Right now the PAL version (UK version) is officially on the internets and lots of peoples with hack'd up 360 are playing them. The youtube videos are running rampant (real footage now). I expect the NTSC version to drop today (god I hope so). Added my First Impressions: http://forums.thephins.com/showthread.php?p=137089#post137089
It'll probably get pulled soon... But here's gameplay [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2Fpunltwh8[/media]
It shows him jack an Escalade looking SUV. He drives it pretty wildly through the streets hitting some things. The car damage looks excellent (someone needs to tell the Gran Turismo guys that it REALLY adds to a game), and the physics look awesome. The vid overall gives a damn good look at driving.
Cool bro... Next Tuesday can't come any sooner... I've held onto a Circuit City giftcard I got for Christmas to get this
Psyched for this game. I've got some games I have to beat before Tuesday when it comes out, but with the draft this weekend, it's going to be tough.
I have had a GTA Countdown on my iPhone since about last summer, so I refuse to watch the intro that leaked (or anything story related). Too excited to spoil anything before Monday night at 11:59 PM. However, caught some of the free roam videos and it looks ****ing amazing. In one of the videos Niko shoots a cop in the leg and he falls down, then crawls out of the way of gunfire holding his leg. Saw another incident where a ped was shot in the leg and got up, running off with a nasty limp. Niko finished him off with 2 shots to the back. Physics look INCREDIBLE. People are going to be annoyed with how cars handle so realistically, but just wait until you unlock the better neighborhoods. Crappy cars handle like crappy cars, and they did a nice job capturing that.
NTSC version is leaked. I really don't understand pirates. I really don't. You're willing to spend $500 on a new console but you're too cheap and ungrateful to actually buy games for it? Whatever. I'd probably pick up a PS3 just for this game, but I just spent $220 on a PSP and Final Fantasy Tactics.
You mean you're going to have to wait a few hours to indulge in GTA 4 a full four days before the rest of us do? I'll say a prayer for you you poor, poor soul
First Impressions I played for about 4 hours last night. Let's get the easy dumb questions out of the way first: Is it awesome? Yes. Is it fun? Yes. Can you still (insert your favorite GTA action here)? Yes, but you can't fly planes. Now let's try to be more comprehensive. Graphics GTA4 is a pretty game. It's not a spectacular looking game, it's just good looking. The textures are ok at best. But that's ok considering the scale of the game. It seems to run at a smooth 30FPS until a lot of carnage is on screen then it'll chug a little. No big deal. No worse than Saints Row does. One thing is for sure, the game looks great... But not as great as the screen shots in magazines lead you to believe. All of the cut-scenes are done in better detail but still in-game (like Halo3). Over all, the game looks great. When in the helicopter looking down on the city, you can see every thing. Totally awesome. It also does not load between the islands. The details is what makes it shine. All of the cracks on the street. The junk on the floor. The crumbling bricks. The broken glass. Lots of details make the world look real and alive. Control Finally, gun play is actually possible in a GTA game. But it still falls short of Saints Rows scheme. Saints plays like a TPS (basically FPS controls with the guy on screen). In GTA, you need to have a weapon equipped (no biggie) but to bring up the targeting reticule you need to hold the left trigger. It's not a terrible control scheme, but you can't really shoot with out pulling out the reticule. And when it's out, you move sluggy and the camera pans close to an over the shoulder view. Again, better than previous GTA's, but still behind Saints. They've also added this generations favorite new feature. A cover system. Pressing LB while behind something allows Niko to cover Gears of War style. Pressing LT will bring him out of cover to fire. Helpful, but not perfect. A welcome addition if you ask me. Car controls had a major overhaul. Major. No more flying around town doing spectacular stunts in your stolen taxi. Sedans (especially old ones) drive like F'n family cars and sports cars drive like sports cars. Patriots (GTA's Hummer line) drive like sluggish heavy buses, and they all feel great. When you first play this, you will crash a lot before you realize that the driving is a LOT more sim-like then ever before. Feels great though. Once you master the new driving style (it will not feel at home to veteran GTA players), you will enjoy it ten fold. All of your basic GTA control are there. Niko can swim and change clothes, and all of the other side stuff. Controls are solid. Sound This is where GTA (all of them) would get a 10/10. They put so much detail into everything, it's amazing. The car engines all sound unique. The pedestrians seem to have a HUGE library of vocals. there's a ton of radio stations packed to the top with great songs and awesome commercials. The production on this stuff is second to nothing. I won't elaborate on it, because you'll see soon. Lazlo is back. Story You know the deal here. You're Niko Belic. You came from abroad, yadda yadda yadda. It's a very engaging story line. No complaints here. I just don't want to accidentally spoil stuff. Multiplayer Haven't done too much multiplayer. Mostly did party mode. This allows you and friends to roam around the same city causing rampages. There's nothing to do, no missions, and no cops to chase you. Just you guys and a city... This is surprisingly fun. Suck that cops weren't there. I also tried Death Match. This allows the host to select a piece of the city (he picks anything from a few block to the whole city) and you guys fight to the death in it. It's ok, but the broken gun mechanic makes it tough. The Game Read this very carefully... Grand Theft Auto IV does nothing new. It doesn't do anything you haven't seen before. I would actually say that it does quite a bit less than San Andreas. They've removed planes (good reason, there just isn't room) and character customization (loved this about Saints). I do not think this will be game of the year. It's just more GTA. That is not a bad thing. But game of the year need to innovate and do something. This does not (or not yet from what I've played) try anything new. It's just good old proven GTA formula with fixed gun play and next gen graphics. I don't think this will be the do-all end-all game of games people are looking for. It is a phenomenal game. It just isn't new.
Nice review, but wasn't really looking for anything "new" -- GTA will always be GTA. Mor, did you spend much time listening to The Beat Radio Station hosted by DJ Green Lantern? From the few game play videos I've seen, I noticed: Kanye West - Flashing Lights Swizz Beats - Top Down Nas - War Is Necessary I also heard something with Jadakiss & Saigon, but don't know the title. Who else have you heard on there? I think Styles P & Prodigy are also confirmed.
Cool Mor thanks for the review! Sucks there's no character customization like in Saints Row...but thats OK...its not a deal breaker.
pretty much the only station i listen to besides the talk radio (funniest **** ever imo). I heard tracks with everyone you listed except the NAS song. The Saigon track is tough too!
Quick, someone make an "Official GTA IV Launch Thread" and I'll sticky it. I don't wanna be the one to make the thread again
Got it today. By far the best game I've played by far. Mor, the combat system blows Saints Row out of the water, lol. Those ragdoll Saints Row physics are just awful looking. They should invest in Europhia or whatever it's called. These physics are AMAZING.
not the physics bro. the actual controlling of the aiming reticule i better on saints. saints handles like a tps... the reticle is always out and you can be ready to fight. in gta you need to hole the left trigger to bring up the targeting reticule... thats an extra (un needed imo) step in combat.
I don't know, I think it would be more realistic that way. You don't just walk around with your gun out all the time. Plus there is so much more to do than just shoot people in the game. I'm sure that was a big reason for not having it there all the time.
