Grand Theft Auto IV

10... By far the best game this goat has ever witnessed. I don't agree with OXM's review on this one. But I still love the magazine and will support OXM to review how they see fit. Unfortunately there is no real scientific way to review a video game... And 9.5 is not a bad score by any means. But other games which can't even be considered to be even close to the calibur of this title seemed to get a 10 handed to them fairly easily. But this goat is going to get back to playing GTA 4 now.

10

Sorry sambo but if your parents dont feel you are mature enough to indulge in the world of GTA4 then they are probaly right. This installment is much more realistic due mostly to the new physics system death in GTA:SA made you laugh now playing carmaggdon makes me cringe. Gone are they cartoonish graphics. This game is 4 ADULTS and at 23 Im not sure I should be playing this "video game" but Im addicted it's not a game, it's a trap!

I have never been a good fan of GTA games, but this one looks worthy enough to be in my collection of games. Even though I'm 16, my parents wouldn't ever let me get a GTA (and I know why), but really though, this GTA is very different than the others. Less gangster-shoot-em-up, more crime-mobster, and I like a game with a story to it and not just violence as the story. I told my parents about this game and they won't let me get it! Everybody I know has this game and I feel left out! Either way, I'm still getting it one way or another! And about the 9.5 out of 10, I agree that it's a very real review, but the 10's that were handed out shouldn't have been 10's (except CoD4). If you contradict Bioshock's ending, GoW's concepts, and Halo 3's lackluster features while still giving out 10's, then a mild filler shouldn't have gotten GTAIV a 9.5!

halo3, bioshock, and mass effect are considered great games and i agree mostly( running around looking 4 the next mission is not my idea of fun) but they do share one thing 4 sure PUBLISHING!!!! Microsoft XBOX Magazine i trusted you. you have betrayed us all! ps vehicle combat made mass effect unplayable worse TEN EVER! THANK YOU!

a 9.5 HOW ABOUT A 9.0? Niko's expresses the whole game that he'll do anything as long as it pays good, right. So, what happens when u start getting a CRAP load of money? Nothing. U cant buy anything but weapons, food & get ur rocks off with a hooker. a lot of things it seems are missing. But thats my only gripe, this game is awesome! To cancel ur OXM subscription because of a 9.5 score is stupid. All ur doing is punishing ur self by taking away the best Gamer Magazine available. Good job OXM on the review.

There is no way this game shouldn't have gotten a 10. If you know how to use the right thumbstick there aren't camera issues. This is by FAR the best game of the series they some how keep refining it and making it better and better if you gave any of the other gta's a 10 theres no way this shouldn't get the same.... And especially with some of the underserving games that get 10's these days...

I am only in the first few hours of the game and the beginning IS slow. The camera DOES have it's issues. Also, I have trouble hearing the dialog over music and other sounds no matter how I adjust the settings. This game is still a masterpiece and the review is dead on. Being cross-platform, I'm sure it will be Game of the Year on almost every list.

I've read all the issues with GTA 4 in them, and I have to say, OXM got me pumped and ready for the release, especially when the mentioned, "FREE MODE". You all do a great job with every preview/review, that's why I've been buying Mags for 3 years now.

That's right, NO GAME IS PERFECT, THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, take, for example, Halo 3's SHORT storyline.
That is why no game will make the 11.0 UNICORN rating!!!

Jesus get over yourself people. Pissing and moaning about what ends up being a difference of .5 in the final score. Its still AAA all the way. They gave thier reasons why they didnt give it a 10 and that is all they need to do. I for one am thankful that their are still magazines willing to think for themselves and not just pressured to post a score to make the fans and developer happy.

As for people claimimng they are going to stop retting this great magazine simply because they endd up giving a game .5 less than you though it should get, LOL. Good GTF out of here as this website and magazine does not need candy as* people like that. This is by far one of the best, if not the best, videogame publication on the market today and if your too much of a baby to accept other people's opinion then your dont deserve to be apart of this community. Again get lost and good riddance.

As for me I couldnt agree more with this review. This is a fantastic game but there are too many small problems for me to personally give it a 10. I would have given it a 9 or 9.5 tops. The problems with the camera alone is worth a .5 deduction IMO.

Anyways great review OXM!! I am sure you guys are alredy well aware of the fact that you cant make everyone happy especially the incredibly immature people who are threatening cancelation of your magazine over a game rating, lol. Keep up the great work and remember most of us love the work your doing. Keep it up!

I'm so not going to subscribe to this magazine anymore!It's been great knowing you OXM but its time to go. I'll still go the website though.

I agree with you ATLien4evr, this game should have gotten a 10!

The camera on this game is garbage and a HUGE step back from the camera in SA and VC. That alone keeps the game from getting a 10 in my book.

Its also true that, as Americans, we are never completely satisfied with the things we have or are given.

The very reasons they gave GTA4 a 9.5 are BS. Mainly they are that Nico is "emotionally all over the place" and "wishy-washy" and that GTA4 has "a few 'filler'-feeling story missions". Firstly most games don't even HAVE characters this good. Secondly SO WHAT IF THERE ARE A FEW "FILLER" MISSIONS?! I guess the editors felt the urge to use GTA4's few, small "problems" as their reasoning for giving it a 9.5 instead of the 10 it rightfully deserves. This game is easily going to be the best game of 2008.

