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| From: Rockstar Games
Category: Video Games
List Price: $59.99
Buy Used: $21.99
You Save: $38.00 (63%)
New (61) Used (102) Collectible (1) from $21.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  265 reviews
Sales Rank: 207
Platform: Xbox 360
ESRB: Mature
Media: Video Game
Edition: Standard
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Age: 17 - 20 years
Operating System: Xbox 360
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 0.1 x 0.1 x 0
MPN: 39012
UPC: 710425390128
EAN: 0710425392320
ASIN: B000FRU1UM
Release Date: April 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Complete with original disc(s), case, and manual. In stock and ships today.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Finally a GTA that I might finish. April 30, 2008
6 out of 9 found this review helpful
It's been 4 years since the last GTA game was out, which was GTA San Andreas. I have never been a huge fan of the GTA series. I did like San Andreas but I never did finish it or ever get super deep into it. I barely played Vice City or GTA 3 even though I owned both and was very excited to play them. Now the series has made into the current, formerly known as next, gen and boy is this what the GTA series needed.
I could always tell that GTA series was a great series, but it was very limited by the hardware of that generation (PS2 and XBOX), but with this iteration of GTA, it seems like all those great ideas are finally coming together in a package that is truly an experience.
I won't bore you with the details or story and it's character, Niko, since those have been gone over again and again. What I will tell you are my impressions of this stellar game.
As exaggerated a statement as this may seem, Liberty City does have a living, breathing feel to it. People live there lives in this city. It doesn't feel like Niko's world. In one of my first interesting experiences in the game, I was walking to meet my cousin Roman at his job, and while I was walking a car accident happened which started a fight between 2 women. One of the women ran right by me scared out of her mind, while the other just chased her screaming obscenities. In another instance I was sitting in a car just listening to the radio( I was in a slow jams mood, aka Jodeci) and all of a sudden a cop car stops right next to me. I didn't know what to think. As I was a about to speed off I heard "Freeze!" I was confused at first and then as I looked around I saw a man with his hands in the air being escorted into the police car next to me. That's just some sweet attention to detail that can leave you in awe at times.
The attention to detail in this game is spectacular with tv stations that can be watched (set aside some time to watch tv in this game. You just might lose an hour or more on that), radio stations with actual DJ's and licensed music (A GTA staple and realistic touch. Song choice is great but the songs can get repetitive), and the good ol internet.
The internet is a nice touch since you try and can set up dates via an online dating service (which doesn't seem to be useful seem I was rejected by all 3 women I asked out on dates.) or just read up on news stories around Liberty City and check out blogs.
The graphics are a sight to see. The animation system in this game is really something that needs to be seen. In one instance I stole someones car and as I got in the car, the person who I stole the car from grabbed the door handle trying to re-enter his car. Needless to say I decided to drive off before he had a chance to get back in, but the guy held onto the door handle banging against the side of the car as I sped off. After a few swivels he let go, ragdolling into a ball of broken man. Wow. The game runs reasonably smooth, with a few hiccups here and there and the scenery is great.
The fighting system is a much improved version of the old GTA system. You can still lock on to enemies(which by default locks on to the body), but now you can move the cursor up, down and to the side while locked on. This helps when trying to take down a single enemy with a head shot. You can also free aim which is conventional shooter style. This is done by gently pressing the Left trigger rather than pressing it completely which goes into lock on mode. The melee system is fun, though not very deep. There is not much variety to the kicks and punches, that I have seen as of yet, but when it's a street fight I'm not expecting MMA style grapples or anything, so it serves its purpose. The Blind fire system is also a nice new addition to the GTA series. RB is the button to enter cover. In cover, you can pop out and shoot enemies that are locked on to with the Right Trigger or you can blind fire by Pressing Right Trigger when behind cover. I haven't used the cover feature too much, but I do appreciate that it's there.
The voice work done for this game, as you would expect, is top notch. Rockstar always comes through with solid voice acting and writing for the GTA series and this game is no exception. The accents are fantastic, especially the barely distinguishable Little Jacob. The humor is what you would expect from the GTA series, raunchy and full of 4 letter words. This is definitely a M-Rated game.
The writing also seems to be some of the best Rockstar has done to date. This game is trying to show the demons that the main character Niko is dealing with and this can be seen and heard in the dialogue amongst the characters which happens via cell phone conversations, cutscenes or "hang out time" with certain characters.
The cell phone is also a big addition to the GTA series. It not only helps Niko manage his relationships amongst all of his associates, lady friends(hehe) and cousin Roman, but it also helps him get jobs from his his associates/cousin or set up times to hang out with these people. It's funny to get calls from Roman in the middle of an explosives delivery. Good times.
All in all I could go on and on about how great this game is and about all the things that can be done and seen in this game, but it's really something you have to try out and experience for yourself. This is definitely the best game in the GTA series. Give it a shot. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
Best GTA ever April 30, 2008
3 out of 9 found this review helpful
This Game is Incredible...I've played about 10 hours over the last couple days...The story/missions/characters are all top notch, The city is huge and just fun to drive around, kill anything in site, bang hookers, ya know its GTA! With a whole Redefined engine...Great graphics/Physics...If you live or know anything about NYC, you know it looks EXACTLY like it with it's own twists and turns. Better then 3, 100 times better then San Andreas and Up there with Vice City.
