A True Sandbox Experience?!

User Rating: 6.5 | Grand Theft Auto IV X360
When Grand Theft Auto comes to mind. Occasionally one would think Felony. But in the industry of the gaming populous. It quite frankly is considered the most fun sandbox experience around.

Do what you want, when you want, where you want type of game. In that aspect this game delivers just as it's predecessors did. But that's just it...

It keeps within the formula of this in mind. You can't go wrong with it. But for me where in today's society and the way the economy is. I make sure that people get the most bang for their buck. Eventually one would become bored with the antics that one would re-create those same antics in real life. According to rare instances I have some merritt with that statement. So what can make this game enjoyable.

First the setting... a total revamp of the infamous Liberty City. From simple to a more complex setting modeled after the city of New York and the neighboring New Jersey. It truly is remarkable with how they did it. Almost exact duplicates from even the Statue of Liberty.

The story... well, if you haven't played GTA before. It's simple... you get introduced to your character. You do small-time jobs for some low life before moving up to the big-time mobsters and mafia bosses. Your guy Nico Bellic is a charismatic character though his character would eventually become dull on a second playthrough to the point you will question about going through the story all over again. The supporting characters are all typical Liberty City residents. The core of the story is intriguing where your an immigrant who just when things were going your way something brings you back down and eventually you got it done. The tree element is there where you get to pick one or the other to progress the story. One is really meaningful as it revolves to the ending you see. There's only two. Story in GTA games weren't that great to begin with so no surprise here.

The gameplay... tuned up with a new physics engine powering the game. This causes knew animations to certain things such as carjacking sequence to getting thrown out of the vehicle to driving and the new cover and lock-on aim system. All new additions are great to the game. One of the new things that is somewhat a downside is the star system. There will be a radius in which you need to get out to take your wanted level out. At first I enjoyed it due to making you look like Jason Bourne and know the map layout so you can really drive. Unfortunately, it got too simple even in 4 starts. The extras are here again but you only get to do the police vigilante type missions. There's the taxi mission too but I really enjoyed the emergency vehicle type missions more. Maybe in the downloadable content egh? too bad it will come later than promised. Games are there but once again are not as fun. The dating and hanging out is more planned out this time but the only fun is getting drunk and driving. Yeah I know MADD is going insane about it but it's a game. At least for me it is. Overall gameplay is a snooze.

Now the fun part... the Multiplayer, lets just say it needs some fixing. Not saying it's broken but it needs like some sort of band aid or something. It's not that fun, gets boring after a while, not that competitive, and you can easily manipulate and cheat.

Bottom Line... It's there but not really. Aside from upping what it's predecessors could not in the physics and graphics front. The story and multiplayer was nothing special. Not that I'm looking for a story but something new and insane instead of another drawn out guy just working up the ladder. I know it's what made GTA the game it is today but be more unconventional than you have been in the past at least. It could have been good but it's collecting dust I never thought it could when I first bought it.