Grand Theft Auto IV

[Hawkius Maximus 0]

Bas Rutten's Men's Room is AWESOME.

 

It's like they took all of Bas's instructional videos on how to fight on the streets and notched it up ten times.

[El Psycho Diablo 0]

The only complaint I have about this is that unlike Saints Row, the shops are all locked from the beginning. It's supposed to be an open world game, but I can't even get more than the basic clothing stores without going through the storyline?

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

Bas Rutten's Men's Room is AWESOME.

 

It's like they took all of Bas's instructional videos on how to fight on the streets and notched it up ten times.

 

".... Or when you wake up in the middle of the night with your hands covered in the blood of another man..."

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

Well I went and bought the game. Its giong to take some getting used to though. They went over the top with the car mechanics. It isn't that fucking hard to turn a corner.

 

 

Technically...it would be pretty hard to turn the corner when going at those high speeds.

 

Anyway...it took me a while to figure out that I was supposed to be hitting the left trigger and the right bumper at the same time. I was just hitting the Left Trigger and slowing down...but not turning very well. OR just the right bumper and spinning out.

 

Now...after several hours of doing that I know how to make turns!

[Matt Young 0]

I just quit playing about 30 minutes ago, but only because my contacts dried out, I can't see without them, and I don't own glasses.

 

I played about 3 hours of multiplayer (mostly Team Deathmatch) and almost 5 hours of single player (4 hours, 59 minutes, 5 seconds), taking breaks only to eat a couple times, take a phone call, and fill out some paperwork for my job.

 

Such an incredible game. I liked Saints Row better than the older GTAs, but this one's already on pace to top it. This is the first GTA I've bought at or anywhere near release, and I love it. Apparently, many others do as well. I had never seen any more than 28 people on my friend list online at once. Last night, there were 42 online- all but 2 playing GTA IV.

[NoCalMike 0]

Does the game seem overly dark at times to anyone, which sometimes makes it hard to read the text on Nico's cell phone, or the tips/instructions that pop up in the upper left corner? I turned the brightness all the way up and it fixed the issue, but on the default settings the game is very dark unless it is daytime. Also, the graphics are only decent IMO. They aren't bad, but I don't feel they are up to par with everything else I have seen on the next-gen systems. I know this has been the case with the other games in the series too, but I am not that concerned about it.

 

Also, driving didn't seem that difficult, until I actually had to follow someone in a high speed chase....then the corners became tricky.

[Ripper 0]

Well I went and bought the game. Its giong to take some getting used to though. They went over the top with the car mechanics. It isn't that fucking hard to turn a corner.

 

 

Technically...it would be pretty hard to turn the corner when going at those high speeds.

 

Anyway...it took me a while to figure out that I was supposed to be hitting the left trigger and the right bumper at the same time. I was just hitting the Left Trigger and slowing down...but not turning very well. OR just the right bumper and spinning out.

 

Now...after several hours of doing that I know how to make turns!

 

 

Turning at a slow speed is over the top.

 

Also, I have been spoiled by SR's regenerative health system. Having to go get a hot dog every time i get in a fight is annoying.

 

But all my post have been complaining so far. Its a pretty cool game. Just nitpicking.

[Ripper 0]

Does the game seem overly dark at times to anyone, which sometimes makes it hard to read the text on Nico's cell phone, or the tips/instructions that pop up in the upper left corner? I turned the brightness all the way up and it fixed the issue, but on the default settings the game is very dark unless it is daytime. Also, the graphics are only decent IMO. They aren't bad, but I don't feel they are up to par with everything else I have seen on the next-gen systems. I know this has been the case with the other games in the series too, but I am not that concerned about it.

 

Also, driving didn't seem that difficult, until I actually had to follow someone in a high speed chase....then the corners became tricky.

 

 

The character models are almost last generation. the lighting and reflection effects is where they put their money. They are amazing. Driving around can be beautiful.

 

But its that soft filter on the whole screen making it look even better. It is some little things SR2 could do to make their game look just as good if not better(although its going to be tough to match the lighting of the cars and such.

 

Its a pretty game and ugly game at the same time. I don't see how any reviewer could give the graphics a 10 though.

 

 

[NoCalMike 0]

Well I went and bought the game. Its giong to take some getting used to though. They went over the top with the car mechanics. It isn't that fucking hard to turn a corner.

 

 

Technically...it would be pretty hard to turn the corner when going at those high speeds.

 

Anyway...it took me a while to figure out that I was supposed to be hitting the left trigger and the right bumper at the same time. I was just hitting the Left Trigger and slowing down...but not turning very well. OR just the right bumper and spinning out.

 

Now...after several hours of doing that I know how to make turns!

 

Also, I have been spoiled by SR's regenerative health system. Having to go get a hot dog every time i get in a fight is annoying.

 

 

True dat. Merely getting punched a couple of times should not require me to go find health. Now, if I got shot then I understand, but just a fist-fight should not keep your health down for too long.

