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Home : Games : Reviews : Xbox 360 : Grand Theft Auto IV
Welcome to Liberty City. Come and make yourself at home.
Review written by James Pikover, Mitch Saltzman and Bobby Stein.
What is art? Is it what we define as beautiful, as adventurous, or simply what strikes an emotional connection with the viewer? For videogame critics, it's been a long and difficult road to find something worth considering as art. They are gems, which are hard to find and must be refined to make valuable. Grand Theft Auto IV is exactly that.
From the opening credits it's clear that this is no ordinary game. The highly cinematic introduction elicits a sense of professionalism, entertainment and familiarity that follows through the rest of the title at every twist and turn. From those credits alone one can determine exactly how the game will play out. Perhaps not the story, but the expression of life that emanates through the controller.
Niko Bellic is the protagonist whom we cheer for at every moment and play as between the exquisite cinematics, all of which are shown exceptionally with the Rage engine. As with the GTA III games, the graphics are good enough to applaud and be amazed that the engine fits with the volumes of content, but alone is nothing special. It was more than pleasing to read expressions on character's faces, the scar over Niko's eye and unfortunate haircuts found throughout the city.
This level of detail is found everywhere in Liberty City, be it the small cockroach-ridden apartment Niko finds himself in, his first 'full-time job' at his cousin Roman's Taxi company, or his first date. What's amazing is that all of this can be determined within the first hour of gameplay.
That first hour sets the story up for players, which is incredibly in-depth, reminiscent of the most exceptional RPGs and adventure titles. As soon as that hour ends, the "sandbox" element that we've come to understand so well kicks in. It's at that point that the city truly comes to life, and where developer Rockstar Games introduces us to the real main character of GTA IV: Liberty City.
Liberty City has something for everyone: you can go bowling, watch a show, buy clothes, go to a bar and get a drink, or take a taxi ride around town. These small, real life activities aren't exceptionally fun or valuable, but they add to the city remarkably. Niko is even given a cell phone to receive text messages, make and take phone calls and store contacts. When one can call the police during a firefight for them to intervene, it becomes quite clear that this city is unmistakable. It breathes as much as Niko does.
As has been said by others, sandbox is the closest term to describe every other genre combined in one. Yet within the first hours of gameplay, gamers can do things no other game or any other form of virtual entertainment has offered. There is a level of design and magnificence that belies what's considered a bloody, gruesome game. Yet in life, we are all afforded the opportunity for tremendous good and evil. Should the same not be said about art?
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