I dont know if anyone else has this problem but i cant lock on to targets with my weapons only my fists can anyone tell me what to do ive tried everything and its kind of annoying

I think this game is much better then a 9.5 and better then some 10-rated games (halo 3) and it was a huge inovation and by far the best in the series. I respect your opinion but im not the only one thinking of a 10 so please reconsider.

I got the printed version of this review in the June mag. It came in my mail yesterday!

I agree with you all the way Revan Halo, this game should've got a 10 but OXM got their reasons for giving the game a 9.5 and the explain it all in the review. But Halo 3, Bioshock, Mass Effect, Cod4, and Fight Night got 10's and I just can't see why GTA IV can't join the club.

I think the only reason you have given this outstanding work of gaming art a 9.5 rating is because you guys got so much crap for handing out four 10's last year. This has to be a joke, and I hope when the print version comes out, you either address reader's dissatisfaction with the review, or in the next issue if it is too late now. I understand that you want to look like great critics, but you have really screwed the pooch on this one. I have been a subscriber for 2 years now and I cannot argue this point to anyone who would ask me why OXM is one of the only publications (electronic or print) that did not give GTA IV a 10/10 or 5/5. I understand trying to be objective and respectable journalists, but you guys should have had an extra meeting about this! Seriously, with all of the faults of the other games you have rated 10.0 (that other posters have already made light of), I cannot believe that a slow beginning compared with the excellent story and the gameplay that is light years ahead of anything on next-gen systems, could warrant this backhand to Rockstar North. This makes you look less credible than before and has made me doubt your intentions. I own 43 Xbox 360 games that were all purchased brand-new because I believe in supporting the game industry so we can continue to have great games developed and released, and every 10.0 rated game from OXM is in that collection. I just wish you guys could realize that every other game review out their has gave GTA IV its rightful place at the top, but OXM seems to disagree with the masses. For Shame!!!
Revan Halo

i was estatic that GTA4 was comeing out and i bought it on the first day and got home put it in and the graphix were great but untill it started freezing on me and hasnt stoped any one else having this problem

Goodness!! you guys are being too hard on the OXM. 9.5 is an amazing score. we all have our opinions just like the OXM guys. relax its only a game. great review!!

Wow, I've bought OXM every month since they've started.. And now, because of this bullshit score, I'm most likely not going to continue to purchase OXM anymore.

You guys have gone against everything you've said and have now made fools of yourselves.

GTA IV is one of the most deserving games to be rewarded a 10 and you didn't.

Way to fail hard guys =/

I'm moving onto a magazine I can trust to live up to their standards for scoring.

Oh and beautiful review btw Corey. asides from the score, the writing was phenomenal.

lol i also think its funny how OXM gives it a 9.5 and calls it the "biggest and boldest game of 2008".

but watch when they give gears of war 2 a 10.... just watch.

then we'll see who should be writing the reviews.... THE READERS! in fact i think OXM should do a review from them and a review from us on the next issue after every review. like on half a page just put down user reviews from emails and forums and other ways i cant really think of right now. Come on! it would be GENIUS!

What bothers me about this review is not the score of 9.5, but the context it is in. Gaming sites that rarely give out perfect scores like IGN and Gamespot found GTA IV deserving of a 10. On the other hand, OXM has a history of handing out 10's left and right such as Halo 3, BioShock, Mass Effect, Gears of War, & Call of Duty 4. And don't get me wrong, I like they realize that no game is perfect and that a 10 does not mean that a game is perfect. However, in this case I really think they strayed away from that criteria. OXM cites the reason for this score is a slow beggining and too many filler missions. However, they also commended the game for excellent single player & multiplayer, which is more than can be said for a few of the games OXM awarded 10's to. Compared to the issues with the other games they awarderd 10's to, this is an outragous example of nitpicking. For example; Halo 3's mediocre single player, Mass Effect's tedious & repetitive side quests, Gears of War's second-rate story, and BioShock's lackluster ending. All of these are somewhat significant issues in these games, and they didn't seem to think any of that was enough to take away a perfect score. I have read many reviews of GTA IV, and have not heard the issues they claim to be significant in any of them. I think that using the way OXM grades games, GTA IV was definately deserving of a 10. Again, I'm not shcoked by the score of 9.5, but I was suprised that it came from OXM.

This game without a doubt should be a 10. You OXM guys seem to be contradicting yourselves. if you criticize Bioshock's ending and still give it a 10 why do you criticize GTA's beginning and give it a 9.5? This game could not even have missions and I would still plop down 60 bucks just to tear around Liberty City

I from Atlanta too! ATL Baby ATL!.By the way good review OXM although I thought it should've got 10 like Halo 3, Cod4, Bioshock ect. I think GTA deserves to be in that club. But I guess you got your reasons!

heh, it's the fact that the ole' my house my rules come into play. So if I bought it, I'd probably have to move out, which I don't have the money saved up for yet.

