game around my son so it's hard to find the time. My first impression is that the game is huge. Really huge. I just drove around for awhile getting a look around and was impressed with the traffic and the people.

The fighting is a bit spastic. I tried to get into a few fistfights and I had to eventually turn around and run because I couldn't coordinate a good fight.

But the story seems very involving and deep. The gameplay feels good and I know I'm going to like playing the game. It feels weird not having a title screen to go back to, you just get thrust into the game and you use your cell phone to access the XBL stuff. Strange, but doable.

We'll see. Maybe I'll actually get back to the game instead of just mindlessly wandering around.

[thrAsher]

Played a good couple hours of single player yesterday and think this will be the first GTA I actually have the urge to beat. Fantastic writing so far, and the graphics are better than I hoped.

Also played some multi last night, and while it was pure chaos for the most part, I can really see the multi being played to death for a while. The multiplayer system is a bit unorthodox, it'll take time to get used to, but the gameplay itself is just what I hoped it would be. It will be fun in a couple weeks to see how the multi has evolved, because a lot of people didn't know what the hell they were doing. So far, Cops n Crooks is my favorite mode, but I also had a lot of fun in the others I tried, particularly Turf War.

Anyhow, if you guys see me online, send an invite. :cheers:

[DozertheDozaria]

You guys can drop me a friend request tonight if you want to try some multi together... I'm sure I'll be on at some point...


Ciao,
Dozer

[Sam-XBA]

So far I'm loving it. I have to get my XBL back and running... I'm just trying to get to the point where I can go to the 2nd island

As Rec said, I find the hand to hand - close combat - awkward. I had to repeat a mission a few times because I couldn't seem to get a block in, and the controls weren't so responsive. A slight nag, and the only one I can think of so far.

[mattgame]

I actually got pretty good with the fighting. All you have to do is bait the NPC into punching, dodge, and hit em with a sweet three piece.

[Ry]

Im so pumped for it, Get it tomorrow when my mom gets back! So after reading all your thoughts, I will play it, and post mine, so far everything is good execpt for what Rec and Sam said about the fighting controls.

Btw Mattgame, Maybe you can teach me how to play this game? [Look in my sig.]

[MonkeymanCicero]

I did take Michelle out one time and ended up banging her and getting the warm coffee achievement.
:hail::hail::hail:

Michelle essentially seems to be the Denise of GTAIV, a laid-back fun girl that's easy to date. Judging by the way she's constantly talking about my clothes, I'm guessing the way you dress Niko heavily influences other girlfriends.
A word of advice, don't get into any fights around your girlfriend; I tried to take Michelle to the Triangle Club and got into trouble with Security. Michelle got pissed in the middle of the fight and left; she was banging me at the end of every date, but now I pissed her off, I'm lucky if I can get a kiss.

[Ry]

A word of advice, don't get into any fights around your girlfriend; I tried to take Michelle to the Triangle Club and got into trouble with Security. Michelle got pissed in the middle of the fight and left; she was banging me at the end of every date, but now I pissed her off, I'm lucky if I can get a kiss.
I will remember that. I used to play like 3 or 4 missions of the older GTA's, same with games, I never played campain, I play the campain now, so I think finally beating a GTA game will be good, Unless I starting driving around, That was my fav. part about other GTA games, just to drive around and cause chaos. We will see how it plays out, Im sure Im going to love campain and driving around town. The fact that theres soo many multiplayer modes, gonna be a blast with some friends and maybe we can get an XBA room up.

[WillyV2]

I will remember that. I used to play like 3 or 4 missions of the older GTA's, same with games, I never played campain, I play the campain now, so I think finally beating a GTA game will be good, Unless I starting driving around, That was my fav. part about other GTA games, just to drive around and cause chaos. We will see how it plays out, Im sure Im going to love campain and driving around town. The fact that theres soo many multiplayer modes, gonna be a blast with some friends and maybe we can get an XBA room up.

Man, there are so many XBA'ers that have this, we could easily start a room of only XBA peeps.

Variation invited me for a few games of Cops and Crooks. He can vouche that no matter what side you are on, you do not want me driving. :D

[thrAsher]

Man, there are so many XBA'ers that have this, we could easily start a room of only XBA peeps.

I logged on tonight and had 21 friends online, 19 playing GTA4.

People need to relax a bit, start party rooms, build groups. Right now, it's a lot of sheer madness. I think it will be another couple of weeks before the game, online, really takes shape. Right now, it's just chaos. And that, of course, is ****ing awesome, but I see the multi getting much more 'calibrated' very soon.

If this is not GOTY - it's definitely GOTS (game of the summer) - I will be surprised.

