Grand Theft Auto IV
What’s a shooter game blog without a write-up on one of the best games of all time? Grand Theft Auto IV has garnered perfect scores and ratings by top gaming critics. This multi-platform game is actually the sixth sequel in this successful, long-running series. But before we talk about the other establishing GTA games that back up the success of Grand Theft Auto IV, I’d like to first focus the spotlight on this successful instalment. After all, this game did sell around 3.6 million units on its first day alone, amassing over $500 million in revenue during its first week. Now that’s the mark of success.
In this sequel, you follow the plight of Niko Bellic in the fictional Liberty City – though it looks awfully like New York. Niko is a European war veteran who illegally migrates to seek the American Dream, but very soon gets caught up in the sleazy world of gangs, corruption, and crime. GTA IV, just like its predecessors, is a sandbox-type game where anything goes. It also includes other gameplay elements like third person shooters and driving games. At first glance, you’ll be delighted to know that this game provides yet another opportunity to rush about the town stealing cars and shooting at cops and criminals alike. But GTA IV offers so much more than that. To begin with, the nonlinear plot proves to be compelling and immersive. The impressive rendition of the city, which is breathing with life, helps in upping the notch in GTA IV’s realism. Moreover, for the first time, Grand Theft Auto provides moral choices to the player. Keep in mind though, that the outcome can greatly affect the course of the story. If you decide to spare the life of a target, he may be able to help you out in a future mission, but you run the risk of your bosses finding out that you flaked.
The combat and gunfight system in this game has also been reworked and improved. Now it employs a third-person scheme, and the ability to cover has been added. Niko can hide behind cover, lock on a target, blindfire, or free aim. The revised target system now allows you to lock on specific body parts. For melee combat, you can now employ more moves. You can not only throw punches and kicks, you have an alternative punch, you can dodge, you can disarm an enemy, and even do a counter-attack.
Stealing a car is not as easy either as in the previous games in the series. This time, you have the option of smashing the window of a locked car. You can hotwire it to start the engine. Be wary though, because some cars have alarms that will go off for what seems like an eternity.
One of the best features of GTA IV that has received acclaim is the multiplayer mode. All in all, there are 15 different multiplayer modes to choose from. There’s Team Deathmatch, where each team tries to get the most kills possible. Team Mafia Work, where you carry out missions for your boss. Team Car Jack City is focused on stealing cars and earning money. Cops n’ Crooks is a virtual cops and robbers game in Liberty City. Turf War is where you try to take control of certain areas in the maps. And still there’s a lot more.
Grand Theft Auto IV is definitely one superb shooter game. With its impeccable graphics, pumped up soundtrack, and well thought out gameplay – it’s going to take a whole lot to try and top this excellent game.
