PATSMOL21

aco3

I loaded up my game, I had just beat the puerto rican connection mission for manny I think it was, and I got the message to go meet the guy at the dock. When I got there, I can see the arrow, but when I go to the arrow, it disappears and I can't go to it, even when i stand in the spot. I then went to do the mission where you take over the strip club, went to do the mission and then the same thing happened with the arrows. I've done that mission before, but now I can't do it since I got the message to meet that guy on the dock. Did I do something stupid or is anyone else run into this problem?

On another note, all my friends own a 360 that has GTA4. If you want to go multiplayer with me, add decadentone.

speedmiester

ir_entau

ir_entau

for those on the PS3 stuck at your last saved game loading screen, quit the game, eject the disc and restart without the disc in. Go into the network settings and disable Internet access. Put the disc in and it will load your last saved game.

Play around a little and quit the game. Enable the Internet in the network settings then start the game again and it should be fine. I replicated this twice tonight and it worked fine.

I didn't have any problems.. until I locked up in multiplayer. :/

lament

FredQC

D00mM4r1n3

In multiplayer I'm occasionally unable to jack a car. I do the usual running up to the driver's side door but I never get it open - I walk up to the car behind it and it works fine.

Other than that it's mostly been freezing at the loading screen and some connection losses when jumping from one multiplayer game to another.

fire ze missiles

Multiplayer's great, and I really am a fan of this series- but seeing this game get a "10" when mostly it's an update of a repeated formula while other, newer, better-working and more original experiences (I'll throw down Okami as an example) just doesn't make sense to me.

EmTeeZ

M

TribeCalledVest

v12qborony

I called rock* about the freezing. They said to turn off auto save and so far so good. Although it sucks having to go home to save all the time

v12qborony

Sasquatch

I had a similar bug...sort of. I was driving on the subway tracks and went to drive off the side when I suddenly hit a blank wall and was thrown across the tracks onto the opposite side of the road.

Alaron

Witzbold

kingme

Graywing

Blindmark

Insomnia Bob

Null-Python

tiredriver

tiredriver

Dijkie1337

starbuck1011

Wenzel

Silverbackne

TheblazinNinja

Aside from that I'm having a blast!

starbuck1011

Blindmark

I hated it until I switched the camera to the over the hood view. Awesome! That's the view I use in Forza2, and it worked so much better. In fact it handles a lot like a loose yet forgiving Forza car.

Binx

And holy crap this game deserves every perfect score it gets.

dowingba

JeffMc

PapaBear434

thor777

However...

• The mission structure and basic execution of the game hasn't changed in seven years and there are still huge issues the both driving and character controls. It would be nice to see not only the missions, but the character interaction become more dynamic. GTA 4 has at least taken a step in the right direction with the latter.

• The characters are a mixed bag at best (and it's hard for me to award originality points to Rockstar when so many have been pulled straight from film and television.)

• The mini-games have traditionally not played much better than ones found in PSX-era RPGs. This normally wouldn't bug (as much) if it weren't for the fact that these are always touted as avenues to lose yourself in the game world.

• Performance (or lack thereof) continues to be an issue for this series. That bugs me. But what bothers me even more is the fact that critics give GTA (4) a free pass in spite of it. Driving games and third-person shooters/action titles are both genres which get raked over the coals for having less than solid framerate, etc. So why should GTA, a title that seeks to emulate both be given carte blanche to stutter, tear, and pop its way through 40+ hours of racing and gunfights?

Like I said, it's a good game - solid B+ effort. It has some great elements and Niko is a generally likable character. Even so, I don't feel that this game, for a myriad of reasons, is worth the across-the-board 10s that it's been receiving. I just don't see it.

Ultimately, I just don't see this entry (and certainly not the previous ones) as delivering on the level of immersion and interactivity that it's been touted to possess. Perhaps we won't see it until the PlayStation 4/Xbox 720 is a reality, but I'd like to see Rockstar focus more on these elements in their next installment and maybe let the crime drama take something of a back seat for a change.

Nightshift Nurse: Mile High Colonic

m3lkor

Keeko_ca

I was responding to your comment, "Seriously, just what the fuck is so special about this game? Don't get me wrong, it's a solid B+ effort..."

