GTA 4: Is the Gameplay Really That Bad?

[Phoenix]

5 Reasons GTA IV Is The Worst Great Game Ever Made | Cracked.com

Between this expensive PC I've built and the fact that I still don't have a job , I've still yet to purchase a next-gen console. GTA 4 tempted me (along with Halo 3) but this piece has me thinking twice. Some comments from the article:

It's repetitive, poorly implemented, riddled with design flaws, awkward, and above all, glitchy. Yet I understand every word of gushing praise. Everything the reviewers say about the city and its scale is absolutely true.

It goes on to criticize jumping and climbing controls, the cover system, and the repetitiveness of missions, among other things. I realize this is a humor site, but the complaints sure sound serious.

I remain a steadfast supporter of the philosophy that no matter how polished a game's graphics are, poor gameplay is an absolute deal breaker. So my question to those who've played GTA 4, is it really this bad?

[Afrodisiac]

You can't have the words "good gameplay" and "console" in the same paragraph. It was fun for me though. The gameplay was hampered by the fact that it was probably the second time I had ever touched a gamepad, but it was fluid.

[MagicLess]

I played the game for about for about twenty minutes the other day, and once I started getting the controls down it became a more enjoyable game. Some of the physics seem real, others, comical. but this aspect wasn't too bad. Giving up when the cops walk up to you, instead of running like you're telling the character too was my biggest problem.

After playing it for the little bit I did, made me wonder how long it'll hit PC, and how long after that until it drops down to $10 so I can buy it.

[MeltDown]

It's a good game, but I don't think it's anywhere near the greatest game of all time. A lot of features I liked from Vice City and San Andreas have gone missing like buying properties for example. Also, the missions are fairly repetitive, nothing like the San Andreas missions where you have to blow up the plane in flight or steal the military fighter or anything like that - it's almost always go here, and kill so-and-so.

Plus, Niko's not nearly as cool as Tommy Vercetti.

[NMDante]

I just want to know where the hell my helicopter is parked at?!?!?!?
I am getting tired of being chased around the airport by SWAT and FBI guys looking for my helicopter! LOL

Otherwise, I enjoy the game. Yeah, the missions do seem similar, but it's still fun, nonetheless.

[Lionhardt]

My opinion has totally changed. At first it is pretty good. But as you play for more hours it becomes repetitive and the creators don't introduce anything cool. The coolest thing in the game is the rocket launcher.
Personally it wasn;t worth $60.
Call of Duty 4 was DEF worth it.

And actually BF: Bad Company is an amazing game as well. I played the demo and it has destructive environments about 1 level down from Crysis. The usuall Xbox game is about 4 levels down from Crysis.

[YMAA]

If you want destructible environments, Stranglehold is the way to go.

[aliG da taco]

you don't necessarily have to buy a consol, I know 3 people that have actually recieved an xbox 360 elite through this site

xbox360elite4free

[YMAA]

Originally Posted by aliG da taco

you don't necessarily have to buy a consol, I know 3 people that have actually recieved an xbox 360 elite through this site

xbox360elite4free

I take it you've seen the consoles, then?

[Lionhardt]

Originally Posted by YMAA

I take it you've seen the consoles, then?

He's right. You can get **** from those sites, but its kinda gay and w/e though.
Strangehold's were pretty good. But battlefield's are beast. You should see online play, its just havok. =D

[DaSickNinja]

I'm not going to call that kind of site a scam, but IMHO, it's a scam.

[Mandrake]

On that link, without clicking it, one can see there is a referral number. Who is going to click that crap?

Was GTA IV worth it? Absolutely. There are tons of improvements, but as MeltDown mentioned, there are features missing from VC and SA. It's not perfect, purely for the lack of features from VC. The ability to own properties and businesses, the ability to fly aircraft etc. were all brilliant. Other features weren't done so well. The ability to buy different clothing for instance, there aren't nearly enough stores. Your character can wear hats, yet there is only one hat to purchase throughout the entire city!

I'd give the game 8.5/10 as it is now. If they had included the features missing from VC and SA, 9.5/10 easily.

[Phoenix]

Thanks for all your responses, guys. I was thinking, could they possibly make additional missions downloadable?

[JKflipflop]

Yes, microsoft paid R* over 50 million for a downloadable expansion pack. It is coming.

[RKH404]

great story, fun game, definate buy

[randomizer]

Originally Posted by YMAA

If you want destructible environments, Stranglehold is the way to go.

If you want repetitive gameplay, Stranglehold is also the way to go

[Lionhardt]

Originally Posted by JKflipflop

Yes, microsoft paid R* over 50 million for a downloadable expansion pack. It is coming.

The funny part about that is...
No one is going to buy that. 80% of my teenage friends who own xbox 360 have GTA 4. 10% of my friends actually play it on a regular basis. of those, about 25% will actually buy the add ons. Most teens don't actually buy the added map packs, etc. They wait for it to become free. It's only the fat little 11 year olds and the loser 19 year olds that buy them. Sadly, that could be a large market =/
There's no way that it would equal $50 million.