Grand Theft Auto IV

Grand Theft Auto IV - (Xbox 360, PS3)
Developer: Rockstar
Format: Xbox 360, PS3
Genre: Arcade

With the gloves off and everything up for grabs, the city is the king.

So soon out of the traps and GTA IV has already had tomes written about it. A large part of this is decrying the end of civilisation as we know it because gamers are getting their hands on ultraviolent realism with a heavy dose of dubious moral codes. Such is GTA's lot the series over.

So you already know about the level of gunplay, the wheeling, dealing, fast-talking, newly arrived Niko and his quest up the underworld ladder to achieve kingpin status. Along the way all manner of bikes and chicks, homies and cars, helicopters and rocket launchers will be at your disposal.

But it's Liberty City itself that shines through here. The level of immersion, of inconsequential action as you're going about your daily criminal grind, simply dazzles. In the background watch as locals interact with each other, living out their little lives; arguing, falling in love, drinking, having minor car crashes and the like. You can take Niko Bellic out for a walk anywhere in Liberty City and experience it as a living, breathing thing, much more so than say San Andreas.

With hundreds of buildings to explore (though, tantalising not all of them in the city) your curiosity will get the better of you and as you hit the town with new-found buddies for all night benders, Niko and his past creep into the game's central story.

Basically, this wipes the floor with most of the plots from cinematic releases at the moment. And that's before you've even lined up your first shot. The only drawback is wishing you had a little more time to simply sit on the dock of the bay and watch the city go by around you. Kiss goodbye to a Spring spent outdoors, that's for sure.

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