Grand Theft Auto IV

I should not be writing this.  I should be playing Grand Theft Auto IV, and so should you.

I have played some of it in the past on the PC but it now runs so slowly on that ancient machine with it's clogged hard-drive that I could no longer help myself from breaking open the original PS3 copy that I had in the draw and was meant to be saving to sell in the future when it was worth more.

This boxed edition was really quite a beautiful thing in itself.  If was so perfect and had real weight (it includes a map and decent sized booklet).  It had it's original PS3 tear-off ribbon and I was reluctant to open it and spoil it's perfection but it remains lovely.

Even the loading screens are great!

I once read on the cover of a boxed copy of the PC version the review comment "So much better on the PC it's criminal".  I cannot remember clearly what the game was like on the PC but some things do seem different on the PS3.

I remember more chance encounters on the PC version.  I have only met one person by the roadside who I have had dealings with.  I might have missed others.  I have now met the same guy three times and had fairly bland adventures with him.

I do not remember being quite so incessantly harassed to socialise before.  As I remember it I used to cruise around for ages without a care in the world but now if I spend any time not taking part in a quest of some kind I am called and asked to go out by Michelle (girlfriend), Little Jacob or most often Roman (Cousin).  If you say no then they go off you but socialising is the least exciting part of the game.  I think I've been to play darts four times now and it is losing its lustre.

Despite these complaints, this is a game which all gamers should play.  I wrote previously about GTA Chinatown Wars and how it captures the atmosphere of the city.  GTA 4 does the same thing, only with a lot more visual detail to work with it can achieve much more.

A hazy day in Liberty City.

The many radio stations play decent songs from within their genres, not just unwanted album tracks.  There are a massive array of vehicles to choose from.  The plot missions are interesting and don't take you through too many boring bits again if you fail and have to repeat them.

There is masses of content.  I have played a lot in the last two days and I have not got into Algonquin (Manhattan) yet and am only 19.89% of the way through the plot.  (I haven't reached the point I got to only the PC yet, so maybe some of the things I remember from that version will soon start to happen.)

I would encourage anyone to visit  amoral Liberty City and indulge in all it's vices.