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Grand Theft Auto IV: The 6.24% Review [TIME]

time.com — "Grand Theft Auto IV has been in my possession since midnight Monday in a Los Angeles mini-mall. With about 20 hours of gameplay (6.24% of the story & a lot of multiplayer) under my belt, here are some first impressions"

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  • killbert24, on 05/01/2008, -3/+31Hmm... it doesn't seem like this person likes the game that much, except for the multiplayer.
    • jbp826, on 05/01/2008, -6/+4yea it seems like he is tryin really hard to not like the game.
    • kublerross, on 05/01/2008, -0/+16your reading comprehension is impeccable
    • Cowboy1015, on 05/01/2008, -12/+1Just like this guy, I'd rather hang out with my friends or play with them online, instead of wasting my time finishing a freaking game.
    • JettaMan, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2Kinda short for a review.
      • nzezelj89, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2He only completed 6.24% of the story line.
        • AndrewDB, on 05/02/2008, -0/+4It seems he only wrote 6.24% of a review.
    • csonjeow, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2They chose a writer who doesn't understand gaming, was forced to do this article, who is longing to do "real news" but isn't good enough.
  • jayinsac, on 05/01/2008, -0/+88I have played for 5 hours and only completed 1 mission. I am having too much fun driving around ***** with people and the cops
    • freakydingo, on 05/01/2008, -0/+16Same here, that ALWAYS happens when I play any of the GTA games. Too much fun stuff to do! I never get around to what I'm supposed to be doing.
    • samury, on 05/01/2008, -0/+52You, me and everyone else. First thing I did after the cut scene is punch someone in the face.
      • afx1, on 05/01/2008, -0/+96i did that too then i picked up the controller and resumed the game
        • BenRoth, on 05/01/2008, -7/+2amazing
        • antdude, on 05/01/2008, -1/+4You punched your mom? :(
        • estvir, on 05/02/2008, -0/+6Digg needs a 'Best of' category where we can submit comments like that so more people can read it..
      • je12u, on 05/02/2008, -0/+0I did the same, only it was during my date w/ whats her name (it's like the first mission)...then she got scared, ran away, and I had to do the damn thing over!!
    • hektur, on 05/01/2008, -0/+18*****! There's missions‽
      • SirCrumpet, on 05/01/2008, -0/+4Ahh my friend, I see you are familiar with the interrobang...
      • mathew_bug, on 05/02/2008, -2/+2But not so with grammar...

        It's 'there are missions?' - and even that doesn't sound good.
    • PhrosTT, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1altho i pushed old ladies to the ground right out of the gates... i did manage to actually obtain a gun before completely blowing off objectives...
    • Truegod, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1I've been working my way through the missions till I get some REALLY good weapons. Then it'll be time to lay waste to the city.
    • Malevolant, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1Glad to hear that I'm not the only one who's stuck on "postal" in-game. I want to see how many people I can run over, shoot, and see if I can escape being caught by the cops. This is fun and nothing I'd ever do IRL so if anyone thinks, because one might do this in-game and it translates into real life, it doesn't on my part. Some might use that excuse, but they were messed up to begin with. I actually have a lot of respect for people, the law, animals, and the environment IRL......in Liberty City, I'm out for Anarchy and total/absolute destruction/mayhem!!!!

      P.S. I tried to kill someone with a mustard bottle in the diner(GTA), please forgive me...
  • carty01, on 05/01/2008, -4/+29My 14% (10 hours in) review.. great addictive game, let down somewhat by graphics, single player was beginning to become repetitive so I jumped into some multi-player action last night.. freakin amazing.. loved the absolute mayhem.
    • Latimer, on 05/01/2008, -21/+7I agree, my one problem with the game is the graphics. After 5 minutes of playing I actually double checked the box to make sure I didnt accidentally pick up a regular Xbox version.

      Outside of that the game rocks.
    • DontGameDigg, on 05/01/2008, -9/+6If you're playing a GTA game for the graphics, where the ***** have YOU been for the last 10 years?

