Audience Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Binding: Video Game
Brand: Rockstar Games
EAN: 5026555245920
ESRB Age Rating: Adults Only
Label: Rockstar
Manufacturer: Rockstar
Manufacturer Maximum Age: 216 months
Manufacturer Minimum Age: 216 months
MPN: 5026555245920
Platform: Xbox 360
Publisher: Rockstar
Release Date: April 29, 2008
Studio: Rockstar

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Editorial Review:

Amazon.co.uk:
What does the American Dream mean today?

For Niko Bellic, fresh off the boat from Europe, it is the hope he can escape his past. For his cousin, Roman, it is the vision that together they can find fortune in Liberty City, gateway to the land of opportunity. As they slip into debt and are dragged into a criminal underworld by a series of shysters, thieves and sociopaths, they discover that the reality is very different from the dream in a city that worships money and status, and is heaven for those who have them and a living nightmare for those who don't.

Beginning with the 1997 release of the original Grand Theft Auto, the GTA series has been one of the most prolific, controversial and down right entertaining franchises in video games history. This pedigree of success guarantees that the highly anticipated eleventh game in the series, Grand Theft Auto IV, will garner at least as much attention if not more.

Return to Liberty City.

The dream as Niko expected it. View larger.

There's always a catch. View larger.

But some skills are international. View larger.

The Plot
Grand Theft Auto IV is a brand new adventure in the GTA universe following the experiences of Nikolai "Niko" Bellic, a new immigrant from an undisclosed eastern European country whose troubled pa st and the persuasion of his cousin Roman have brought him to the fictional Liberty City. Unfortunately, Niko's search for the American Dream and a much needed fresh start, hits an immediate snag when the rags to riches story Roman spun to pique Niko's interest is exposed as not only a complete fabrication, but a ploy to enlist Niko's well-known skills as a tough guy against the ample list of enemies clamouring for Roman's debt-ridden blood.

Because Roman is the only person Niko knows in Liberty City he begrudgingly accepts his role as Roman's protector despite the deception. But as time goes on Niko comes into his own, and his experience on the wrong side of the tracks proves more valuable than he could have ever imagined as he fights for survival and later supremacy on the crime ridden streets of Liberty City.

Game Environments
Based on several of the boroughs of New York City and parts of New Jersey, Liberty City, familiar to players of previous games in the series, has been entirely redesigned for GTA IV. Players can expect visible detail down to the weeds growing in the cracks in the sidewalk, cars and buildings of visibly different ages and a much greater level if verticality in the buildings and bridges that they are able to explore as Niko moves through the city streets. In addition, pedestrians in GTA IV are much more realistic. No longer simply moving cardboard cut-outs, these NPCs are intelligent, modern, human representations that laugh, cry, eat, drink, use cell phones and ATMs, and talking amongst themselves regardless of Niko's interaction with them.

Gameplay
Historically GTA games have focused heavily on mission-based play, requiring successful completion of fixed tasks in order for players to progress through the game, but this has changed to a great extent in GTA IV. Players will experience an entirely new and exciting emphasis centred on the blending of on-mission and off-mission play, resulting not only in an increased sense of realism, but more interesting and unrestricted gameplay.

Features
Aside from the car jacking and a detailed city environment here are the new features for GTA IV:

• Improved combat system - Now you can use cover and also a target lock system, which allows you to take out targets with greater ease and accuracy. Plus, you can engage in some hand-to-hand combat if you can't get your hands on a piece quick enough.
• Cell phone - Not just for basic phone calls anymore. Use your in-game cell phone to receive missions via SMS, snap photos, and ZiT (tag) songs that can be downloaded exclusively on Amazon.com/mp3.
• Free time - In between missions you can take advantage of "me" time. There are gentleman's clubs, comedy clubs, bowling alleys, and bars, which all house unique activities.
• Take a break from the storyline - A variety of side missions allow you to help run a car service, "borrow" cop cars, assassinate targets, help solve problems for those on the street, or take to the air with stunt jumps that are scattered all over the city.
• Control your own fate - Throughout the game choice moments will arrive causing you to make a decision that will affect relationships and money.

Multiplayer
Give Niko a rest and create your own multiplayer "hero." GTA has added multiplayer modes allowing you to take your creation out to play online in competitive, co-op, and free form modes. Competitive mode has you fighting against the cops, jacking cars, or racing to finish odd jobs. Co-op challenges you and your friends with various tasks including Hangman's NOOSE where you are responsible for escorting a wanted kingpin to a safe extraction point. Freeform lets you and 15 others lose on Liberty City. Use this mode to hit up the bar and play virtual darts versus each other or head out to the streets and set up your own drag races. If you can dream it, you can do it in Freeform mode.

Rating: - Not what i hoped not fun poor music
Well where do i start? I have recently completed this and sold it on very disapointed with rockstar yes good graphics but thats all. Where is the amzing soundtrack in previous titles fun missions customising your character, parachutes, planes, celeb voice overs and humour. The cars handle awfull. I feel cheated just ordered san andreas and gta 1 to lighten up my days- THIS GTA SUCKS BADLY trust me

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Rating: - the best GTA to date
Its simple, if you have played any of the GTA series then this is a must buy.

Its truely a great game, a few bugs but that does not take anything away from it. The protagonist is believable and so is the situation.

You start off as a Russian immigrant to Liberty City who comes over to start a new life with fat cousin. His cousin boasts about all the women, cars and houses he has so you willingly go over to the US but you find out that its loads of rubbish. You decide ... Read More

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Rating: - Takes itself far too seriously, with mediocre graphics
I loved all the previous GTA games, going right back to the very first one on PC! I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one...

When I eventually started playing, I was in awe at the sheer size of this game. There are lots of things you can do - go on dates (queue mini-games), use a mobile phone, wander into various shops, meet friends and of course, steal cars. However, I found myself slowing losing interest as the game progressed and before I completed 20% of the game, I decided that ... Read More

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Rating: - gta 4
i was hugely disappointed by this game because even though it's step forward in graphical terms it's a massive step back in game play and to be honest i just found it all a bit of a chore. the humour you had in 'vice city' has disappeared and the freedom you had in 'san andreas' has been limited to cityscapes and not the rambling countryside you could spend hours exploring away from the main game, overall this game isn't what it should be and i sold my copy after only one playthrough (i still own and ... Read More

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Rating: - Hmmmmm......
I'd rather play San Andreas again than this average game. Considering the power of the Xbox 360 i would say rockstar have hit a reverse gear. GTA IV is absolutley nowhere near the level of playability that SA had. What happened the aim??? GTA always had aiming isues when it came to shooting/killing folk, but with GTA IV the aiming has gone right back to square one. It's hopeless.

The missions are unbelivably samey. I can't really see a huge difference in graphics from previous versions of ... Read More

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