 

[Exslade ZX 0]

Does the game seem overly dark at times to anyone, which sometimes makes it hard to read the text on Nico's cell phone, or the tips/instructions that pop up in the upper left corner? I turned the brightness all the way up and it fixed the issue, but on the default settings the game is very dark unless it is daytime. Also, the graphics are only decent IMO. They aren't bad, but I don't feel they are up to par with everything else I have seen on the next-gen systems. I know this has been the case with the other games in the series too, but I am not that concerned about it.

 

Also, driving didn't seem that difficult, until I actually had to follow someone in a high speed chase....then the corners became tricky.

 

 

The character models are almost last generation. the lighting and reflection effects is where they put their money. They are amazing. Driving around can be beautiful.

 

But its that soft filter on the whole screen making it look even better. It is some little things SR2 could do to make their game look just as good if not better(although its going to be tough to match the lighting of the cars and such.

 

Its a pretty game and ugly game at the same time. I don't see how any reviewer could give the graphics a 10 though.

Are you kidding me? How about the fact that what's supposed to be New York....looks just like New York. I suppose, you could in fact make an argument in regards to the character models, as they aren't necessarily up to par with the rest of the world, but this is made up in the way the move/act/react, etc. I can't think of another game where the people walking around looked any more "real". And this includes Saint's Row. And I not that I played every game, but I can't remember too many games last generation that looked like the models on this game...

 

And as far as the scenery goes, IMO it's a lot more then just lighting and reflection effects. I wish I had a side by side comparison, and who knows there might be one soon enough, but in comparison to say Saint's row (since it was compared earlier) if you take for instance the railway tracks, and compare, there's just a lot more detail put into this game. (Which it should be, as this is years later.) And for instance, I'm playing now, and riding by the roller coaster near Niko's safehouse, and the architecture of it is ridiculous, and it's obvious they took it straight from the real thing, as it looks insane. Not to mention there's always a skyline, that seems to reach thousands of feet no matter where you go. You can literally see what's down the street (and across the bridge for that matter) without being anywhere near it.

 

I know, that seems like a rant, but that's just my, defense so to speak, as I don't see how anyone could say the game didn't deserve a 10, for graphics. Have you seen times square?

 

But since we're on complaints, my only real complaint so far is the sound. Maybe it's just my crappy tv, because I'm playing in a dorm room, but but the Music and SFX completely overshadow the dialog in the game. Which is hard enough to understand with the thick accents. It just seems they talk really low, by comparison. I've turned both options down some in the options, but it still happens occasionally, usually during a phone call, where the radio doesn't seem to fade enough. (Although, as I type this, looking at the options, maybe that has to do with the output being on surround side?)

 

Alright, now off, back to play I suppose.

[NoCalMike 0]

Yeah I was going to ask about the sound. To me at least, it seems like the radio station volume is lower then in previous games, and I am kind of annoyed the way the 5.1 sound is mixed. I don't have the best receiver/system on the market but it is a good system, and I am annoyed at the way the outputs are kind of mixed so that conversations on the cell phone are hard to make out.

 

Has anyone fiddled with the settings enough that can tell me what the difference is when you change the options from "surround side" to "surround rear" Why isn't there just a straight 5.1 audio option?

[NYU 0]

Does the game seem overly dark at times to anyone, which sometimes makes it hard to read the text on Nico's cell phone

 

YES! So far, that's the only thing that frustrated me about this game. It's nit-picky to be sure, but I don't understand what the purpose was of making the phone so dark.

 

[AnonymousBroccoli 0]

I had some pretty significant visual problems with the Xbox hooked up via HDMI. I switched to component, and strangely, it's better. I don't know if it's my TV (an older 540p/1080i Toshiba 26" CRT), or the HDMI cable, or some setting I've neglected, but I got a lot of shimmering, especially in the sky, and with the cell phone screen. I also had to crank the contrast and brightness way up to see anything. The same thing happened with the Tomb Raider: Legend demo, so I guess it's not just the one game.

[fazzle 0]

Yeah, I had to turn the brightness way up, and turn subtitles on.

 

Jesus Christ Jacob, seriously, how the fuck are you supposed to understand him without them?

[Ripper 0]

Sadly I understood every word he said. i didn't realize how often I talked to people with that accent until I knew everything that he was saying.

 

 

[Exslade ZX 0]

Has anybody been able to get in a taxi while drunk?

 

Those fuckers never stop for me. So I always end up having to drive the person home.

[Ripper 0]

Nope. Havent even been able to call for one. I called roman for a cab, it came and rode right past me.

[Brett Favre 0]

The station KTT is hilarious.

[Guest]

Jacob isn't hard to understand, his friend Badman is.

[Angle-plex 0]

Anyone play online yet? I've experienced long load times and short games unfortunetly. Awesome game besides that and the driing mechanics.