      God damn graphics whores, always expecting a great series to change just to pacify their needs. Gameplay be damned, it just needs to look purdy like Lair.
      • diggdiggerid, on 05/01/2008, -2/+7 Both people said the game was amazing but they were SLIGHTLY DISAPPOINTED by the graphics. I don't know where in Hyperboleland you live, but that doesn't equate here in Reality to "graphics whore" ESPECIALLY when they just say it doesn't really matter and the game is great without super-good graphics anyway. Who are you arguing with??
        • BearinG, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Compared to san andreas though, how can anyone say its NOT a big improvement?
      • Latimer, on 05/02/2008, -1/+2geez, i just said I thought the graphics werent that great. Great game overall, I was just disappointed in the gfx. Chill out.
        • vault, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1I feel the same way...the graphics have always been the one bad thing about the series. Still awesome games, though.
    • Litchfield, on 05/03/2008, -1/+1let down by graphics huh? then stop playing on the 360. problem solved.
    • aceakm, on 05/06/2008, -0/+1Sorry, but you lost all credibility when you said you were let down the graphics.
  • amishx64, on 05/01/2008, -12/+3dang... I want this game
    • Bamont, on 05/01/2008, -6/+4I had a very witty comment that involved mothers, wives, and girlfriends - and somehow, long hours of staring at C++ has made my brain fry.

      sorry. :(
    • mytibt, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3why can't you go get it?
      • Tyrghast, on 05/01/2008, -4/+3it costs the same amount as food for one person for about 4+ days.
        • Beerduck, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1I don't know where you live but for 69€ I could eat for a month if necessary. I want it too but that's the same reason I can't get it
          • Tyrghast, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1well 69 euro is double what i'd be paying here in texas.
      • petrikigor, on 05/01/2008, -5/+2Some of us don't own, or don't like consoles, or maybe he can't get to a shop that has it. Maybe he's not 21 and his parents would disown him if he played a video game where he ran around killing people mindlessly. Or perhaps his parents would disown him for simply playing video games, period... or having a TV... Darn Amish and their weird voodoo ways... Speaking of which, how, amish, are you going to explain getting on the internet?

        Personally, I dislike consoles and am waiting (and hoping) for the PC version.
        • estvir, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1Disliking consoles is a stupid thing to do.
  • antiorblkflag9, on 05/01/2008, -20/+3I needz wireless router for my 360
    • nickj6282, on 05/01/2008, -1/+9What you "needz" is a spelling lesson. Also, use a laptop to bridge the wireless connection like I used to do or like my brother does now.
  • wddwmmandalore, on 05/01/2008, -24/+9My 360 gave my GTA4 disc really bad laser burns and I can't play...I want to cry.
    • 1gunners4, on 05/01/2008, -2/+12And to add insult to injury, you are being dugg down.
      • chaosium, on 05/01/2008, -0/+16Because he's claiming that his 360 was mistakenly fitted with a high-power laser capable of burning through plastic.
      • 1gunners4, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Wait, that isn't normal?!?!
    • chaosium, on 05/01/2008, -4/+9"really bad laser burns"

      Give me a goddamned break.
    • BoonTobias, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1throw that ***** system out
    • topace3000, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1Laser burns? Stop making ***** up.
  • ostracize, on 05/01/2008, -1/+52"try getting actually drunk, then driving drunk in the game, and see what happens."
    Ooooo...gotta try that one!
    • iet2004, on 05/01/2008, -0/+19Mission Complete
    • rmxz, on 05/01/2008, -2/+37Happened at an organized anti-drunk-driving awareness event before. The guys running the event had a driving simulator and called for a sober volunteer and a volunteer who was supposed to keep drinking until he crashed. Unfortunately some frat knew this was going to happen and bought the game and practiced the heck out of it drunk; and sure enough one of them got picked. IIRC, the drunk was still playing the video game better than the sober novice well beyond the legal drunk driving limit.
      • petebot, on 05/01/2008, -6/+3This sounds fake. Nice try, though.
      • thebza451, on 05/01/2008, -0/+6what a great story
      • bales, on 05/01/2008, -1/+4So what you're trying to say is we should practice driving drunk IRL?
      • jguy584, on 05/01/2008, -1/+3There seem to me to be 2 types of drunk drivers;
        The "Wooo I'm drunk lets see how fast I can take turns"
        and the
        "I'm drunk, so I am going to focus all my energy on driving safely"
        I'm sure you can guess the type that dies young
        • aaronandwine, on 05/01/2008, -1/+13Both of them?
        • Dracusis, on 05/01/2008, -0/+9The sober people hit by the drunken ***** trying to take the corners too fast?
    • WhereAmI, on 05/02/2008, -5/+3On the PS3 the SIXAXIS comes into play and you have to help him keep his balance.
    • BearinG, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1I almost pissed my pants watching Niko and Roman dragging themselves out of the pub.. yelling at the taxi.. slip on the side walk and fall flat on your face.. very realistic.. and well the driving, definitely "scary" enough, specially when the cops see you.. pretty hard to get away..

      actually, it reminds me "Drunk uncle ruins birthday party" video..

