Can you please justify your GTAIV hate?

It's everywhere. Everyone seems to think GTAIV was a disappointment, or just crap. My only gripe is that it becomes stale after the story is done, but during the story it's really immersive. It's very easy to forget your playing a video game and be Niko Bellic in a recreated version of NYC. There's a lot of freedom while keeping it's dignity as a realistic mobster game.

I think what a lot of people need to do is suspend their disbelief and stop looking at everything with a critical eye. Dont analyze everything you see or experience from the perspective of a gamer looking to get his money's worth, just listen to the story and play the game and you'll always find some good to take away from it. That way, you wont have to run to system wars and tell everyone how horrible you thought a game was.

I think Assassin's Creed suffered from the same thing. Everyone looked at it as repetitive, and eventually that's all you could think of while playing it. Look at it as Altair hunting down his 9 targets and slowly learning the truth of what was happening around him, paralleled with the events surrounding Desmond and the animus.

AC and GTAIV were great games, and as a game collector and gamer, I'm really glad to have them.

No problem here. Fun, addictive and had a great story. Let's not forget multiplayer..the whole package. Of course not everyone will agree, that isn't possible. A lot of hate comes from popular titles, not suprising.

Well...if they wanted the game to be realistic, why didn't they make destructible enviornments? :(

The game is boring IMO, it's now that I finally thought about beating the game after not playing it since a month after launch. Its not as fun as the previous GTAs unless you're online.

I don't hate it, but I'm dissapointed. I expected something like SA but more.

but it's cool, the game is kinda like a next-gen GTA3 with different characters and better story

Ok, well i played all the previous games, on xbox, ps2, psp and pc. When this version was released i bought the ps3 version. What did i find? Gameplay pretty much the same as all the others. Sure, new missions but pretty much the same. Infact there wasn't really anything new. The graphics are truly horrible, grainy, blurry low resolution and jaggies that hurt my eyes, online i find it almost unplayable. To me its nothing more than the other games with better graphics. I got the feeling i'd seen and done it all before.

I am now hoping the PC version and the fantastic mod community will FIX this game and add some new and exciting things to it.

i played it for 2 hours and it felt like the WORST gta ever.

It brought nothing new to the table, it was souless.

I think the real reason for hate was the fact that

1. Its multiplat (which usually get some praise)

2. The 360 version has DLC.

3. One version looks slightly better due to the lighting. (forgot which though.)

I don't hate it, i think it's a damn good game. But still a massive dissapointment. It took the crazy weapons, massive open worlds and jet fighters/tanks, aka the massive fun and replay value, and put it down the drain.

IMO

I don't hate it, i think it's a damn good game. But still a massive dissapointment. It took the crazy weapons, massive open worlds and jet fighters/tanks, aka the massive fun and replay value, and put it down the drain.

IMO

angelkimne

Exactly.

It felt so empty compared to other GTA games.

[QUOTE="angelkimne"]

I don't hate it, i think it's a damn good game. But still a massive dissapointment. It took the crazy weapons, massive open worlds and jet fighters/tanks, aka the massive fun and replay value, and put it down the drain.

IMO

SpinoRaptor

Exactly.

It felt so empty compared to other GTA games.

[QUOTE="angelkimne"]

I don't hate it, i think it's a damn good game. But still a massive dissapointment. It took the crazy weapons, massive open worlds and jet fighters/tanks, aka the massive fun and replay value, and put it down the drain.

IMO

SpinoRaptor

Exactly.

It felt so empty compared to other GTA games.

That's what happens when you take a game like Grand Theft Auto and make it serious; you lose the quirky/wacky missions, the elements which made it a fun sandbox and you get an empty city with linear, scripted missions with a story that takes itself far too seriously.

More Vice City, please.

[QUOTE="SpinoRaptor"][QUOTE="angelkimne"]

I don't hate it, i think it's a damn good game. But still a massive dissapointment. It took the crazy weapons, massive open worlds and jet fighters/tanks, aka the massive fun and replay value, and put it down the drain.

IMO

killerfist

Exactly.

It felt so empty compared to other GTA games.

i personally fail to find anything next gen about gta4. AI? nope. Environments? nope. Gameplay? nope. Graphics? i wouldn't even say it looks as good as some last gen PC games. I have only seen PS3 version, i hear 360 looks better.

i played it for 2 hours and it felt like the WORST gta ever.

It brought nothing new to the table, it was souless.

GiveMeSomething

I feel the same way, IMO Vice City >>>>>>>>>> San Andreas >>>>>>>>>> IV

I just don't like how realistic GTA has become, what happened to flying a plane 1000 feet into the sky and base jumping out? That was awesome.