I think the game is "special" for the reasons I listed, particularly the quality of writing/plot and atmosphere.

I also don't think all of the copycats were bad games. Mafia was superb, and Saints Row was pretty great in terms of how it refined GTA's gameplay.

I just don't know of another complete package that can compare with GTA4. As I get older (late 20s) it's becoming more difficult for me to suspend disbelief and immerse myself in a game, but GTA4 just swallows you into its world.

Silverbackne

It's like, come on, man. Give us something to go on. Or don't. Whatever, your choice I guess.

teeth7

teeth7

Dr. Steve Brule

teeth7

What I did say, and what I stand by, is that the amount of praise showered on this series as a whole grossly overstates its quality. If copycats are all C-, it doesn't automatically make GTA an A+.

I've yet to see any indication that any GTA title really deserves more than a solid 8-8.5 on a reviewer scale.

Nightshift Nurse: Mile High Colonic

Konchu

Mister Adequate

rawg

With the exception of maybe Mafia, nothing can even touch this in terms of story and characters. What sandbox game has more atmopshere than this?

It's far from perfect, but there is simply nothing out there on GTA IV's level.

Silverbackne

There is an option in the cell phone to switch to "Large text", which I found invaluable. I couldn't read the phone at all, even on my 42" (admittedly I sit a fair ways back).

Of course reading the phone would only be an issue if the game didn't lock up every two minutes (60gig Ps3)... had no problems the first couple of hours... just to start to get into the game, now it's functionally unplayable . Hope we get word from R* before the weekend!

thebigsmoke

I have the same problem in GTA4 as in every other GTA game, which is that half the time I end up smashing my car up before I even get the mission started, due to the floaty physics and poor controls. That was acceptable like two games ago. It's getting less acceptable as time goes on.

I agree with whoever said they really should just move to full-on arcade style driving. It would probably be easier than continually trying to (poorly) implement real physics anyway.

badasscat

No problems with any other games.

D00mM4r1n3

Considering how wildly unrealistic the driving is in this game it amazes me they don't just ditch the whole diet Gran Turismo thing in favor of full arcade style handling.

My main beef with driving isn't even the cornering, but the fact that it's nearly impossible to maintain a speed that's comfortably between "arthritic turtle" and "turbo charged".

Nightshift Nurse: Mile High Colonic

I've had no technical problems, but I've had three major complaints that make this game nowhere near a 10/10 for me:

The driving controls, while more realistic, isn't fun. It's difficult to control and it inhibits the crazy fun stuff you could do in past GTAs.

Supposedly, Niko controls better than any past GTA protagonist. Sorry, but while his animation looks great, the controls are wonky, he takes forever to get out of a car, and it's absolutely unbelievable that I have to mash A during combat or a chase to get him to JOG. Really, Rockstar?

Finally, the mission structure has the same stupid faults it has since GTAIII. There's a calm leadup, shit hits the fan, and then you have to engage in a chase or gunfight. Often, you will have no idea where your target went, as in the Mikhail-murder mission. He hightails it out some random door, and unless you follow immediately behind, he gets away. Of course, he gets away by hiding on top of the roof for a set amount of time, not by actually getting away.

I love the game, but, man, there are too many basic gameplay frustrations to suggest it's the greatest game of all time or some crap like that.

NPlace

on that mission was totally lost.. ended up finding a molitov cocktail... and well... i just threw it at him.

golden.

relax_guy

Kane666

Sigma-D

Gray665

1) As a very outspoken critic of the series I can't say this game has done much to change my opinion. Seriously, just what the fuck is so special about this game? Don't get me wrong, it's a solid B+ effort with a few truly excellent elements, but certainly not worthy of such endless gushing from every media outlet (including Kotaku).

It's a lot like that movie Juno. It's a good, entertaining film...but after leaving the theater I'm still totally perplexed at the degree of praise being heaped upon it. Oscar worthy? Only if the right people were paid off - which continues to be how I feel about GTA and the gaming press (again, including Kotaku).

2) While I haven't experienced the freezing issue on my 60GB, I have noticed that on two occasions when I've chosen "Quit Game" from the XMB it has caused the system to do a hard reset.

Nightshift Nurse: Mile High Colonic

It sounds like you guys are right. It sure seemed funny at the time though.