[Exslade ZX 0]

Anyone play online yet? I've experienced long load times and short games unfortunetly. Awesome game besides that and the driing mechanics.

What system?

 

Haven't really experienced much of a load time on the 360. Not even for online games. It does have the tendency to disconnect before entering certain games sometimes, but that happens on other games as well. And a few of the games are timed, which you can set yourself if you create the game.

 

Or you could just go to freemode, and run around for an unlimited amount of time.

 

edit- And can I just say the taxi system is fuckin awesome. It's so great to just be able to go to a whole different part of town, in just a few seconds. Especially when people always seem to call you to do something when you're clear across town.

[KingPK 0]

Anyone else hoping that the carnival near Roman's house (with the mini-golf course) is opened up at one point either in the game or through DLC?

 

I'm about 17% into the game and I'm loving the story; the characters are so scummy that it enhances Niko's likeablilty.

 

Also, the cabaret shows are hilarious. Especially the magician.

[Matt Young 0]

Nope. Havent even been able to call for one. I called roman for a cab, it came and rode right past me.

 

 

I had that happen, too. It pulls up at the exact spot you called it from, marked by a blue arrow. If you call it and walk down the street, it'll fly by you and stop at the place from which you called it.

[Frosty 0]

I was just playing online freemode with a few friend and found several awesome ways to die while jumping out of a helicopter.

[NoCalMike 0]

In case anyone wants an early listing of cheats...

 

http://www.gamewinners.com/Cheats/index.ph..._4:_Cheat_Codes

 

Knowing the series, there will be plenty more to come soon....

[Jorge Gorgeous 0]

Theres a comedy club near Times Square, and it's got Ricky Gervais and Katt Williams doing actual stand-up as themselves. It's great! This game is great. I had the day off, and I didn't leave the house.

[Matt Young 0]

Theres a comedy club near Times Square, and it's got Ricky Gervais and Katt Williams doing actual stand-up as themselves. It's great! This game is great. I had the day off, and I didn't leave the house.

 

Yup, and you can even see the shows aired "live" from the club, on your TV set in the game.

 

From GameFAQs:

 

I was going through the internet and did the lucky search (name might be wrong) and kept hitting the more sites button and a site titled "Lucky Lacy's Childs Pageant" showed up and i clicked on it and an FBI warning showed up saying i was looking at child pornography and so i exited and logged off and i got a 4 star wanted level from the site. As soon as i walked out the cops gunned me down... I find that to be an awesome easter egg. I was laughing my a** off while trying to get out the door without dying.

 

So awesome.

[Ripper 0]

If I remember correctly, in the previous GTA games, I eventually got health that was more than one level. Like the little bar wold have 1X or 2X on there and I would have to lose more than one bar to die.

 

Is that still the case here....or am I thinking of another game? Because these quick deaths are just plain annoying. OH NO, I CAN"T FIND A HOT DOG VENDOR AFTER I JUST GOT IN A FIGHT.

 

Oh and there are apparently 6 billion cops in the city and I can't get in a fight without a cop jogging across the street after me. And fighting two people at once....ugh.

[Exslade ZX 0]

If I remember correctly, in the previous GTA games, I eventually got health that was more than one level. Like the little bar wold have 1X or 2X on there and I would have to lose more than one bar to die.

 

Is that still the case here....or am I thinking of another game? Because these quick deaths are just plain annoying. OH NO, I CAN"T FIND A HOT DOG VENDOR AFTER I JUST GOT IN A FIGHT.

 

Oh and there are apparently 6 billion cops in the city and I can't get in a fight without a cop jogging across the street after me. And fighting two people at once....ugh.

You need more guns.

 

As far as the health in older games, I can't remember either. It seems like by the end of the game, you had more health then when you started. Because I think I remember being able to get 150 health in Vice City. But even if you could in the older games, as far as I know there's no way to get extra health here. Just the 50 health, and the 50 armor, to complete the circle. So the only real alternatives to the quick deaths seem to be, get hit less, get some armor, or keep buying hot dogs.

 

Or, get more guns.

 

edit- There are a shitload of cops though. Whenever I call to do an activity, I usually take a taxi to the person, and have to steal a car when I get there. And every time, even when I check around to make sure first, they come out of nowhere it seems (usually there's one walking by that I missed or something I guess) and I have to outrun them. And some people said it's easy to escape the cops circle, which is sort of is, but there's always another cop like 10 yards out that restarts the circle when you move.

 

Oh, and water is definitely not a way to escape the cops (like in Saint's Row) especially at 6 stars. You won't last 10 seconds.

[Ripper 0]

The reason I am avoiding shooting people is because 3 cops pop up out of no where shooting at me with my 2 star rating.

 

 

I want to practice the melee thing some more too, because I am still off on dodging attacks. But I can't because one of the cities millions of cops comes up behind me to arrest me. then I have to run, get shot and have to go find hotdogs again.