Entertainment product of the year? Saviour of the universe? Such was the pre-release hype surrounding Grand Theft Auto IV that it was hard to tell. Luckily the game – mostly – lives up to the hype.
GTA IV is a fantastic achievement that mixes the traditional free-roaming play and character-driven story with the most realistic virtual environment ever created. It even has an emotional side – relationships are more important than ever – though traditionalists needn't worry. Despite some innovations such as the GPS and mobile – the latter used to organise missions and stay in touch – GTA IV feels reassuringly familiar, albeit more polished and ambitious than ever.
The driving – still the meat of the game – has been vastly improved, with a weightiness to the vehicles and a far better sensation of suspension. Car chases and the inevitable pile up are viciously exhilarating. Characters fly through windscreens, blood is plentiful. Despite this graphically - and physically - improved depiction the carnage retains the lighter touch of previous incarnations.
The game looks fabulous – especially when driving at night. But while previous iterations – particularly the franchise's previous peak, Vice City – had a slightly cartoon feel, GTA IV is an altogether darker affair. The city feels grimy and lived in. Running over pedestrians packs more of a moral punch this time around.
In the midst of mayhem the storyline could easily be forgotten so it is to GTA IV's credit that the plot and dialogue are sharp enough to make you care. And – brilliantly - managing relationships and staying friendly with the right people is just as important as keeping your ammo topped up.
But as always with a GTA game the really entertaining stuff are the adventures of your own making. Antagonising the police is as enjoyable as ever, especially as this time round they appear to be smarter. And then there are the multitude of activities such as bowling, drinking and visiting comedy clubs.
The game world is smaller than San Andreas – the previous title in the series – but far the better for it. The tighter focus means there is always something to do or see – just watching the city inhabitants do their thing is amusing enough. But don't be fooled. The game is still huge with at least 30-40 hours of entertainment. And that's before you go online. For the first time GTA can be played with and against other players.
GTA IV isn't perfect though, even if some of the series' flaws – such as weapon retention when dead - have been addressed. The lack of in-mission saves is still frustratingly absent. Likewise the cover and targeting lock-on are occasionally unhelpful. Also the odd bit of graphical pop-up – as buildings appear in the distance – do lessen the glorious illusion. But these are relatively minor failings. GTA IV is more evolution than revolution but in 2008 this is as good as gaming gets.