Who had the Guts to Criticise GTA IV?

Gameplayer's regular Quotes of the Week article includes a round-up of some of the less positive things said about GTA IV.

"GTA IV dropped this week, and consumer sanity took a long walk off a short pier. There was that guy who got stabbed in England, and in America several UPS couriers were busted nicking copies of the game from their shipments. Ben Kuchera of Ars Technica interviewed an anonymous UPS employee tasked with the job of detecting and punishing this petty theft: "

[HighDefinition]

Horny Melon and PSWII60, that`s who. LOL.

Funny stuff, that`s this pops up right after.

[JsonHenry]

I do. The game is nothing more than GTA 3 with prettier graphics and a half assed online mode.

[rucky]

Yahtzee that's who.

[CRIMS0N_W0LF]

I do.

I rate GTA 7.5/10

[princejb134]

i agree ill rate it 8.2/10
i was expecting a blow-out something amazing but playing it made me realize not much has changed

[AllroundGamer]

my final score 7/10, and i have 85% completed, 40 hours played totally. Finished Vice city and SA, and i think, that why should GTA4 get so high ratings when there isn't even half of the features there from the olders GTA parts... 100 mil $ game and probably 50 mil $ went to marketing alone (reviewers checks included). GTA RIP

[HighDefinition]

Nothing better this gen so far as a "total package". The only thing that pisses me off is losing a few features from GTA:SA, being on the 360 definitly caused that problem, having to fit this game on a DVD. Either way, it`s a GREAT GREAT game and better than anything out. It also does alot of thing differently, go play GTA3,VC or SA. I put SA in last night, BIG DIFFERENCE.

[Silellak]

I don't agree that "being on the 360 caused that problem". Time and money limitations caused the problem. It's not like sticking GTA4 on a Blu-ray disc would magically give Rockstar more time and money to add to it.

When you create an entirely new engine, features from the old engine have to get cut.

I would much rather have the vastly, VASTLY improved combat system and the incredible multiplayer over the features missing from San Andreas.

[power of Green]

Who had the guts to tell the truth about the differences of each version risking all by upsetting the Playstation community.

[Jack Meahoffer]

trying to get hits to their website.

For all the pre-release "warmer colors" and "less pop up" talk from Sony fanboys now they've all eaten their words when their version doesn't even F'ing work and doesn't run in HD.

Sony fanboys have been totally owned by bad news after bad news lately. First Home is MIA. Probably won't even come out til the end of this console cyle if ever... MGSO beta massively shat the bed now GTA IV is broken offline and online. This after COD4, R6V2 and Team Fortress 2 all came out with broken online... But its the developers fault right? Couldn't be Sony's fault for settting up a crap service.

Poor Sony fanboys butt hurt and attacking GTA IV. WAAAAAH! Lost your exclusive game, have a 10 minute mandatory installation, single player locks up randomly and multiplayer locks up when more than 3 people are connected.

[Stubacca]

I have the PS3 version. I have a huge mutherf*cker of a TV and didn't have any graphical issues whatsoever. It's a beautiful game and a great start on the new GTA franchise. However, I have my moans.

My major issues with GTAIV are:
1. You can't climb poles like they said you would be able to.
2. Climbing buildings/reaching the roof is too difficult.
3. Most stores/arms dealers look the same inside.
4. There is nothing to replace the missing Rampages and side missions.
5. There is only 2 helecopters in the game.
6. You can't pick up many objects, the ones you can are useless.
7. There aint that many numbers to call.
8. There is little to do after the story, flying rats and jumps.
9. You can't use trunks/bags like they said you could.
10. Not enough weather cycles.

[Enigma_2099]

... not perfect ones...

And get over the fact that you have to slow down to navigate turns now.

[Tempist]

Agreed. It's a good game with it's flaws, but the review media / press took it too far. There are things that have happened that should demand those 100% requiring revisions.

Else every game released from now on should not be played because GTA IV is the perfect game we should not move on from.

[micro_invader]

GTA isn't the perfect game that we should not move on from, read this from the ign review:

"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."

