A list of the game's raw triumphs and innovations would be too huge for this review but it's in the incidental and unscripted dramas that unfold around you that GTA IV's true genius lies. Of course, as our videogame recreations of real cities become closer to reality, so our expectations rise. It's testament to the game's tight logic and consistency that the spell of immersion is only very rarely broken. Open world games aren't for everyone but even the most hardnosed GTA detractor would struggle to not applaud Rockstar's latest and greatest accomplishments. It is without doubt the best free-roaming game yet released, one whose achievements will undoubtedly cause repercussions throughout the industry for years to come. 5/5