GenieKnows Games Narrowing the field

With Grand Theft Auto IV hitting store shelves tomorrow, I thought I'd compile a list of what game reviewers are saying about Grand Theft Auto IV.

 IGN: 100 IGN GTA IV Review

Grand Theft Auto III was a revolutionary title, one that inspired a whole new generation of 3D action games. Grand Theft Auto IV is just as big a leap forward, though perhaps in subtler ways, and sets a new benchmark for open-world games. Everything in GTA IV works in harmony. The story would be nothing without the city; the city gains realism from the physics engine; the physics compliment the improved AI; the AI would make no sense without the new cover system. And on and on. There is no one major weak aspect.

A "10" is not a score we give out very often. In fact, the last time we gave a 10 to a console game was Soul Calibur in 1999. A 10 doesn't mean a game is perfect -- it means a game is pushing boundaries, expanding a genre, and doing many things to a level so far above and beyond its competitors that they overshadows any flaws. Certainly, GTA IV has some issues, the most noticeable being the occasional flaw in the cover system, but there are many more pieces of GTA IV that are better than anything I've seen from a game in the past decade. We don't give 10s often -- just to games that merit the score.

1up: A+ 1up GTA IV Review

None of these little flaws take away from Liberty City's breathtaking vistas, incredibly varied scenery, and lived-in look (the PS3 version has the slightest visual edge, plus motion-control support -- but then it's missing Achievements and the eventual downloadable episodes exclusive to the 360 game). The city just feels alive. Mosey on foot for just a few minutes and you'll eavesdrop on the cellphone conversations of nearby pedestrians, witness cops arresting other criminals for a change, and even run into the random man on the street who will give you a mission or interact with Niko in some other special way. But more than just feeling alive, everything in this world is so integrated. Want to go on a Crazy Taxi-esque fare chase? Rather than stealing a cab and hitting a button, you borrow one of your cousin's cars and get dispatched. Or go the vigilante route by jacking a cop cruiser and accessing the police database, which clues you in to random crimes and the city's most-wanted list. Even things like stealing high-end cars and joining races happen through logical routes like e-mail and calls to the right people.

GameSpy: 5 Stars GameSpy GTA IV Review

What's most impressive about the game's multiplayer mode is the sheer number of options that are available. The party leader (yes, there's also a very good party system in place) can tweak everything from the weather and the time of day to the pedestrian and traffic density, as well as whether or not you can lock-on to targets or even see their indicators at all. You can really make whatever type of game you'd like, as you've even got the power to set the area in which you can fight to a few city blocks or the whole city itself. Although it may not be the best multiplayer game on the market, it's an absolute blast when the settings are just right.

To be totally honest, it would be very easy to write another 2000-odd words on this game, as we haven't even delved into the hours of television you can watch, the amazingly detailed virtual Internet, the strip clubs that you can visit, the ultra-realistic vehicle physics, and so on. Suffice it to say that Grand Theft Auto IV is a game that could keep anyone busy for a long, long time. Although its got plenty of excellent features, it's ultimately the storytelling that makes it an instant classic, a game unlike any we've played before. As is the case with many great books and movies, you'll want to know what happens to the characters after the game ends, and one can't help hoping that all of their American Dreams comes true. 

Team Xbox: 10 Team Xbox GTA IV Review

Having laid out all these amazing things that Rockstar has achieved in moving its game miles ahead of anything anyone has ever attempted to do in a video game, I’ve barely scratched the surface of what gamers will experience playing through. I haven’t even covered going on dates, watching TV, your friend Brucie, getting on the Internet, the great GPS system or the four-player cooperative missions. There are so many little things, so many great details, so many unexpected random events, that I could write a book and it would just be an incredibly long list of observations. Instead, go play the game for yourself. When you see how Rockstar brought everything together in a perfect storm of video-game design, you’ll think about the score we gave it and you’ll have a hard time disagreeing. I promise.

GamePro: 5.0 GamePro GTA IV Review

PROS:

• It's the best GTA ever, in all ways. If you thought the other GTA titles were impressive, just wait until you get your hands on GTA IV.
• We're serious. In terms of city size, gameplay mechanics, mission types, narrative story and user empowerment, GTA IV is without a doubt the finest distillation of the GTA formula yet.
• In short, the game succeeds on pretty much every level. That's not hyperbole, people: it's fact.

CONS:

• There aren't many things wrong with the game. But if we had to nitpick, the story gets weighed down at points by the introduction of too many characters. You practically need a program to keep track of who's who and what's what.
• The trademark "GTA glitches" also abound. Clipping issues and other wonky behavior will have you either rolling your eyes or laughing your ass off.
• But as far as negatives go, that's about it. Even if there are other problems, you'll be too busy having the time of your life to care.

GameTrailers: 9.8 GameTrailers GTA IV Review

Grand Theft Auto IV is the sex, drugs, and rock and roll of video games. It’s a little less brave and intimidating this time around, but it’s also the most refined and polished game in the franchise’s history. This kind of sheen is generally reserved for titles with a much smaller scope. It’s been one of the marquis games in the industry for years and the addition of a killer multiplayer component puts it over the top. Few games manage to deliver on the hype, but this is one that does.

EuroGamer: 10 EuroGamer GTA IV Review

Otherwise, GTA IV is the 10/10 you were expecting. Almost everything you do in Liberty City would be good enough to drive its own game, and the best parts would be good enough to outrun the competition, but the reason it works so well is that Rockstar has made a game that requires no patience to play. This, as much as its usual coherency and the best script in the series, is what makes GTA IV the best openworld game yet, and why it will take something miraculous to rob it of game of the year status.