Grand Theft Auto IV: New Preview from OPM UK + World Exclusive First Review Next Issue

Official PlayStation Magazine UK was released today, it contained a new 14 page preview of GTA IV but htere were no new screenshots in this preview, but there were better resolution versions of screenshots that featured in previous magazines (All Available here) and these extra details.

Francis McReary has criminal relatives

Stay on the right side of Bruce's behaviour and he'll eventually let you use his chopper.

Niko's contacts will call him 24/7, either to offer work or just wanting to
1. meet up and go play pool, darts or bowling
2. go to comedy or strip clubs
3. if it's business , then smuggling contraband to the docks
4. betrayal is never far away.
5. Just get drunk Niko and Roman go into a n ex-pat bar called Comrades and the screen goes black, then Niko and Roman stagger out slurrin g their words and laughing.
6. Getting into the car while drunk is a task and a half, the camera lurches and the controls become hobbled.

If Niko's gets capped, the screen will go black and white, he wakes up at the nearest hospital , wallet lighter but without losing his weapons.

Hold L1 and Niko smashes out the driver's side window with his 9mm, then a crosshair appears, enabling Niko to shoot forwards.

If you fail a mission, you don't have to drive back to the start , instead, your contact will text your mobile asking if you want to try again.

Passengers will suggest listening to the radio rather than talking

Sat Nav system confirmed, a coloured line appears on the mini map guiding Niko to his next objective or a waypoint that you've set on the main map screen. Make a wrong turn and it reacts quickly, redrawing the route without any fuss.

Fanicer cars even have a voice on the sat nav to read out the directions for you.

Missions now auto-save when completed.

Bonus features include Little Jacob letting giving you cut-price weaponary

Other Bonus features include Roman letting you use his taxi service

Playboy X has a penthouse loft in North Alderney.

Brucie's past includes military service and time in prison.

Playboy X's mentor is called Dwayne and he is fresh out of prison.

Niko's mobile can also play music

Hold L2 Button to snap to the nearest bit of cover.

Square Button handles blocking attacks.

Pull the pins out of grenades with L2 Button

Press R2 to drop grenades out of vehicle windows.

One of Niko's targets is called Lyle Rivas, he is at 99 Long Road.

You can punch the address into the GPS and it calculates it for you.

The magazine re-confirms that there are 18 radio stations in GTA IV

NOTE: While in the thread it isn't mentioned, it has been said that there is a coverfold saying that OPM will have the world exclusive first review of the game in their next issue, out April 19th.

[Spike47]

cool thing that when u are drunk you risk crashing.

though you can always get out of the car and steal another one.

Atleast GTA4 teaches not to drink and drive

[skynidas]

I predict a 10/10 to this game....52 days left!!!!!!!!!!!

[spandexxking]

yeeeaah boy!

[vloeistof]

omg this cant come soon enough

[SUP3R]

Impressive features.
I like the GPS system, especially the talking one.
I wonder if it says it like, "turn left on Rogers Rd" or just "make left turn"
Either way, I WANT THIS GAME!!!!

[whoelse]

Very good small additions like mission auto-save, mission restart and not losing your weapons while you die.

Cant wait!

[Premonition]

Cant waitttttt, and the stories that will be posted in forums about what has happened in their game since playing will be fun to read :)

[Audiggity]

This game is going to redefine just about everything aside from RTS games and (flatlining) sports games - except for 'Backbreaker' which ironically uses the same technology.

I find it disturbing that so many people out there think this is going to just be a GTA III clone with better graphics. They tend to be myopic, and generally stupid people however - which backs up our case even more. The same people that like to play through linear, boring RPG's tend to think that all sandbox games are the same. Ironic just how close-minded and idiotic they are.

Makes you wonder why certain people are even allowed to have opinions, let alone children... or the ability to vote.

GTA IV will flip the industry on it's ear and procede to make beast-love to it. Those without the foresight to understand the significance should not be allowed to call themselves gamers. As they are limiting the progress and evolution of the industry. They should be forced to give their systems to intelligent humans that are unable to afford a next-gen system.

[mr_potato]

Im going to disagree with you i love RPG and dont mind if their linear or not so long the story is good and the gameplay is good. And i still love GTA4 and i think it will be the biggest game this year expect for SC2 if it's realesed.

