'Grand Theft' a hot ride!
You 'Auto' own it
By Phil Villarreal
Pvillarreal@azstarnet.com
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 05.08.2008
The biggest, baddest video game you've ever heard of is probably called "Grand Theft Auto IV" not because it's the fourth game in the series — it's actually the ninth — but because, like an IV, it drips its enthralling crime story straight into your veins.
As you race through the streets of Liberty City, a sarcastic funhouse mirror image of the Big Apple, you feel as though you're living in a gangland miniseries much like "The Sopranos" or "The Wire." Cultural critics for years have ached to compare video game experiences to film. But because of the way you play long games, checking in for an hour or two, maybe more, whenever you can, the greatest video games are more akin to a TV series on DVD.
And "Grand Theft Auto IV" is most definitely among the greatest of video games.
Expanding on the genius, open-world formula of "Grand Theft Auto III" (2001), one of the first games in which players could roam an open world and take on missions whenever and however they saw fit, "Grand Theft Auto IV" is the epitome of criminal mayhem.
You play as Niko, an eastern European who has entered the United States at the behest of his sketchy cousin, Roman, who operates a taxi business. Roman regaled Niko with tales of easy money and gorgeous woman, but Niko is disappointed to learn that Roman is barely scraping by.
In the early missions, you're forced to deal with Roman's problems with loan sharks. Eventually you get a place of your own, start making friends who can help you out with special perks if you hang out with them and do them favors. Along the way, you can get into plenty of trouble. For instance, you can accidentally hit a police car while driving around, then suddenly find yourself in a high-speed chase, navigating around road blocks while you hear a police chopper track you overhead.
The city feels so fleshed out and detailed, often the line between reality and game can be blurred. You receive your missions through an onscreen cell phone, which is every bit as annoying and indispensible as real-life cell phones. Friends, enemies and girlfriends will call you up, sometimes when you'd rather be doing other things, and ignoring the calls or turning down their requests yields consequences.
The storyline is a robust exploration of morality, social ills and the exploitative nature of the media, but it's easy to find yourself distracted. You can go out on dates at a bowling alley, bar or comedy club, or even kick back and surf an in-game TV, radio or Internet, with content all created for the game.
On top of all that, there are robust multiplayer options, with 15 modes, including races, death matches and free-for-alls, allowing 16 players to hook up online at a time. You could play for years and probably not be able to experience all the game's surprises.
"Grand Theft Auto" players expecting major advances in gameplay may be disappointed. Most of the adjustments are streamlining features introduced by other games. A GPS system guides you from point to point, and if you fail a mission you have the option to instantly restart it. The tepid graphics aren't worlds better than 2004's "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas," but the freewheeling feel and, most important, the sense of humor, are exactly what fans have come to expect from the series.
And it's hard to play without becoming one of those fans.
"Grand Theft Auto IV," available for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, costs $60. There's also a special edition, which includes an art book, keychain, duffel bag and safety deposit box available for $90. The game is rated M and suitable only for adults.
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