Since its 2008 release, Grand Theft Auto IV has sold over 25 million copies and is widely considered a landmark in open-world gaming.
But for many players, including myself, Niko Bellic’s gritty tale failed to deliver the engaging experience they were expecting
I recently finished a playthrough of the amazing (if flawed) Grand Theft Auto V, which prompted me to reflect on my vastly different experience with Grand Theft Auto IV.
In this review of GTA IV, I want to share my mixed feelings about its highly praised gameplay. Even though I wanted to enjoy this game, it ended up pushing me away. A follow-up post will detail why Grand Theft Auto V won me over as an incredible, if still sometimes maddening, game.
The Table of Contents
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Expert GTA IV Reviews: What Critics Are Saying
- GameSpot: "Grand Theft Auto IV is a game that expands what video games can do. It offers
a strong story that pulls players into its tough and realistic setting."
- IGN: "Niko Bellic’s story is about love, betrayal, and revenge. It takes place in the very detailed Liberty City."
- The Guardian: "Grand Theft Auto IV has complex characters and deep themes. This game raises the quality of the series and shows that video games can tell important stories."
- Polygon: "The open world is both beautiful and harsh. It lets players explore a lively city that shows the ups and downs of city life."
My Mixed Feelings Towards Grand Theft Auto
- For some reason, I've never been a huge fan of Grand Theft Auto. I remember watching someone play one of the early top-down games years ago. It seemed fine, but not very exciting.
- The top-down gameplay in the early Grand Theft Auto (GTA) titles, particularly GTA I and GTA II on the PlayStation 1.
- This perspective allowed players to explore vibrant 2D urban environments filled with missions, vehicles, and chaos, fostering an engaging sense of freedom. I just could never get into those titles.
- I changed my view when I saw my 14-year-old cousin playing Grand Theft Auto III at my
grandma's house in Christmas 2001.
- Within just three minutes, he showed me one of the open world's most infamous elements: how you could sleep with a prostitute to regain health, then kill her to get your money back.
Grand Theft Auto IV: A Disappointing Experience
- When I played Grand Theft Auto IV, I liked the open-world style at first. However, I thought the environment felt too childish to keep me engaged.
- My impression was that the game was more concerned with what you could do than what was worth doing—especially in terms of enjoyable GTA 4 gameplay.
- Grand Theft Auto III felt like a proof of concept made by a 14-year-old; it had a plot, but it was hardly the point. The gameplay was groundbreaking, while the juvenile tone felt, well, juvenile.
Anticipation That Led to Disappointment
- When Grand Theft Auto IV was released, I started hearing much more interesting things about it. It seemed like the game and its characters truly understood the complexities of their world.
- The narrative appeared to promise something interesting, coupled with open-world gameplay that
had become too amazing to ignore.
- So, I gave Grand Theft Auto IV a serious shot. I played for about 20 hours. I got close to halfway through the main story missions while also doing some side activities.
- Yet, I had to admit to myself that I just wasn't having much fun.
Frustrations with GTA 4 Gameplay Mechanics
- As I continued playing, I encountered several frustrating grand theft auto gameplay mechanics that marred my overall experience.
- The clunky cars and frustrating cover and shooting mechanics detracted from what could have been engaging GTA 4 gameplay.
- While playing, I felt like I was holding my breath. I was surrounded by crude language and disrespect towards women. It was everywhere and hard to ignore.
- The portrayal of women, and the stereotypes in games it brought about through various groups, and the negative commentary on society made me feel exhausted rather than entertained.
Related Post: Do You Like Playing Video Games with Karma Morality Systems? – Explore games where your choices shape the outcome, just like Niko’s journey in GTA IV.
The Phone System: A Time-Wasting Frustration
- One aspect that particularly annoyed me was the phone feature. While on my way to a mission,
I'd receive a call from a character asking to hang out.
- I wanted to look into the side stories of characters like Michelle, Roman, and Niko Bellic. So, I often paused what I was working on.
- Sadly, these hangouts often included boring activities like bowling or darts. They took me all over the map but didn’t offer anything useful or interesting.
- It felt like a waste of time and showed a bigger problem with the game—almost everything I did seemed not worth the time I was putting in.
