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First, I'm not going to review the game because that has been done enough. But I wanted to let everyone know that if you are debating between the Special Edition or regular game, spend the extra $30! The safety deposit box with the GTAIV logo on it is well made and makes a great addition to my desk. Also, the 2 keys that came with it are a nice touch. The duffle bag is made better than the bags you get for free when you buy cologne. The Rockstar key chain medallion is already on my key chain. The art book, while not a coffee table size book is a nice little feature. The only thing I really could have done without is the CD sampler.
I have bought many special editions before, Lost Planet, Halo 2 & 3 and Devil May Cry 4 and always been disappointed. I had gotten to the point where I said I wouldn't do it again. Now, thanks to GTAIV, I am going to have to start thinking about buying the special editions again, especially Metal Gear Solid 4 Special Edition.
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Niko is new to America. Brought by hopes and promises of his cousin Roman about how wealthy he is. Unfortunately for Niko he quickly finds the stories to be lies. Grand Theft Auto IV starts as others in the series with an anti-hero. Getting involved in doing the wrong things is all to easy in this game. From the very get go you are learning that living the American life can be difficult and in order to get your story going you must break the law. For the most part Niko doesn't have a problem with this since he has become raw after being a soldier in war.
GTA IV has probably one of the darkest stories so far in the series. This is not the type of game you will play and comment on how cheerful the story is. For those of you who have played previous GTA games you will notice many similarities. From the gameplay mechanics to the story line. Although people who are new to the GTA series will find how simple the learning curve really is in this game. The game gives you an incredible amount of tutorials and guides you thru your first several missions making things easy to understand. Most features in this game are simple to understand and keep this game from getting over anyones learning curve.
What has made the Grand Theft Auto series so superb is the story telling. Excellent voice acting with intense and exciting missions make GTA IV a true winner. From the first moment on you will notice that you aren't really playing a game as much as taking part in an intense crime drama. Think Sopranos from the former Soviet Union. The game is mission based and gives you the ability to choose what you want to do at any given point. You meet numerous characters who are all about committing crimes and they give you certain jobs. Of course these jobs increase your reputation and help progress you thru the story. Along the way you will find numerous characters. Some you will like and others you will probably want to get rid of yourself.
This game has further evolved ideas from previous GTA games. Niko can not only date one woman at a time but several. It's really up to you. Just remember how in real life this can be time consuming it can also be in a game. You will have woman calling and texting you if you ignore them to long. Then comes taking them out for dates. Each woman has different tastes and interests and it's up to you to know where to take them. Some of the activities can actually be fun like playing darts or pool as these mini games do have learning curves. The girl you are with will respond to your success or failure at these games. Obviously there are numerous other activities in wonderful Liberty City. Also it's important for Niko to accessorize and finding the best clothing to wear is important. Image is everything as as you progress you get access to better clothes. The car mechanics have improved in this game but don't expect to have similar handling to a racing game. What is cool to look at is the amazing detail they have put into the car damage. Every little ding makes an impact on the car you are in. Lastly is the music selection. An incredible 200 songs are available in Liberty City to listen to on the radio. Numerous radio stations including the talk ones belt out hit songs and comedic advertisements. Niko even has the ability to watch t.v. They covered every detail in this game and it shows.
As if a single player mode that will take you 30 to 40 hours to beat is not enough there is also online multiplayer. Yes you and 15 others can play on the beautiful streets of Liberty City. The multiplayer is truly open ended for your enjoyment. Several game modes plus the ability to create your own multiplayer. You can also invite seven friends to take on eight others. It's easy to say this game will be enjoyed for months on end.
It's easy to be impressed by Liberty City. It's as close to New York City as any game has ever got. From the pedestrians that make up the neighborhood to the realistic design of the buildings. The weather changes and the days progress realistically. This is one of those games where you can just take it in and enjoy the scenery. In Grand Theft Auto you have the freedom to do what you want. This game is intended for adults. The language and content can be mature most of the time. Although that is at a parents discretion. I wouldn't suggest this game for everyone. Although I would suggest it for those who have enjoyed previous Grand Theft Auto games. I would also suggest it for those who enjoy mafia or crime movies. This game will have you sitting back and enjoying the incredible story. Just don't forget that it's your story to play.
**Now for those of you asking. Is the special edition good for you??? If you are a GTA diehard fan I would say yes. If you enjoy getting extras for extra money I would say yes. The Special Edition comes with a mediocre soundtrack album featuring songs you may have never heard before. You also get a good quality lock box with a duffle bag. In the box is a rockstar key chain. I now own this stuff. It's nice but I don't think it's of the best value.
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This is the best game that I have EVER played. I have been a fan of the GTA series since part 2, and I never thought that they would progress as they have. The game is so much fun with a compelling single player storline, and then you are also given the option of jumping into multplayer, which is stunning. I could not have asked for more. My only complaint is that they released the game the same week as my finals, so theres no chance of me studying. lol. Great job Rockstar.
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i played this game on my ps3 and i switched backed to classic controller and it played best value on original controller .i played it on the 360 and it was running at garbage controlling my friend had got pissed because he complained about the driving...he was very pissed and never knew the controling on ps3 will be so much better microsoft son of b#$%^ controller.
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I thought the license plate, duffel bag, and metal security box w/ key (and a rockstar key chain) were a nice touch.
Gameplay: The menus are very handy, to include the first menu which has a map that you can set waypoints, which in turn create GPS driving directions on your small in-game map.
The cell phone does everything. You'll receive calls, texts, etc. You can change your ringtone, etc. It's also your connection to get online for multiplayer.
The fighting system has been improved. I like being able to seek cover and blind fire if need be.
Last night I had fun just playing pool and darts. These mini games are available at different locations.
I'm definitely going to have fun just exploring, etc. while working though the missions.
There were reports of the Online Community/Multiplayer being down. And yesterday (30 Apr 08) when the Online was still down I was getting the feeling it might take a while to fix, but when I came back from dinner it looks like they've got it back up and running. A def. plus.
There is a lot of freedom in this game. The random people on the street actually react to your actions. A rando dropped a cigarette, so I picked it up, still lit.
Driving and walking takes some getting used to, but fighting is pretty straight forward, lock on to your opponent and then dodge, kick, punch or jab if you're unarmed. If you're packing, well that's a different story.
There's a lot of detail in this game to include lighting and the environment. Your car takes damage depending upon what you hit and where. Or when bullets hit it...
I'm definitely going to have fun playing around with all the crazy details, mini-games, and exploring the city, which is so massive it's going to take a long time to visit the entire thing.
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HOMECar Credit - Online Advertising - Hotel Las Vegas - Remortgages - Problem Mortgage 