[lsujester]

@ 4.2

I totally understand what IGN said. A good example of that is to look at games like Bioshock. That was a truly phenomenal game... one of the best ever made, in my opinion. But yet, it didn't even HAVE multiplayer and still rated a good number of 10's.

But I personally would go with my old English professor's grading scale: 1-99.9. He always used to say that there is no such thing as a perfect paper on a subject, but that there were the occasional few that would be about as close as you can get.

So therefore, there is no such thing as a perfect game, but there are the few that are as close as we are likely to see. But on the other hand, I've ran across enough issues with GTA, that I don't see these strew of 10's being warranted. Icy tire vehicles, sluggish combat controls, repetitive missions would definitely knock other games down a point or two in review scores.

[BubblesDAVERAGE]

Like the ninja sword....exploding heads...the weight gain and a laundry....jetpacks....so gangs/crew...... list of other things...but its still great...but even the missions are about the same as the last games....i guess there isnt much room there for improvements...

[Voozi]

If you become good enough friends w/ a certain someone, and you call him up, he sends 2 guys over to you who follows you around and helps you out and stuff (they carry guns, shoot people if you get attacked, etc)

[HighDefinition]

Being only on a BLURAY will help all that, since "Sandbox" games CANNOT be put on 2 discs. Even losing all that stuff, I still LOVE it.

But I hear ya.

I disagree about the mission though, they are WAY better now.

[fox02]

what are you talking about? The game is only about 7gigs; it's not like if it filled the disc. They wouldn't have done better even if they had triple-layer bluray.

[Azures]

Tycho's comments weren't criticizing the game as much as his own stupid inability to enjoy the game.

[Dave2001]

Who has the guts to tell the truth about the differences of each version a warning though your going to upset power of Green.:p

Seriously though why do you care so much about the differences just enjoy the game and stop acting like a 5 year old girl.

[games4fun]

nintendo fanboys it wasn't balls though it was jelousy

[Martini]

For people that are used to being channeled and guided by the story / environment of most games GTA IV might feel not so good but for the ones who have imagination this sandbox is filled with endless fun. :)

[Anything but Cute]

been enjoying it a lot. Could it have been even better? I think so.

Just to be simple, I still don't think the backstory of a Russian immagrant is the best.

The game has a lot European flavor. Not needed in GTA.

And Niko looks too old also, I just feel a younger character is more what GTA is about.

Rockstar could of gone in so many different directions with GTA IV and made it work.

[Azures]

He's only like 29

[Anything but Cute]

He looks 50.

[Azures]

he's seen some sh!t, he was in the bosnian war.

he's prob closer to 31-32, but his age is between 28-32.

[pp]

The only people who are going to Criticise GTA IV are ps3 fan boys because ps3 is the only one with problems

[bootsielon]

There's no patch for rrod

Sorry Xtards, but you got screwed by Microsoft.

BTW, it's funny how POG says sharper means better, since I rather have smooth edges on my games, not sharp where I can count pixels. What's the point of rendering @ 720p if Xbox 360 can't even handle it? Rockstar also screwed you, morons.

[Sez]

sorry to hurt your feelings. but rockstar hurt you guys more. 360 issues are pop-ins and frame rate.which the ps3 version suffer the same problem but less. you also have online problems, more game freezes,you guys have to uninstall and reinstall,disconnect your online just to run the game.and the ps3 version doesn't play @720. it plays at 680. so if anything the ps3 can't run the game. if the ps3 could run the game at 720. they would suffer the same. if not more problems then it already has.

[Stubacca]

THERE'S NO PATCH FOR RROD.

I aint had any problems with GTA thus far. My friends who have 360s and PS3s are the same. The game is phenomenal. But as consoles go, I'd rather play it on the better console (PS3).

[zapass]

it's a vaseline patch also know as "@nal koolaid"
20million downloads on XBL, LOL!

[fox02]

The driving in GTA sucks; and since most of the game is based on driving...
The story and dialogue and excellent though
Rockstar should have made their game fun, instead of "realistic". If i want a realistic driving game i'll buy GT or Forza; they just did it wrong this time.

