GTA IV: Liberty City Standout FeaturesDate: Thursday, May 01 @ 01:00:02 UTC Ryan Treit from xbox.com reports on many of the outstanding new features of Grand Theft Auto IV after a dedicated day of hands-on time with Rockstar's latest masterpiece.  Niko and Roman together again. After several dedicated hours of play though, it remains remarkable just how vastly improved GTA IV is over its already brilliant predecessors. New feature after feature tumbles forth during the game's first couple of hours as Rockstar weaves new mechanics and options into an intimately familiar play-style, adding substance and infusing the game with a sense of freshness. Let's take a look at some of the exciting new features and additions. Niko's Drama While Grand Theft Auto IV retains every bit of the series' much-loved sense of humor, it's worth noting that the core storyline offers just as much drama as it does wit. Niko Bellic's arc through Liberty City is both subtle and emotional as the game's excellent and believable digital acting adds weight to Niko's inevitable and often tragic descent into Liberty City's underworld. Adding to Niko's drama is your own ability to make life-and-death choices for characters during certain missions. For example, early on, a debtor to the villainous Vlad finds himself hanging precariously from a ledge, with you able to grab hold and lift him up or kick him to his doom. How you play Niko and where you draw the line is up to you.  Moody doesn't do it justice. Grand Theft Natural Motion The seamless blend of Rockstar's RAGE and Natural Motion's Euphoria engines may not jump out at you instantly, but the first time you clip a median at 100mph and send poor Niko crashing through the windshield thirty yards through the air, you'll appreciate its tremendous impact. Seeing Niko shift from spread-eagle flight to instinctively shielding his face and balling up to roll as he hits the ground is a seminal GTA moment. Whether it's an explosion, gunshot, an enemy plummeting off a rooftop, or seeing an unfortunate car owner dragged through the streets as they doggedly cling to their car door while you drive off, no reaction or animation is precisely the same as another. Duck and Cover The addition of precise analog aiming is reason enough for celebration, but the ability to take cover behind any conceivable object adds the final welcome touch to GTA IV's combat system. If you can reasonably crouch or stand behind an object, press RB while next to it to take cover. If there's cover off to one side or the other, press in that direction and press RB again, to have Niko seamlessly shift from one cover point to the next. The addition of a cover system may seem a simple change, sure, but it's a revolutionary one as firefights turn a great deal more towards the tactical side rather than classic running and gunning.  On the mean streets of Liberty City. Ring, Ring … Hello? Early on in your Liberty City adventures Niko is given a cell phone, and it's this item that allows you to manage your contacts and missions as you progress. You can receive text messages and phone calls from the game's major players, but you can also use the phone proactively as well. For example:
Building Friendships Many of the characters you'll meet throughout your travels can be befriended to your benefit, as you unlock special abilities and side missions by building relationships. In order to gain their trust and favor though, you'll need to do more than just primary missions.  Landmarks are scattered all about. Take your newfound buddy or girlfriend out on the town for a bit of rest and relaxation. Not everyone enjoys the same form of entertainment, so whether it's tipping back a frosty beverage, enjoying a night at the cabaret, playing pool, darts or bowling, you'll need to consider their personality in order to make a lasting impact. Play your cards right and you'll gain access to weapons, bombs, and car deliveries among much else. Grand Theft Auto IV is so vast in every way that the preceding really doesn't do justice to the strides the series has taken on its way to its first current-generation entry on Xbox 360®. It's radically improved yet retains all the charm and features of previous series' entries. In short, GTA IV has delivered on the hype and exceeded expectations. Enjoy your time in Liberty City. By all accounts, it should be a lengthy visit. Article by Ryan Treit Official Site: http://www.xbox.com 360-Hq Game Database: Grand Theft Auto IV for Xbox 360 |
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