Geeks ‘n Games

I’m going to get right to the point with this game: After all the hype and controversy surrounding this highly anticipated title, THIS GAME DELIVERS. I’m not even sure how to describe the insane amount of detail contained within one disc. Rockstar must have elves on their developing team or something, seriously. Kudos to them for being able to deliver with such high expectations weighing down on their shoulders. Anyway, let’s break this game down.

Graphics. What everyone already knows and expects is that this game has, by far, the most graphic detail of all the Grand Theft Auto titles. What I was not expecting was to be blown away at the grand scale and level of detail contained within this game. I was told by some ‘insiders’ from GameStop that it would take five hours to drive across liberty city. I’m going to have to believe them, since I know I don’t have the time to test that claim. But back to the graphics. Not the greatest graphics of all time, but for an open-ended, free roaming game, GTA IV has graphics that will drop your jaws to the floor.

Gameplay. Pretty much the same old GTA gameplay mechanics that drive the previous installments, but with some significantly cool additions, like shooting while driving, taking cover, and… a cell phone? Check this out: the cell phone is used as an in-game menu you can use to access multiplayer modes, and “call” your friends who are also playing GTA IV!

Multiplayer! Finally GTA gets the multiplayer action that next-gen games demand! You can hop online with up to 16 of your friends and spend countless hours just cruising the city and destroying each other, or you can enter one of the 16 multiplayer modes offered, such as cops and robbers, or GTA race.

I’ll go ahead and touch a bit on the sound of the game. The Grand Theft Auto series has never been lacking on sound quality and effects. GTA IV carries this tradition, sounding freakin’ badass on Dolby Digital 5.1. The sounds of Liberty City will easily provide the immersive ambience that will keep you hopelessly hooked on this game (just don’t forget about the real world while you’re tackling the objectives in the game world!).

To wrap this up, I want to mention the packaging for the Grand Theft Auto IV Special Edition, which I was weak enough to dish out for. BEST SPECIAL EDITION PACKAGING FOR A VIDEO GAME EVER. Master Chief’s helmet doesn’t even touch the awesomeness that is the metal lockbox that you can actually stash stuff in. Inside the metal lockbox, you’ll find the game, a rockstar dufflebag, an art book, a cd with some of the featured music of GTA IV, and two keys for the lockbox. See for yourself:

No, it does NOT come with the strategy guide. Sadly, I purchased it out of my own weak will and curiosity after glancing over it and realizing the ridiculous scale of this game. Hell, I dished out for the special edition, might as well go all-out, right?

On a scale from 1-10, in my opinion this ranks at about 9.5. Just go buy it. This one is easily a contender for Game of The Year. (Even though I’m pretty dead set on Fallout 3 taking the cake this year, but that’s a different game and a different time…)