Grand Theft Auto IV

I come to America to be good person *runs over a hooker to get money back*

Has one of the most entertaining and interesting leads in any GTA game, but suffers from dull missions and awkward pacing in the main plot. Compared to SA, GTA IV has much less content and the open world is far less interesting. While on paper watching TV or browsing the internet sound neat, the novelty of those things wears off pretty quickly. While the plot is initially engaging, it runs around all over the place and introduces and kills off so many random characters you just stop caring.

Great writing, characters, dialogue, story, but the gameplay always just felt like it was in the way. I didn't really enjoy any of the 'playing' of the game, but everything else gets a thumbs up.

When GTA grew away from the anarchic glee of the series and became a plodding tedious chore with bad gunplay.

I remember playing the final mission, thinking to myself :How did I get here?I literally cannot retrace my steps to here, from my I first landed in America." It's plot might be a hard-to-follow but when it comes to re-creating a living breathing city, this game is second only to it's sequel, and 10 years later,Liberty City is still a beautiul place to explore.

The best GTA

First GTA game I ever played, and my second favorite.

Rockstar’s darker take on Liberty City delivers unparalleled immersion and storytelling, but sacrifices fun for realism.

peak GTA.

Very frustrating. Bs escort missions, ambushes, dying suddenly. Impossible to hit enemies. Guns that hit nothing. spongy enemies. Forced driving sections. Without all that could be great game. But only mediocre despite amazing city. Cutscenes are too long. The 'realistic turn' shouldn't be in games. The cars spin out too much. 'Try again' feature is very welcome, but still have to re-do the preliminary drive every fucking time. The taxis sound great but are never around.