Grand Theft Auto IV

[gh4chiefs]

G4, do you have an HDTV? If not, that might explain why cell phone text is hard to read.

Yeah, a big 52 inch Panasonic rear projection LCD. While it's possible it's not calibrated correctly, I'm pleased with everything else that I watch, and I'm loathe to try to mess with the settings on the TV itself.

Really the only problem I'm having is the damned cellphone with small fonts and black lettering on a gray background. What the hell were they thinking?

 

[Trekker4747]

I've tooled around in it some, haven't really started playing it deeply yet.

Interesting so far. There's some... "typical" GTA/Rockstar voicework, animation and characterizatons in it. The controls, to me, right now are clumbsy but it's part getting used to the PS3 controller more than any function of the game itself. (Though having the handbreak and the accelerator BOTH on the right shoulder buttons seems dumb.)

The visuals are, in a word, simply amazing. Awesome, very impressive, graphics and physics engine.

The game seems like it'll be a lot of fun once I get involved in it and used to the controls.

 

[Garak]

What's the online multiplayer like?

Bueller....Bueller....

It's awesome. I was up pretty much all night playing with a couple of friends. We didn't try any of the special mods, but we were in free roam mode exploring the city and shooting up random stuff, and getting into fights with other gamers. Then we turned on friendly fire mode and went into a triple fight to the death. Lot's of fun.

The game itself is amazing. The visuals, the sound, the controls, and even the very little I've seen of the story (the opening scene) are incredible. It's easy to see why 99.9% of all reviews give GTAIV a 10/10, 5/5, A+, etc.

Oh god.

I need to change my pants.

 

[StolenThunder]

My flatmate was playing the single player so I did a couple of missions and a bit of reckless police car clipping earlier this evening. The genre itself doesn't appeal greatly so I was just seeing what all the fuss was about. I found the movement controls really, really heavy. Even walking sensibly was difficult at times, driving at any more than 30 just a joke.

I can't say I enjoyed it very much. I hear multiplayer is fun though.

 

[Trekker4747]

The controls *are* tough. I'm struggling with them myself.

 

[StolenThunder]

I'm trying to decide if tough is the right word though. Tough is learning to hit cover just right in R6V, or being quick enough to get that killer pass through in PES. Stairs shouldn't be tough.

 

[James Bond]

I found the controls heavy at first too, especially when walking. You'll get used to it though. Also, sprinting can help with movement as well.

 

[Trekker4747]

I found the controls heavy at first too, especially when walking. You'll get used to it though. Also, sprinting can help with movement as well.

I liked previous controls better where the ammount of pressure you put on the analog stick determines whether you run or walk.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I don't know, I was eagerly awaiting this but I think the GTA 3's were more fun. I agree about the heavy controls and hand-to-hand really sucks. It's decent but certainly not OMG! 10++++ bEST GAmE eVARRR!!. Though maybe it's my fault, I haven't played anything in a couple of months so maybe I've been out for too long. All I know is it took me forever to find a rock to throw through a window, I kept trying to pick up trash cans and stuff that I should be able to lift, I hate when games do that.

It's like GTA 3 on the new consoles, it doesn't feel like a really revolutionary step in the franchise.

 

[Rincewiend]

Here is a video comparing the 2 versions:
http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/18625

Looks like the 360 version is a bit lighter...

 

[BigFoot]

^ Most games seem to be a bit lighter on the 360. But then, how hard is it to adjust the brightness & contrast on the TV?

 

[gh4chiefs]

I don't know, I was eagerly awaiting this but I think the GTA 3's were more fun. I agree about the heavy controls and hand-to-hand really sucks. It's decent but certainly not OMG! 10++++ bEST GAmE eVARRR!!.

Yeah that pretty much sums up my thoughts. There are a lot of things that seem to drag this game down a bit. The controlls are a bit sluggish, some of the stuff you do is just boring (i.e. dating Michelle, getting a car wash in mid-mission, etc.) and don't get me started on the soft, blurry, and dark, look of the graphics.

