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Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360)
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198 Customer Reviews
RRP: £49.99
Amazon Price: £24.98
You Save: £25.01 (50%)
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
Platform: Xbox 360
Publisher: Rockstar
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Editorial: What does the American Dream mean today?For Niko Bellic, fresh off the boat from Europe, it is the hope he can escape his past. For his cousin, Roman, it is the vision that together they can find fortune in Liberty City, gateway to the land of opportunity. As they slip into debt and are dragged into a criminal underworld by a series of shysters, thieves and sociopaths, they discover that the reality is very different from the dream in a city that worships money and status, and is heaven for those who have them and a living nightmare for those who don't.Beginning with the 1997 release of the original Grand Theft Auto, the GTA series has been one of the most prolific, controversial and down right entertaining franchises in video games history. This pedigree of success guarantees that the highly anticipated eleventh game in the series, Grand Theft Auto IV, will garner at least as much attention if not more. 
Return to Liberty City. | 
The dream as Niko expected it.
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There's always a catch.
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But some skills are international.
View larger. | The Plot
Grand Theft Auto IV is a brand new adventure in the GTA universe following the experiences of Nikolai "Niko" Bellic, a new immigrant from an undisclosed eastern European country whose troubled pa st and the persuasion of his cousin Roman have brought him to the fictional Liberty City. Unfortunately, Niko's search for the American Dream and a much needed fresh start, hits an immediate snag when the rags to riches story Roman spun to pique Niko's interest is exposed as not only a complete fabrication, but a ploy to enlist Niko's well-known skills as a tough guy against the ample list of enemies clamouring for Roman's debt-ridden blood. Because Roman is the only person Niko knows in Liberty City he begrudgingly accepts his role as Roman's protector despite the deception. But as time goes on Niko comes into his own, and his experience on the wrong side of the tracks proves more valuable than he could have ever imagined as he fights for survival and later supremacy on the crime ridden streets of Liberty City.Game Environments
Based on several of the boroughs of New York City and parts of New Jersey, Liberty City, familiar to players of previous games in the series, has been entirely redesigned for GTA IV. Players can expect visible detail down to the weeds growing in the cracks in the sidewalk, cars and buildings of visibly different ages and a much greater level if verticality in the buildings and bridges that they are able to explore as Niko moves through the city streets. In addition, pedestrians in GTA IV are much more realistic. No longer simply moving cardboard cut-outs, these NPCs are intelligent, modern, human representations that laugh, cry, eat, drink, use cell phones and ATMs, and talking amongst themselves regardless of Niko's interaction with them. Gameplay
Historically GTA games have focused heavily on mission-based play, requiring successful completion of fixed tasks in order for players to progress through the game, but this has changed to a great extent in GTA IV. Players will experience an entirely new and exciting emphasis centred on the blending of on-mission and off-mission play, resulting not only in an increased sense of realism, but more interesting and unrestricted gameplay. Features
Aside from the car jacking and a detailed city environment here are the new features for GTA IV: - Improved combat system - Now you can use cover and also a target lock system, which allows you to take out targets with greater ease and accuracy. Plus, you can engage in some hand-to-hand combat if you can't get your hands on a piece quick enough.
- Cell phone - Not just for basic phone calls anymore. Use your in-game cell phone to receive missions via SMS, snap photos, and ZiT (tag) songs that can be downloaded exclusively on Amazon.com/mp3.
- Free time - In between missions you can take
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"Disapointing" - 30 May 2008
Ive just completed the game and felt i should comment on it. Firstly i was very impressed, the graphics are gorgeous however underneath the graphics the game is missing in a lot of areas. Having played all the other grand theft games i guess i was expecting too much from this, to me it feels the game has been rushed and there are many things that could be improved upon. Firstly there is no where near enough weapons to choose from, the police are actually TOO good in GTA4, there isnt enough customisation available in clothes or cars, motorbikes are quite hard to handle and one thing that really stands it is that it just isnt as humorous as the other titles. The city at first feels huge and makes you want to explore however, there isnt that much in the city to actually interact with. The use of the in game internet is very limited and doesnt really add anything to the game. Improvements in the combat sistem is pretty good, but again could have been better (learn new martial arts?. Niko is a likeable character and develops well in the game. Still worth a purchase, just dont expect to be blown away by it.
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"Best game on the XBOX 360" - 3 July 2008
As with others I eagerly awaited the release of GTA IV. I'd played all the previous games so there was alot of living up to do.
To be totally honest, when I first started playing this game, I did feel as though it was lacking something. BUT...after giving it some time it has won me over.