In my opinion, the GTA series does not belong in the world of videogame realism.

[QUOTE="killerfist"][QUOTE="SpinoRaptor"][QUOTE="angelkimne"]

I don't hate it, i think it's a damn good game. But still a massive dissapointment. It took the crazy weapons, massive open worlds and jet fighters/tanks, aka the massive fun and replay value, and put it down the drain.

IMO

Frozzik

Exactly.

It felt so empty compared to other GTA games.

i personally fail to find anything next gen about gta4. AI? nope. Environments? nope. Gameplay? nope. Graphics? i wouldn't even say it looks as good as some last gen PC games. I have only seen PS3 version, i hear 360 looks better.

GTAIV = is current gen (next-gen in GTA3's point of view)

and I dont know wich version is better. I only played the 360 version. it has some pop up issues here an there but nothing big

[QUOTE="SpinoRaptor"][QUOTE="angelkimne"]

I don't hate it, i think it's a damn good game. But still a massive dissapointment. It took the crazy weapons, massive open worlds and jet fighters/tanks, aka the massive fun and replay value, and put it down the drain.

IMO

RobbieH1234

Exactly.

It felt so empty compared to other GTA games.

That's what happens when you take a game like Grand Theft Auto and make it serious; you lose the quirky/wacky missions, the elements which made it a fun sandbox and you get an empty city with linear, scripted missions with a story that takes itself far too seriously.

More Vice City, please.

I agree with this.

I'm fine with GTA4 having a more serious story but why take away every fun thing out of the game? Would the serious attitude of the story suffer of you had a katana or a chainsaw? No not really. Not one unique or fun weapon was in the game.

[QUOTE="killerfist"][QUOTE="SpinoRaptor"][QUOTE="angelkimne"]

I don't hate it, i think it's a damn good game. But still a massive dissapointment. It took the crazy weapons, massive open worlds and jet fighters/tanks, aka the massive fun and replay value, and put it down the drain.

IMO

Frozzik

Exactly.

It felt so empty compared to other GTA games.

i personally fail to find anything next gen about gta4. AI? nope. Environments? nope. Gameplay? nope. Graphics? i wouldn't even say it looks as good as some last gen PC games. I have only seen PS3 version, i hear 360 looks better.

Its got the best ai of any sandbox game, including Stalker. i was amazed that even when going on sprees, the ai finds cover. Huge improvement over previous GTA's. Shootouts are almost as good as Gears which is incredible for a huge game like GTA.

You expect a sandbox game where you can drive 80mph with tons of npc's and vehicles to look as good as corridor shooters?

[QUOTE="Frozzik"][QUOTE="killerfist"][QUOTE="SpinoRaptor"][QUOTE="angelkimne"]

I don't hate it, i think it's a damn good game. But still a massive dissapointment. It took the crazy weapons, massive open worlds and jet fighters/tanks, aka the massive fun and replay value, and put it down the drain.

IMO

Cranler

Exactly.

It felt so empty compared to other GTA games.

i personally fail to find anything next gen about gta4. AI? nope. Environments? nope. Gameplay? nope. Graphics? i wouldn't even say it looks as good as some last gen PC games. I have only seen PS3 version, i hear 360 looks better.

Its got the best ai of any sandbox game, including Stalker. i was amazed that even when going on sprees, the ai finds cover. Huge improvement over previous GTA's. Shootouts are almost as good as Gears which is incredible for a huge game like GTA.

You expect a sandbox game where you can drive 80mph with tons of npc's and vehicles to look as good as corridor shooters?

What can i say, all i heard about was the power of PS3. This was one of the 1st games i bought. It looks terrible. I expected it to look like the screens of the now announced PC version. As for the AI and gameplay, well, i must just be too fussy i guess lol.

[QUOTE="RobbieH1234"][QUOTE="SpinoRaptor"][QUOTE="angelkimne"]

I don't hate it, i think it's a damn good game. But still a massive dissapointment. It took the crazy weapons, massive open worlds and jet fighters/tanks, aka the massive fun and replay value, and put it down the drain.

IMO

JLF1

Exactly.

It felt so empty compared to other GTA games.

That's what happens when you take a game like Grand Theft Auto and make it serious; you lose the quirky/wacky missions, the elements which made it a fun sandbox and you get an empty city with linear, scripted missions with a story that takes itself far too seriously.

More Vice City, please.

I agree with this.