I will say in looking at the game guide, it does appear that the game will become more fun later on with hit missions, and lists of cars to steal, and things like that.

Oh and don't you know the PETA crowd is shitting themselves over the "flying rats" part of the game?

Here is a video comparing the 2 versions:
http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/18625

Looks like the 360 version is a bit lighter...

I have both consoles, and I opted for the PS3 version so I could play online with my co-worker who only has a PS3 (he dumped the 360 after RROD), but I find myself having buyer's remorse and wishing I would have gone with the 360 version instead.

 

[gh4chiefs]

^ Most games seem to be a bit lighter on the 360. But then, how hard is it to adjust the brightness & contrast on the TV?

Yeah but the thing is, I shouldn't have to. Everything else TV, DVD, Blu-ray, looks fine, but PS3 games tend to be dark.

 

[unimatrix7]

I was initially a bit disappointed with it...the controls are sluggish and seem a bit antiquated, frankly. But now the story is starting to flesh itself out a bit ore, I'm a little more intrigued.

Spoiler: Plot spoiler!

I just did the 'Uncle Vlad' mission and opted to kill the guy at the end of it. I was intrigued by the consequences of the decision - and Niko's revelation that he came to America to find the traitors from a botched military operation a decade earlier.

Just for kicks, I had a quick bash around on the online multiplayer mode. I was pretty impressed with the way it played, actually. I'll definitely be getting into it a bit more in the coming weeks.

 

[gh4chiefs]

I didn't know we had a choice in your spoiler. I did what you did.

 

[unimatrix7]

I got the impression we did? I may be wrong, but the way the on-screen mini-tutorial read, it seemed clear to me that we had a choice...

...But maybe I'm wrong. Anybody else?

 

[Rincewiend]

Maybe not for Uncle Vlad...

Here is a video of pretty big easter egg:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl2-at2SXIc

 

[gh4chiefs]

I thought the tutorial was just about how you do something (trying not to spoil things here folks) but you could be right, I probably didn't read the tutorial close enough.

 

[Twilight]

I was initially a bit disappointed with it...the controls are sluggish and seem a bit antiquated, frankly. But now the story is starting to flesh itself out a bit ore, I'm a little more intrigued.

Spoiler: Plot spoiler!

I just did the 'Uncle Vlad' mission and opted to kill the guy at the end of it. I was intrigued by the consequences of the decision - and Niko's revelation that he came to America to find the traitors from a botched military operation a decade earlier.

Just for kicks, I had a quick bash around on the online multiplayer mode. I was pretty impressed with the way it played, actually. I'll definitely be getting into it a bit more in the coming weeks.

I got as far as your spoiler last night, too.

I'm really enjoying the game - the gameplay is fun, the physics engine is fantastic, and the story is the best part - it seems rich and mature, unlike some past GTA games. I also really like Niko - you make him do awful things but still manage to feel for him and like him. And Roman is pathetic but endearing.

I have the 360 version. It's not the best looking game on the console, IMO, but there are moments where it's just gorgeous, thanks to the lighting model.

The game is rather blurry and cartoonish, but it manages to feel right and somehow in place in the game universe. Draw distance seems to work fine, and the city's skyline, no matter how matted and blurred, always looks great, particularly at night.

Recommendation to all: at sunset, drive to a place by the water, and notice the sparkles and reflections of the sun off the water. It's absolutely fantastic and probably the best, most photorealistic light-on-water effect I've ever seen in a game.

So yeah, the game is blurry but always manages to look great regardless (or maybe because of).

 

[Phillip Culley]

I didn't know we had a choice in your spoiler. I did what you did.

We do have a choice, since I did exactly the opposite!

Spoiler: What happens

Apparently if you let him live, then you'll encounter him later in the game for a non-essential side-quest.