GTA IV : ummm its out!

[Kernow]

Seems pretty fun so far. Its a bit too dark imo though. As in even with the in game brightness set up to max, its really hard to see things. For me its going to have to be a play-at-night kind of game only I think.

The darkness seems to be a common complaint from what I have read elsewhere.

I picked mine up about an hour ago, but I am still at work, working out how early I can justifiably leave.

 

[MRU]

^ Yeah! I had to turn the brightness & contrast up high on the display settings on the ps3 version here too. Very dark indeed!

We must assume Rockstar have the brightest TV sets in the world they gamma corrected on, leaving us with normal 'non nuclear' TV's with a very dark game. 🙄

 

[takao]

Right first impressions. PS3 version

Secondly the graphics really are not 'all that'. The intro is choppy enough frame-rate wise and if the PS3 version has better AA then GOD HELP the 360 version because it is still Very Jaggy in the outside world.

Oh! That explains the bloody jaggies and no difference in res... Its just 630 scaled up and down ... I should have got 360 😉

i've read through a few german boards where some got their hands on the game as well and hear lot's of complaints about the crappy AA on the PS3 version

edit: to sum it up MRU would you still say it's a breath of fresh air after the last games ? or is it just another sequel (although with pretty graphics) ?

(and GTA being overrated by critics ... that's nothing new .. just look at the san andreas/vice city reviews somehow i think no critics wants to be the one giving bad reviews because of the huge casual fanbase the game has which might backslash against them)

 

[gloss]

Kind of glad I didn't end up going out to pick this up. I should remain happy with Hot Shots and Oblivion and Rock Band until Fallout 3 hits the shelves.

 

[MRU]

edit: to sum it up MRU would you still say it's a breath of fresh air after the last games ? or is it just another sequel (although with pretty graphics) ?

Would you even call it a sequel ? Its liberty city again, albeit with a face job. But the fundamental gameplay is identikit to how it was the first time we touched down in GTA3.

Yes I haven't spent that much time on it, and the world is probably a lot more fleshed out, and there are some subtle nuances and improvements carried over from San Andrea's etc... but enough to say 'a breath of fresh air' ? Well IMHO no, what we haave is a basic refinement of a recipe they have served up already.

It does not feel new, it feels like re-visiting the old more than reveling in the new. That's not to say the game isn't fun or enjoyable which at the end of the day is probably the main factor, but for something that 'breaks the mould' like GTA3 first did, you really need to look elsewhere. This is rockstar playing UBER safe with a franchise.

It'll sell well, it'll win awards.... Doesn't stop it being fundamentally a rehash.

 

[2nyRiggz]

Right...my turn.

I've only played an hour so far and to my disappointment it feels like the same old to me. The game looks good at 720p and I saw some hiccups at the beginning when I hopped into the car(hate the driving physics by the way)

I'm not going to hate on the game like the grumpy MRU but it still feels the same except the cover like system is very welcomed.

My friend got the 360 version and I'll head over to his house after work to check that out.....so far so good to me.



Bless

 

[takao]

Would you even call it a sequel ? Its liberty city again, albeit with a face job. But the fundamental gameplay is identikit to how it was the first time we touched down in GTA3.

Yes I haven't spent that much time on it, and the world is probably a lot more fleshed out, and there are some subtle nuances and improvements carried over from San Andrea's etc... but enough to say 'a breath of fresh air' ? Well IMHO no, what we haave is a basic refinement of a recipe they have served up already.

It does not feel new, it feels like re-visiting the old more than reveling in the new. That's not to say the game isn't fun or enjoyable which at the end of the day is probably the main factor, but for something that 'breaks the mould' like GTA3 first did, you really need to look elsewhere. This is rockstar playing UBER safe with a franchise.

It'll sell well, it'll win awards.... Doesn't stop it being fundamentally a rehash.

thanks for that ... well personally for me GTA lost lots of it's charm when it went to 3d so with every release i'm waiting for that little bit of being different than it's predecessor

 

[MRU]

Right...my turn.

I've only played an hour so far and to my disappointment it feels like the same old to me. The game looks good at 720p and I saw some hiccups at the beginning when I hopped into the car(hate the driving physics by the way)

😛 I'm not grumpy you cheeky beggar 😀 I'm being very fair to the game.

Just maybe its a case of showing our 'gamer' age and this is simply a case of we've just been round the gaming block too much. I'm sure lots of younger games (who ironically shouldn't be playing this as its mature 18R) will declare it to be revolutionary or such. For the rest of us it's just that... the disappointment is not because it's a bad game (far from it) but simply its just that its the same thing we've played to death.

 

[Kernow]

This is sure to be pounced on by a certain section of the media: GTA game queue sees stab attack

 

[Sdashiki]

People Murdered Stats:

Vice City - 55,243
San Andreas - 32,236
GTA4 - ? ? ?

I always try to wipe out at least a good chunk of the actual populace.

Thanks RockStar. 😀

PS: bring back the Hare Krishnas and/or the Elvis gangs (those who recall GTA/GTA2 know what im talking about 😛)
PPS: yes, those are the real #s from the stats of the saved game(s)

 

[Antimatter]

I can already find one problem in the review video's... shooting an RPG blind around corners with one hand. unless Nikko is the strongest guy ever, that RPG is going to go flying the other direction. A 10/10 game would have no issues with realism in my opinion.

Come on man, are you really serious? This is Grand Theft Auto, (A Video Game) not Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. This is not about realism and it never has been. What kind of games do you play that you expect complete realism from?

 

[JEB229]

Ive only played it about 30min but Im enojoying it. It is a little bit dark but I just turned up the brightness on my TV and alls good.

 

[MRU]

Ive only played it about 30min but Im enojoying it. It is a little bit dark but I just turned up the brightness on my TV and alls good.