Liberty City exploration
- Liberty City has an interesting layout, but I often found myself spending too much time driving around to reach the mission markers. Some missions drove me to frustration.
- I could keep track of the target for a few minutes, but then I would often lose focus or hit a dead end. This made me restart parts of the game that I had already learned.
- At one point, I wondered why I kept playing the game. The only reason I could come up with was a strong hope that I would eventually enjoy it.
Niko Bellic character analysis
- Although Niko Bellic's "serious" story was decent, it hardly resembled the "Oscar-caliber"
experience described by some reviews.
- The humor consistently fell flat, and even though the gameplay made strides in open-world development.
- My interest waned quickly as I found only a fraction of the content engaging. The main story and side interactions failed to resonate with me, and the driving often felt tedious.
Overall Thoughts on our GTA IV Review
We rate Grand Theft Auto IV a 6.8 out of 10 — a disappointing ★★★☆☆ on our open-world scale.
- In summary, the combination of elements in Grand Theft Auto IV just didn't work for me. I wanted to explore this very detailed crafted world, but much of it lacked enjoyment, and the serious themes weren't captivating either.
- Clearly, many people have different opinions about this game. Despite my efforts, I couldn't truly connect with Grand Theft Auto IV.
Impact of GTA IV on the gaming industry
- Since it came out in 2008, Grand Theft Auto IV has had a big impact on the gaming industry, especially in the open-world category. It created a new standard by focusing on deep stories and character growth.
- Niko Bellic’s complicated journey encouraged other developers to create more detailed narratives.
- The gameplay mechanics, like the difficult controls and frustrating missions, bothered me. These issues showed the game's weaknesses. Because of this, game designers sought to improve their work. They created games with smoother interactions and more dynamic environments.
- Grand Theft Auto 4 showed how important it is for players to make choices. This made game
developers think about creating stories that branch out and allow players to feel more connected to the game.
- Overall, the legacy of GTA IV continues to shape how stories are told and experienced in gaming, challenging creators to prioritize immersive worlds and engaging gameplay.
Engaging with the Community: Your Opinions Matter
- I'm curious to know which aspects of GTA 4 gameplay resonated with others. Is the juvenile humor a major appeal for many players?
- Are people willing to put up with it for the sake of experiencing the state-of-the-art open-world gameplay?
- Or is it a hit-and-miss experience, where some jokes land well while others fall flat? Did you find the driving and mission structures boring and frustrating, or do they work for you?
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Grand Theft Auto IV initially released?
- Grand Theft Auto IV was released in April 2008. It’s the eleventh game in the Grand Theft Auto series and marked a major shift in storytelling and graphical presentation for the franchise.
How long does it take to complete GTA IV?
- Completing the main story in Grand Theft Auto IV typically takes around 30 to 40 hours.
- With side missions, exploration, and various in-game activities, total playtime can exceed 60 hours depending on your approach.
Where is Grand Theft Auto IV set?
- Grand Theft Auto IV takes place in Liberty City, a fictional city modeled after New York City.
- It features boroughs and environments inspired by real-world NYC locations.
What is Grand Theft Auto IV?
- Grand Theft Auto IV is an open-world action-adventure video game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games.
- It follows the story of Niko Bellic, an Eastern European immigrant navigating crime, loyalty, and redemption in Liberty City.
What happens to Niko Bellic after GTA IV?
- After the events of GTA IV, Niko Bellic’s future is left ambiguous.
- The story ends with Niko seeking closure and reflecting on his past, but still burdened by his choices.
- A closing scene shows him living quietly in Liberty City. His story is open to interpretation.
Why is Niko Bellic not in GTA V?
- Niko Bellic does not appear in GTA V as a main character. In-game references suggest he is attempting to lead a quieter life, stepping away from the violence of his past.
- Rockstar intentionally left his future vague, allowing fans to imagine what comes next for him.
Is Grand Theft Auto IV available on PS5?
- As of now, Grand Theft Auto IV is not natively available for PlayStation 5.
- However, it can be played on some modern systems via backward compatibility with Xbox platforms or PC.
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Want more games that mess with morality like GTA IV did? Check out my breakdown of video game characters shaped by karma systems.
