Grand Theft Auto IV

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3784 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,755 out of 3784
  2. Mixed: 569 out of 3784
  3. Negative: 460 out of 3784
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  1. TomL
    May 16, 2008
    2
    This game is dreadfull, the storyline is boring and repetitive, cars still look worse than vice city, acting is ok, multiplayer is a good addition but isnt layed out anywhere near well enough, graphics look a year out of date and the whole customisation area that was brought up in san andreas goes out the window!! I dindnt w8 since san andreas for rockstar do come up with this. giving it aThis game is dreadfull, the storyline is boring and repetitive, cars still look worse than vice city, acting is ok, multiplayer is a good addition but isnt layed out anywhere near well enough, graphics look a year out of date and the whole customisation area that was brought up in san andreas goes out the window!! I dindnt w8 since san andreas for rockstar do come up with this. giving it a 2 is generous.… Expand
  2. NateW.
    May 15, 2008
    10
    This game revolutionary. The graphics were the biggest knock and now they are incredible. The gameplay does not get boring. The cover system is good, because it realistic. If you know how to work it, it is good. I also think another great thing is you can't predict what is going to happen on a mission. For example, you can't fail a misssion and go where you were before the This game revolutionary. The graphics were the biggest knock and now they are incredible. The gameplay does not get boring. The cover system is good, because it realistic. If you know how to work it, it is good. I also think another great thing is you can't predict what is going to happen on a mission. For example, you can't fail a misssion and go where you were before the mission takes you there, showing how smart the AI is. Most people who give it a lower reting most likely can't buy it or own a Wii. I love that you can replay a mission using the cell phone. Also, when people give a low rating, look at the other games that have that rating, and can you honestly say that those games are better/on the same level as GTA 4? I don't think so.… Expand
  3. Jammer
    May 15, 2008
    6
    Yeah yeah yeah, its a big detailed open world but what can you do with it?! NADA. You cant even walk into any buildings, except for the chosen few, which is about 5% of them. Niko walks very slow and weird (stiff). The ephoria engine is weak.. How does somebody get hit wit a RPG.......... but their whole body is still intact?!!?!!?! Every car drives the same, the handling sucks, the Yeah yeah yeah, its a big detailed open world but what can you do with it?! NADA. You cant even walk into any buildings, except for the chosen few, which is about 5% of them. Niko walks very slow and weird (stiff). The ephoria engine is weak.. How does somebody get hit wit a RPG.......... but their whole body is still intact?!!?!!?! Every car drives the same, the handling sucks, the clothing stores are wack, you cant even hold up, stick up, rob stores like Saint Row... swimming is wack. I don't see how this game gets all these 10's... this is a 60$, but plays just as good, if not worse as San Andreas, I don't get how this 399$ system and all this technology produces a game this mediocre and over hyped.. I fell for it.… Expand
  4. TonyR.
    May 15, 2008
    10
    Great sotry and lots of content.Great game overall.Not the best ever but one of the best.
  5. AaronV.
    May 13, 2008
    4
    Rockstar!? What the crap have you done to my GTA!? What were you thinking!? I don't want N64-paced character movement, and I certainly don't want realistic driving; I want to take corners at 210 mph leaving flames in my wake (ya' know, like GTA3 on PS2, remember fun games!?), not eat a telephone pole at every intersection, or come to a complete stop every time I use the Rockstar!? What the crap have you done to my GTA!? What were you thinking!? I don't want N64-paced character movement, and I certainly don't want realistic driving; I want to take corners at 210 mph leaving flames in my wake (ya' know, like GTA3 on PS2, remember fun games!?), not eat a telephone pole at every intersection, or come to a complete stop every time I use the e-brake around a corner! The driving cam sucks, I constantly have to lift the cam up to see the road/intersection coming up in front of the car. The combat is at a snails pace, and stop trying to win an oscar with the game's story. *sigh* You guys are supposed to the one developer we can count on to give a great big middle finger to boring games and deviate from mainstream corporate game dev practices...what happened? Try to get back on track with GTA5, would ya'? And lose the stupid artsy "Dry Brush/Paint Daub" graphics, that's just plain annoying. See exhibit A: "Saints Row" for graphical clarity, fun factor, fast-paced combat, and customization options of character and vehicles. And for the love, test the game with people who aren't trying to get a job with you. Above all else, make it fun, I appreciate the level of detail and believable environment, but not at the expense of the fun-filled mayhem that kept me glued to GTA3, Vice and SA. Shame on you. Now go sit in the corner and think about what you've done.… Expand
  6. DharmaD.
    May 13, 2008
    7
    Good game, but overrated. The driving is fun but could have been a little better, the free roaming and exploration is cool, but not as deep as Oblivion, and the shooting/aiming is lame. Seriously, for the amount of $ they put into making this game they couldn't have made the shooter part of the game rival halo, instead of an auto-lock system that seems made for 8 year olds? I'll Good game, but overrated. The driving is fun but could have been a little better, the free roaming and exploration is cool, but not as deep as Oblivion, and the shooting/aiming is lame. Seriously, for the amount of $ they put into making this game they couldn't have made the shooter part of the game rival halo, instead of an auto-lock system that seems made for 8 year olds? I'll spend lots of hours in this game, I just hate seeing a game that could have been spectacular, only end up being very good.… Expand
  7. AnthonyMir
    May 13, 2008
    10
    This game is simply amazing. I was skeptical to purchase at first, but now I'm glad I did. There is no need to play the story. I have stayed up over 24 hours playing this game and during that time I was just picking up hookers and going to the strip club.