Go into the display menu of the game.. Brightness and contrast can be adjusted there. No need to muck up your TV's level 😉

 

[0098386]

Well. I don't know what to make of this. It's beautiful and fun to play, but foot movement seems too heavy and it doesn't feel much different to older games. I was expecting something truly groundbreaking.

I think it's a good game though, maybe not as good as San Andreas. I'd give it 8/10.

In the end me and a friend got bored of trying to get as many cops after us so we took turns in activating some cheats and having a rampage. As always going on killing sprees brings in the most fun. Great flying a helicopter up to buildings and throwing yourself at it. Physics are fantastic! If a bit unrealistic. I'm sure I'd survive a drop from the highest flyable point to a shallow pond.

edit: but the TV is GOLDEN. Oh so political, oh so many pop culture references. It's like Have I got News for you mixed with Spaced. That space marine show had me in stitches.

Come on man, are you really serious? This is Grand Theft Auto, (A Video Game) not Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. This is not about realism and it never has been. What kind of games do you play that you expect complete realism from?

See normally games that try to look and feel realistic by incorporating pretty much the best real time physics engine available to games, people would expect it to be... well... quite realistic.

 

[Antares]

Physics are fantastic! If a bit unrealistic. I'm sure I'd survive a drop from the highest flyable point to a shallow pond.

How do you know you wouldn't? Have you tried it? Don't knock it until you've done it. Otherwise, this is just heresay and assumptions. 😉 I tell you what. Try the same thing in real life. If you survive, I can mock you on the forum here. If you don't, you can mock me in the after-life. Deal? 😀

When I do buy GTA IV, it will be my first time playing a GTA game since the original on a friend's PC. Therefore, I'm hoping that GTA IV will seem "fresh" and "new" to me. Other than Assasin's Creed, I haven't played a game like this before...in 3D. 🙂

 

[jephyb]

Granted, I'm (unfortunately) still at work until 5, so I haven't gotten to play the game yet, but I think the main reason I'm excited for this game is the replayability. I feel so many times you pay $60 for a game, play it for maybe 10 hours and thats it. Ok, maybe play through the same time for some "extra ending" but it's hardly worth it. With a world so non-linear at GTA IV, I'm excited to just explore, see what easter eggs, or little extras are hiding. Couple that with this vast multiplayer I've been hearing of, and I think that this is one of the few games that deserves my $60.

 

[0098386]

Speaking of multiplayer are the servers down? Over the space of 4 hours we tried to play online and the player roster had no names down. Waited a few minutes and nobody joined. Live was still working though, kept seeing people signing onto it.

 

[beige matchbox]

Only finished the first couple of missions, still getting help tips, but heres what i make of it,

+++++
Graphics are great for such a big game

Car physics, although not realistic in any way, shape or form are a right giggle

Acting is great, some of the animations are a bit stiff though

Fighting system seems greatly improved, i've only had fist and knife battles do far, but i should imagine guns are also as good

Police getaway circle thingmabobs, make getting away nicer all round



---------
Camera while driving, sooo incredibly annoying. Your turn a sharp corner and find yourself looking at the side of the car...

IMO, the view stick in car is backwards, this might be in the control options though, i haven't looked


So, first impresions are very good, i haven't enjoyed pretty much every element of a game since HL2, lets hope it gets better still as i play.

I've got to wait for my mate to come online before i play much more, should be fun 😎

 

[Zwhaler]

Okay, the only games I have for PS3 are Resistance, Oblivion, and COD4. I think I'm gonna pick this one up today.

 

[irbdavid]

Got mine on order from Amazon - should be here in a few weeks. Good thing, because I have a dozen and one other things I should be doing (finishing degree up for one!). Plenty of time to shoot hookers after I graduate 😀

Has any seen a map of the GTA4 world online anywhere yet? Is there one in-game? I haven't found anything with google.

 

[mrgreen4242]

Any word on when/if this will make it to the PC? I ditched my 360 in favor of a Wii since most of the games I was interested in on the 360 eventually end on the PC anyways... I've never played any of the 3D GTA games before (played GTA 1 way back when it was new, seems like I played it on a 486 ;p) but with all the hoopla I figured I'd check it out. I can get GTA3/VC/SA for <$10 each for the PC so maybe that'd be enough.

 

[sam10685]

Was just wondering... How do cheat codes affect the game? The only one I'd use is "lower wanted level" and maybe the "get weapons" cheap. The last thing i need when doing a mission is the cops trying to wipe me out of existence.

 

[0098386]

I've no idea, but my bro and friends only use cheats for fun and don't save the game after they've been activated.

It'll probably be out on the PC later this year. It will eventually be released but going off how MS are paying Rockstar off it could very well be Vista only.

 

[Much Ado]

Are there any penalties for taking the game slow? As in, messing around and exploring between missions?

Or is it phone call, followed by another...

 

[MRU]

Camera while driving, sooo incredibly annoying. Your turn a sharp corner and find yourself looking at the side of the car...

Yeah camera in the game is really poor, just it's emphasized when your driving, but it does the same when running on foot too.

Few more missions in.... it's ok but still feels like same old same old.

Graphics are great for such a big game..

Actually IMHO I think Saints Row has better textures and better resolution / graphics generally. I ran both side by side and Saints Row looked notably sharper and more defined.

And as for generally, I had more fun at this point playing CrackDown than GTA IV.




IMPORTANT EDIT

So I decided just to have some fun and have to say there are some great physics things. Best thing I did..

spoiler alert...

Example of v.sick but funny... Walked up to a woman and a man talking at a train platform. I kicked her and she went onto the train platform, the guy began bad talking me and then the woman started too before I heard the train coming and then she said 'oh no' and then there was a whack as the train hit her.. I know it's really sick but I had to laugh.