Grand Theft Auto IV
Preview
The fourth instalment takes us back to Liberty City
by Spoondan
previewed on PS3
Zee Cars
Cars have also been slightly modified this time around. They are now equipped with a GPS system similar to that of Test Drive: Unlimited. This new feature will help you navigate around the city and -in some of the nicer cars- even give you directions like a real GPS. It gets even better when you steal a police car as you can access the police database in the car. If you are looking to find a particular individual, you can simply enter their name or scan a picture. The database will then give you their last known address as well as a host of other information. The game features huge jump ramps located throughout the city. Hitting these jumps at high speeds will result in bonus points for stunts done.
One of the more controversial aspects of the game is the ability to drink and drive. Like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, you can eat and drink in the game world. Drinking too much will have your character become loopy and makes the world seem a lot fuzzier. This is sure to have many parents and politicians up in arms, but we must all remember to enjoy the game, but not take its practices out into the real world with us.
Multiplayer
And finally, the Grand Theft Auto features an online multiplayer option! From what has been seen thus far, it looks like a lot of work has gone into this feature. It is far from being just a cheesy afterthought by the developers. There are several different multiplayer modes, all of which look like they will be lots of fun and some which should create a very dedicated online community. There is the standard deathmatch, where teams go at it across the city for dominance. A mode called 'Mafiya Work' has players racing against each other to complete various missions. 'Cops and Crooks' puts one team in the shoes of the police who are tasked with trying to prevent a team of crooks from escaping the city. 'Noose Assault' has teams escorting important people from one part of the city to another without them getting killed. And let’s not forget that street racing will also be a multiplayer game where people can take their skills and pit them against strangers.
Where will you be on April 29th?
And thus, in a few short weeks we will have ourselves a new dirty, dangerous and extremely entertaining world to explore. If you have an Xbox 360 or a Playstation 3, it is not unfair to recommend that you pick this game up on day one (providing you are mature enough to handle the content). It should be noted that GTA IV is a big graphical upgrade over the previous games. The city is a living breathing place and a wonder to behold. The graphical lighting effects, dialogue, gameplay and attention to detail will surely make GTA IV a Game of the Year contender. Fans of the series will have tired of San Andreas eventually and are no doubt looking for a new adventure. Their long wait is nearly over... and the wait has been worth it, trust me.