      Anyway notice that you are sometimes more drunk then other times?
  • mobilehavoc, on 05/01/2008, -9/+16I have to agree, I was definitely let down by the graphics. All the still shots in the press and online look a million times better than when the game is in motion.
    • sorites, on 05/01/2008, -12/+3You're crazy. The game looks *amazing* on my 360 and 50" plasma at home.
    • evil-doer, on 05/01/2008, -8/+3yes it sure is blocky. did you notice tho that in the cutscenes they render everything differently and it looks way nicer? instead of looking at the characters in the cutscenes, take a good look around at the environment. holy crap it looks way nicer.
    • GUTTS, on 05/01/2008, -5/+5Yeah maybe its your 19 inch Tv thats the problem
      • antdude, on 05/01/2008, -5/+1Yeah and CRT.
      • Rudy165, on 05/02/2008, -1/+0i'm playing it on a 51 inch crt rear projection and I bet the quality is as good if not better than yours.
        • GUTTS, on 05/07/2008, -0/+1dunno bro, I'm playing on a 52inch Sharp Aquos....so you tell me.
    • bigdawg, on 05/01/2008, -4/+8I agree the game looks incredible on my 1080p plasma!! Are you sure your ps3 setting aren't right.
      • BeefBaron, on 05/01/2008, -0/+4Too bad we're only using 640p mode for it (upscaled to 720p).
        :(
        • AttackingHobo, on 05/01/2008, -5/+2To bad that is *****, because PS3 does not have a full scaller chip.
        • warplayer, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1Oh god, not this argument again.
    • om3ganet, on 05/02/2008, -1/+1two words. ANTI ALIASING... ARGH.

      Of all things, can't we just get that? Would improve it quite a bit.
    • aceakm, on 05/06/2008, -0/+1The game is the most graphically beautiful thing so far this year.
  • weside, on 05/01/2008, -19/+7I gave it a 6/10 after my 6%. I'm up to about 17-18% now, and it's worked up to a 7.5/10. Bad driving controls, no mid-mission checkpoints (which was just mentioned in a front page story on Digg about being a requirement for current-gen games), and no local co-op prevent it from being the 10/10 it keeps getting.
    • Rev0lver, on 05/01/2008, -1/+16Driving is easy to get used to. Mid mission checkpoints? The missions are like 10 minutes long. If you're dying that often, then you need to rethink your strategies. Co-op would be nice, though.
      • HolyChimp, on 05/01/2008, -0/+4Missions might be short, but driving across the city for the 4th or 5th time can get annoying. Mid-mission checkpoints would fix that right up.
        • JazzFlight, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Make use of Taxis (essentially a warp feature) and immediate mission replays (the text messages after you fail) whenever you can. There's really a lot less driving across the city than previous GTA games.
          • BearinG, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1I agree with taking a cab.. I got pissed off after driving 3rd or 4th time on a mission..I was a little annoyed too because there were more than one check points.. if only the "Try again" would put you at the last check point instead..
    • KloroFormd, on 05/01/2008, -2/+15Bad driving controls? I've put about 5 hours in the game and can already squeeze my car between oncoming traffic on the highway while going "motion-blurred and objects-appear-much-farther-away" MPH, and not damage my car when I take the sharp on-ramp the wrong direction. I prefer the feel in this game to the previous games. There's no more incredibly unrealistic max speed to stopped in 1.5 seconds.
      • lynx44, on 05/01/2008, -2/+2I guess thats what I liked about the other games. I don't really want GTA to be realistic, I thought the driving in the other games suited it fine. I was able to drive like a madman and I wasn't ever too concerned about running into things. This game I have to drive much slower and anticipate each turn so that I don't run into a building. Either way its not a deal breaker, but I personally don't have as much fun driving in this game.
      • KaiUno, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Game's designed to have a fast route either between the two lanes or to the left or the right. You don't have to be a GTA racing genius to pull that off.
    • asherp, on 05/01/2008, -1/+7There's a co-op mission in multiplayer, and more to follow if you're on x360.
      • BearinG, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1But still.. having the full story mode available for Co-op play would have owned all games of the world.. adding lots of replayability not only on multi-player modes..
    • Markpdotcom, on 05/01/2008, -0/+4I have to agree, the driving controls are difficult compared to other GTA games. It looks as though they lifted them straight from The Getaway.
      My biggest problem is the handbrake, normally you could flick the car in one direction, then in the other and floor it to correct the skid, but not in this GTA, you end up going backwards!
      • BearinG, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1I would agree that the controls are different then other GTA games but i'm not sure they are more difficult.. its just a different way of driving i think...