  8. PeterW.
    May 13, 2008
    10
    bob a your an idiot ! how can you rate a game based on the type of clothes the character can wear? Unless your a strange fruit you will be amazed with this ! Graphics arent staggering at first but the level of detail, thought and characters this game has to offer is simply the bomb.
  9. FelipeH.
    May 13, 2008
    9
    Overall the graphics are amazing and everything looks nice. The only downside is the car combat which makes it hard to shoot and drive at the same time.
  10. Bigsteve
    May 13, 2008
    7
    This game I thought was a little poor, i got bored of the missions early on in the game and what was with the dark feel to the game. Then the game became good and unique. Thats right i turned on multi player online. This is by far the best area on the game, fight , team up, play the cop and turf wars. I thought this made the game a lot more that yet another GTA!
  11. ChristopherK.
    May 13, 2008
    7
    An extraordinarily impressive virtual world, very interesting, but not as fun as it could be. The character and vehicle don't seem much improved on San Andreas and the gritty realism causes the sandbox feel that made the GTA series legendary to go away.
  12. VictorM.
    May 12, 2008
    10
    Best game ever
  13. JeffreyB.
    May 12, 2008
    5
    Amazingly overrated. I can see how people like this game, but 10's/100's all over the place? To me it started off as a 10, and the more I played the less I liked it. Just the same old thing OVER and OVER(and this is the first GTA I have played). Plus the camera angle swinging just the wrong way at critical times, having to drive FOREVER every time you have to redo a mission(and Amazingly overrated. I can see how people like this game, but 10's/100's all over the place? To me it started off as a 10, and the more I played the less I liked it. Just the same old thing OVER and OVER(and this is the first GTA I have played). Plus the camera angle swinging just the wrong way at critical times, having to drive FOREVER every time you have to redo a mission(and when it is a hard mission, you wind up driving for 10 minutes fifty times to do a 50 second mission). Just maddening. By the time I couldn't take it any more(about 35-40% of the way through), I wanted to throw my Xbox out a window. Isn't this supposed to be FUN? After you have stolen your 500th car and shot your 25th drug dealer, and you still have 2/3 of the game to go? And on top of that, the longer the game went. the less I liked Niko. At the start he seemed like an OK guy trying to make his way in a tough world. After a while he just seems like an amoral scumbag, which is not an especially rewarding role playing experience. But make no mistake, it is the repetitive gameplay and the mediocre controls(especially driving) that drove me away. And take note - the users rating for this game(8.3) reflect the fact that this game is overrated by the critics.… Expand
  14. ChrisM.
    May 12, 2008
    10
    Quite simply the best game ever created.... Thank you Rockstar. Thank you.
  15. DaP.
    May 12, 2008
    8
    GTA IV is nowhere near as much fun as San Andreas was and is basically GTA 3 with a minor next-gen respray. The dating and friend systems really get in the way of the main storyline, and feel forced on you. The Radio stations, whilst there are plenty of great tunes, fail to convey a real sense of time and place as in VC and SA, and once again the sound mastering is poor, as in all GTA GTA IV is nowhere near as much fun as San Andreas was and is basically GTA 3 with a minor next-gen respray. The dating and friend systems really get in the way of the main storyline, and feel forced on you. The Radio stations, whilst there are plenty of great tunes, fail to convey a real sense of time and place as in VC and SA, and once again the sound mastering is poor, as in all GTA games, the overall volume level is way too low. Graphically (I've only played the 360 version) the game is a mild letdown, loads of pop up, blurring and jagged edges. The usual GTA bugs, getting cars irretrievably stuck in the scenery (as happened to me in my very first mission), inconsistent Police, disappearing clothing (where have my hat and glasses gone?) poor path finding for allies/npc's and a rubbish targeting system (use free aim only). There's still hours of quality entertainment but best game ever?, it's not even the best game on the 360. A good rather than great game.… Expand
  16. VictorM.
    May 12, 2008
    10
    Best game ever
  17. NickT.
    May 12, 2008
    10
    Effortlessly lives up to the hype.
  18. LiamA.
    May 12, 2008
    10
    I'm about halfway through the game atm, and so far there as been; no boring parts, no repetition, no "bad" glitch's, and nothing that could ever really turn anyone away from this game, 10/10!
