There aren’t many games that are as anticipated as this coming out this year. Halo 3? Probably, Mario Galaxy? I’m not sure, Pokemon? Probably, Spore? Almost. Grand Theft Auto is one of the biggest selling franchises ever and the next generation version of it is looking terribly impressive (as if the video wasn’t flashy enough). Although the leak from this magazine show it is not as technically impressive as the last entry ‘San Andreas’, it does prove how much the graphics and the quality of the game play have improved. Where as San Andreas was incredibly huge and impressive technically, the game was terribly glitchy, had loads of bugs, dated graphics and was just a victim of its own success in the media (Jack Thompson, Hot Coffee, Video Games = Violence etc).

I don’t think the political issues surrounding the game will die down at all, in fact I believe they will most probably increase! However, I’m super excited to play this game just because it is so enjoyable and Rockstar always create such cool games.

There is a list of features and things in the game after the jump.

* The protagonist’s name is Niko Bellic - an Eastern European immigrant who has come to Liberty City to live the “American Dream.” * The GTA 4 equivalent of the Statue of Liberty is called the Statue of Happiness, and DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is known as BOABO (Beneath the Offramp of the Algoquin Bridge Overpass). Game Informer * In Grand Theft Auto IV, Rockstar have recreated 4 of the 5 boroughs in New York, as well as part of New Jersey. * The map is smaller than San Andreas, but considerably more detailed. No countryside or desert we are led to believe. * Broker is the GTA IV equivalent of Brooklyn, Manhattan is now called Algonquin, Queens is now Dukes, the Bronx is Bohan, and New Jersey is Alderney. * Pedestrians are far more realistic in GTAIV than in previous GTA games - they sit on benches, smoke cigarettes, read books and carry out various other activities. * The screenshots in the preview are not representative of the final quality of graphics. The game will only look better as the release draws closer.. * Niko was persuaded to move to Liberty City by his cousin Roman, who claimed to have two beautiful women, fast cars, and lots of money etc, but he was infact telling a lie in order to hide his own failures. Roman is the only person you know in Liberty City at the beginning of the game, and he becomes one of your major connections from the start. Niko is a tough character whereas Roman is friendly. Roman is heavily in debt and a lot of people are after him - he needs Niko’s support. They are constantly bickering. * The demo begins with Bellic standing inside of the taxi depot, which Roman operates in the borough of Broker in a converted industrial garage. Roman works at a cluttered desk in a shabby environment, and it this point the graphical improvements are extremely evident. Bellic walks to a brownstone house in Broker, where he pushes open the door and pulls out his pistol - the house however, is it not occupied. * Variations in the terrain cause the walking animation to change. The physics have also improved and character movements are more realistic. * Multiplayer is set to be announced… * You can use a cellphone to call your contacts. * Apparently there are no planes because there is only one city in the game. * You have a lot of choice over what you want to do. You still have to take orders from people during missions, but you can also choose how you want to spend your time, e.g “I want to hang out with him, or her… I want to go see this guy ’cause he always has something to do…” * The story unfolds in a number of different ways. R* is giving people more freedom, more choice and more sense of control over their destiny - the structure of the storyline is quite different to previous games. * The demo which Game Informer played was for the Xbox 360 version of the game.

Source: GTA4.net via Dtoid

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