Looking Forward to Liberty City

Updated April 29, 2008

Grand Theft Auto IV is here, and the industry and gamers alike are abuzz with the sort of excitement that I've never witnessed in association with a single game's release.

Just another day at the office for Niko.

What makes Rockstar's latest offering so memorable isn't just that it's the latest title in the vaunted Grand Theft Auto series, but far more importantly to my mind, it's the first true sequel since Grand Theft Auto III.

Both Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas were excellent extensions of GTA III, but now at last we come to IV, powered by the next-gen horsepower of Xbox 360®, Natural Motion, and Rockstar's very own RAGE engine.

How many times have you played a GTA game, only to wonder just what kind of mischief you could cause playing cooperatively in the sprawling city with friends?

This fundamental change spells massive upgrades—not just for the spectacular visuals, but also enemy artificial intelligence, crowd density, crowd interactions and reactions, vastly improved physics, reactive and unscripted animations, and emotionally-infused digital acting, to name but a few.

Impressive as GTA IV's technical achievements are, what excites me most are some of the stellar and even radical changes Rockstar is bringing to the gameplay.

Cover Up and Aim

To my mind, no change to Grand Theft Auto IV is more welcome than the introduction of full analog aiming and use of cover, with the ability to lock on and pinpoint specific body parts once you do. This new, more precise approach to firearm combat catapults GTA IV ahead of its already amazing predecessors, allowing for greater precision control as well as promoting more strategy-laced, cinematic firefights.

Imagine taking refuge behind a taxi you've recently absconded with as a platoon of determined enemies pin you to the spot with relentless fire. Pop up and squeeze off a quick and lethal headshot, and then rush away from the now-smoldering cab. Grab strategic cover behind a nearby dumpster before the cab explodes, sending nearby enemies flying in a series of realistic and distinctive animations (thanks to the A.I.-powered Natural Motion and Euphoria animation system).

Niko doesn't play.

It's a simple example, and one that you could have seen in previous games, but with the new control scheme, the level of intensity and necessity for careful tactics are increased many times over, to say nothing of the fact that every well-aimed shot or hasty miss is now entirely your own creation.

An Alternate NYC

Rockstar's facelift for Liberty City finds its inspiration on the streets of Gotham itself, New York City. To participate in Grand Theft Auto shenanigans in the nation's most iconic city is reason enough to celebrate, but what I appreciate most is Rockstar's assertion that Liberty City's new look is no mere static recreation of the Big Apple.

Rather, Rockstar has reproduced what makes sense, using their own creative license to shift, shrink, exclude and even expand elements of the city base simply on what adds to the game's enjoyment. That they eschew absolute authenticity in favor of packing every square inch of Liberty City with content, never forcing you to endure tedious travel times, is remarkable and laudatory.

Free Form with Friends

Grand Theft Auto IV's first foray into multiplayer is a subject worthy of its own article, but even ignoring the many and varied game types, just running around Liberty City with a pack of friends causing your own impromptu brand of mayhem and chaos means dozens, if not hundreds of hours of entertainment on its own.

How many times have you played a GTA game, only to wonder just what kind of mischief you could cause and fun you could have playing cooperatively in the sprawling city with friends? Now's the time to find out.

Everyone needs a little R&R time.

Xbox 360 Specific

Let us not forget that Grand Theft Auto IV on Xbox 360 is home to two exclusive downloadable content packs. While the nature of the downloadable content is shrouded in mystery, we do know that these exclusive packs will feature more than just new items, cars, and what have you, and instead focus more on fleshing out Liberty City with new episodic adventures available only on Xbox 360.

The preceding highlights represent only a small fraction of what GTA IV is bringing to the next-gen table. We haven't discussed the multiplayer at any length, the true impact of Natural Motion, the new mission structures, in-game map and GPS use, the Friendship system, or any number of other large and small additions that add immeasurably to Rockstar's flagship series. Get ready for those features and more in greater detail in the very near future. See you in Liberty City!

Article by Ryan Treit