Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV Dated April 29th)

[Sudo]

Played my first 2 hours of the game tonight. I really like this game everything except the god damn driving. Taking turns suck big time.

Try switching to classic controls, it makes it a lot easier.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

Finally taking the plunge and buying a PS3 (and this game today)... I would assume that both the 360 version and this one are similar... Oh well... I'll see how I like it- i loved San Andreas (although I never fully finished it).

[diskoboy]

Finally taking the plunge and buying a PS3 (and this game today)... I would assume that both the 360 version and this one are similar... Oh well... I'll see how I like it- i loved San Andreas (although I never fully finished it).

Actually, the 360 has one advantage.... Downloadable content. From what I'm hearing, it's not gonna happen for the PS3 versions.

But the PS3 version has the advantage in loading times.

And the ps3 version runs in 680p, and is upscaled to 720p. The 360 version runs in full 720p

I own a PS3 and 360. I chose 360 from the get-go, simply for the Achievement Points and DLC. I never even gave the PS3 version any consideration.

[Kejoriv]

Actually the PS3 may get downloadable content...

http://www.videogamer.com/news/07-05-2008-8220.html

[TheDomesticInstitution]

Actually, the 360 has one advantage.... Downloadable content. From what I'm hearing, it's not gonna happen for the PS3 versions.

But the PS3 version has the advantage in loading times.

And the ps3 version runs in 680p, and is upscaled to 720p. The 360 version runs in full 720p

I own a PS3 and 360. I chose 360 from the get-go, simply for the Achievement Points and DLC. I never even gave the PS3 version any consideration.


Ok, so I just got back from Circuit City... with the 40gb unit and GTAIV.

We have satellite internet so Downloadable stuff isn't something we're gonna use much (or online play for that matter) because we have a cap on how much we use (15GB download and 5GB upload per month). That and we have a lag so online play would really suffer.

We also have a 46' 1080P Sony LCDTV and (I ran it HDMI)... and the box says its supports 1080P... do you only have a 720P television? Or is that the max res it will run? Anyway, after setting it up I was the gentleman and let my girlfriend have the first go at it... It looks pretty good (but not amazing) visually- especially the lighting when it starts out at night.

I'm really excited about the blu-ray capabilities, so we bought a few movies too...

It'll probably be a few days yet before I dive into it, but when I do I'll give my thoughts.


EDIT: So I played the game for 15 minutes tonight and noticed something... Although the game says it supports multiple resolutions (up to 1080p). When I 1st started the game the TV's display said the signal was 720p... so is it a misprint? I haven't researched the game that much... Know anything about this Disko?

[robotriot]

Despite saying it supports 1080p on the box, it runs native in 680p on the PS3 and 720p on Xbox and is being scaled up to whatever resolution your TV is set to. So no 1080p.

[gepeto]

I was looking at the sales numbers and I think this might be the death blow to 3rd party console exclusitivity. I really can't see no high profile game being contained to one system at launch anymore.

ON another note It is amazing how they took a franchise that wasn't that great(to me) and made it into a blockbuster. I was thinking back to when gta 3 came out and how I couldn't stand the overhead view of the first 2. A friend was hyping gta 3 but I was taking a wait and see approach.LOL

[Flack]

I don't know if this is a sign of things to come, but I fired up GTA4 (PS3) last night and got my first patch (1.01, I think it said). The good news is the patch was only 18 meg and both downloaded and installed in less than a minute.

[heybtbm]

I'm surprised so many DP'ers bought the PS3 version. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Does anyone have a link to the 1st week sales numbers?

[PapaStu]

Only sales numbers i've seen is 500 Million in worldwide sales, giving it the top game $$ release of all time. Halo 3 was the previous winner with 300 Million in sales.

[Neil Koch]

I don't know if this is a sign of things to come, but I fired up GTA4 (PS3) last night and got my first patch (1.01, I think it said). The good news is the patch was only 18 meg and both downloaded and installed in less than a minute.

It's to help some of the slowdown/freezing issues, which are supposedly brought on by the PS3 uploading game stats and refreshing multiplayer stuff. I wasn't getting freezes, but the game was taking forever to load, so I turned PSN auto sign-in off and I haven't had any problems since.


