by Ben Silverman
When news broke that Grand Theft Auto IV, the most-anticipated game of 2007 not featuring Master Chief, was being pushed back to an indeterminate date in 2008, you could literally hear the internet let out a collective gasp of disappointment. Wallets, however, let out a sigh of relief. After being bludgeoned into submission thanks to a record-breaking year of fantastic games culminating in the most outstanding holiday lineup ever, our already fragile bank accounts would have shattered under the weight of Rockstar's magnum opus.
But here's another reason to consider GTA IV's delay a blessing in disguise: it's now looking positively awesome. It's been only five months since we last dropped in on Liberty City, and clearly the folks at Rockstar North have been ripping through case after case of Red Bull polishing their new ride to a high sheen. Over the course of an unscripted four-mission demo on the Xbox 360, we were treated to all-new features, several new characters, and an up-close look at the series' remarkably revamped gunplay.
Once again we find protagonist Niko Bellic up to no good. In the first demo mission, "Search and Delete," he meets up with Brucie, a tough, goofy hoodlum who requests Niko's aid in whacking an informant named Lyle Rivas to prevent damning testimony at an upcoming trial. To do so, Niko steals a police car to search for Rivas using Liberty City's criminal database. Every cop car comes equipped with a computer that can access hundreds of records, each of which belongs to a living, breathing (for the time being at least) Liberty City lawbreaker. After popping in a few details and scrolling through tons of in-game pictures, Niko pulls up the mark's information, including his last known location.
Handily enough, this shows up in our car's GPS. That's right - the real-world navigation feature that no one can live without has been folded into GTA IV as a core gameplay mechanic. It's pretty authentic, too, adjusting on the fly if you stray too much from the predetermined path. No expense has been spared, as fancier cars actually feature talking GPS. Beat that, Avis.
Soon enough, Niko is in hot pursuit of Lyle Rivas, showing off the newly improved framerate and blur effects as well as the newfound ability to freely aim gunshots while driving. In past games, it was easy to lose track of chased cars as they whipped around blind corners, but now you can trigger a 'chase cam' that will quickly reorient behind the target regardless of whether or not they're in view. Between a few well-placed rounds to his gas tank and an epic collision with a logging truck, Rivas meets his match on a bridge. If he didn't, however, we'd be able to restart the mission in a pinch by simply answering a text message on our handy cell phone.
As further evidence that GTA IV's Liberty City operates in a much more lifelike way than the sandboxes of past games, we soon find ourselves stuck at a bridge toll booth, forced to cough up some dough or break the law and get a star. While you won't get nailed for every red light you run through, the authorities have obviously upgraded their I.Q.
Niko, however, decides to act like an idiot by phoning his cousin Roman, driving across town to pick him up and getting sloshed together at a local bar. And by sloshed, we mean it. By the time the two stumble back out to the street, they're thoroughly hammered. Then, in a decision that will haunt not only Niko Bellic but every past and present member of M.A.D.D., our hero gets into the driver's seat and attempts to drive Roman back home -- which is almost impossible. The camera shakes and warps incessantly, inducing a brutal vertigo effect that makes it hard to even look at the screen, no less steer a car through traffic.
What sounds like a bad night out is actually one of GTA IV's new "Friend Acts." By building relationships with various acquaintances, you'll gain their trust, friendship, and eventually favors that will affect the gameplay. Roman, for instance, owns a cab company; down enough pints together and he might set you up with free cab service. Arms dealer Little Jacob (introduced in an earlier demo) might give a sweet discount on munitions. It's not just a drinking game, either: you'll be able to engage in a variety of less nausea-inducing activities to bolster friendships.
Posted: 23 Jan 2008
