So I stayed home sick yesterday from work, and devoted most of my day to GTA4. The game is extremely addicting. I'm having a very hard time putting it down. At about 10 hours I'm 20% finished, it's definitely a game that will keep me busy for awhile.
It's the first GTA that Im actually interested in finishing. It's also the first GTA, where I actually try to obey the laws, and look out for cops when I steal/shoot something. Not because it's difficult to get rid of the cops, more because there is so much to do, I just don't want to be bothered by them. Who has time for total chaos? The cops will take your weapons away if you get busted too, which gives you more incentive not to get caught.
The story is actually interesting, and the main character Nico has a lot more complexity then we're used to seeing in most videogames, especially GTA games. I don't want to spoil anything, but let's just say I was pleasantly surprised with how the story twists and changes based on your actions. For the first time in a game like this, there is actually some morality to your actions.
Besides the story quests, you have to keep up relationships with your friends. I hear it's optional, but it's almost always beneficial. The characters in this game actually feel genuine even if they are a little clichéd (more for humor then seriousness), making spending time with them a pleasure rather then a hassle. Girls you date will notice if you've worn the same outfit more then once, and will comment on whether they like your new stolen car. Take them out enough, and you may get lucky. Or you could just go to the strip club, and pay for a few lap dances. Haven't met any prostitutes yet.
Getting drunk in this game is hilarious, not only are you stumbling, but when you yell to call for a cab you're voice is actually slurred. Just make sure your buddy likes to drink, its much more fun when they are drunk too. You can stumble around the streets together running into garbage cans full of trash and scaring pedestrians. One passerby I accidentally ran into told me "you smell like cheap vodka" great stuff.
While the graphics engine may be a little rough around the edges, it's still quite an accomplishment for such a huge city. The most impressive being the lighting. Driving across a suspension bridge at sunset will result in a shadow for every cable you pass. It's really great looking, and very realistic. It took me a few good hours to really open my eyes and see just how immense and detailed the city is. I've only unlocked the first 2 out of 5 islands. Still haven't made it to the BIG part of the city. Really looking forward to driving around Time Square or Central Park.
Who ever mapped the city streets in this game could probably get a job as a city planner. It's just so well done and detailed. If it wasn't for the GPS (nicer cars even have voice acted GPS) units in each car, it would be really easy to get lost. It's a good thing that it's easy to hail a cab to get where you're going, because some missions will put you on the other end of the city. With all the driving you do in GTA4, you'll be happy to take a cab every once in awhile.
Driving is still a lot of fun though, with a huge assortment of cars on the road, I don't think I've driven the same car more then once (besides one of the cars you start with). This is saying a lot considering I have seen plenty of cars I haven't even driven yet. Including Limos, Hummers, etc. Even similar car models will have something to make them unique. For instance I was driving around an old mustang for a bit that had a fish-tail spoiler on it. I haven't seen that car since, but I have driven a similar mustang model. The other important fact is that every car drives a little different, and realistically. Don't even try to make a sharp turn at full speed, you will wipe out.
All this and I haven't even touched the mutli-player, and at this point, why would I? The single player is so good, its almost impossible to put down. I saw a few new friends got the game last night, I didn't even bother asking them to play. I figured they needed to enjoy this game on its own for awhile. I didn't want to interrupt that. Not to mention, I couldn't tear myself away from whatever I was doing at the time.
The moral of this story is that GTA4 is all that and a bag of chips. Worth all the hype it's been receiving, and finally good enough to be taken seriously.
-Sauer (self-proclaimed GTA hater)