        It depends on the cars though and how fast you are going etc... but i always use the hand-brake, you need to just press it quickly.. not hold it.. like in real life though.. always brake in a straight line.. THEN turn..
    • Jpesci, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1How would they do local co-op though? Maybe the game engine can't handle rendering a split screen or something.
  • Scopitone, on 05/01/2008, -2/+56"Kids, try getting actually drunk, " My word! Is this man from the reputable publication of Time magazine advocating that minors intentionally drink themselves into a stupor and get behind the wheel?! Context be damned! This scandal needs to be exposed. Alert the media! I want his job!
    • getbusyliving, on 05/01/2008, -2/+9And WTF are kids doing playing this game anyway?
      • Chebsi, on 05/01/2008, -0/+4Trying to be cool.
      • KaiUno, on 05/01/2008, -3/+7Having fun. Just like you. Don't underestimate kids, dude. They're people too.
      • SharkyTech, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2I'm pretty sure that's the point of his sarcastic comment. People complain about it affecting children with violence, but it's not a kid's game.
    • aelias, on 05/01/2008, -3/+2First thing I thought of. They should print an immediate apology, and the author should be punished, if not fired. That's a big oops.
  • MythicaL, on 05/01/2008, -1/+135From reading the title, I thought the game was rated a 6.24%.
    • toekneebullard, on 05/01/2008, -0/+20That's a VERY detailed rating scale.
      • cello, on 05/02/2008, -0/+3I rate all my stuff on a 10,000 point scale. You don't?
    • mathew_bug, on 05/02/2008, -3/+1pun intended, i guess
  • Mullinsmcd, on 05/01/2008, -3/+45Thats absolutely the worst review out of all of them. Time is definitely just trying to jump on the wave and drive web traffic. If you have read any of the other reviews you have seen on digg, this will not change your opinion of the game at all. Don't bother reading it.
    • ralphie81, on 05/01/2008, -0/+4I would hardly call that a review it was so poor. I don't think he's ever played a video game, just played it some because he had to. Time shouldn't have even bothered.
  • spacebuddy, on 05/01/2008, -1/+7I am only 2.94% finished, yeah I am slow, but the game is the BOMB.
    • antdude, on 05/01/2008, -3/+3Oh yeah? 0.00% for me. Need PC port. :)
  • ZephyrNinety, on 05/01/2008, -10/+20Why does the 360 have a disc tray? It should just have GTA 4 on the hard drive and nothing else.
    • quaunaut, on 05/01/2008, -4/+5Bioshock, Halo 3, Forza 2, skate., etc etc.
    • thailand1972, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2I'm buying GTA IV, and apparently I need a 360/PS3 to run it - to me that's just a minor hardware spec.
      • estvir, on 05/02/2008, -0/+3Pfft, 360? PS3? They're just hardware dongles!
      • BearinG, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Yeah they always overrate the hardware recommendations.. just keep the game
  • ijustfloat, on 05/01/2008, -5/+25I clicked on the link thinking that I was going to be taken to a detailed, scathing review from Time Magazine giving it a 6.24% out of 100%.

    Instead, I found a person who played 20 hours worth of a game and thought it was enough experience to write a review for.

    I agree with Mullins... this review is obviously Time magazine trying to jump on the GTA4 bandwagon.

    Lame and buried as such.
    • RizenBB, on 05/01/2008, -2/+8Since when is 20 hours of time not adequate to formulate an opinion on a game? The vast majority of games on the market can be beaten in 20 hours.
      • Memnochxx, on 05/02/2008, -0/+3Since playing 20 hours only got him 6.24% He must have wasted a ***** of time with multiplayer because I've been ***** around and I'm at 30% with 20 hours.
        • BearinG, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Yes that's what I think too.. I've been playing and doing mostly the story mode, i have 36% for ~20 hours..

