I'm updating my score to a 9.4. The game is just progressing so nicely, and finally GTA has a main character worth playing and not just another mindless stereotype. You can really see Nico turning back to his old ways as the story moves forward.
Also, now that I've had morte time to play, I find the combat controls much more satisfying... with guns. Fist fighting is still a bit of a mess staggering from responsive controls to "are you ever going to throw that punch?", but at least you get to curb stomp
But what has truly shocked and awed me is the rediculous detail in this game. Just getting a cab ride and looking out the window is amazing and driving on the highway system can be breathtaking. It feels and looks real. But much of that "realness" dosn't come from beauty, but detail of ugliness... the garbage, the stripped cars and rusted drums, the well placed graffiti, and the people:
I was taking a cab ride and suddenly we stopped. The reason? Two NPC's got in a fender bender ahead of us and were in a fist fight. Normally I would just hit the "A" button and fast forward, but I found it entertaining. Eventually the cops arrived and chased them both away and we started moving again, but I couldn't believe how well this environment was designed.
I doubt my rating will ever go higher simply because the flaws I've found will not reveal themselves to be better than they are, namely the hand to had combat and main character models that really could have been much better. They honesltly look very last-gen which is a shame because they can be such a contrast when compared to the amazing accomplishment which is Liberty City, and it hurts the game for me because the cutscenes look worse that the gameplay and is breaks my suspension of disbelief. But those are minor compaints overall.
And yes, Brucie is awesome.
Re: GTA IV: It's Magically Delicious
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