My main problem with the game was that the cops just appeared out of thin air. You'd come from a dead end, meet cops, turn around to get away only to find them magically behind you, as well. Rubbish.

Why on earth couldn't they have spawned from the nearest police station. There are 76 of them in the real New York, so it's not like the game would be too easy. It would've been a far better system, more realistic, and certainly a lot fairer on the harder missions.

It's unquestionably the best in the series from a technical stand point, and I challenge people to go back and play, say, Vice City without cringing just a little bit.

Having said that, it's unquestionably the least 'great' entry into a very important series.

I had a break from this to play another couple of games and have come back recently to finish the story missions. I was expecting to have real trouble getting back into the game but I'm enjoying it as much as I did when I first got it Not sure how close I am to the end though because every time I get close to 100% mission complete another character comes along... It does seem to be a lot easier than the other GTA games though, which to be honest is working well in my favor being a crap gamer these days! You kids and your nimble fingers....

_________________

Technically, it's tremendously impressive. The scale, art style and overall design of the game world is stunning, and I love the new animation engine and weather effects. It just looks amazing, and framerate wise it holds up remarkably well when compared to the previous games in the series.

As for the gameplay, I finished the whole thing and the only thing I have to do to get 100% is the pigeon hunting (only lack of willpower is stopping me) so it obviously did something right. I take the complaints about the story and mission variety, both of which were not as grandiose as San Andreas, but I did appreciate the added 'realism' in the story - you were just some immigrant ex-soldier who knew how to handle a gun and kill and little else, so jumping out of planes in parachutes and using a jet pack probably wouldn't have fit in with the vibe they were going for.

So I think it's a brilliant game, the only downsides for me being the soundtrack (not as memorable as any of the other games, although that may be down to me not really knowing anything that isn't played on the big commercial stations) and the online (I just couldn't get into it at all much like with Metal Gear Online).

Overhyped? Probably. But still an amazing experience, and definitely up there with Vice City as possibly my favourite in the series.

Haven't played this yet. Just got it on rental. Something to do on my week off work that's coming up.

_________________

Vice City>>> GTAIV >>>> GTAIII>>>>>>>> San Andreas

Sad to see the game become such a cool thing to hate It's a great game

_________________

The GRcade Podcast - Episode Seven, in which we talk videogame journalism, is now available!

GTA was the reason that I bought a 360 - but hype is very rarely justified. The online play has kept me coming back for more, but the main game was a bit of a disappointment...

Have you tried playing Vice City recently? I tried playing it on my 360, and it suddenly felt like a very different game. Practically unplayable after GTA4.

I think it's going to take people going back to the old games for them to realise just how far advanced GTA4 actually was. The differences managed to be both vast, yet subtle.

It was a brilliant game and a technical masterpiece. However, I did feel there were perhaps too many story missions. Which seems an odd criticism, but when the variety in them was fairly limited it did start to wear a little thin towards the end. But that's a niggle really.

Overhyped? Of course. But then this type of game always is. Technically I don't think we've seen anything like it, or will again any time soon.

_________________
The Artist Formerly Known As CrashHornet

I too really disliked GTA:SA, the world was too big and really did need to be on something more powerfull than the ps2 I wonder how the PC version handled (EDIT: There was a PC version, wasn't there?)

I agree with alot of the points made about GTA:IV, to me this has been the most disapointing over hyped game this generation.

Well I thought it was fantastic. Preferred it over San Andreas in pretty much every area. The whole vibe of the game just wasn't my cup of tea. And the difficulty was absolutely absurd. Only the very best & most determined could actually finish it.

_________________