I'm fine with GTA4 having a more serious story but why take away every fun thing out of the game? Would the serious attitude of the story suffer of you had a katana or a chainsaw? No not really. Not one unique or fun weapon was in the game.

[spoiler] "Roman, I've found him. I've found Florian. I'm coming to collect you cousin!" Then you enter a car where the radio is turned on and you hear an advertisement about ordering babies in a box on the internet or how hot America's Next Top Hooker is. Sorry, but that just doesn't work. [/spoiler]

Niko, despite the forced bits of character development, just devolves into a raging psychopath who shoots down police helicopters and does drug/assassination missions without questin anyway, so I don't see the harm in including more unique weapons.

Lack of freedom and scope that San Andreas had.

That and I hated being forced to do missions in pre determined ways every single time.

One reason I preferred Mercenaries to GTA3 and Vice (on par with SA) last gen.

I don't mind a serious story if it's done properly. The story in IV falls apart after Broker and that includes the characters/mission structure. There's also the contrast between the serious tone of the story and the satire of the world. Like, it's possible for this to happen:

spoiler

Niko, despite the forced bits of character development, just devolves into a raging psychopath who shoots down police helicopters and does drug/assassination missions without questin anyway, so I don't see the harm in including more unique weapons.

RobbieH1234

The game presents itself to be realistic - the characters, the setting, the environment, the violence.

Yet the billboards, radio ads and TV just doesn't fit with it all.

It worked in previous GTA games simply because they were so absurd, over the top and comical.

In GTA IV, with its new 'next gen required realism' look, it just did not fit at all, and could be a real mood killer, exactly in the context you put it in - in the spoiler.

Nikos character was indeed another problem.
'oh hard life, want to start a new one, forget the war, blah blah blah'
-Blows up helicopter, destroys cars, kills - no - murders hundreds of people.
Kind of loses its effect.

Lack of freedom and scope that San Andreas had.

That and I hated being forced to do missions in pre determined ways every single time.

One reason I preferred Mercenaries to GTA3 and Vice (on par with SA) last gen.

skrat_01

Yep! Yep!

This is why two weeks after GTA IV came out, my wife was totally surprised to dig out my copy of the game from under the sofa. She was like, "WTF, I thought you waited on your hands and knees, foamed at the mouth because you are THE GTA knucklehead?"

You know what? I can't really answer her. Something was wrong....Usually it takes about 2-3 months for me to get off of my GTA high!

and people here already pretty much cover what went wrong so I won't go further. But here is how I went from GTA IV to Saint's Row again.

GTA IV: As long as you don't mess with the law, your ok. As long as you don't cap too many people or in front of too many people's faces, your ok. As long as you drive REALLY slow, you won't crash. You can't take a jump from tall buildings (Sigh, how many times I look at the Empire State and wished I had a parachute to go, "GERONIIIIMMMMOOOO" off of it!). Radio station? UHHH!!!! I still remember first time popping in GTA:VC, jack a car and for the next 5 hours, did nothing but driving around and listening to the radio (NO WAY!!! They did not put "A Flock of Seagulls" in!!! OHH MY GOD!!! Billy Jeans, how could they!! And VCPR. LMAO when Pastor Richards shot the nude guy!) GTA IV....Radio Stations....Uhhhh....not so much! And then there is stuff like Repuplican Space Rangers and "Piss-Water Beer", which as one poster said, ran serious "au contraire" to the serious tone of the game. Nothing rips you out of the game when Roman is screaming, "save me! Save ME"! and you see a "Piss Water Beer" poster or listen to the commercial on the radio!

In contrast, nothing better than in "Stillwater", call on your phone to get near naked Samantha in. Grab your awsome platinum weapons and "pimp-Cane Shotgun", have Sam take out her AK, then round up two more off your Saint's Row homies, take your pimped up SUV with the awsome platinum spinner wheels, nitrious and hydrolic systems, leather seats and works, drive to the nearest Forgive and Forget, while on the way, capping everything in sight to raise your wanted levels. Once you arrive, take out your platinum RPG, rocket and/or toss grenades at passing cars, shotgun passerbys, etc to start a turf war with the police. Once more and more police, and eventually FBI, helicopters etc joining in the fun, more and more of your following Saint's Row Homies also join in to protect you. The fur flys, the cats are out of the bag, people are running scared because of so much lead flying and explosives meeting metal! I used to do this, A LOT in VC and SA. Now the only place to do it is at Stillwater, not Liberty City.

And this is just a part what GTA IV is missing!

Lack of freedom and scope that San Andreas had.

That and I hated being forced to do missions in pre determined ways every single time.