          He did mention in the review that he spent a LOT of time in multiplayer.. All the good stuff is unlocked AFTER.. 6% you have nothing.. he's probably still living in the crappy apartment doing taxi jobs and a pistol. Hell even that was okay.. but then, boats, heli etc....
    • Fired4This, on 05/02/2008, -0/+0At least he's honest about it. I bet he's not the first reviewer to only make it a fraction of the way through a game before publishing judgment.
  • Rido777, on 05/01/2008, -9/+2Here's 6.0 REAL CARS that should be included in GTA IV...Seriously, HOW cool would it be clear house in the Pope Mobile?!?!?

    http://www.maxim.com/maxim-stuff/blogs/599.aspx
  • mrzack, on 05/01/2008, -3/+16GTA IV purchase = 50% of 2nd quarter U.S. GDP growth.
  • ryansmith18, on 05/01/2008, -3/+25Best quote ever:

    " I wasted my life in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas pretending to work out; now I'm wasting my life in GTA: IV pretending to surf the web.
    "
    • stappawho, on 05/01/2008, -7/+6Why? Working out in SA took all of maybe 15-20 minutes of the 80 hours I played it.
      • HangerBaby, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2Honestly... I think I went to the gym once before beating the game. They tell you to go to the gym, but you only had to go for a minute and you could leave.
        • BearinG, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Yeah.. you only needed to go back if you wanted to have the neat girlfriends.. i thought that was okay.. i mean there is a "consequence" or a result which i thought was nice..

          That's why i am not sure why people are happy that its gone.. for me, all this stuff adds to the game.. its better to not be required but why remove it completely? Same with the clucking bell or whatever, if you ate too much, you'd become fat.. but then there's a girlfriend for that too ..
    • PhrosTT, on 05/01/2008, -5/+1that's such a ***** lie considering you can't surf the web 6.24% into the game
    • scottnash, on 05/02/2008, -0/+3"Best quote ever"? Seriously?
  • Rido777, on 05/01/2008, -7/+1Actually, speaking of reviews...Check out this review of MULTI-PLAYER!

    http://www.maxim.com/entertainment/reviews.aspx?p_ ...
    • KaiUno, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2Pimping Maxim on the coattails of time? 2nd time already, give it a rest, sad sack.
  • DocGuy, on 05/01/2008, -0/+6I have been playing the game for about 5 hours now and have yet to kill someone or get more than two stars. The game is great and all the games-within-a-game make it even better. The graphics look great to me (certainly ten times better than any previous version), the soundtrack is stellar and the attention to detail in the cityscape is stunning.

    Now, I have stolen my share of cars but that is another story...
    • Kythas, on 05/01/2008, -0/+5Drive in the airport. I drove onto the runway and was instantly at 4 stars.

      Needless to say, I didn't make it back out alive.
      • BearinG, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1It was weird.. i did this also in single player (*spoiler*, there's also an area at the end of the runway, that's "safe" so you can lose your wanted level */spoiler) but it did not work in multiplayer.. I looked like an idiot when all players are meeting at the airport for 4 stars and then nothing happens..
    • intekra, on 05/01/2008, -6/+3"I have been playing the game for about 5 hours now and have yet to kill someone or get more than two stars."
      You're doing something wrong. I played for about 4hrs so far, got to 8%, and managed to kill over 500 people (according to in-game stats)
      • gdehms, on 05/01/2008, -0/+9Yes since you can play a game like Grand Theft Auto "wrong"
        • KaiUno, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3At first I was doing traffic the regular way, waiting behind red lights and all that. This was my first GTA title, and I wasn't sure how to do it. Turns out I was doing it wrong the other way around. (I actually reloaded the game after killing an innocent.) Took me a little to get into the GTA way of thinking. It's all about balance. Random killings do still make me feel a tad guilty.
          • DarKnight90, on 05/02/2008, -0/+3Actually playing the way you play isn't so bad. I always went on random killing sprees in the other GTA games, but not in this one. You'll find there will be more of an impact when you actually have to kill to stay alive.
  • ULJarad, on 05/01/2008, -0/+14The more I play it the more I'm enjoying myself. It's true: the starting area vehicle's controls suck, but once you reach out you'll find some impressive cars that the physics engine compliments very nicely. As far as graphics go... graphics are there to make what you're seeing more believable, and Liberty City is the most believable city ever created by far.
  • radiofrequency, on 05/01/2008, -17/+1I was going to buy this game but now I think I'll just download it from torrents when it's available for PC.
    • Kythas, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1It's worth buying. Go get it. Now.
    • reed311, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1This is the reason why PC gamers get the shaft, because of the rampant piracy.
      • KaiUno, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Loads of xbox owners got to play it a week before release as well. Same torrents and usenet by the way.
    • anillop, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1This is why there are fewer and fewer pc games out there. From a business perspective consoles are the way to go.
  • lugerlg, on 05/01/2008, -8/+2***** review.
  • Beatmiser, on 05/01/2008, -1/+9My mini review in one paragraph or less: The Single Player game is honestly daunting. I feel like there is almost too much to do. I have a feeling that I'll be doling it out little by little over the next several months. But multiplayer really does shine. I took a city bus yesterday in Free Play mode had another player jump in with me. I drove around running people over while he leaned out of the vehicle gunning people down. But the physics were insane. Piloting a bus is evil.