The graphics are clearly superb...the best of any game I have played. The driving is fantastic...hard to begin with, but after some time it becomes second nature. After going back onto GTA SA and VC the driving is marginally better in GTA IV.
The missions are brilliant...just the same as the type of missions we have come to love. There are some pretty meaty side missions too (racing, assassinations, drug dealing, taxi driving, police most wanted missions, pigeon shooting).
Another good aspect of the game is the ability to socialize. You can play darts, bowling, go to the bar, strip club, comedy club (ricky gervais and kat williams). When you've become friends with someone they will do favours for you (as do girlfriends) which can be very useful.
To be totally honest, there are too many great aspects of this game to list. The attention to detail is incredible. I think that this game is in a league of it's own and thus is a must- have.
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"dont listen to them...." - 11 July 2008
dont listen to all the people that say it is exactly the same. it's incredible! the graphics are a work of art, the cars are beautiful, and you can have more fun on it than any other gta! i paid £45 for mine and i dont regret it! if you dont have this i would suggest that you buy it!
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" A little word for the decrying fanboys." - 18 July 2008
I was at first a bit sceptical about getting this game. A lot of reviewers claimed that it was less addictive than the previous games, that the driving was terrible and the story slow. I can now quite cheerfully throw those misconceptions out of the window.
I have been playing it for about three days averaging a few hours each day and I am still not even 25% of the way through it. It is just huge there is no other way of putting it. The sheer detail that Rockstar have put into this game is staggering. From being able to look at your cash balance on ATM's to using binoculars on the beachfront you will constantly find reasons to just say 'wow'.
A fair few people claimed that this installment just wasn't as fun as the others and having owned or played nearly all the GTA games I am in a position to judge and the key word that all the critics are failing to take into account is Realism. Yes realism, that little thing that means you can't walk onto an army base and steal a tank or stand in a huge crossfire with your health very slowly decreasing or just take a jet from an airbase and fly off in it.
I love realism. The way I can see the bullet holes in the side of my car and the beautiful, living city you are immersed in. If you want ridiculous scenarios and over the top gameplay then buy San Andreas. If you want one of the most gripping and enthralling games you will ever play then buy this.
The driving is actually quite easy to handle. There is a noticeable difference in handling between vehicles and when you get used to it then it becomes really enjoyable. The gunplay is a bit stiff and the auto-targeting has an annoying habit of locking onto civilians in the middle of a shootout, there is a decent selection of guns to choose from and they all have their strengths an weaknesses.
I've played a few online matches and they were surprisingly fun. The character editor was pretty basic but the sheer joy of driving a sports car down a main street with bullets pinging off the sides and an SMG poking out of the window is unparalled.
The story is admittedly a bit slow starting but that is deceptive. Even as I write this I just took part in a huge shootout in a construction yard so make no mistake. The action does heat up.
Overall, you really should buy this game because nothing else can quite match up to it and it is a decision you will not regret.
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"not as good" - 31 July 2008
i was so hyped up for this game but when i got it, it was like every mission was simular. you get told to go somehwere then you do an objective then you go back to where you started and that is it mission over. gta san andreas is better. gta iv is not worth 39.99. the game was over pretty quicky and the plot was not the best. overall dont get this game at this price wait till it is a bit cheaper. if you like complicated games and hard games then dont get this. it well to easy the complete. i completed it within 1 week. so easy.
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"the best GTA to date" - 8 October 2008
Its simple, if you have played any of the GTA series then this is a must buy.
Its truely a great game, a few bugs but that does not take anything away from it. The protagonist is believable and so is the situation.
You start off as a Russian immigrant to Liberty City who comes over to start a new life with fat cousin. His cousin boasts about all the women, cars and houses he has so you willingly go over to the US but you find out that its loads of rubbish. You decide that you have to fight for a living and everything starts from there.
Its worth the money, its a great game.