[Ry]

Variation invited me for a few games of Cops and Crooks. He can vouche that no matter what side you are on, you do not want me driving. :DI know, I've played halo with you :watchout: Man I talked to my mom yesterday... PUMPED>>

[wicked_d365]

Judging by the way she's constantly talking about my clothes, I'm guessing the way you dress Niko heavily influences other girlfriends.
A word of advice, don't get into any fights around your girlfriend

Yeah, before I picked her up the first time all I bought at the store was boots, picked her up and bowled, havn't changed since. Finish the dates, don't skip them, she dosen't like that. Also, drive like a normal person with her, if you hit stuff too much she gets mad.

The combat is a little tricky, but I, like many of you, have gotten the feel for it after useing it, it's not so bad, I like the cover sytem, it makes gunfights more fun. The lock on feature works well, it's just touchy, it takes little movments.

[l sNip3d l]

I love the private chat option by calling someone on your phone. It's always fun in MP to call someone on the opposite team, tell them how ****ed they are and hang up.

[WillyV2]

Much like Reclaimer had mentioned I find the fighting rather buggy sometimes. Other than that, I love the game.

[mattgame]

Im so pumped for it, Get it tomorrow when my mom gets back! So after reading all your thoughts, I will play it, and post mine, so far everything is good execpt for what Rec and Sam said about the fighting controls.

Btw Mattgame, Maybe you can teach me how to play this game? [Look in my sig.]

That was my daughter. She usually plays on the level above medium.

[Ry]

That was my daughter. She usually plays on the level above medium.

No, I mean becuase it says you are playing The Dashboard- Medium -Story of my Life. I can not get on this game. :P

[Ry]

I-LOVE-GTA. I already got with
Michelle. Its fun, played online with Cking, SilentFatality, WillyV2, Not Yellow

[Variation-XBA]

This is the first GTa I've actually cared about the characters and WANTED to do the storyline. Very impressed so far.

[laughs]

This is the first GTa I've actually cared about the characters and WANTED to do the storyline. Very impressed so far.

Ditto! I didn't like the main character at first, but he grew on me... Hopefully I see some of you guys online later. Mic is broke though, so I'm not being a prick... My cousin is supposed to drop off his extra one shortly so that'll be good.

[Ry]

I will play with you guys, One thing Im finding, There servers, SUCK. I always get the "The game no longer is there" thing, when im sitting beside the host. I hope they fix this soon..

[Slowride]

I'm something like 3.5% done or whatever. So far....I like it.

Did anyone else kill the cashier at the first clothes shop you go to? Poor lady. She never saw it coming. I mean I even paid for the clothes.

[wicked_d365]

I played all day Sunday. Finally got the hang of the driving, but I still hate the fighting mechanics. The auto lock feature sucks. It has no sense of urgency. It locks on the farthest target, while you have a guy 2 feet in front of you blowing you away. Other than that, I still love it, right now, I'm about 24% done.:hump:

[laughs]

I'm something like 3.5% done or whatever. So far....I like it.

Did anyone else kill the cashier at the first clothes shop you go to? Poor lady. She never saw it coming. I mean I even paid for the clothes.

You heartless *****!!! Anyway, I'm at something like 18%... That's when my eyes got weird and my tongue/arm/hand became numb! YAY!!!!

[Ry]

JackTheWhack wants me to pass on this message. He has unlocked the cheevo called "Keys to the City", Since it's not even a week since the launch of GTA IV. He gets, a key to the city.
Check it out:
http://socialclub.rockstargames.com/
Click, 100%Club

[addict]

I wish there was an instant replay feature. Ive done some awesome wrecks that would be cool to see again.

[Ry]

Im at 16.05%. Hoping to hit 20-25% tonight.

[HaZarD SFD-XBA]

Dunno what % of gameplay im at. Love the game 100% nailed michelle on the 2nd date.. (coincidence its the name of my ex. Everyone have fun with that piece of arse).

I bought the limited edition. The keychain is the best momento. Everytime I pull it out Im like "Rockstar!!!"

Safety Deposit box and bag will carry my pistol and mags and ammo.

[Ry]

Nice HaZard!, I too, Tap'd Michelle 2nd date :cool: So, If I ever see you un-locking the door to your car, are you going to be sing'in n dancein to Party like a Rockstar?

[Wolf]

this game bores me now, it was fun for a while.

I think I'm close to finishing the main story, but I've stopped playing it all together.

oh well.

[mattgame]

Dunno what % of gameplay im at. Love the game 100% nailed michelle on the 2nd date.. (coincidence its the name of my ex. Everyone have fun with that piece of arse).



Your Michelle or the games Michelle?