Although this game really is an incredible achievement, there are parts that could have been improved. One part is that There could have been better mini games and more animation when you go to drink or eat something instead of just fading to black screen and your outside drunk. Rockstar could have made it possible to take the money earned and buy cars/houses if one chose to do that. parts of the game just feel rushed and empty. As far as the MP Goes the only area that is frustrating is it take way too many bullets to kill someone. 1 bullet to the head and 2-3 to the body should be enough. Also shields should be optional in MP Games.

No reason to really change anything. The only thing I wish was in there was Vice Cityish business running.

From listening to the last two episodes of PGR...you all know I am in love with this game.

However, with all the love comes the ability to spot flaws pretty easy.
Here is my list of things that need to be fixed.
1. You have to be able to do other things while on your cell phone....at least be able to get in a car and drive. I don't know how many times I finished a mission and Niko goes to call whomever to tell them the deed is done and I still have a wanted level and get gunned down by the police because I'm on the phone.
2. Texture poping. We all hate it.
3. I like the idea to buy property. I think they should give us one free safe house on each island, they do that now, but give us the ability to buy other safe houses.
3. They should have made every vehicale drivable...such as the big 747s. However, seeing that this is a representation of NY, I think it would be in bad from because of 9/11. Still, give us smaller plans to fly like in Vice City. Maybe some bikes like in San Andreas.
4. Those mini games should be able to co-op them in free mode so we can play friends in pool, bowling, and darts.
5. The roller coster and Mini golf...Dear god I hope those become working mini games when the DLC comes out. That would be awesome.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Great points rburt! The cell phone is a great addition, but the inability to do anything else really bugs me. I can't run, shoot a pistol, or open a door. Haha, at least I can drive and talk on the cell, illegal in some states!

There is a safe house that has texture popping in the hallway. I always run into the boxes prior to them generating on the screen.

The ability to buy businesses was pretty sweet. Plus, they generated revenue while you did your own biz. This feature also expanded the game, because you had to fight off enemies to keep the businesses.

Yeah, flying planes would be cool, but I'm happy with the use of helicopters. I can't remember which GTA, but one had a little puddle jumper that you could fly. You had to steal the plane and get up enough speed prior to getting to the end of the runway/water.

I don't think I ever rode a rollercoaster, so I can't really comment on it.

I think the game should have been a bit longer, and it would of been great if it hinted anything towards the next GTA, as the rumors were telling me. There should have been many more mini games, I wish they would have kept basketball. It would be nice to kinda make it one huge game with lots of different semi-games to play... not just the mini games we had. Those were just fun little things to do on dates and stuff. I mean like actual full on activities like sports games especially, to add to the random slaughtering to innocent bystanders (which is really what anyone does when there not doing missions). Co-op story would have killed it hands down. I can't remember all of the ideas I had while playing the game, but I remember coming up with plenty.

I personally couldn't really ask for more in such a great game. It's obvious that so much work went into it, So I'm pretty happy.

But, for arguments sake

-Main story line should have been longer
-Flesh out the mob storyline,it felt a little rushed at the end
-For the love of god, do not bring back the Dodo from GTA 3... I hated that thing!
-Have the ability to go up and drink beer whenever you want, not just on dates.
-More clothing choices.. lol.
-You read about the liberty city swingers, It would be cool to actually be able to attend one of their games.
-The business angle was pretty cool, but I think it was cooler that they left it out of this one. Niko didn't really fit the taking over the city motif that Tommy, and CJ did.

Things they did right,
-Pedestrians calling 911.. how cool is that? Albeit a tad bit annoying when there are no cops around and you suddenly get a wanted level, but it really adds to the immersion.
-Water effects.. wow.
-Storyline, they really did a good job this time around drawing you in, Deciding whether or not to kill Darko was one of the toughest things I've done in a game ever.
-Bringing back Lazlo, If you haven't listened to Integrity 2.0 you should. Lazlo is easily my favorite character from the series period.
-The strip clubs, I really feel dirty when I go in one lol
-Star Junction , I'm sure you've been through there. But do yourself a favor and walk through on foot.. Wow.