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"SIMPLY THE BEST" - 21 October 2008
To all those people who are slandering this incredible game i say...YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT.This game never stops giving, its got arguably the best protagonist of any game to date...the great Nikko Bellic.Theres just no way you can even scratch the surface of what this game is capable of in such a short space.Basically, the story is brilliant, the characters are ledgendary, the city is the best open world in videogame history and online multiplayer is second to none and is years ahead of its time.I consider this the single best game ive ever played.The reason for this being that games are designed to be fun, this game is the most fun therefore the best.There is nothing like 16 player free mode in GTA IV.sixteen people let loose across the whole city, with everything that is in the single player available, bar the story and a slight reduction in the variety of traffic.Free mode has by far the most creative potential of any online multiplayer to date and literally is Infinately fun.Dont let theese negative reviews discourage you from buying the best game ever made.People that submit negative reviews are just hoping that having an alternative opinion will somehow make it seem like they know more about the game than the rest of us, or that they simply dont like it themselves as opposed to judging it as a game...this game has sold 10 million copies worldwide as of august 2008, it speaks for itself.JOIN US IN LIBERTY CITY
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"GTA IV - The realistic game that includes a huge beating heart in the statue of liberty" - 21 June 2008
Sorry people, but I was awaiting this as much as most game lovers and this was quite a kick in the balls after playing it for 10 hours, I suddenly realised, the following was missing:
Car Modding
Planes
Parachutes
Bicycles
Go-Karts
Tanks
Betting/Gambling
Property buying
Burlgary
Many, many weapons including, Smoke Bombs, Chainsaws, lock on Rocket Launchers's, katanas etc etc
The ability to ride trains
The RPG feeling (no more getting fat, working out etc)
The lack of clothes/changing apprenance
The 6 star rating being the Army
The ability of being able to purchase hardware, such as hammers etc
No more going into police stations
This is very very disappointing and in my opinion a huge step backwards.
Instead you are given
A mobile phone, its not really that good, you sort of get them on san andreas and vice city but on GTA 4 you get to ring people to go out and stuff, this is pretty cool, the only thing bad about this is once you have arranged to go out with someone you have about 2 minutes (a games hour) to get to them, and they can be at several places on the map so they usually end up hating you more for going out with them.
Car damage is amazing now.
The best bit is the multiplayer which is fun for a few hours, chill out and free roam with your mates, or go on online missions.
After completeing the game, and it does take a long time you will be feeling depressed by either or the two endings of the storyline, lets just say you don't own the biggest mansion in the game.
Overall the game is worst than San Andreas, the graphics are better, but the game is smaller and has alot less to do, except multiplayer. Rockstars excuse of taking away the majority was that it was too unrealistic, and what, a beating heart in the statue of liberty (happiness) is not? Get out.
beating heart
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"I don't know... I just don't know." - 30 April 2008
The most eagerly awaited game ever? Well it's certainly up there in the top five, rubbing shoulders with the Master Chief which ever way you cut it.
Does it look amazing? Yes of course it does. More gritty and less cartoonish than it's predecessors, detail aplenty, pop-up and draw-distance problems controlled if not entirely removed, cars that look as good as a racing game, characters that look as good as a third person action game. It's all here.
It looks and feels fantastic, but...
If you've been there since the beginning there is just a tiny nagging feeling that past all the glitz and glamour, beneath all the media hype it isn't really that much of an advancement from GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas.
You see, when GTA III came along it replaced a crude but addictive top-down scroller. It took that world and used the newly minted PS2 to blast it into full 3D, defining that platform and ushering in the era of the sandbox game.
As I stare at GTA IV in 36 inches of HDMI beauty I simply don't feel quite as excited as I did when I hit the streets of Liberty City the first time. There's a tiny voice inside me that keeps saying that all the glowing reviews in the mainstream media are only written because those reviewers weren't there to see how incredible it was when the series first went 3D. Struggling to come to terms with a form of media that they neither understand nor respect, they are only written because they feel they are expected to crow about how great it is.
I try to put my finger on what exactly has disappointed me but it isn't easy. Perhaps it was the fact that Saints Row really made a feature of the car modifying thing, that San Andreas gave you a whole county to explore, perhaps I just like the playlist less this time or perhaps its just one sandbox too many?
Don't get me wrong, this still beats most games by a country mile. The voice acting is beyond reproach, as are the character models, the level design, the cell phone system. In short, it oozes quality from every pore and yet remains a bizarrely muted experience.
Of course you'll buy it. Everyone will. But twenty years from now, will we talk most fondly about this one? Or will it be one of the previous three?
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"Once you get used to the driving this gets better!" - 1 May 2008
Ok, had I reviewed this the day I got the game I would have given it 2 or 3 stars, like a few of the other people here. That was because I found the driving awful.
However, I have played it a few days now, and have got the hang of the driving. Once mastered, it is so much more flexible than before. Like anything else, there is a learning curve, and until you have reached the top end of it, it is not much fun. But once you have it licked you will find you have much better control of your car.
Other than that, great graphics, lovely sandbox game. One to wile away many a long hour. Just give it a bit of time to get used to the driving.
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