|
 GRAND
THEFT
AUTO
IV
Controversy
aside,
one
has
to
admire
the
scope
and
quality
of
this
series,
reaching
its
most
vivid
realization
yet
of
Liberty
City’s
seedy
underworld.
In
this
chapter
the
lead
character
is
Niko
Bellic
arriving
from
Eastern
Europe
to
live
the
American
Dream.
With
his
low
down
taxi
driving
cousin
spinning
yarns
about
how
great
things
are,
Niko
is
soon
faced
with
the
harsh
reality
as
they’re
pulled
into
the
world
of
crime,
dumping
the
player
who
chose
to
undertake
this
mammoth
game
in
one
hell
of
a
trip
of
sleaze
and
violence.
The
large,
free
roaming
city
area
is
a
great
combination
of
various
gaming
styles,
from
mission-based
action
and
driving,
to
shooting
and
fighting.
You
can
spend
hours
driving
around
causing
havoc
(and
believe
me,
the
urge
will
be
there,
but
will
wear
off
once
you
realized
you
spent
a
lot
of
cash
on
this
game
and
want
to
get
its
full
potential).
A
wide
range
of
radio
channels
can
be
tuned
in
your
cars,
from
Hardcore
and
Rock,
to
Hip-Hop
and
talk
radio.
The
vast
city
includes
a
range
of
entertainment
areas
from
bars
to
strip
clubs
(and
if
you
have
an
original
copy,
you
get
a
printed
entertainment
guidebook
listing
these
spots).
Other
printed
material
includes
a
full
map
of
the
city
streets
and
the
subway.
Concerning
the
violence
and
nasty
narratives
attached
to
these
titles,
remember
that
this
is
for
mature
gamers
(often
a
contradiction
in
terms,
I
know!),
and
is
not
meant
for
young
players
who
may
either
be
disturbed
by
it,
or
(god
forbid)
try
and
re-enact
the
(often)
glamourized
world
of
criminals,
drug
dealers,
killers
and
mobsters.
Like
adult
themed
movies
with
violence
and
sexual
content,
it
is
up
to
the
parents
to
ensure
their
kids
are
not
exposed
to
material
which
may
have
an
adverse
effect
on
them.
I
wasn’t
inspired
to
become
a
gun-toting
drug
dealer
after
seeing
Scarface
(around
6
years
away
from
the
age
restriction),
nor
after
playing
this
(at
double
the
age
of
the
18
age
restriction),
so
let’s
hope
that’s
true
for
all
who
find
this
to
be
gritty
entertainment,
and
nothing
more.
5
/
A
-
Paul
Blom
|
