Five years later, I'm still speechless.
Gameplay: 10
You play as one of the most intriguing characters in gaming history. And yet, you'll never hear a word out of him. Gives a whole new meaning to silent, but deadly. I call him Grand Theft Auto Guy. This game set the bar on free-range. There really isnt anything you cant do, except go in buildings. But since there's so much to do outside, why go inside anyway? Essentially, you are assigned to many of the missions in the game. But if you ever need to earn a few extra bucks, there are infinite ways of making money. Blow up a car, a helicopter, or run a little remote controlled car into the middle of traffic. There are a few vehicle races scattered across the 3 HUGE islands too. It would take an encyclopedia to fill the abilities of various gameplay.
Graphics: 8
They're not bad graphics, they just not the best. Anyone who's ever played the earlier games, can tell what they were going for in terms of keeping the cartoony like versions of the mobsters. It's also important to take into consideration this game's been out for a little over 5 years.. people do look better now. But with the expansiveness of all the detail put into one of the biggest maps of all time, I'll instantly give credit where it's due.
Sound: 10
The game has it's own radio broadcasts! How sweet is that? For the Xbox, you can listen to your own customized playlists, but if you take the time to listen to the radio, you could go hours without hearing the same thing twice. There are commercials, talk radio and songs of all different variety. Genius. Most of it's hilarious too. Some of the songs can be found in Scarface if you listen closely. Get out of the car, and you'll find that the civilians have plenty to say too. Most of it's rambling.. "my mother's my sister" or "you can sail the seven seas" or "got any bright ideas what to say?". Hit/kill them, and they spawn an entirely new vocabulary. It's always funny to hear what they say when you steal their cars too. The stereotypical Brooklyn accents are also comical.
Value: 10
Whether you play the game through, front to back and try out every mission or just make "runs" (killing as many people as possible without being wasted/busted), the value is unlimited. There are side missions too, such as "Taxi Driver" and "Ambulance". Or you can make money putting out fires. The choice is yours. Again, you'd need a encyclopedia to encompass the possibilities.
Avid fans of games and those who play the occasional game alike should not pass this one up. You'll find yourself, well after you've beaten it, throwing it in again... just because.