Why should you spend £40 on GTA IV?
After being promised a life of luxury and relaxation, Niko Bellic immigrates to Liberty City, only to find that his cousin Roman's been exaggerating 'The American Dream', to say the least.
In other words, he lives in a sh*t-shack and his 'sports car' is a cheap cab for the Taxi firm he works for.
When you first play, you'll be desperate to complete missions in order to unlock more things, like clothes shops and bars, and after this, you'll be embraced and hooked on the storyline, with unpredictable twists and turns.
Whilst doing these missions, or exploring freely, you'll see one truly amazing factor of the game, and it's impossible to miss - the city itself. An awe-inspiring technical achievement for Rockstar Games here, a truly immersive and gigantic city, filled with crime, citizens, and so much more that my fingers' be tired by the time I'm finished.
The people on the sidewalk will read papers, dial and receive mobile calls, talk with each other, call for cabs, etc, and you'll probably never see, or recognise the same person twice.
But forget them, focus on yourself, what can you do? Buy clothes, drive cabs, go vigilante on drug dealin' scum, go on the internet, hotwire cars, go on blind dates, get in good ol' cop chases, the possibilites are endless.
For the first time since I don't know when, you actually care for the characters - when you get betrayed (don't sue for spoiling, you ALWAYS get betrayed on GTA) you really feel betrayed. You feel anger, distress, confusion, suspicion and occasionally unsure, in scenario's when you choose and change fates.
There's just so much to do in this game, but some things have been taken away - Tanks, 'Chutes and planes, but all in the name of realism, so that's okay, I suppose.
The sound? Great. The music'll make plenty of new fans of the artists featured on Radio, and GTA's historic sense of humour is still intact for comedic radio stations. Speaking of Comedy, on Radio and Comedy Clubs, Ricky Gervais of 'Extras' and 'The Office' is featured in the game, fully voice-overed by the real man himself.
The Graphics aren't spectacular, but they never are in games with so much to offer in other departments. They're not horrible, I'd give 'em 7/10, but now and again there's some minor hiccups.
But once again, who really cares? There's never nothing to do in GTA IV, and I can tell you now, this one's been well worth the wait, and the £40. Buy It!