My second favorite moment occurred while I was in a shootout with some thugs. Turns out, a cop just happened to be parked in the middle of our firefight. At first, the cops were just shooting the thugs (which was fine by me), but eventually, their attention turned to me. Four squad cars rolled up on me, I had nowhere I could drive, so I just went running for it, like an episode of "Cops" or something. They start chasing me on foot through this junkyard and basically cornered me. With nowhere to go, I jumped on a metal divider wall. At the time, i couldn't figure out how to climb over it, so I was just mashing buttons while the cops shot at me. Finally, I figured out that you have to hit "x" again. So I did, and my guy climbed over and fell onto the highway. I was fired up because I thought I had made it, but then a van hit me going about 70, and my dude was basically a bloody smear mark across the pavement.

DugDawg

You ca change the text size of the phone from the "Options" menu within the phone. I just found this out today, and it will make it so much better.

Binx

Now, the last few GTA's were all great games, so that's not a bad thing. But I am not getting that sense of magic that I got from GTA3 (being the first true 3D GTA) and then Vice City (which is still the most amusing and in some ways the most creative in the series). I feel like I'm playing GTA3 with better graphics and a cell phone.

Also, the whole game has that same nasty look that Rockstar games always have. I'm used to it and it sort of fits GTA's style, but I was expecting something else from all the comments from reviewers about how "beautiful" and "sharp" the graphics are. To me, they're very detailed yes, but they've got the same muddy, messy look that all previous 3D GTA games have had.

I also agree with the complaints about driving and walking around that some others have; these aspects of the game are just as bad as they've always been (and they're a huge part of the game!).

So I sort of agree with you that there's something kind of missing here... and maybe I'll find it the further I get into the game, but for now this is feeling like GTA3.5. If I had to give it a score based on what I've played so far (and I know, I shouldn't), it'd be more like an 8.8 than a 10.

badasscat

Lucky me.

goddessakasha

Jamaces

I Spit On Your Comments

Orionsaint

Kj719

and i find it amusing that doing donuts will eventually blow out your tires.

m3lkor

****Possible Spoilers****

In the mission towards the very beginning of the game "Bleed out," I believe it's called (or something like that), I beat up the guys in the basketball court and then chased the last guy --first by car and then on foot -- up the stairwell to the 4th or 5th floor of the wareness. He pulls a knife, which you are apparently supposed to disarm, but I was too mutch of a clutz to figure out. So instead of taking the knife and killing him with it, I accidentally kicked him against the wall. And it just so turned out that he was standing against the window, so he went flying through the window and fell 4-5 stories. A few seconds later, it said I had completed the mission, and I just started laughing. I don't think this was a bug necessarily, but more or less an example of the game's awesome physics engine. Overall, it was hilarious, and definitely kicked off my enjoyment of the game.

DugDawg

I haven't had any real run-ins with the law, but if it comes a time where I get caught because my car couldn't take a turn right i'm gonna flip.

I Spit On Your Comments

A 7/10 is a good game. That's what the rating would imply. Games like GTA IV might be absolutely fantastic. I don't disagree with that for a moment. However, for people to give it a perfect 10/10, 100%, etc.? That's ridiculous. There are still issues with this game, as many have pointed out. It is not "perfect" as no game is. Am I the only one this bothers?

I was also very disappointed in GameSpot's decision to switch to a .5 interval system. So GTA IV couldn't get a 9.9, only a 9.5 or a 10.0. I just feel that while it could wind up the best reviewed game of all time, it is not perfect, nor is it a 99%. But Ocarina of Time wasn't a 99% either--that rating was just a higher scaled rating than other games have gotten historically...

TuxBobble

DugDawg

Lockenator

The one thing I've found hard to master is the hand-brake. When I use the hand-brake while going fast, I tend to lose control and spin out. I was initally hoping to use it to "drift" into corners, but that just doesn't work very well. It is pretty useful for doing a quick 180 though!

DugDawg

Lockenator

m3lkor

On another note, my 60gig PS3 has had no trouble with freezes or the like. I saw one instance of texture tearing last night after 7 hours of gameplay.

Funniest moment so far: After finally finding a PCJ600 crotch-rocket i go cruising around. One one particular stretch of boulevard, I catch some air and start to pitch forward. I end up down a face plant on the pavement and skidding for a few hundred yards, eventually getting run over by a semi truck. Went from full health to dead.