Am I thinking of a different series? Honestly I haven't played the GTA series since the original "banned in America" version and GTA 2, but I seem to remember ambulance and fire engine missions. DLC? I totally ran down a fire truck on the free-way the first time I saw one expecting to be able to access side-missions (same for the ambulance).

Thats funny... I see the GTA IV icon on your gamer picture. Surely you've played the one we are discussing, unless it just magically appeared.

rburt wrote:

QUOTE:

2. Texture poping. We all hate it.

I've been hearing a lot of people complain about the texture popping. I've never acutally encountered it. Odd.

TinPanAlley wrote:

QUOTE:
Thats funny... I see the GTA IV icon on your gamer picture. Surely you've played the one we are discussing, unless it just magically appeared.

Oh course I've played it. Who hasn't. I said I haven't played a GTA game since the first two. Not that I haven't played this one.

I know man... I was just messing with ya.

One part of the game that really got on my tits was a small, but annoying one. If you shoot someone when they're in their vehicle, they'll exit their vehicle calmly, in normal animation as if nothing happened. As soon as they are finished their animation, they'll flop to the ground, or grab their arm.

This kinda takes me out of the game... Also...

(prepares to get flamed)

I honestly think the car Handling is worse then San Andreas. The braking is way over exaggerated. The nice cars have mediocre handling, and the other cars are just frustrating.

Sir Isaac Newbton wrote:

QUOTE:
One part of the game that really got on my tits...

lol
i couldnt read your post past there
i was laughing to hard.

Possibly WW2, i havent read all of this thread due to fear of spoilers.

I would love to have been able to play bowling, darts etc with freinds online.

Also the strip clubs have no strippers in them in multiplayer mode

Sir Isaac Newbton wrote:

QUOTE:
I honestly think the car Handling is worse then San Andreas. The braking is way over exaggerated. The nice cars have mediocre handling, and the other cars are just frustrating.

I have to agree with you on that one... the physics are too exaggerated.

Don't Kill Me. I am pretty disappointed in GTA IV. The story is really good and compelling but the game play is painful.

1. Camera follow. The camera follow while running and driving is seems to drag while turning corners. This is painful because it causes me to stop (running/driving) thru the last part of the turn until the camera catches up.

2. Aiming controls. Aiming seems to lock on to the worst possible target (like the cop across the street instead of the one with the shotgun pointed at your head).

3. Weapon selection. Why they hell can't I switch from fists to guns mid-fight?

4. Hire a Cab or Steal a Cab. I can't tell you how many cabs I've accidently hijacked when trying to take a legitimate ride. Why did they use the same button for Hire/Hijack?

5. Driving. Yes, better cars control better, but the physics in this game are exaggerated.
[Post Edit]

6. Checkpoints. Why do I need to drive across the city to re-attempt a level. Why are there no checkpoint saves during mid-mission.

That's all I can think of now. I will finish the game, but some of these things have caused me to toss other games out the window.

On the positive side:

1. Story Line. I love the characters and they tell such a good story that you can feel for them.

2. Radio play lists rock!

3. Cell Phone interface is ingenious and unique.

4. Voice acting is very good.

In the intrest of fairness, lets start with the posivite aspects of GTA4.

great story line
amazing, complex and interactive world
huge improvement on the graphics over past games
so many things top do you forget about the missions
great multiplayer
the ai of line of site on the NPC's is great



now for what the need to add/fix
no drop in drop out co-op
pop in objects
driveing controls a little to sensative
no destructable environment(i want to see some high rises blown up damnit)
cant fly fixed wing aircraft
no Rhino tank, you know you want the tank back
the aim of some weapons, anyone else blown the selves up trying to fire an RPG over a railing and it hits the damn rail.

over all its a great game in my book and like all games it has it downsides.