[avacadosnorkel]

I think I hit a few of them when the car wouldn't turn enough

[Defectiv3_Detectiv3]

Uh, I do. All of my freinds do. Anyone with a maturity level over 16 does.

This game is not all its cracked up to be. There is only so much raping and pilaging you can do b4 the novelty wears thin. Now maybe if they amped up the in game AI that would make things a lot more interesting. The funnest part for me has always been running from the cops. The missions are just filler.

I for one am sick of the oversaturation of this game on every game site. It came out already, we can talk about interesting games again!

[Azures]

You do realize their is so much talk because SO MANY people love it right?

I don't understand what's immature about enjoying violent expression. Its a basic human instinct.

[Azures]

You can post an article talking about bukkake but I can't say sh!t without getting bleeped.

hypocrisy, its the new cool.

[josue]

well i think that gta has many bad things, no it is not the broken online. take 2 promised many features and they have not given us many of them, like where is the one where MOST buildings are open?

[solidworm]

great game 8/10 for me, when mgs4 comes out i might revise that to a 7

[Rubberlegs]

Its not a perfect game but I still think it ranks up there pretty high. The city itself is so full of life it is easily puts it above any sandbox game out there. Compared to all the past GTA games it takes everything out that was so tedious about the games. Having to replay missions only to have to drive all the way back to the same loaction again, that was a huge pain in SA. Now with taxis and mission restarts it makes the game so much better. Same with the controls once you get a hang of the cover system.
The mission themselfs are also a big improvement for the game. Now with the cover system they could put together some better missions. The thing is it takes a few hours to actually get to the bigger size missions. All the missions at the start is common GTA style missions but just wait until you get to the bank heist mission and other similar missions.
As for the driving its something you get use to. At first your sliding all over the place but once you put in a few hours you get use to it. It also depends on the cars your driving, not all of them control the same. I have a much harder time with the bikes since its very easy to fly off which is fun to do anyways.

[ChickeyCantor]

WOW no-one actually read the story! all the comments are about ratings but thats not even what they are talking about.

[Figboy]

personally, i don't think reviews count for sh*t these days, and i'd much rather get my own hands on the title and give it a try myself.

as for GTAIV, i'd break it down as thus:

Graphics: Liberty City is one of the most realistic, "alive" environments i've experienced in a game this generation of consoles. i was wowed when GTAIII hit 8 years ago, but i never thought i'd be wowed again. the depth of this game, on a visual level, is astounding. the animations of civilians, the weather effects ( in particular the rain and fog), never cease to give me pause, and i often want to just sit and stare at the environment and people.

Story: I'm over 20+ hours into the game, and i love the story and characters so far. there are clever plot twists, and Niko and company feel more like real people than cliches. GTAIII felt like Goodfellas. Vice City felt like Scarface. San Andreas felt like Boys in the Hood, but GTAIV feels REAL. from my experiences, there isn't really a film you can tie GTAIV to like previous incarnations. it feels like a living, breathing city, and the characters, while eccentric and amusing, feel just as real as Liberty City herself.

Controls: Not perfect, but a marked step above what GTA fans are used to. the aiming is vastly improved, and while lock on can be spotty (if you tense up in a firefight, and press too hard on the lock on trigger, you'll lock on, instead of free aim, and that can be problematic, as you may lock onto a target you weren't aiming for). the driving controls are a lot more touchy this time around, but i attribute that to the added realism brought into the equation from the physics engine. you learn to be a bit more aware of which vehicles you choose, as there are plenty, and they all have specific handling and suspension. i've learned to either choose only certain vehicles, or get accustomed to the way the different ones handle.

the various improvements to the overall gameplay are welcome. from hailing taxis and taking them from place to place, to the handy GPS system that makes finding a route to a contact, mission, or friend are very well implemented. the melee combat is still weak, but much more enjoyable than previous incarnations.

Online: i've only played for a few minutes (maybe 10-15), so i don't have a real opinion on it yet, other than i enjoyed myself.