PissedPS3Fan

GPman

It just kinda annoys me that a game based around driving and the mechanics seem off.

Maybe I just need to get used to driving in the game again. In most games that have driving I use the E-Brake to take turns, but in this game if I do that the car does a 180.

I Spit On Your Comments

Cathaoir

DugDawg

DugDawg

SigmundTheSeaMonster

Lockenator

SigmundTheSeaMonster

I just find myself slamming into street corners every time there is a sharp turn.

People keep telling me, "The driving is realistic and takes skills", lol, the one thing that is realistic is the driving?

I Spit On Your Comments

DugDawg

Plenty of games are technically perfect. Plenty.

GTA games are huge and so you can forgive a certain number of flaws. I don't much care if I see buses bouncing around once in a while or rocks floating by every now and then. Freezes are a little less forgiveable, though.

badasscat

MURDERFACE

HaydenTenno

Wolfers

Like a damn rocket.

Koztah

Capp

LemmingZ

FP_slomo788

FP_slomo788

Besides all that, 60GB PS3 running. Played for about an hour, no problems so far.

drywaller79

You only need to use R1, L1, R2, the left thumb stick, the right thumb stick an the O button at the same time... ow and don't forget you'll need to do this at high speed..

but apart from this awkward choice of controls I love the game

Graywing

Heyyou27

Gray665

I know there is that 'player mode' one, but we always spawn in Alderny no matter where on the map we die. Is there a way to have a free play or deathmatch where it's not open to every twat with an xbox?

Hedgeworth

Thrillkiller

m3lkor

It does take a little while to get used to the driving, especially braking, but I got the swing of it soon enough.

Overall, even with the frothing reviews this game is beyond amazing. The most convincing virtual city I've ever seen, and the plot progression (at least in the few hours I've played) is very natural and movie-like. You spend all this time hanging out with the other characters (bowling and pool are awesome) and going about your life that when it does come time to get violent, it's kind of shocking and stands out. Reminds me a lot of the Sopranos.

Silverbackne

floppylobster

Helmet Touch

hanspecans

Woodwater

The camera and feel of on-foot motion in this game STILL sucks, just like all the GTA games. I can't believe that's not better.

On the plus side, the dialogue is much better than in previous GTA's and I find myself interested in the story, which has never been the case for me personally before. (I skipped San Andreas, so don't know about that one).

lionkitten

Just saw your XPlay bit last night.

It's Grand Theft Auto 4, not Gran Turismo.

LULZ

Rondogg

Schoolimangooli's backpack turns into a ham sandwich!

But later I did get to play with some fellow Kotakuites. That was a lot of fun. We were all piled in a car chasing after some others in a deathmatch.

Of course, we had to stop for burgers. :)

Spoony Bard

ArmyofJuan

Woodwater

PlaidNinja

Mr Fortitude

All in all, I found the driving part quite easy, but after GT5P with all driving aids off, I guess everything would be easy :D

Abriael

Just saying that for "research" purposes, the game is great and I certainly don't mind a few bugs to be able to play it.

Gordon_Shumway

Hopefully it gets corrected soon, if they do I won't care much about a bus or two bouncing towards the sky :D

Abriael

tfive24

Schoolimangooli's backpack turns into a ham sandwich!

art_zombie

Raikkenon

I get quite a few bugs for many games from my crappy refurbished system with a blown disc drive (I love you M$oft but my old system ran better before the RROD) so I'm pretty sure this is render and not software related. Didn't set me too far back to reload so no blood no foul.

art_zombie

On another note...

I've had a few issues.

1) One complete game freeze.
2) Constant short freezes when auto saving after a mission. When the mission completes, I see the little icon, I hear the little "Saved" music, and then the game hangs for a few seconds.

Annoying.

Other then that...no big bad bugs.

Woodwater

Darth Navster

Ah, QA.

badasscat

other than diving out of my car, losing half of my life only to get my HEAD ran over by a passing taxi - killing me :(

Zaos

enewtabie(Future LittleBigPlanet Master Creationist)

Aeonyx

Dannon

enewtabie(Future LittleBigPlanet Master Creationist)

phicaluk

ShaggE

Abriael