One reason I preferred Mercenaries to GTA3 and Vice (on par with SA) last gen.
skrat_01

Nikos character was indeed another problem.
'oh hard life, want to start a new one, forget the war, blah blah blah'
-Blows up helicopter, destroys cars, kills - no - murders hundreds of people.
Kind of loses its effect.

skrat_01

The production value is amazingly high.... too bad the game just isn't fun.... for me. I loved GTA III, and Vice City. San Andreas was CRAP imo. I really like the characters in GTAIV.... but I don't know... something about it just bores the hell out of me..... I can't stand to play it.... Maybe my personal tastes have changed? I don't know, I can't figure it out.

One thing I know is, I HATE the cover/aiming system in the game.... it feels like some of the missions are "Try N Die" oh there was a guy there... well try again... okay got him.... oh now that guy just blasted my face off..... try again.... yes they put the baddies on the minimap.... but still often times you don't see where the guy is, until your getting shot in the face.... and even then sometimes you're not sure where it's coming from.

So that plus all the crap you have to do, in order to keep your rep up with NPC's.... I'm sorry but making a game feel like work, is ALWAYS a BAD game design choice.... Those are really the only 2 gripes i have about the game.

You can't take a jump from tall buildings (Sigh, how many times I look at the Empire State and wished I had a parachute to go, "GERONIIIIMMMMOOOO" off of it!).

StryderK

It's as if they replaced the stuff people like doing (mindless fun killings, rampages, large amounts of customisation, businesses, bmx/destruction derby, gangs, missions which allowed for creative input, parachuting, fun rewards for hidden packages and stuff) with things nobody would want (internet, TV, friend system with awful activities, repetitive scripted missions).

For the few steps forward in core gameplay, IV hopped into the DeLorean with regards to sandbox/sense of place/fun. Like I said above, more Vice City please.

[spoiler] I'm fully aware that the above is entirely my own opinion. For the people who will inevitably disagree with it and say, "Oh, well, that's like your opinion man" I don't need somebody to inform me that my opinion is indeed my opinion. You disagree, you make an argument. Cheers. :) [/spoiler]

Overrated, not deserving of a 10.EuroMafia

Agreed :)

i don't hate it, but i was disappointed

it's far inferior to Vice City and San Andreas IMO .. the immense hype and 10/10 scores didn't help either

overall it just gets boring .. the missions aren't varied enough, it's just repetitive driving and killing most of the time

the friends / social side wasn't fun at all either

It was indeed a dissapointment to me... but I didnt hate the game at all. It's still a 9.0-9.5 to me... but considering I was practically a GTA fanboy last gen, I was dissapointed this gen. GTAIV just doesnt share the same humor, and variety as the last three games.

The characters are all fairly generic (except for Florian... and maybe Brucie, although he was kinda predictable), the storyline was too dramatic, Niko was a whinebag, the environment doesnt have much variety, the missions are repetitive, and the ending was kinda dissapointing.

Vice City>San Andreas>GTA3>GTAIV. That's how I feel about it... and that sucks. Hopefully the next GTA will really nail it like I know they can.

You cant blame them though, they were debuting on a next gen system and probably wanted to come out the gate taking advantage of the hardware to make the game more realistic. The pressure had to be insane.... and I think they forgot the GTA formula on this one. My opinion, of course.

GTA : San Andreas is better. That's my beef. Niko Belic isn't THAT interesting. Handling needs to be refined, also getting in and out of vehicles is a chore. Aiming still aweful, touch sensitive fuddy-duudy argh >:(hongkingkong

That's one of my beef since SA! Why the heck would you add that extra animation?

Sure, punching someone out or aim a gun at the driver is fun, but I don't know how many time that extra few seconds cost me! If you are trying to jack a car and the police is on your ass, you just go in, pull the driver out and throw them out on the street like in VC. Save your time and health points!

[QUOTE="skrat_01"]

Lack of freedom and scope that San Andreas had.

That and I hated being forced to do missions in pre determined ways every single time.

One reason I preferred Mercenaries to GTA3 and Vice (on par with SA) last gen.
RobbieH1234

Nikos character was indeed another problem.
'oh hard life, want to start a new one, forget the war, blah blah blah'
-Blows up helicopter, destroys cars, kills - no - murders hundreds of people.
Kind of loses its effect.

skrat_01

first 3 reasons are imo the other three are fact

1. story sucked

2. online sucked

3. not as good as san andreas, missing the little things like owning a car

4. story was ignored for 40% of missions

5. missions are extremely repetitive and get boring at about 60 % completion

6. team death match or deathmatch online is freaking terrible.