Fun Factor: the city is a playground. end of story. you will have as much fun as you allow yourself to have. i get a kick out of surfing the in game internet, and watching television shows. i also enjoy flying the helicopter to the tops of building, and sniping the people on the streets below. i also love cruising around the city, listening to the various radio stations, and cracking up at the talk shows, and the commercials. i even enjoy the bowling, pool, and darts minigames. the game is what you make of it, really.

Overall: GTAIV is still GTA. it still feels like GTA (even though it took me about an hour or two to really get the "feel" of the game), and it has both subtle and blatant improvements over previous titles that make it quite difficult to go back. some of the same frustrations from previous titles rears it's head (ie, spotty auto-aiming), but if anything, the game should be praised for how faithfully is managed to create the tone and atmosphere of New York, as i've played plenty of games based in New York that, despite having a picture perfect recreation of the city, miss out on the atmosphere and "life" of the city. GTAIV, even with it's ficitional New York, feels more like New York, than, say, a Spider-Man game.

while some people will inevitably be disappointed by the fact that the game isn't the most revolutionary titles in the industry, improving upon every single thing that needed to be improved upon in a GTA game, i can't praise enough how well Rockstar realized their ambition in making a GTA game feel alive, believable, and fun to play around in. they've truly raised the bar in how a city is portrayed, and how the player interacts with this city.

considering how early we still are in this current generation of gaming, the game is a feat, and worthy of it's praise. hype is one thing, but when a game manages to deliver even a fraction of that hype (and in this case, GTAIV has delivered on it's hype, and provided much more than i believe, a lot of us were expecting), it deserves any accolades it's receives.

whether PS3 or 360 owner, GTAIV needs to be in your gaming library. it's the ever elusive "total package;" great single player, great campaign, great visuals, and fun gameplay. it's not perfect, and a 10/10 score doesn't necessarily mean it's perfect, but it's definitely one of the best titles released this generation so far.

9.5/10, A+, 4.5/5, whatever measurement you all use to determine a must buy.

[HB-Sauce]

Pretty much sums up how I feel about the game.

I think alot of people who don't like GTA IV don't like it because it is GTA or all the hype it has generated. Yeah, yeah its not a perfect game but is there any such thing as "perfect" in the real world?

Just my opinion.

[MadMax]

GTA fried my PS3, WTF. I started playing it this morning, 20% into it and it locked up. Turned it off restarted it and just keeps showing loading icon on the upper righthand corner. Tried a different game, then Blueray movie and same thing. Doesnt even show the disc icon on the menu. Never had a problem with it till now and its the 80g version so it hasnt been long since ive had it. Erased all my data which was f@cked up enough, reformatted the HD and still nothing. Trying system restore which takes 5 hours, but that prolly is a waste of time. Called Sony and they will repair it for free, lucky its still under warranty. Anyone else have this problem or any suggestions on how to get it to work again? Im on my 3rd 360 too, what gives with all these faulty new game systems these days? Looks like i will be playing alot of Mario Kart on the Wii, seems to be the only system that doesnt break down on ya. What gives man!

[PimplePopperMD]

i did/do. franchise sucks

[SlappingOysters]

If you want to read a review that doesn't hold back on attacking GTA IVs flaws while still admiting it is worth a perfect score the read this

http://www.gameplayer.com.a...

[Blue Legend]

I can see why people love GTA, it gives people a fantasy world they can go to where they can just go around, doing what they want in a city, without any regard for human life. Something most people (including me) don't have the guts to do in real life. It's like going on a killing spree without having to pay for it in the end.
At least for me, thats why I loved GTA, I played GTA2 for hours at a time, just creating as much chaos as I possibly could. Other games came, I got into those too, then GTA3 came out, I was psyched, got it, but found myself bored within a few hours.
Guess my killer instinct is gone. but for those of you who still have it, have fun.

[Main_Street_Saint]

Well once I get a 360 I think I'll roll with "Saint's Row 2" and give GTA4 a rent and see where it goes from there.

[DJ114]

i dont anyone can but that picture is f-ing funny