Grand Theft Auto IV

Reviewed By Our Editors

More than a video game, Grand Theft Auto IV allows the player to delve into the character, the city, its people, the scenes and its complex situations and almost real movements. Developed by Rockstar North, it ups the ante for video gaming. The game is set in a redesigned Liberty City and follows immigrant Niko Belic from Eastern Europe. It offers an online multiplayer mode, which contains 15 different game types.

The game is alive with characters and a myriad of features, including billboards, audio and TV shows. It even has radio stations. The fictional Liberty City has 18 radio stations. Its soundtrack, which ranges from Barry White to Bob Marley, can be heard through radio stations as the player traverses the city. The single-player mode features a variety of game modes, while multiplayer mode offers a generous amount of customization.

The people’s actions, mannerisms and the details of their clothes are remarkable. Developed using Rage game engine, it features procedural animation to control the way the player moves so the movements look more real. The engine also allows NPCs to react in a realistic way very similar to the player's actions. Middleware is also used facilitate elaborate facial expressions and ease the process of including lip-synching.

Grand Theft Auto IV is designed to bring high-definition graphics to a new level. Car chases and fights still play a significant role in the game. The new targeting system allows the player to apply a hard or soft click to trigger or switch between free aim and lock-on. The street chaos have more definition: the sound, people’s reactions and the appearance of the people and cars hit are very detailed. Even if the player is not shooting or chasing someone, the walks around the city and even viewing a TV show in GTA IV is fun. Another unique feature is the weather’s visual effects and audio aspect of every movement, including a crash or stepping on a puddle.

The game is more than an escape, it has a life of its own, and you feel quite lucky to observe the people and marvel at the structures, all while exchanging gunshots with the neighborhood gangsters on the side.

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