I Finally Played GTA IV...

[Sparky]

I don't like it. they need to evolve. You have GTA 2, Liberty City, Liberty City stories GTA4 and the spin offs all based in liberty city. minus better graphics it's still the same city. it's boring. either make a new one or remake a GTA san andreas.

 

[TheOneBigWill]

What' your guys' opinion on Red Dead Redemption? I thought it was just as good as San Andreas.

Probably because it's a rockstar game, and more or less taken directly from the GTA body, and put into a Western shell.

I played RDR for all of 2 weeks, half of the time was spent in multi-player mode with MK. I enjoyed it for what it was, but it bored me just the same as GTA games have before. I guess I need more out of a game, that's going to offer a better in-depth story.

Again, not to go backwards, but that is one of the reasons I love games like Resident Evil. Every game has a unique story, and yet continues to connect to every other before it.

 

[J-Dogg]

I hated GTA 4 with a passion, now RDR is an awesome game and everything about it was engaging and being able to play as both John and Jack is good, I still think RDR Is one of the best games of 2010, shit even Undead Nightmare was epic. Rockstar made their biggest statement since GTA San Andreas with Red Dead Redemption

 

[Mr. Artistic guy]

There were some things I liked and many things I didn't like. I hate it in game series where they take things away from previous games, especially major things like being able to fly a plane. I mean if it was for the sake of making it realistic GTA doesn't exactly have a track record for it, you run into floating badges to stop police from following you and all of a sudden everyone forgets that you killed 10 officers with a rocket launcher, and it's fine like that.

The thing I disliked most out of anything was the driving game-play, compared to the simple physics of the games before it, driving was so much more fun before it became all realistic and a chore to get around. San Andreas is still the best for me, nothing compares to the well-deserved hype that game got when everyone first played it.

And resident evil 5 is still good, not quite as good as 4 but not very far off. But if nobody here has [played resident evil code veronica X I advise it, it's a game with a complex story and with longevity that is genuinely difficult.

 

[Slyfox696]

GTA IV was absolutely terrible. I bought it when it came out, played probably 40% of it (it's been a while), and then traded it in a couple weeks later.

I've never been a huge fan of the GTA series. San Andreas was okay, I played it until I got to the airplane/helicopter missions (don't remember anymore which it was) and I was terrible at them. And since you couldn't skip those missions, I just quit playing the game completely.

But I was excited to get IV...but it was just awful. I found the only thing I liked about the game was shooting people, but I figured if shooting people was what I was interested in, I might as well trade the game in for Call of Duty. So I did. Haven't regretted it once.


On a side note, Red Dead Redemption is fun (although I haven't beaten it and haven't played for ages), but I can't stand the formula for Rockstar games. It amazes me how a company can put out so many games, and have them all be exactly the same in how you progress through a storyline. They really need to adapt the Elder Scrolls/Fallout style quest system. Or at least something better than they have now.

 

[J-Dogg]

Nothing will beat San Andreas in the GTA series, as it's one of the best games ever made and it's a classic and even now a new age retro game.

 

[JGlass]

I think Rockstar capitalizes on players who want more of a story than original gameplay, Sly, and as crazy as that sounds, it seems to be working. One reason I love the GTA series is because each story is unique and fairly original, and that's probably why I loved GTA 4 the best. It told a story with a truly sympathetic character who had very well defined goals and desires, interesting character development, and very interesting supporting characters. For example, all of Niko's friends can be divided into two categories: optimists and pessimists. I know that seems silly, but the guys in each category are very clearly defined, and Niko's mood and behavior around each group changes. Packie, Dwayne, and Phil are all pessimists and Niko turns into sort of a pillar of support when hanging around with these guys. However, when hanging out with the optimists like Roman, Brucie, and Little Jacob, Niko turns very pessimistic, and sometimes harsh towards his friends with this positive life outlook. The best example of Niko's behavior between the two categories happens during the mission where Roman's apartment and business are burnt down. At first, Roman is freaking out and really angry, and Niko is very apologetic and supportive, but once Roman calms down and starts to cheer up, Niko becomes pessimistic again and starts putting down Roman.

Red Dead Redemption is definitely a better game than GTA 4, though, since it has al' the storytelling/character elements of GTA but with gameplay that is much much better. The cover system isn't as broken, there's no one gun that puts you at a huge advantage over your enemies, and the setting is absolutely beautiful.

 

[.]

I liked some of GTA IV but hated a large portion of it. Alot of the characters were rehashed and most of the levels either felt the same or were. Though some missions were great fun such as the bank robbery oher missions were just completely over the fucking top such as the last mission. Some characters were absolutely hilarious like Brucie and Packie. I laso loved getting hit by cars by just how realistic it was. I spent a large portion of that game jumping in front of fast moving cars.

No no no no no. This game is amazing. Niko Bellic is probably the best video game character ever.

This guy disagrees:

Spoiler

 

[red ass skull muhfukkah]

I honestly liked the Saints Row games better than GTA IV, especially Saints Row 2. They didn't bring anything new but I just had more fun playing them.