I'm surprised so many DP'ers bought the PS3 version. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

I got a PS3 for this game because MS isn't getting any of my money right now after dealing with Vista, their shitty customer serivce while trying to cancel my Xbox1 Live account, and continued RROD issues.

(Please note that I'm really not a MS hater, don't want to start a flame/system war, and probably will eventually get a 360, it's just at this point handing $300-400 over to MS wouldn't sit well with me.)

I'm a huge GTA nut, and I was still contemplating getting a 360 for the downloadable missions. But from what I've seen, the PS3 will be getting downloadable stuff as well sometime down the road, just not those particular missions.

[Berserker]

In the future history of GTA titles may there never, ever be another toll bridge.

Also, I miss the more forgiving driving from earlier titles. Rain + Banshee = RAGE.


Fun game overall, but not the next coming of Christ that all these reviewers were making it out to be. Seems like a step backward in some respects from San Andreas.

[Flack]

I'm surprised so many DP'ers bought the PS3 version.

Constant drive loading just sounds like a recipe for the RROD, which is why I went with the PS3 version. That, and free online play were the two deciding factors for me.

[diskoboy]

Just finished the story.

[digitalpress]

I'm surprised so many DP'ers bought the PS3 version. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Does anyone have a link to the 1st week sales numbers?

By all (customer) accounts, the PS3 version flows much better. Less pop in and faster load times. I kinda wish I had started with the PS3 version myself. It's not a big deal but it's a little annoying that this game, rated a 10 out of 10, has objects suddenly appearing in front of me a second after I bust through a door.

And a question for PS3 gamers that I have yet to get a clear answer on:

You're looking for a car, there's none in sight. You turn around to see if there are any behind you, nothing. Then you turn back and BAM! Suddenly there are five or six cars there. Were they hiding around a corner waiting for you to turn away for a second? That smacks of PS2 technology and it's an annoying glitch on the 360... or does PS3 do that as well? I wonder what the extra hard disk caching of the PS3 offers that the 360 cannot.

And I'm now 40 percent through the main story. It's absolutely TEDIOUS. Love the story, look forward to the cut scenes but typical GTA annoyances like making me have to travel half an island just to GET to the mission and making me do it all over again if I fail just seems like stretching a game for the sake of stretching it. Give me mission-sensitive save points or at least give me an option to try the mission again at the destination. I'm really bored with driving over and over in a game that sucks at driving.

End rant, I still plan on finishing the main story but other than graphics San Andreas is a better game.

[Captain Wrong]

And I'm now 40 percent through the main story. It's absolutely TEDIOUS. Love the story, look forward to the cut scenes but typical GTA annoyances like making me have to travel half an island just to GET to the mission and making me do it all over again if I fail just seems like stretching a game for the sake of stretching it. Give me mission-sensitive save points or at least give me an option to try the mission again at the destination. I'm really bored with driving over and over in a game that sucks at driving.

I think I mentioned this earlier, but if not, let me agree with you 100%. in a game this big, I can't think of any reason they'd need to stretch it, and yeah, that's exactly what I thought too. Luckily for me, I seem to not be sucking as bad as I was a few days ago. Still, there was one mission I about threw my controller on as each time there was one different thing tripping me up, often out of my control, and I was really starting to resent having to do it all over again, starting with a lengthy and boring drive.

And the driving sucks. Yes, you can learn it, but come on. The cars drive like a shitty PS1 racer. The GTA3 cars didn't flip randomly and skid like you're on skates.

I think I mentioned this earlier too, but I bought the 360 version (and a 360) because no one I know has a PS3 and if I want to play online with my friends, I had to go 360. For a 10/10 game, there's way too much pop up, draw in and frame rate issues. Not to mention all the times I manage to put Niko's arm in a wall or I see one of his buddies head sticking through a door. I don't know if this is just a 360 thing, I've heard the PS3 is slightly better. But I'd just got done playing Call of Duty 4, which is a pretty great looking game, and GTA4 has some issues on the graphical front that I'm a little surprised to see.

