this game was over hyped, but still deserves a 9 - 9.5
Obviously they improved the graphics, handling and physics. It has a great story line, which can be altered at some points. You can loose the wanted level at any level, which actually make chases fun, and challenging. Stealing cars is more realistic because u can break into locked cars, although not every parked car should be locked.
Unfortunately they also took several steps backwards, but could be fixed by dlc. Some of the things missing that were in San Andreas or vice city: a parachute c'mon R* helicopter pilots need those as well, cant hook up a trailer to a truck or airport tug, forklift doesn't lift, no tow trucks, which would actually be good for the car theft missions (i loved hooking up 3 of those plus a car and going super fast). Small selection of clothing, i only found 2 pairs of glasses and that was in the cheap store, cant customize cars or even pick the color, no sea life at all, but it is new york so the only thing in that water would probably be dead bodies. No barber shop, i don't mind that a tattoo place is missing cuz that wouldn't fit in, helicopter cant even get above empire state building, cant rob stores, they could of put that if u eat to much u get fat, or if u exercise u get thin, but not to the extent that u have to eat to maintain in that condition. No gas tank cap to easily blow up cars and the remote detonated bombs that you could throw aren't in. There is probably a few more things but cant think of them at the moment or haven't noticed it yet
also, this is prob my TV, but when i look up at a helicopter, or if there are a lot of explosions my tv looses the signal