Video Games : Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)

Rating: - Bugs and Freezing
I rated this game relatively low only because if it is too bugged and/or freezes - its irrellevant whether the game is any good.

As you progress through the game there are a series of 'cut scenes' serving as intros to your next mission. I am about 10% of my way through the game and have encountered a bug of FREEZING which is being reported left right and centre on the forums across the internet. Other users are experiencing the same problem.

So beware.

I 'think' I have managed to fix it (it was just freezing on and image, audio continues and then all goes black) by unableing the option to log on to the 'Playstation servers automatically in the PS3 Settings.

Once you are past the other bugs/irritations eg : - camera drifts down to the ground a lot so you cant see whats in front of you, targeting is difficult and confusing at first, dialogue is a little repetative and escaping police is easy - you have a fairly OK game if a little irritating at times.

If you do have a bugged version - take it back and get a new one - then keep doing that til they fix these bugs. This is the problem with cross platform games - they struggle to cater for ALL the consoles. I bought my game & PS3 as a package from the Game store (UK). have fun!

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Rating: - Totally unplayable and full of Bugs!
Just received my copy of the game and couldn't wait to start playing. After the tedious loading screen it was down to business. Graphics wise it just looks like a slightly sharper version of GTA 3 on the PS2! But I'd thought I'd give it the benefit of the doubt and that maybe gameplay and content would be considerably superior. Well 10 minutes into the game it freezes making the PS3 unresponsive! After resetting the system I tried to load the game again without success! I have now had to remove all data from the PS3 in order to carry out a fresh install. After completing the tedious install (again), I found that the game froze for a second time!!

This game is a piece of overhyped and underdeveloped rubbish! Until a patch is released to iron out these obvious flaws, then I won't attempt to play the game ever again. Oh and before fanboys everywhere start saying this is a one-off, check all the complaints posted on the web.

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Rating: - Its Only been out 4 Days
What is wrong with you guys?? This game is over 20 hrs long and you are judging it after 4 days. Is it me????

Im tired of the disposable gamer of today. Waiting weeks for a game to come out, getting caught up in the hype and the dismissing it immediately upon release because it doesnt meet their unrealistic expectations.

I have had the game since release and so far so good. very Playable , great looking and addictive.

I will enjoy getting caught up in the fun over the nect few weeks.

Relax you hardcore gamers. Enjoy whats in your machine now and stop thinking about whats out next week!!!!!;-)

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Rating: - Great but Not Perfect
It was very short sighted of Rockstar not to bring out a PC version of GTA IV in parallel with the console versions. Apparent from reading the reviews that many purchasers are those with the PC versions of previous GTA's and only purchased the PS3 or XBox versions because that is currently the only way to experience the next GTA instalment. If ever a game was crying out to see what a Dual Core CPU, 8800 GT graphics card and maybe even DX10 could do with it - that game is GTA IV.

Starting with the graphics engine, these are much improved over previous GTA's, less cartoony and much more lifelike. Smoke and steam effects are everywhere, litter blows around the streets and really creates the impression of a grungy, lived in city. Initially running the game on a 42" plasma, however, I found the graphics a little blurred and some items (such as text messages or the map) very hard to read. I've since hooked the PS3 up to my PC monitor and the graphics look much better, albeit still a little soft.

Gameplay is similar though slightly different to previous GTA's. It still largely revolves around meeting various characters and accepting missions that advance the story. In a departure from previous GTA's though the story can branch at certain points, depending on what decisions you make for the character. Many of the side missions and role playing elements from previous GTA's are gone or tightened up (no firefighting or paramedic) and more closely linked to the main story. As other reviewers have commented on, financial gain plays less of a part and money along with weapons is quite hard to come by during the early part of the game. Unlike previous GTA's you can't just go out and do some street robberies without attracting much more police attention than before. Nor are missions like taxi driving, pimping or courier available straight away. The melee combat system is much harder, pedestrians do not go down after two or three blows and on foot the PS3 "waggle" sticks make movement much harder than keyboard and mouse of the PC. This is possibly a sop by Rockstar to the "too violent" brigade but if you haven't bought the Brady guide which details the location of weapons and armour these are very hard to find - unlike San Andreas where you could find both within a few yards of CJ's house in Ganton.

While controlling Niko on foot is tricky compared to the PC, maybe I'm a lone voice in actually appreciating the new car physics. It's the difference between Richard Burns Rally and Test Drive Unlimited. I actually evaded a (inadvertent) 4 star wanted level quite easily.

At present I'm only a short way into the game so sure there's much more to explore and discover. Despite the dark and brooding advertising that preceded its release, there's a fair bit of humour with the verbal byplay between Niko and his cousin Roman particularly amusing. Surprised no one else has commented, but this time round Rockstar seem to have unknown voice talent rather than the famous actors and personalities in previous titles.

In conclusion, at this stage I would say IV is good bordering on great GTA but maybe not the classic that San Andreas became. Time will tell but I must repeat my plea at the beginning of this review - Rockstar, you absolutely must get a PC version of this game converted and released sooner rather than later. No matter how good the console it will always have hardware and control limitations compared to the PC!

Update/Edit:
Unfortunately Amazon don't allow you to change the star rating but after encountering the now infamous PS3 network bug with this game, I now consider this a 3 star not 4 star game (Amazon mods, if you can amend the stars please do so). It is inexcusable of Rockstar and their publishers Take Two to release a game with such a glaring problem. Please tell us you actually beta tested this before release! Some sort of compensation/reparation to inconvenienced users would be appreciated along with a patch to fix the problem...

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Rating: - Give me Liberty
Well, it's been a long wait, but it's great to have GTA back. Early days have brought back the old feelings of thinking when playing 'just one more mission before I get on with real life' - 3 hours later one still has PS3 control in hand moving onto whatever comes Nico's way next. The feel and look of the game are awesome. Graphically, it makes me want to jump on a plane to JFK and visit New York City for a few days. One of the GTA strengths has been the way characters are developed and in this game it's certainly as entertaining as anything that has been in GTA history. Last night I even stumbled upon a mission where Nico ended up drunk and then had to function - perhaps not what you would wish as a role model, but simply superb. During the first few hours of gameplay I was thinking how unresponsible the vehicles were, but that was just because I hadn't jacked the better performing rides. Have I used the word awesome yet? I can't recommend this game highly enough.