 

[Nate DaMac]

I'm not a big gamer. I play Madden, the SvR series, and GTA. I spend maybe 48 hours a year playing video games and this year I'm up to about 3 playing the Ballad Of Gay Tony add on. When I hear everyone talk of these other games that are so much better, it does nothing for me since I've never even heard of any of them. GTA IV is the most fun I've ever had playing a video game.

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

I disagree. Tony Montana is swallowed up in drugs and it makes him lose his mind, while Niko doesn't use drugs and, despite seeking bloodthirsty revenge, manages to keep his sanity. Additionally, Montana seems to have a complete lack of morality, and Niko is easily the most morally complex character in the GTA series.

You're focusing on one aspect of the character while ignoring several other similarities. They're both lowly immigrants chasing the American dream, they both have questionable taste in entertainment (e.g., strip clubs, bars, and cabarets), and they both resort to crime to make their dreams come true (a lot of the crime in GTA IV revolved around drugs, by the way).

Also, morally complex?! Are you serious? Dude is nothing more than a hitman; he kills about 100 people in the game without asking any questions. Just because you have the option on NOT killing a handful of people in the game doesn't make Niko Bellic morally complex.

 

[Ty Burna]

Just sneaking in to give tdigs props for mentioning Yakuza 3. An outstanding game that's actually had me hooked for multiple hours on end and I've barely made a dent in the story yet.

 

[Y-2-Jay]

Resident Evil 5 was shit compared to the original survival horror games but still 5 was a good "Action" game with a great Resident Evil storyline but in no way can be called a survival horror game. Dead Rising is underrated as fuck and needs more praise.

GTA IV lacked fun. it took a serious route this time which means get haircuts, go to the gym, go to the casino, get a plane, get a train, jetpacks, parachutes and other fun things was taken out from San Andreas and thus the fun was lacking so much. The missions also was the fucking same thing all the time "Go shoot this guy" "Give this guy a package" "Chase this car" "Pick this guy up" while San Andreas had missions like this but also fun and diffrent ones like "Burn this guys weed" "Rob this house" for example. The story was boring too but the open world was great it was so big which was a good positive from the game.

I think Ballad Of Gay Tony does not get the justice it deserves it brings back the fun from San Andreas by giving us parachutes, going to clubs, fun missions, club managment and you can get a big tank. Step up from GTA IV but i don't think everyone knows how great it is compared to GTA IV.

 

[JGlass]

You're focusing on one aspect of the character while ignoring several other similarities. They're both lowly immigrants chasing the American dream, they both have questionable taste in entertainment (e.g., strip clubs, bars, and cabarets), and they both resort to crime to make their dreams come true (a lot of the crime in GTA IV revolved around drugs, by the way).

That's true, but Niko never really felt good about pedaling drugs, and it was not his choice of making money. Also, Niko doesn't like being a criminal to make money, and towards the end of the game he talks about how he'd want to move out of Liberty City and start a new life.

The story is that of moving to America and trying to achieve the "American dream." He wants to live in a penthouse apartment, drive a sports car, and have a girlfriend with big fake tits, but in order to achieve this dream one needs lots of money, and money is hard to come by for an immigrant with no skills to come by. Niko turns to the one thing he's good at to make the money to help he and his cousin achieve the American dream, and that's criminal enterprises.

Also, morally complex?! Are you serious? Dude is nothing more than a hitman; he kills about 100 people in the game without asking any questions. Just because you have the option on NOT killing a handful of people in the game doesn't make Niko Bellic morally complex.

Actually, Niko protests killing people at many points throughout the game, and he seems to generally want to avoid killing people when he can. Keep in mind, it's hard to make a GTA style game without having a few missions where you kill everyone in sight, but when it comes to killing individuals, Niko seems generally against it. Also, you have to remember he was a soldier during the Yugoslavian civil war (I think it was that war), so he's basically trained to kill and not care about it.


Also, I think The Lost and the Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony help make the series complete. TLAD is an AMAZING story, and TBOGT is funny and the gameplay is awesome.

 

[TSG]

I like GTA IV but I've never played any other GTA games or Red Dead Redemption or any others. I may have to try RDR and San Andreas.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

JKO reference. Awesome.

ftw

 

[Arkham Noir]

GTA IV was O.K., but it isn't my personal style of game. I never managed to finished it because my save file kept fucking up on me and I had to keep starting from the same damn mission, but what I did play was only moderatly entertaining.

 

[Mr. Artistic guy]

I like GTA IV but I've never played any other GTA games or Red Dead Redemption or any others. I may have to try RDR and San Andreas.

I guarantee you will hate any previous GTA games. They'll feel like they were made in prehistoric times compared to the gameplay of IV.


Also kudos to whoever mentioned kazuma kiryu, guy is a fucking beast.

 

[Sully]

You gotta remember this game was released in 2008, and in my opinion it was a fantastic game. Any game by Rockstar hit's the roof. The only game on your list that I played is Resident Evil 5, and I pretty much have the same views on it, as you had on GTA 4, if not exactly the same.

I enjoyed it, but I only played it once, that is also a old game though. I really don't like that unrealistic stuff. Don't get me wrong, running around getting shot at 50 times isn't exactly realistic, but I mean like...the alien/monster stuff. I don't exactly like games that go out of reality like that.