    So really multiplayer is worth the price of the game alone. They could have done this as a release of Liberty City Mini games and I would have been happy.
  • ChileanGoD, on 05/01/2008, -10/+1a 6.24% review? ... Reviews are going twitter style now?
  • feelmo, on 05/01/2008, -8/+1I think the real question is:
    Is it GTA IV more fun than Halo 3 to play when you are high?
    I would say yes : )
    • karagekun, on 05/02/2008, -1/+0dont know why theyre diggin ya down bro.

      weed and sweet games go together like uncooked blocks of ramen and peanut butter. (seriously great snack)
      • feelmo, on 05/02/2008, -1/+0this is exactly what i wanted to hear
  • FrostRaven, on 05/01/2008, -1/+7"What's worse? Buying teens cheap vodka or immersive sociopathic sandbox crime simulators?"

    Bah, these comparisons are getting old and stupid. This review is obviously invalid because the guy doesn't understand the game. Most noobs that think this game is about killing cops/driving wreckless/murdering hookers are automatically void of a proper opinion. The game is far more than that. And how about that statement? Cheap vodka or 'killing simulator'? Gee, I don't know - what's worse? Having your kid brother pretending to steal a car or letting him drink something that might actually have them doing it for real?
    • 1timeuser, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Yeah, plus not even kids want cheap vodka.
    • DyDx, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Also, just because the game is rated M does not mean you have to be 17 to buy it. I seriously doubt that teenagers will have trouble buying this game at most retailers. That part of his "review" bugged me.
    • thailand1972, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2I agree. The author is messed up if he thinks playing a video game is comparative to drinking a bottle of vodka.
    • topace3000, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2Drinking vodka makes you steal cars. True fact.
  • ogisdan, on 05/01/2008, -0/+6I have had a lot of trouble with the multiplayer. Most of the time it says I can't connect, and the other times I do connect, it brings me to some empty party.
    • Beatmiser, on 05/01/2008, -1/+6Random piece of advice. I've learned if I join a 'Quick Match' the games are empty. but 'Custom Match' is usually full on the PS3 Version
      • ogisdan, on 05/01/2008, -0/+5Thanks, that helped a lot.
      • mc_hambone, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1Same issue for 360. About half the time (it seems) I join "Quick Match" there is just me in the lobby. But join Custom Match and it's always populated. My theory is that since most multiplayer games are "modified" by the host (tweaking at least one settting), there are less "pure" game types available (sans tweaking), therefore choosing Custom Match opens you up to all other (tweaked) matches. I could be wrong, though...
      • BearinG, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1That's odd, I never get any players in Custom Games.. I thought it was the mode to HOST your game since every time i tried it, it was empty.. I play Quick Games and seem to have good luck.. 360 BTW..

        I don't understand the difference between "Quick" and "Custom" anyway.. in other games, "Quick" is usually random or whatever.. Custom you get to pick your search criteria or something.. but in this case, its pretty much the same thing..
    • mattzweb, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1For some reason, linking your PSN ID with Rockstar Social Club made the multiplayer work on the PS3. Before I linked it, I couldn't get on to multiplayer at all.
      • BearinG, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1I still can't get my damn Social club validation e-mail.. that's with registering 4 different e-mail accounts too.. I was hoping to link my account but they still haven't given me a reason or a fix for my issue..
  • nwodggid, on 05/01/2008, -12/+1Frankly the game is over-rated rubbish that has been over hyped. Finally a newsagency brave enough to give a fair review that isn't paid for by Rockstar.
    • thestranger, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2fair review= 1/20th of the game?
  • puggid, on 05/01/2008, -14/+1So every gaming website gives it 96-100%, and a magazine which knows about as much about gaming as I do Indian goat farming gives it 6%. Who should we believe
  • fadeout, on 05/01/2008, -1/+8I bought it last night. First Grand Theft game I've played.