Anyways, back to GTA, I was also expecting a 10, I understand that the beginning might be slow... but can it possibly bring down the rest of the game that much? I mean, even though you don't have the best cars available, I think I could still find plenty to do to keep me entertained.

To me, that seems a little like grading down a zelda title because you don't start off with all of your weapons and gear.

For the most part I agree with what you have to say about the beginning being slow, but you have to think about how big this game really is. Have you read The Do-Over of Xbox article (pg. 96 of the current issue). In my opinion it is necessary for games that are as complex and deep as GTA IV to have a gentle learning curve. If for no other reason than to give you time to get good at the game. This seems logical to me because it is a well known fact that people enjoy doing things that they’re good at. In my own experience many games of this genre will say “Okay, here’s your gun and here’s your car, now go play.” and just leave it at that. So instead of looking at like “Ah man I still can’t go over there were all the big-boy toys are.” Look at it like “Ah man I can’t wait to get over there; but it’s a good thing that the game is making sure that I can pass the drivers test instead of just handing me a license and a pair of keys. Let’s face it my character’s skills just haven’t matured enough to allow him to get out of the sandbox and into the world.”
I hope my rebuttal to what you said about Niko being “to wishy-washy” doesn’t put you to sleep, I’ll be done shortly so just hang in there. You said that “[you] appreciate how human [Niko] is, but it can be irritating, too.” Okay for just a second stand back and look at it like this; you expect the guns to sound like their real world counter parts don’t you? You expect the physics engine to make sure that those explosions hurl bodies along the correct trajectory, right? And you expect the cars to handle like they would in real life, correct? So then wouldn’t it make sense that the characters behave in a realistic manner too? Now I’m not saying that these games need to mirror the reality of our world, if they did that why would we even bother to play them we could just (dare I say it) go outside. So yes I do agree with you about that to a certain point. In my opinion the other reason RockStar made Niko as “human” or as “deep” as they did, was so you didn’t have to be. If you look past this games prostitute killing, fuzz dispatching exterior you’ll see a game that has the potential to make you pause the action set down the controller and ponder your own moral values, just the same way that so many of last years titles did.
My personal score: 10/10

It is the must own game this season, unless your under 17. Then you should grow your mind a bit longer.

Ign gave this a perfect 10

I got this game yesterday and I thought it was the best game ever to go multiplatform!

I'm 14 and my parents let me get this game. Shorty, you can do what you want, don't listen to your parents.

Hey OXM please reply I've been reading your mag for 3 years(YOU OWE ME PAY UP lol)... but uhh...... the biggest, boldest game of 2008? I know it stumps most of the others, but there's a HUGE game coming out this year that has a big 2 in it..... I think Marcus or Cliffy would take offense to being not being called the BOLDEST game of '08... you know... that one game? You may have heard of it! lol

I mean GTA4 may stump it in sales cuz everyone from California to Hong Kong recognizes the name, plus the astonishing reputation, but don't you think Gears 2 will be an AMAZING game in comparison? So, it might not be the biggest release, but I'm betting it will be better in almost every way possible. Prove me wrong OXM...

Furthermore, I've got a bet for you. How about, if Gears Of War 2 turns out to be a better game than GTA4, when you write the review, you admit you were wrong and give me cred(beautiful plan, am i right?)? And if it isn't(by some crazy fluke), I'll promise to bow down and (virtually, unless you give me an address and some plane tickets, depending on where you are. I'm in Atlanta.) kiss the foot of every member of your staff! Oh and I guess I'll do something else.... use your imagination cuz I can't think of any other way to contribute to OXM. Maybe bake a cake or something... it WILL be a triumph!

i agree with below. im 15 and ive played gta vice city and gta 3. and i havnt been to big of a fan except for vice city.

but i dont know if i would get my parents approval to play this. it seems like san andreas and this really went to the extreme in adult content. =\

Um, Shorty? You're 18 - that means you're an adult. General rule, if you can legally buy porn, you can buy M rated games...

Great review, tho' I was expecting to see a 10 from you guys. I mean, really - how can H3 or BioShock, while both excellent, even compare with the full-on grandeur of GTA4?

I'm also a little upset that I had to wait to read the review HERE rather than in the latest magazine issue, for which I have a subscription? It's one thing to reprint articles from the mag here AFTER I've had a chance to read 'em in print - but NOW, when/if ever my latest issue (that I've already PAID for!) gets here, the biggest selling point has already been spoiled for me. That's messed up.

gt: cart00nstrip

Ugh... How do I convince my parents to let me get this game? Being 18 and not able to buy mature games without parents permission = super lame.

I've never been a fan of the GTA series, but I really want this one. I've been following all the previews religiously, and after looking at all of the reviews for it (From gamestats.com) I can safely conclude that the average score for this game looks to be the highest for any video game. Ever. (Except maybe OOT, but there wasn't as many game reviewers back then) . And I'm not one to pass such a game up.

I think a purchase is a wise choice. :) This one's got legs.

Dont know if ill buy it but I wanna at least rent it, although I wont have time to finish it. hhhmmm. Looks like I have to buy.