  19. BenjaminS.
    May 12, 2008
    10
    The lack of customization is made up for by one of the best stories in gaming history. the story in this is the first one in the GTA series that was capable of driving a emotional response. they stepped back from San Andres as refined what they had before, and it works.
  20. MattD.
    May 12, 2008
    10
    This game is amazing... You can sit there and watch people go through there daily lives.
  21. AdamS.
    May 11, 2008
    4
    Nothing special. It's just like the old ones with nicer graphcis. It feels like the didn't put a lot of time into some of the smaller details. For example one time I was running from the cops and I ran into an alley in which a ladder was hanging down half way from a fire escape, so I pushed over a dumpster, jumped on top of it, and when I tried to get my guy to climb the ladder Nothing special. It's just like the old ones with nicer graphcis. It feels like the didn't put a lot of time into some of the smaller details. For example one time I was running from the cops and I ran into an alley in which a ladder was hanging down half way from a fire escape, so I pushed over a dumpster, jumped on top of it, and when I tried to get my guy to climb the ladder he wouldn't do it. It doesn't really let you get creative with all that stuff. Also the camera view sucks for driving unless you do the in car view. 4… Expand
  22. JonP.
    May 11, 2008
    10
    As close to perfect as a game can come.
  23. MiguelA.
    May 11, 2008
    10
    GTA is the greatest game in history to date.
  24. JoeD.
    May 11, 2008
    10
    Well, that's it. As many good games as there are on the market, none suck in the gamer quite like GTA does. Be warned, even if you're not a so-called 'hardcore' gamer, this will still take over your life and alienate you from your nearest and dearest. Two Hundred thumbs up.
  25. AnonymousMC
    May 11, 2008
    10
    ppl who give this game nething lower than a 9 are just trying be sweet cuz like every review site gave this a ten. there isnt the cool customization options in san andreas but this is a dress up game. this game is about violence and open world sandbox gameplay and no game does this better. gta4 may go down as the greatest video game ever. or unitl too human and mgs comes out.
  26. BobG.
    May 11, 2008
    10
    Amazing and immersive story, eg how you can choose different outcomes!
  27. Alex
    May 11, 2008
    10
    I love this game It is about my home land :) perfect story and amazing multplay
  28. SamL.
    May 11, 2008
    7
    I think it needs to be known to the developers that there is actually ALOT less excitement and entertainment in GTA4 compared to GTA:SA. There is much less to do. It's sad, looking at all the potential and time put into the design of the new Liberty City, and then seeing it squandered without adding at least SOME of the side quests. I thought at least the player stats would still be I think it needs to be known to the developers that there is actually ALOT less excitement and entertainment in GTA4 compared to GTA:SA. There is much less to do. It's sad, looking at all the potential and time put into the design of the new Liberty City, and then seeing it squandered without adding at least SOME of the side quests. I thought at least the player stats would still be present, or half the activities. It plays like a work of art meets crime saga, but my rise to the top is for nothing without rackets to run, safehouses to buy, or even a DESTRUCTION DERBY to roll in! None of the freedom present in San Andreas is here. Enjoy your 90 missions and a few car thefts, then bring it back to Gamestop and trade it in for the copy of GTA:SA you let someone borrow and never got back. All in all, I miss having a pink mohawk, dammit.… Expand
  29. TomE
    May 11, 2008
    2
    Way overhyped! Not down with cop killing and prostitution.
  30. JakeC.
    May 11, 2008
    6
    In terms of actual gameplay elements and innovation id say this is more like grand theft auto 3.2! A little bit more environment to explore and a few fixes and additions here & there. Combat is awful as Nico never moves properly and far too many enemies get far too many free hits on you before youve even got a chance to react, take cover or do anything other than get drilled till you end In terms of actual gameplay elements and innovation id say this is more like grand theft auto 3.2! A little bit more environment to explore and a few fixes and additions here & there. Combat is awful as Nico never moves properly and far too many enemies get far too many free hits on you before youve even got a chance to react, take cover or do anything other than get drilled till you end up outside a hospital $100 poorer. Proof that hype covers all flaws a milion times better than "soft focus"!… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2008
1
#1 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2008
1
#1 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
98

Universal acclaim - based on 86 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 86 out of 86
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 86
  3. Negative: 0 out of 86
  1. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    100
    It's got a world you believe in, a cast you care about and a script stuffed with brilliant moments... Utterly stunning in every resepct. [May 2008, p.79]
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  2. Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
    98
    Rockstar have surpassed themselves, delivering unquestionably the definitive GTA and perhaps the greatest videogame of all time. [June 2008]
  3. IGN
    100
    I could go on and on about why Grand Theft Auto IV is one of the best games we've ever seen and why even folks who are easily offended should play it, but that would be pointless. The only thing you need to know is that you have to play this game. Period.
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