Still enjoying the game though. The story is great and the basic game play is still fun. There's a ton of detail in the city and it's still fun to just go exploring or causing random chaos.

[briskbc]

This is the first new game I've purchased new since Vice City. That's not including clearance titles of course. I'm not that far into it yet. I made the make of starting Bully for the PS2 a week before I picked this up. I'm enjoying Bully more.

I don't know what to add that hasn't already been said. It feels just like a PS2 GTA title made pretty for this generation. Certainly not a 10/10 title. Probably 8.5 to 9. Don't get me wrong, I like it so far but maybe I was expecting the sort of feeling of greatness I got from GTA III.

[Sudo]

By all (customer) accounts, the PS3 version flows much better. Less pop in and faster load times. I kinda wish I had started with the PS3 version myself. It's not a big deal but it's a little annoying that this game, rated a 10 out of 10, has objects suddenly appearing in front of me a second after I bust through a door.

And a question for PS3 gamers that I have yet to get a clear answer on:

You're looking for a car, there's none in sight. You turn around to see if there are any behind you, nothing. Then you turn back and BAM! Suddenly there are five or six cars there. Were they hiding around a corner waiting for you to turn away for a second? That smacks of PS2 technology and it's an annoying glitch on the 360... or does PS3 do that as well? I wonder what the extra hard disk caching of the PS3 offers that the 360 cannot.

And I'm now 40 percent through the main story. It's absolutely TEDIOUS. Love the story, look forward to the cut scenes but typical GTA annoyances like making me have to travel half an island just to GET to the mission and making me do it all over again if I fail just seems like stretching a game for the sake of stretching it. Give me mission-sensitive save points or at least give me an option to try the mission again at the destination. I'm really bored with driving over and over in a game that sucks at driving.

End rant, I still plan on finishing the main story but other than graphics San Andreas is a better game.
I hated the driving as well until I switched to classic controls. It made the driving feel like the PS2 games, and not like you're pushing a shopping cart with broken wheels. ;)

[robotriot]

I've written a kind of review (http://www.elitepigs.de/blog/archives/26) of the game with the things that annoy me, if anyone is interested.

[Neil Koch]

I agree with the puzzlement over the spate of perfect reviews. I love the GTA series, but I still find GTA3 superior to this because there's more variety in the missions, and the game is more open as to how you can complete them.

I read Game Informer's review last night, and they said stuff like "revolutionary". Um, no. This is a very good game, but not as ground-breaking as GTA3, and certainly not perfect. But considering how much GI is in bed with Rockstar, the perfect rating doesn't surprise me.

[Sudo]

Achievement unlocked 50G - Endangered Species. Man, that was a pain in the ass. I was at 199/200 pigeons because I somehow managed to miss one along the way, and had to go back and recheck just over 100 to find out which one it was. :embarrassed: Worst achievement since Treasure Trove in Lost Odyssey, which also took me forever.

[Captain Wrong]

I've written a kind of review (http://www.elitepigs.de/blog/archives/26) of the game with the things that annoy me, if anyone is interested.


I was going to blog this myself, but you said pretty much everything I would have.

[Nesmaster]

Achievement unlocked 50G - Endangered Species. Man, that was a pain in the ass. I was at 199/200 pigeons because I somehow managed to miss one along the way, and had to go back and recheck just over 100 to find out which one it was. :embarrassed: Worst achievement since Treasure Trove in Lost Odyssey, which also took me forever.

Congratulations. I found around 40 before I lost interest. I really wish they would have handled the hidden stuff like Bully (marked right on the map when you pull it up). I'm sure I'll unlock Key to the City one day...

[Berserker]

I hated the driving as well until I switched to classic controls. It made the driving feel like the PS2 games, and not like you're pushing a shopping cart with broken wheels. ;)

It'd be great if there was a way to keep the old driving controls, and new everything else. If I wanted ultra-realistic driving, I'd pop in Forza. Hopefully they're taking notes for the next one.

Is anyone else finding all of those perfect 10's we saw around release time highly fucking suspect? The words "bought" and "paid-for" spring to mind.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

So I guess they took out all the "RPG" elements of the game that I thought were a welcome addition to San Andreas. Like the whole- the more you drive the better the cars handle. The cars do feel very boat-ish but it's kind of fun to get them rocking back and forth (sometimes). I'm used to the Xbox version of the game, so the controls are still throwing me for a bit of a loop.

