I’ll get this out the way right now. Grand Theft Auto IV is everything we thought it would be and then some. It’s not perfect, it has to be said, but the options and ideas on show are just stunning. Seeing as how the hype of this behemoth game has reached ridiculous proportions, let’s look at it with a more level headed approach, shall we?

Now, you would have to be hiding under a bed in the Big Brother house to not know about Rockstar’s big title. You are Nico Bellic, who sails over on a cargo ship to America to help out his cousin, Roman. From there we go into what is now customary GTA storytelling. It’s very well written and has its fair share of twists and turns to always keep events one step ahead. The characters feel more alive here than in any other game in the series, with an instant warming to the main character, as well as hatred for all those who stand against him. It’s a testament to the scriptwriter’s abilities to weave a good yarn which is able to maintain a familiar feel, but also throw in some fresh ideas.

Graphically, the series has had a much improved, not to mention needed, facelift. Gone are the boulder hands and cartoon feel and in comes a more realistic take on Liberty City, with everything looking a lot more believable than in previous years. The characters appear a lot more human and feel more adaptive to their personalities. When you take into account how big the place is (and by the way, it’s huge!) as well as the massive amount of people, cars and all the other things going on, the graphics seem even more impressive. As soon as you step outside and view your surroundings for the first time you sit up and take notice of how beautiful your new home can be. Night and day seamlessly blend like yin and yang and the weather effects also leave their mark on your astounded retina. 

Now, dear reader, we get to the audio side of things. With this being GTA, Rockstar has spared no expense. DJ’s include Iggy Pop and Juliette Lewis, as well as a great mix of tunes you know immediately and others that invoke an immediate sense of nostalgic sentiment. The vocal cast as well as the radio/TV ads are just so well done that they’re guaranteed to raise at least a chuckle, if not a full on belly laugh. A lot of developers could take note of the way it’s done by the artists formerly known as DMA Design (if you’re old enough to remember Lemmings, you’ll know what I’m talking about) and start to create a world where we don’t have to worry about dodgy sounding heroes who are as stiff as last week’s washing.

Gameplay wise this delivers all the fun and excitement San Andreas gave us on the PS2, but it doesn’t rest on its already prestigious laurels. With new technology comes new ideas and touches which help to polish GTA IV to such a point it’s blinding. Like most people in everyday life, your mobile phone is your handheld lifeline to the outside world. With it you can phone your cousin, potential girlfriends, mob bosses for jobs and so on. It also makes other things a lot easier. If you fail a mission, just look through your messages and you can instantly start again. If your health’s a little low, phone an ambulance and you’ll be whisked off to hospital. It’s such a small addition, but it opens up things you’d have never thought of before. Other small extras like GPS and internet cafes show a lot of attention to detail, as well as a desire to push previous boundaries. There are other flourishes of original content, but it would be better for you to find them yourself.

The biggest inclusion this time round though is the multiplayer. GTA veterans have been crying out for this for so long and the screams have finally been heard. Single and team death matches are both in there, as well as motor races and a free roam mode, which when played with your mates can turn mature, grown men (or women) into grinning idiots. Other options are also there, but one of particular mention would have to be Cops’n’Crooks, which has four players as upstanding members of the force and the other lot trying to escape their clutches. All these online modes open up the game more than ever, as well as giving GTA longevity it could have only dreamed of in the past.

So is it really as good as the perfect scores which have swarmed from the depths of magazines everywhere? Near enough, is the honest answer. In my eyes, it’s as good an example of a near flawless videogame as you’re ever likely to see. The series itself can be compared to a great wine, as it’s matured with age, culminating in the gritty, exciting and fun piece of interactive entertainment that GTA 4 is. When San Andreas hit the shelves originally the press all said it would take something mammoth to beat it. God only knows what we’ll need to beat this, although it’ll probably involve Mr T, Chuck Norris and Arnie doing battle against the forces of evil.

Buy it. It’s an absolute belter.