I have no problems with you loving the game and showing it but dont insult another genre cause that makes you look like the idiot who is closed minded.

[RecSpec]

GTA just isn't my thing. I played the hell out of 3, some of Vice City, and barely scratched the surface of San Andreas. I see why people like this kind of game, I'm just not one of them. Does that make me myopic as you say? There is no such game that can please everyone, everybody who dislikes a game has their reasons. GTA just doesn't appeal to me, does that mean I am a threat to the industry, of course not. In fact people who DON'T like the game have their place too. What is one of the first questions people ask when designing a sequel? How do we draw new fans in?

GTA IV is a mere video game, one that will fade into the abyss of history in a few years. Although it does have the makings of a great game, that doesn't mean I have to like it.

[Audiggity]

I wasn't saying that ANYONE that likes any other genre is an idiot. I was obviously referring to the people who talk down on GTA... not even for the game itself. Love it or hate it, Rockstar is doing something differently.

Both of you agree that the game is going to be good, whether or not either of you like it. The point is: You aren't chalking it up to the "same thing" or a "clone" like many others have.

Linear games have their place - I still play them. I was ranting about people who downplay innovation (Euphoria, DMM, integration of physics).

Disagree all you want to - doesn't matter to me. I wasn't referring to anyone who likes RPG's... just anyone that insults or ignores innovation.

[RecSpec]

GTA4 is an evolution, not a revolution. Keep in mind that isn't necessarily negative.

Unless someone would like to let me know what is so revolutionary about it, because with the 5000+ GTA stories out there, I can't read every single one. I really want to get excited for this game, but I just can't.

[mr_potato]

Well the thing that is exiting is those 10 000 preview you are gonna be able to do thing you have never done. You can drink and drive and you fell dizzy. People in the street are gonna have emotions, there seems to be a bigger story, a cover system, no more run and gun gameplay(altough i loved it), real car physics, alot more things to do on your free time, relationships that have an impact on gameplay.

It's groundbraking for the gta franchise. But if you didn't like the previous instalements you probably won't like this one.

[Audiggity]

No revolution here, you're right.

What makes it different enough to care about? My prediction is Euphoria. No prescripted animation... beyond that, everyone in the game has the inherent sense of self-preservation.

My prediction that this game will be amazing really has little to do with GTA itself, more to do with the engine. The fact that this engine is being coupled with GTA is the kicker.

Hell, if it was a Disney game about clouds and marshmellow soldiers using Euphoria it would have a good chance of being just as evolutionary. But instead of dancing for rainbow points, you get to watch people hold on to ledges before stepping on their hands and watching them fall 60 stories into a crowd of pedestrians.

[Official General]

I really dont understand people like you. You "played the hell out of GTA III and some of Vice City", but you still claim not to like the GTA series. Alright - GTA 4 is clearly evolution not revolution, but so what? Whats your point? Even if you had one it would'nt matter much, as most GTA fans dont care about the game being a so-called "revolution". They just want a much improved GTA title with the same formula on a next-gen console thats much bigger and better than the previous last-gen installments in terms of detail, size, features, action, storyline, gameplay, graphics etc. GTA 4 seems so far to have evolved the series into just those things and in addition, it just looks so damn impressive and stunning. Do we GTA fans care wether GTA 4 will fade into the abyss of history? Most likely, NO. Do we care it's a great game that will give us thorough enjoyment that we'd love play again and again? Definitely YES. So you dont have to make totally irrelevant statements, they are not needed here. And if you dont like the GTA games then I wonder why you are even here discussing it. I know you are free to voice an opinion, but why waste your time on a subject about a game that you have no interest in? If you dont like GTA thats fine, but nobody forced you to like it or talk about it and I dont why you feel have to open your mouth on the subject. If you dont like what you see here....then GET DA F**K OUT!!

PS: Explain that fact that GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas are still taked about today YEARS after they came out, GTA positioned as one of the BEST-SELLING video game franchises of all time, and the series certified cult-status in gaming history - what makes you think GTA 4 (considering the major hype surrounding it) is so different that it will simply just dissapear into history? I really think you need to stop making silly and irrelevant statements.

[realistgamer]

omg thats baddass can't freakin wait!