    It's a lot of fun so far except for the driving system, which has been my bane in another games before (Crackdown comes to mind). Having to redo 30 mins of game because I suck at driving (or the driving system is weak) hurts.
    • PhrosTT, on 05/01/2008, -0/+7the driving system doesn't "suck"...

      they intentionally revamped the physics engine to make driving more realistic... i.e. you can't hit and intersection doing 50 and make a 90* turn. after like 25 hours of gameplay i'm finally getting good at driving.

      i've started tapping A while holding down L... and that lets me turn fast without losing control.
      • Truegod, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2good tip. I've found the same thing. Also Motorcycles really shine, but crashes can really hurt you...
        • Coffeedemon, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2I got killed on a Faggio about 20 minutes into my first play. Turned a blind corner, rear ended a parked car. I thought he was going to be ok but brought up solid on the grill on an oncoming truck. Hope they can patch in some sort of replay saver.
          • chaosium, on 05/02/2008, -0/+3Flying out the car when playing multiplayer is big fun, though.
      • dudefaceguyman, on 05/02/2008, -0/+3Or if you're like me. During road races I just shoot out everyone else tires and cruise my way to the finish line. Cheating rules!
    • mwalker52, on 05/02/2008, -0/+4You can take a taxi!
    • vault, on 05/02/2008, -0/+3One thing I don't like about the controls (at least on the 360) is I keep accidentally hitting the horn when making a sharp turn by pressing in the thumbstick.

      And I'm not that far in the game, only just finished 'ivan the not so terrible' but once you go on the second date with Michelle, you can take her to a bar...and afterwards you have the option of driving her home drunk. Controller vibrates, the handling is off, etc...they put so much detail into this game it's amazing.
      • BearinG, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Just wait til you are racing, looking back at your opponent (R3), trying to aim and shoot your opponents tires while swerving to block him/her
  • darkfus, on 05/01/2008, -6/+4Sounds like the game sucks as far as annoying cut scenes. I haven't picked it up yet, but I do hate a lot of FMVs. Still gonna pick it up though.
    • dustinhansen, on 05/01/2008, -0/+8I actually thought the cut scenes were pretty well done. There's a few real dramatic moments. Besides, you can always skip the cut scenes, they don't force you to watch.
      • Shatneresque, on 05/01/2008, -3/+0Really? That's refreshing. They were unskippable in previous versions.
      • BearinG, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Yeah the cut scenes give me a break for a smoke... I also love the storyline.. a friend of mine never watches anything but I feel bad for him, it really is a great story that he's missing.. and just watching Brucie perform "air punches" is awesome..
  • Hax0rJimDuggan, on 05/01/2008, -11/+3Stop digging this ***** game.
  • RooDoG, on 05/01/2008, -1/+36.24% is not nearly enough to review on. The story has some twists and is very interesting. I'm at about 39% right now... amazing!
    • baylat, on 05/01/2008, -0/+130 hours, 70% The game was grefksdjf lasdf//.as......af...
    • BearinG, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1I understand maybe not playing the whole game but at 6% you are missing a lot of the practical stuff.. like friends and gilfriends "with benefits" .. I'm pretty sure you are still on the beginning island too .. in previous GTAs, you had more from the get go.. you could do vigilante missions right away etc.. now it develops and follows the story (most of the time) so the chronology makes sense..

      I'm happy you keep "discovering" stuff..
  • LoveYouSomeEric, on 05/01/2008, -0/+9WOW! This is what passes for a game review in the mainstream media? Not exactly "thorough" is it?
    • Hoogs, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3I know, I kept looking for the link to the second page but there wasn't one.
  • tcpip4lyfe, on 05/01/2008, -2/+2I didn't know there was muliplayer. I bet that is fun as hell.
    • dustinhansen, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3Yes, yes it is. Especially Free Mode, where you just go around causing chaos with other people.
  • NinjaPirateDude, on 05/01/2008, -7/+1to me playing gta for the story is the same as playing tetris for the explosive action.....
    • YellowSnowDemon, on 05/02/2008, -0/+4You're the kind of person that gives GTA a bad name. Rockstar has some very talented writers and directors.
    • OverZealousHobo, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1actually, I ***** my pants a little every time I play tetris...
  • moonbastic, on 05/01/2008, -2/+6I've played for 6 hours and am somewhere near 12% completed.

