GTA IV - First thoughts

I've only played it for an hour or so, but here are some initial thoughts on the game half the male population must be playing this week:

• The stylised - slightly cartoony - graphics are 'interesting'. I'm surprised more hasn't been made of them prior to launch. I think, they are a clever decision - but I'm still getting used to them.
• Eastern European theme - Good. 'Funny' cousin role - Bad.
• Cell phone interaction is carried off very well, its quickly become second nature to use.
• Many other clever interactive interactions with the world (TV, internet etc) make it all the more pervasive and loveable.
• Facial and body animation is much improved, running someone over makes me wince every time.
• Still can't drive (see last point). I'm hoping the loose handling is just a reflection of the cheap cars at the lower levels.
• Much easier to escape from the police. This seems to have come full circle from the first few games, where this was pretty much the point. A 'good thing' i think.
• Great music - hilarious commentary. The British background to the game really does shine through, despite - or even in some way fed by - the US setting.
• Loving the depths to which the city has been characterised, but I do wonder if I'll miss the open spaces of its predecessor.
• Friends and girlfriends acting as go-betweens and needing 'relationship maintenance' seems interesting - hope it doesn't become an annoyance.
• I haven't had a chance to go on-line yet, but the multiplayer possibilities of the sandbox world genuinely get me excited.
• In-context sex, violence and swearing on an 18 certificate game, is much less jarring than the alternative. I hope the certificate (and XBOX's various parental controls) go some way to quelling any media out cry (we can but hope!).

From the short play I've had, its definitely the most engaging XBOX 360 game I've played. I'm itching for another go.

Comments

[Nikki]

I've played it for a few hours too. The poor car handling seems a bit of an issue with every vehicle so I wonder if there's any way to improve that as the game goes on. I like the way you can get thrown out of the window if you hit something hard enough.

As Sir Jimmy used to say, "Clunk Click, Every Trip!"

I agree on the phone interaction, but it's frustrating the multiplayer seems limited to XBox Live. Half the fun would be to play with a friend who is sitting next to you (on the screen, of course!)