Which is a huge reason why I believe Rockstar is one of the best developers out there, apart from the RDR zombie downloadable pack (which I will admit, was pretty fun playing).

 

[LigerBomb]

RE5> re4. Also had a great storyline that when you think back to the original made sense and really came full circle. The DLC was awesome to boot. Lost in Nightmares was a great trip back to the past and Desperate Escape was just run (stop) and gun fun.

 

[Sully]

I think Rockstar capitalizes on players who want more of a story than original gameplay,

You hit the nail on the head. I mentioned it back in my RDR that I love the game, because it feels like I'm watching I movie.

The last 3 times I played it (I played the original GTA 4 storyline about 12 times, then the two DLCs about 2-3 times. I won't say how many times I played any other previous GTA, as it's uncountable. Except the spin offs, I think I played Vice City stories (Highly under-rated, a fantastic storyline, taking the role of Lance Vance Dance's brother), about twice, and I never finished Liberty City stories, I hated that..never finished it. The one thing I hate about GTA 4 is the location, they need a new location, and that's the HUGE problem).

But anyways, got sidetracked there, the last 3 times I played it, I'd buy all the suits (without the ties) then buy the sunglasses in the Russian shop, looks like a Michael Weston sort of attire, and I walk 'round Liberty City feeling like Michael Weston, and I love Michael Weston. How many months till Burn Notice btw?

You're focusing on one aspect of the character while ignoring several other similarities. They're both lowly immigrants chasing the American dream, they both have questionable taste in entertainment (e.g., strip clubs, bars, and cabarets), and they both resort to crime to make their dreams come true (a lot of the crime in GTA IV revolved around drugs, by the way).

Also, morally complex?! Are you serious? Dude is nothing more than a hitman; he kills about 100 people in the game without asking any questions. Just because you have the option on NOT killing a handful of people in the game doesn't make Niko Bellic morally complex.

As Jglass said, Niko does not enjoy dealing with any drugs..in fact...occasionally he's even reluctant to kill. But that has to be the character of the game, that's the gimmick..sure it's somewhat repetitive, but Rockstar in my opinion does a good job of explaining why they're like that.

Niko was a Russian War Vet, he killed people for a living, plus he was betrayed. He had anger in him, and he was willing to do whatever it took to get revenge, thus..giving him the motivation to kill.


I think all, ALL characters in the GTA series do not like handling drugs. I'm not sure about Clyde, I honestly never played GTA 3...and Tommy....Tommy may be the only one..but being a former mafia member, his character allows that. CJ's character, and his brother based their gang on being drug free..in fact..a huge part of the storyline is about their gang falling about due to drugs. Lance's brother hated Drugs, but like Niko..he was forced to get into the situation of dealing them to get farther in his situation.



I think this game is great, and I'm not sure where your arguments are coming from with characters or missions. There are some cool missions in this game...and in fact...one of the most repetitive is your favorite (and I'll admit, mine too) The bank robbery. Look back...there is pretty much a bank robbery in every GTA game. And even if the missions were a little stale, they made up for it in the DLCs, Ballad of Gay tony had the funnest missions, they took more of a SA approach, but GTA took more of a mafia type of thing..as if you were watching a movie.


I'm reading for their game coming out in May (they're just publishing it, but it still looks awesome), and their game Agent (check my post in Video game's section) As I've said, I am a huge fan of R* and their work, I'll pretty much buy anything they make, and play it about a thousand times after that.

 

[J-Dogg]

No matter what Rockstar is one oft he best game companies in the world, along with THQ, EA and a couple of others even Ubisoft. I admit GTA IV did have some good pointst hough i hated the majority of it....because of lack of gameplay.

 

[Phoenix]

GTA IV was one of two games I got with my Xbox as I thought it would be something to easily get into, or at least having something familiar with. After about a week, I pretty haven't played it since, the major problem with GTA IV is that it's heavily repetitive and while all those extra features were nice, you just only want to do them once and that's about it, but mission wise it was always chase after chase after chase with cars that had very poor handling. Effectively, they tried to build the game up on the point about the achievements/trophies but it fails here because there was nothing interesting. I highly doubt I'll ever finish it which is a shame given I've played some very crap games to the finish or continue to try and complete games I have never finished, GTA IV is the first to do neither for me.

 

[Y-2-Jay]

Talking of Rockstar anyone seen L.A Noire that shit looks fucking awesome.

 

[Dave]

GTA IV was one of two games I got with my Xbox as I thought it would be something to easily get into, or at least having something familiar with. After about a week, I pretty haven't played it since, the major problem with GTA IV is that it's heavily repetitive and while all those extra features were nice, you just only want to do them once and that's about it, but mission wise it was always chase after chase after chase with cars that had very poor handling. Effectively, they tried to build the game up on the point about the achievements/trophies but it fails here because there was nothing interesting. I highly doubt I'll ever finish it which is a shame given I've played some very crap games to the finish or continue to try and complete games I have never finished, GTA IV is the first to do neither for me.

I still haven't finished it and I have had it since day one.

Challenge accepted!