    I can't imagine getting any kind of accurate idea of what this game is like - especially storywise - when someone has played this game for 20 hours and is only at 6%. Laughable.
  • kingatrock, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2I'm at 22% and a little sad about that, cuz i cant tell the difference from side missions and the main ones (which is a good thing) but that means i can go back when I'm done and play all the sides I missed.

    Awesome game!
  • TecK415, on 05/01/2008, -1/+4This is the only game I have ever played without skipping through the cut scenes. Because they're actually good! Ahh I love it.. OK time to go back and play some more.
  • cdbarlow, on 05/01/2008, -1/+0TIME condones underage drinking? FTA: "(Kids, try getting actually drunk, then driving drunk in the game, and see what happens.)"
  • oblivionatm, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3I'm going to get drunk and then drive drunk in the game, that is a sweet idea.
  • Solusar, on 05/01/2008, -0/+223 hours, 52%. Game is great.
  • jdames1980, on 05/01/2008, -0/+8Well I guess it makes sense, he gave us 6.24% of a review.
  • tehowe, on 05/01/2008, -2/+1Seems a pretty fair description of a thug life fantasia and training simulator, dugg
  • banido, on 05/01/2008, -4/+1I'm getting frustrated with all this hype around the game because I don't have a Xbox360 or a PS3 (not a big fan of most console games), and I'll have to wait at least until October for the PC release (if not delayed).
    The PC release and especially the multiplayer/updates/mods is worth the wait, right?
    Or should I buy a console and play it right away?
    • getbusyliving, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1I just bought a PS3 because of this man. It's a really really good game, and I am a hardcore PC gamer. Just go buy it.
  • mattes5, on 05/01/2008, -2/+2Liberal magazine doesn't like a game that has strong progressive undertones? Ironic don't you think? While on the other hand I am a libertarian and the progressive undertones disgust me..... BUT GTA 4 is awesome.
    • HamSammy, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1I was knifing this old woman over near Coney Island, and she's basically begging for mercy while I'm stabbing away - so then I car-jacked an SUV and ran over her carcass and right then on the radio I hear them making fun of FOX News....Disgusting!
  • Arcotik, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1GTA graphics have always been for *****, I don't know what the surprise is here.
    • jesusx, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2I think the graphics are pretty impressive...definitely an improvement from past installments.
      • BearinG, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Yeah i thought this was way nicer than the previous GTAs.. I'm not sure what people were expecting.. graphics have never been top-notch in any GTA game.. they are always subpar when compared to other "current" games but the other games don't have has much going on at once either..
  • detales, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3Wow, talk about the most half-assed review ever written. One of the biggest cultural phenomena of the last decade and you write a review after playing through 6.24% of the story?

    Way to go, Time. You're really ahead of the game.
    • aelias, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1You're thinking of GTA 3. This is just a well done follow-up. Worth buying a system for? Absolutely. New and revolutionary? Not really. Multi-player is fun as balls, though.
    • StefanArak, on 05/02/2008, -0/+0"Phenomena" is the plural, by the way. Sorry to be a pedant; it's simply a personal bête noire.
    • TheGeneral, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1Time Man of the Year: Niko Bellic.
  • Raoulduke212, on 05/01/2008, -3/+1GTA III was the reason i bought a ps2 and GTA IV was why i bought a ps3...my observations so far:
    Soundtrack: C+, disapointing
    Driving: D- Terrible, much like gran turismo where you cant make a turn without spinning out, hopefully cars will get better
    Story: B- meh, kind of cookie cutter from the other games so far Characters: I dont care much for Nikko, plus he speaks Serbian but has a russian accent...as soon as i get a shotgun i'm shooting Roman in the FACE

    Overall: B, pretty good, but i expected much more
    • Solusar, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2how does a C+, D- and a B- average out to a B?
    • swiftideas, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2disappointing soundtrack? compared to what exactly??
      driving D- why? cos you can't make a turn w/out spinning out? try the brake
      methinks you're too kool for skool
    • Subcide, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1Get a shotgun to shoot roman from the security room in the strip club ;)

      First time i went to take roman to play pool i went to pick him up and accidentally forgot what the brake button was and slammed him into the wall, killing him instantly. I felt bad.
    • dudefaceguyman, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1The fact cars drive more realistic is BAD?! ....?!!??!?!
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