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GTA IV Is A Masterpiece | Retrospective Documentary

RedC said:
Yeah I agree.

Grand Theft Auto IV definitely has more heart and a grounded tone. Niko's story feels personal and heavy, and Liberty City really sells that sense of struggle and realism.

But at the same time, I get why Grand Theft Auto V hits differently for people too. I actually lean more toward V for that exact reason. Its over the top nature feels more in line with how America presents itself, all the excess, absurdity, and chaos dialed all the way up. It's exaggerated, but it's also kind of the point. It's highlighting how ridiculous everything can be in a way that feels intentional.

So IV feels more grounded and emotional, while V feels like a sharp, chaotic satire. Just depends on which angle resonates more with you.
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Yes, I agree.

In terms of gameplay GTA V is brilliant, but i couldn't connect with any of the characters, Not with Michael, Trevor or Franklin, i just didnt care for them. Man even the antagonists were lame.

On the other hand, with Niko, Johnny, and Luis, you can really see the struggle — that desire to escape all of it. Yusuf Amir, meanwhile, is brilliant entirely on his own terms. IMO killing johnny on GTA V was just bad. It doesnt make sense at all.
 
I played it on PC back then and thought it was amazing from start to finish... the worst optimization I have ever experienced, but still had a great time with it and it's on my top 3.

It was also the last pc game I bought in physical format. :messenger_crying:
 
I liked the game, but I never actually finished it. The driving mechanics were rough for me. I did beat The Ballad of Gay Tony, and I tried the bike DLC, but riding a motorcycle was worse, so I dropped it and never went back. I probably should give it another shot. The intro music when the game loads is still one of my favorite parts.
 
The physics system used in this game still to this day is top of the line stuff, They ended up purchasing the company behind it because it's that good.
 
GriffinCorp said:
I liked the game, but I never actually finished it. The driving mechanics were rough for me. I did beat The Ballad of Gay Tony, and I tried the bike DLC, but riding a motorcycle was worse, so I dropped it and never went back. I probably should give it another shot. The intro music when the game loads is still one of my favorite parts.
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You should! with mods looks awesome. I used FusionFix Mod
 
Hated the driving physics of the game. The city itself was great, but majority of the missions weren't. I still have my 360 copy, might give it another go.
 
I think the driving was fine. The cars had some weight to them. It was a lot like Driver, IIRC. I enjoyed its driving. I hated the gunplay and running controls mostly.

But in retrospect GTA IV might've had the best world building, setting and characters. Before that GTA was more tongue in cheek, light hearted and this is why IV received less favorable opinions in hindsight. But in a kind of unique way, and perhaps because R* has been riding out GTAV for over a decade, GTA IV suddenly finds the praise it initially got. Which is sort of unique, going from initial GOTG to it wasn't that good, to actually being billed a classic and the best one right now.
 
Excellent score, characters, dialogue, story but, like RDR2 , missions were boring , unimaginative crap.
GTA V did an 180 on this and brought the fun back.
 
Animated GIF
 
I think GTA4 is my favorite in the series. GTA5 might be the second most overrated game of all time, only behind FF7.
 
Hunter 99 said:
The best one I've played.GTA IV was incredible
.
Worked at gamestation UK at the time and we had a midnight opening for it.
Staff cosplayed as thugs and gangstas ect,we even put chalk on the floor of body shapes to replicate a murder scene.good times!

The collectors edition was also really nice for the time with a duffel bag and Safety box from what I can remember.

I remember getting home at like 2am and loading it up on the ps3. Just amazed at how far it had come since San Andrea's.
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Yes I got GTA IV at midnight from Gamestation brilliant memories that loading screen music was epic.
 
I still hate it mainly because I found the majority of the characters insufferable and the juxtaposition of trying to tell a story with a more serious tone and the sophomoric dick-and-balls jokes that is normally found in GTA games. I'm also in the camp that didn't care for the car handling.
 
A shame there isn't sign of a remaster release. I would be more than happy even for a simple re-release a la RDR1.
 
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I remember the jump from GTA SA to IV back then, it was insane. GTA IV was made for the PS3 and dual-core CPUs era. Tell me a single game from 2008 that had that level of physics, mechanics, and gritty graphics (except for Crysis). It still beats most modern games today, despite being a 18 year old game that's only 9–10 GB.
 
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It has such a great atmosphere to it.

Loved driving around at night listening to Kanye.
 
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RedC said:
Yeah I agree.

Grand Theft Auto IV definitely has more heart and a grounded tone. Niko's story feels personal and heavy, and Liberty City really sells that sense of struggle and realism.

But at the same time, I get why Grand Theft Auto V hits differently for people too. I actually lean more toward V for that exact reason. Its over the top nature feels more in line with how America presents itself, all the excess, absurdity, and chaos dialed all the way up. It's exaggerated, but it's also kind of the point. It's highlighting how ridiculous everything can be in a way that feels intentional.

So IV feels more grounded and emotional, while V feels like a sharp, chaotic satire. Just depends on which angle resonates more with you.
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I recommend you the comic "American Caper" by Dan Houser and Lazlow if you are into over the top american satire!. And also, the book "a better paradise" also by dan houser. This man is the GOAT.


3018467.jpg
 
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Gabe ♥ said:
I recommend you the comic "American Caper" by Dan Houser and Lazlow if you are into over the top american satire!. And also, the book "a better paradise" also by dan houser. This man is the GOAT.