[heybtbm]

Achievement unlocked 50G - Endangered Species. Man, that was a pain in the ass. I was at 199/200 pigeons because I somehow managed to miss one along the way, and had to go back and recheck just over 100 to find out which one it was. :embarrassed: Worst achievement since Treasure Trove in Lost Odyssey, which also took me forever.

Good job. I'm obsessed over these ridiculous "scavenger hunt" achievements in open-world games. I love getting a map and checking them off one by one. The act itself is pretty much the definition of "tedious", yet I enjoy doing it. Assassin's Creed is the king of the scavenger hunts so far. 200 pigeons should be no problem.

I've seen a few pigeons in my travels around LC, but I don't dare collect any until I have a decent map. It's too bad they don't give you anything worthwhile like San Andreas. The scavenger hunts in that game actually gave you useful things like permanently spawning weapons near save spots.

[Sudo]

Good job. I'm obsessed over these ridiculous "scavenger hunt" achievements in open-world games. I love getting a map and checking them off one by one. The act itself is pretty much the definition of "tedious", yet I enjoy doing it. Assassin's Creed is the king of the scavenger hunts so far. 200 pigeons should be no problem.

I've seen a few pigeons in my travels around LC, but I don't dare collect any until I have a decent map. It's too bad they don't give you anything worthwhile like San Andreas. The scavenger hunts in that game actually gave you useful things like permanently spawning weapons near save spots.

I agree, the lack of tangible benefits for hunting down all the pigeons is lame, especially when you consider the fact that there are twice as many as there were packages in previous games. When you do get around to killing them yourself, I'd recommend using the map on GamesRadar, as it's accompanied by visual and text-based directions to the pigeons, which helps a lot.

[diskoboy]

Has anyone gotten the "fly a helicopter under every bridge that runs over water" achievement yet? It says I have 1 bridge left, but I've flown under all the ones I could find.

Even that dinky bridge, that your chopper barely fits under.... I've checked the map and cannot find a bridge I haven't traveled under, yet....

Is there a map with the bridges marked, somewhere?

EDIT - Nevermind.... I finally got the achievement.

[robotriot]

I've gotten the achievement - the last one was the western most one. It was the only bridge I had trouble with, so it might be the one you're missing as well. I had to fly under it a couple of times (also in a North-South direction) to unlock the final bridge. When you fly under one bridge (that has not been unlocked yet), there are blips on the radar for a short time displaying the remaining bridges.

[gum_drops]

Interesting little Saturday Night Live skit last night for anyone who missed it:

http://kotaku.com/5008603/niko-and-vlad-on-saturday-night-live

[Sudo]

Achievement unlocked 100G - Key to the City

100%, can't wait to get my key. (http://socialclub.rockstargames.com/downloads/GTAIV/HPC/Key/100percent_KEY_Large.jpg)

[Neil Koch]

I thought you had to do 100% within the first week of release to get the key.

[Sudo]

No, they extended the deadline till the 19th.

[spoon]

.... And, my own car (Monte Carlo) is in the game...and it kind of looks like mine too :) Hah....

Kinda looks like yours because it is either a Buick Regal T-Type, WE4, Grand National, or GNX. Check the front and ass ends. I know cause I thought the same thing and was excited cause I own an '88 Monte SS. Still sweet that a G-Body is in the game. My favorite car to jack just for the fact that I own something similar.

I'm almost finished with the game. I would have to say the biggest thing that pops out are the cut scenes and story. Probably two of the most improved areas. I am really not looking forward to the end of the game. I don't want the story to end....Although, I haven't even touched online yet.

I really like the driving. Yeah, the cars kinda control like shit, but, I thought that was part of GTA? I just roll out of the gas when I want to turn/in corners. Some cars will just not turn. I also figured out the hand to hand combat and really enjoy the step up there as much as the targeting system. So, scratch that from my complaint list in my first post.