Worth the $60.00 - Pros and Cons April 30, 2008
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
Picked up my reserved copy yesterday after work. I spent a few hours playing it last night when my wife was out doing the shopping. So far so good. The graphics are dramatically improved, and the attention to detail in every single pedestrian is excellent. Taking into consideration that I'm only 10% into the game, this might be premature, but here are a few pros and cons:
Pros:
- Massive playing territory.
- Excellent visuals.
- Interesting approaches to new interfaces (using the cell phone, using the internet, etc).
- Variety in vehicles.
- More realism in the AI modeling and behaviors.
- Nice multiplayer.
Cons:
- Graphics aren't up to COD 4 caliber (understandably for the geographic size of GTA IV).
- Difficult to understand the over emphasized accents.
- Sub-par vehicle handling model.
- Very difficult achievement points (XBox 360 only).
All said and done, the game leaves me wanting to play more. It's worth a purchase and I'm sure to enjoy playing through it.
Update September 26, 2008
While I have not major beefs against GTA IV, the only real annoyance I have with the game is how absolutely massive it is. For some, this might be a good thing. For others, such as myself, who are casual gamers, this can be annoying and frustrating. This last week I picked up the game for one hour of playing. I was only able to accomplish one small mission in that time frame due to the size and depth of the game. During that one hour period, I drove across two islands, had to out-run the police twice, was killed trying to beat the mission once, and in the end, finished just one, fairly basic mission.
I am a very, very, very casual, social gamer. I don't have time to sit with a game for hours on end. If you're like me, and you're time is limited, GTA IV might be a better rental - you'll enjoy the graphics, you'll enjoy the open environment, you'll enjoy the new options.
GTA4 is the new Gold Standard for video games April 30, 2008
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
From the moment the title screens starts rolling, you are automatically drawn into the world of Liberty City. The plight of Niko unfolds much like most other GTA games, but you'll soon find that the subtle differences make this game great beyond comparison. From being able to pick up small items you find, to knocking over trash cans, to noticing that no two peds wear the same outfit, you'll understand just how much work went into making this game as close to a real city as gaming has thus provided.
Having tons and tons of vehicles around town to "borrow" doesn't hurt either. Each with very accurate physics and details, you can lose yourself in just driving around for hours at a time. The radio stations are just too cool, and still provide long play lists before looping. A game with little else other than driving with great tunes would be worth the price.
The missions are as plentiful as the characters you meet, and constructed just as well. I can't say enough good things about this game.
The playtime value is more than enough to earn this game high rankings, but the Rockstar team only settled for, dare I say, perfection.
Fun but VERY vulgar! April 30, 2008
8 out of 22 found this review helpful
I have only played this game for about 5 hours so far. In that time I have heard - in one form or another - the "f-word" used so many times that it reminds me of the Beverly Hills Cop movies with Eddie Murphy.
Even pedestrians will pop-off the "f-word" at you.
For me, this is a turn off.
To me, the creators of the game either were not or are not "creative" enough to design a "hectic" storyline without the use of a boatload of profanity to "beef" it up. I prefer a "smart" story-line, such as Prison Break or Lost. And I can't remember hearing a curse-word on either of those shows.
Even in very disturbing games like Bioshock or in epics like Mass Effect, I can't remember a single line of curse in either one. And they were some of the best games I have ever played.
This means that it can be done without cursing and sexual inuendoes, but GTA is still as dirty and vulgar as ever...in fact I think it is getting close to being the most obscene piece of entertainment that I have ever watched or played. (Kane & Lynch was pretty bad too, but nothing was really sexual)
Parents beware. I would not let my kids (if I had any) play this game until they were at least 18.
GTA has always been borderline on being too vulgar for my tastes, but I still think that San Andreas is the best in the series. I believe that that game was a lot less obscene than GTA4.
So I guess what I am saying is that I would be careful while playing this game because it could influence you in ways that you might not desire. It could make you think that cursing is ok, sex is just some wild game to play whenever and however you like, and that getting away with aweful crimes is as simple as outrunning the circular proximity zone on your map (you might be surprised).
With all this said, I have to add that the game is a blast as always is the case with a GTA game. I just wish that they could put out an "edited" version of the game that has all the words bleeped out and sexual suggestions watered-down. All this coming from a 24 years old.
I'll also add that this time around, the storyline really makes you care for the characters more than in other attempts. If you can get past all of the cursing, killing, and sexual stuff, there is a pretty good story packed into the game. I guess this is why I continue to play the game; that and the fact that the city looks amazingly real, the cars handle more realistically, and it is fun just to drive around and play the minigames like pool, bowling, and darts.
Still, I do miss the RPG-like element that San Andreas had (lifting weights, running, ect). I guess this is why I liked that game better than the new one, although GTA4 does have and tell the best story of them all.
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