3018467.jpg
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Never heard of it, but I will definitely check it out.

Much appreciated for the recommendation.

Edit: I just checked and see it's an ongoing series and will wait to read until it's completed.
 
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GTA IV does a lot of things in an impressive way. The city feels alive — you can even use the in-game "internet" and visit different websites, and there are side activities like bowling or hanging out with friends. It has a strong, somber atmosphere that really stands out. All of that is genuinely impressive.
That said, I remember getting extremely bored with how much driving you had to do just to reach missions. It often felt like you spent more time getting to the mission than actually playing it. And out of nowhere, the story suddenly throws a girlfriend at Niko.
I also remember being pretty disappointed with the missions and overall story. GTA: San Andreas felt much more varied, fun, and full of memorable characters. The Ballad of Gay Tony was much better in that regard.
 
This was the only GTA I ever finished. Very engaging story and characters.
All the others became repetitive and boring after a while.
 
zabegan34 said:
I remember the jump from GTA SA to IV back then, it was insane. GTA IV was made for the PS3 and dual-core CPUs era. Tell me a single game from 2008 that had that level of physics, mechanics, and gritty graphics (except for Crysis). It still beats most modern games today, despite being a 18 year old game that's only 9–10 GB.
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The Euphoria engine is still top-tier when it comes to dynamic NPC reactions imo

Shoot them, hit them with a car or toss them around. The results are unpredictable and still some of the best you'll see in any game

It was unseen at the time too.
 
Miles708 said:
If only it didn't crumble completely as soon as you did any mission.

Shooting is bad, gear management is ridiculous, inexistent checkpoint placement, oh yeah you had to go back to the weapon and the armour dealer every time you die obviously, the map didn't sign all points of interests (what's it for then), the city has nothing to interact with and like 4 buildings you can enter in.

The story is "Niko the man who wants to start a new life.... by accepting every job from any shady person he encounters for the first time", and the final choice is laughable.

But the driving felt nice.
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Agree, except for the driving part, that felt like shit as well. And sometimes the framerate drops to 14fps because the driving is so terrible.
 
Kupfer said:
It always was.
I don't get people come to realize this a whopping 20 years later
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cause its not that talked about when you talk about GTA games, ppl ll mention San Andreas, Vice City and GTAV, but you ll rarely see someone mentioning GTAIV, at least thats how i see.
 
I really liked it amd weirdly installed it again recently on my pc. I think for some people the more serious tone throughout was maybe jarring to them. Games like San Andreas were overflowing with goofy whacky fun shit, but GTA4, while still having some of that, was definitely more grounded.....for a GTA at least. So maybe people disliked it or didn't appreciate it at the time because they were expecting something different.

The Saints Row GTA era was really fun and a great time in gaming. Shame Saints Row turned into that disgraceful excuse of a game.
 
Itchy Tickles said:
I really liked it amd weirdly installed it again recently on my pc. I think for some people the more serious tone throughout was maybe jarring to them. Games like San Andreas were overflowing with goofy whacky fun shit, but GTA4, while still having some of that, was definitely more grounded.....for a GTA at least. So maybe people disliked it or didn't appreciate it at the time because they were expecting something different.

The Saints Row GTA era was really fun and a great time in gaming. Shame Saints Row turned into that disgraceful excuse of a game.
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Yes but San Andreas had memorable characters: CJ, The Truth, BS, Rider, Sweet, Cesar in contrast with GTA V.

Mike Toreno it's just fascinating, best in series.




GTA IV still the GOAT.
 
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Imtjnotu said:
My least favorite GTA game.....gameplay was ass
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It may be ass in the main game, but the car handling and humorous tone were definitely excellent for the Ballad of Gay Tony expansion. It was more amusing than anything in GTA 5.
 
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What I can appreciate in GTA is world is well detailed but the problem is when you start playing which most of the time is not fun.
 
Miles708 said:
If only it didn't crumble completely as soon as you did any mission.

Shooting is bad, gear management is ridiculous, inexistent checkpoint placement, oh yeah you had to go back to the weapon and the armour dealer every time you die obviously, the map didn't sign all points of interests (what's it for then), the city has nothing to interact with and like 4 buildings you can enter in.

The story is "Niko the man who wants to start a new life.... by accepting every job from any shady person he encounters for the first time", and the final choice is laughable.

But the driving felt nice.
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GTA games are standard third-person shooters. Their biggest appeal (the edgyness) got neutered by Rockstar.
 
Guilty_AI said:
Gta 4 was a bit of an exception, euphoria and the overall physics really carry the gameplay there
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But for me the moment to moment gameplay didn't feel good, the actual gunplay sucked and most story mission weren't all that great.

It's good game to show off to people who don't play video games for them see the detail and physics but for me not really fun game to actually play.

This my biggest reason why I can't get excited for GTAVI especially after RDR2.
 
Imtjnotu said:
My least favorite GTA game.....gameplay was ass
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Yeah my least favorite too. Depressing and the city was boring (very repetitive). Just thinking about those "dates" you had you go on with your friends INDIVIDUALLY (not as a group as most people do) just to maintain a good relationship with them just pisses me off.
 
This game grew with me as time went on. It was definitely a grower but it definitely had its share of flaws too.
 
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