All in all, I see it as a big step up from GTA SA. I kinda thought that was a bit of a disappointment.

Kinda miss the side jobs from previous GTA games and the way they would reward you with perks upon completion.

[Nature Boy]

Kinda miss the side jobs from previous GTA games and the way they would reward you with perks upon completion.

Have you not been going out with your friends or doing odd jobs for them? That's the GTA 4 equivalent. And there are perks if your friends like you enough. When you get there with Jacob you can call him up and he'll bring a car out to you where you can purchase weapons!

I started playing the game a little disappointed, because I foolishly let myself read the hype and get swept away by it. I loved the RPG style aspects of San Andreas, and I miss them. Still do. But I love the game now, and like you don't want it to end. When I'm playing I feel like I'm in another world. For me it's never about just going to the next mission. It's about watching TV or maybe hitting the internet. Doing something because of an email i get. Maybe taking a call when I'm on my way to start a mission and having a bite to eat with a friend instead. I love conversations NB has with everybody. I love how they reveal bits about himself and the overall story without relying on a cutscene.

[Captain Wrong]

I'm not a big fan of "cinematic" gaming (movie or game, pick one) but I actually enjoyed the story elements in GTA4. Like Nature Boy, I really dug all the little conversations you'd have with people. It really draws you into the characters and you end up actually giving a damn about the as you learn their motives and their characteristics, not just you care about them because the game tells you that you have to. Plus Brucie always cracked me up.

I still don't think it's a 10/10 best game evar, but it is a really enjoyable game. One of the rare instances where I paid full price and feel I got my money's worth.

[Nature Boy]

Plus Brucie always cracked me up.

I love Brucie. There's 3 other guys in my office playing GTA 4 as well and we *easily* talk about him the most.

I also love taking a cab (this is a note to those complaining about the long drive distances - take a cab and skip the trip!!!) and listening to the cab driver rant.

[EdFick]

I wasn't a fan of the earlier GTA games but heard good things about GTA IV so I picked it up for ps3. I have to admit, I was presently surprised by the game play and story this time around. The only thing that bugs me are the controls, which can be brutal at times (at least on the ps3 version). I agree, Brucie is the man. He always cracks me up.

[heybtbm]

Alright, The Lost and Damned is out. Who bought it?

I downloaded it this morning (~4am...yikes) and played the first few missions. It feels nice to be back in Liberty City. I haven't played the game since I finished it in July.

The story so far is pretty interesting. I tend to forget how beautiful this game actually looks. I still think the Xbox version of San Andreas looks great, but then I started up GTA4 this morning and...wow.

[FxMercenary]

its a 360 only release right? Cause i bought the PS3 CE on release day.

[Nionel]

Yeah, the DLC is 360 exclusive. I'm planning on getting it myself, I just need to finish up the main story of GTA IV first...

[kainemaxwell]

Good job. I'm obsessed over these ridiculous "scavenger hunt" achievements in open-world games. I love getting a map and checking them off one by one. The act itself is pretty much the definition of "tedious", yet I enjoy doing it. Assassin's Creed is the king of the scavenger hunts so far. 200 pigeons should be no problem.

I've seen a few pigeons in my travels around LC, but I don't dare collect any until I have a decent map. It's too bad they don't give you anything worthwhile like San Andreas. The scavenger hunts in that game actually gave you useful things like permanently spawning weapons near save spots.
Same here. When I don't feel like doing missions I catch up on doing the scavenger hunt tasks, finding packages, spraypainting gang tags, photo ops, unique jumps, etc.

[Nesmaster]

So, has anyone NOT tried this yet? It's cheap enough everywhere. You have NO excuse.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs519.ash1/30577_390807222790_559952790_4561748_167648_n.jpg

GTA + R* FOREVER.

[misfits859]

So, has anyone NOT tried this yet? It's cheap enough everywhere. You have NO excuse.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs519.ash1/30577_390807222790_559952790_4561748_167648_n.jpg

GTA + R* FOREVER.

Uh, that dude is pointing a double-barreled shotgun at your head...

[Nesmaster]

Uh, that dude is pointing a double-barreled shotgun at your head...

Beautiful isn't it?

/threadwin.