I don’t know where to start.

How do you even write about a game like Grand Theft Auto IV? It’s great, for sure, but it isn’t for everyone. It’s tough to tell if someone will enjoy the game short of asking if they enjoyed any of the Grand Theft Auto III’s or another sandbox game - the open-ness, the sheer amount of choice is crippling. There’s a story here, but you don’t have to listen to it if you don’t want to. The driving aspect of the game is great, but you could avoid it and still have plenty to do. Combat is finally good, with a new cover system that allows for spectacular, movie-style gunplay. The hilarious radio DJ’s playing excellent music are still here; new are movies and the internet. In short, it’s the GTA you remember, but bigger and better.

Well, it’s not all here: the weightlifting minigames of San Andreas have been excised. And some things you might not expect to find, like multiplayer, have the potential to change the game immensely. But it’s still distinctly GTA - over-the-top violence, sexuality, humour - that’s so clearly satire yet manages to enrage thousands who take it seriously. It’s definitely not for kids, but as an adult I’m extremely satisfied to have some food for thought along with my entertainment. Judging by the sales figures, I am not alone.

In many ways, GTA IV is more than a game - with 6 million copies expected to be sold in the first week, for a gross of $400 million, it looks to be the new record-holder - beating out movies as well. This may very well mark a new era in entertainment, where interaction rules. I mean, Star Trek has been predicting that for years - remember the Holodeck - and that, more than anything about the game itself, may be it’s best contribution to the gaming world.

Thanks to IGN for the image, which kept me warm at night until last tuesday.

Filed under: Other, Video Games — Max @ 8:20 pm