Grand Theft Auto IV is #1

When I say GTA IV is #1, I really mean #1. No video game on any platform has received such widespread and unanimous critical praise. Gamerankings.com has posted an aggregate score of 99% from assorted media outlets. Scan a couple of the reviews linked from Game Rankings, what is being said is that GTA IV marks a moment in entertainment history, a moment in which interactive fiction has become truly compelling as a story telling medium and possibly even on par with film. It is being reported to be a quantum leap in the medium. It's easy to think back to when Half-Life was released and remember the way that it revolutionized the first person shooter, but this is bigger and the grades are even better. So what do I think? Is GTA IV really all that? I'd have to answer, "mostly yes." The game is mind boggling in its scope and detail. The writing is beyond superb. The humor is spot on. It's fun. The medium has obvious ways that it can mature and develop, but in essence the vision of a believable and open fully interactive game world has been brought forth. The future of interactive fiction looks bright.

nytimes.com:

Published by Rockstar Games, Grand Theft Auto IV is a violent, intelligent, profane, endearing, obnoxious, sly, richly textured and thoroughly compelling work of cultural satire disguised as fun. It calls to mind a rollicking R-rated version of Mad magazine featuring Dave Chappelle and Quentin Tarantino, and sets a new standard for what is possible in interactive arts.

Comments

[wob]

I ordered it from amazon, should be here end of this week. I can't wait. I plan to take the whole day off and play.

[Grinth]

I picked this up early last week and would have to concur. The story and cinematics are great. The city is fantastic, and the free for all fun is still intact.

I could go on, but it would just be repeating most of what the myriad of reviews have already said....and in the end no amount of words really does justice to the experience of actually diving in and exploring Liberty City first hand.

[in8sworld]

I heard a review on NPR (of all places) and it sounded great - I used to play GTA 1 all those years ago when they used to make games that ran on a computer. Isn't "Liberty City" basically NYC? I don't own any of the requisite hardware such an indulgence would require however. I just can't rationalize a $250 + $50 purchase for a video game that I will never have time to play (and probably can't play in front of the kids anyway). It would also be just another thing competing for our one (old analog) Television which I like to keep OFF as much as possible.

[Grinth]

Liberty City is quasi-NYC, complete with it's own Times Square and Statue of Liberty...New Jersey is also represented in the game. You're the second person to mention NPR in regards to this game. I think it has something to do with the fact that one of the many stations in game is a, pretty spot-on actually, parody of NPR.

That's actually one of the under appreciated aspects of the game. If you spend any time actually digging beneath its often violent, crude and irreverent veneer there are quite a lot of subtle and not so subtle jabs at current American culture and society.

[in8sworld]

Sort of OT, but funny chart comparing crime and violent video game sales here.

[aston]

We rented this sucker last week, and it is tempting to go and rent it again. When bodies hit the ground, they make a kind of sickly wet sack noise on the ground. It's sickening but oh so funny all at the same time. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time.

[meg]

i've been enjoying the little vignettes that set up each "mission" and listening to the rants on the talk radio stations while wob's playing. some of the shit "Richard Bastard" says is hilarious.

[wob]

yeah. awesome game. I'm maybe at most 30% thru it and have played 16hrs total maybe? So much content...
but yea, the talk radio stations making fun of NPR, Air America and stuff like Rush Limbaugh on the right is damn hilarious. The right wing station is named WKKT, for We Know The Truth. :)

My favorite thing lately, dialing 911, calling for the fire dept, then stealing the truck and going on a smash and burn rampage on the streets. It's a great bulldozer for cars. :)