Grand Theft Auto IV preview-splosion!

38 Comments by Christopher Grant Jan 23rd 2008 3:45PM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360

So, an embargo up and expired today and, in a torrent of words and screenshots, we were inundated with previews of Grand Theft Auto IV. GamesRadar flips on the caps-lock key to call it their "most massive preview EVER"; IGN takes an "extended look at the near-final Liberty City"; Kikizo bills it as their "third GTA IV preview spectacular"; VideoGamer.com pitches us with "3,500+ words GTA4 preview + screens"; and lastly, Team Xbox politely avoids mentioning the size of their preview, though it still weighs in at a massive 2200 or so words.

Maybe we're just getting old, but we went straight for MTV News' far more palatable preview which, at 1500 words, was practically a lesson in concision. Sure, you don't get the fancy new screenshots or what have you, but you do get some new details on the game all presented on one beautifully long page. So what's new? How about a totally refined combat system that sounds more like the the elegant system used in Gears of War or Uncharted than the clunky mess reused for five Grand Theft Auto games. Also, just in case the sex and violence weren't going to be enough to get the game vilified in the mainstream media, they've added in the ability to get drunk which makes "walking and driving controls wobbly" and the camera shaky. Also, no more eating too much and getting fat (just like real life), and no more crazy outfits ("That's not the mood of this game," a Rockstar rep said), both perfectly reasonable limitations considering what appears to be a stronger emphasis on story and character.

While we didn't dig through the thousand upon thousands of words gathered in these half-dozen plus previews, we did assemble the links with the help of a tipster from RockstarWatch.net. Enjoy, and let us know if you spot anything we should all know about.

Read – Grand Theft Auto IV Details Unloaded ... [MTV News]

Read – GTA IV: A New Look [CVG]
Read – Grand Theft Auto IV UK Update [IGN]
Read – Grand Theft Auto IV - updated impressions [GamesRadar]
Read – Grand Theft Auto IV: Kikizo Preview 3 [Kikizo]
Read – GTA4 First Look [VideoGamer.com]
Read – Grand Theft Auto IV Preview [Team Xbox]

Tags: Grand-Theft-Auto, GTAIV, Rockstar

(Page 1) Reader Comments

JontheNinja: Jan 23rd 2008; 3:50PM

OMAHAGHA I CAME ALL OVER THE PLACE IT'S IN MY EYE I HAVE TO CALL A DOCTOR.

Zootittles: Jan 23rd 2008; 3:59PM

Wow.

Pics plz.

Doug Kaplan: Jan 23rd 2008; 4:19PM

JontheNinja, you sir get +20 internets for making me honestly laugh out loud at that. Had you use commas or periods, it would not have been as fun but it's as if you typed it as it happened and for that, bravo.

Kyle: Jan 24th 2008; 9:11AM

H'GEEEHHH ====D ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~

ill trooper: Jan 23rd 2008; 3:52PM

I'll admit it: I'm really excited about this game.

I will say, however, that the edge of afore-mentioned excitement has been dulled slightly by 'Crackdown' - I'm not sure I'm ever going to enjoy sandbox-style gameplay as much as I did before, without the ability to climb buildings and leap from roof to roof...

Ten Dolla Bill: Jan 23rd 2008; 3:57PM

You'll get to use window cleaning elevators in GTA4 though. That's almost as cool as climbing the side of a building... isn't it?

Intentless: Jan 23rd 2008; 4:18PM

At Ten Dolla Bill.... Almost like a derenger is almost a desert eagle....

Chameleon: Jan 26th 2008; 12:30PM

nothing against dolla bill, but thank-you intentless for making me literally laugh out loud and frighten the hell out of my co-workers ....

Fin: Jan 23rd 2008; 3:59PM

Two words.

UN. REAL.

naxe: Jan 23rd 2008; 4:23PM

three words.
fab-you-lous

sorry couldnt resist. does anyone know about the multiplayer aspect of this game? if their is going to be one? san andreas had a multiplayer if you want to call it that. but sure would be cool to be a ped, walking around while other players are causing their own version of mayhem.

hope so.

copa: Jan 23rd 2008; 4:02PM

I'm glad the game is making progress, but we are in late January and the code was not playable by the press.

When you have a game of this size, where not even a bite-size piece is complete enough to allow a hands-on demo, there is a lot of work to go.

March release? I kind of doubt it.

Day and date release for the PS3 version, which was not displayable much less playable? We'll see...

ClarkyCat: Jan 23rd 2008; 4:06PM

Heh, I like how Rockstar are still burning GameSpot.

Blazur: Jan 23rd 2008; 4:14PM

Any word on if this'll be available on the PC?

KVN: Jan 23rd 2008; 4:17PM

This game looks like it's going to be awesome.This is the first GTA game i'm going to buy.

GreyFox: Jan 23rd 2008; 4:20PM

No 1up.com? I guess EGM is getting it next month...

Alexander: Jan 23rd 2008; 4:24PM

I hope there is that grand theft auto blood but this time realistic unlike saints row

tmacairjordan87: Jan 23rd 2008; 4:26PM

these previews have me pumped for the game again since i kinda lost faith in it after last year's disappointing previews. Sounds like it's going to be unbelievable!

ViagraFiend: Jan 23rd 2008; 4:35PM

I cant wait to simulate murder again.

Superstar90: Jan 23rd 2008; 9:53PM

are you trying to lure a thompson-fish? i hear they like violence wrapped in sex more.

Nigeria: Jan 23rd 2008; 4:53PM

No wonder games "journalism" is not given any considerable respect by the more mature media outlets.

The free advertising they are giving this game is disproportionate to what it is. Yes it will make money, but it is not going to be fundamentally different from the previous three GTAs, or the PSP versions. These type of games are just so, staid. Or maybe I'm allowing personal bias to cloud my judgement.

But am I really the only one who feels this series is a little overrated?

pandlcg: Jan 23rd 2008; 4:57PM

If this actually comes out by the end of April i'm going to be amazed. This got me excited for GTAIV again.

Dopple Boppler: Jan 23rd 2008; 5:04PM

No silly outfits makes me sad. One of my favorite parts of San Andreas was checking out the new clothes stores whenever I got to a new city. I'm sure the game will be great and all, but that seems like a big step backwards in my book.

deaftly: Jan 23rd 2008; 5:09PM

Can't wait until they announce the soundtrack. Rockstar, if you read this keep this in mind.

NO SOUTHERN RAP OR BLACK EYE PEES

Thanks.

Mr Khan: Jan 23rd 2008; 6:02PM

A successful fusion of Action elements with the GTA free-roaming style would really merit GTAIV's status as a full-scale sequel to GTAIII

MasterInsan0: Jan 23rd 2008; 6:02PM

Hearing that the gunplay will be better makes me finally want to be interested in this game. Before, I was still kinda meh about the whole thing, but now: yes.

playwhutyalike: Jan 23rd 2008; 7:35PM

I'm playing San And at the moment (bought my friends PS2 for super, super cheap) and the gun play does kind of blow. I like how when you auto target and you get to close you put your gun in the air. Maybe I just suck at video games.

Co: Jan 23rd 2008; 6:13PM

I sense Halo 3 part deux coming up. Never will live up to all the hype and sequel-ocrity.

jynxycat: Jan 23rd 2008; 6:37PM

Except all the GTA titles after III have been fairly large improvements. VC had so many more side missions, characters, properties to buy, and an overall bigger landscape to explore. San Andreas was just huge, both in terms of landscape, and length of play.

I see this one completely living up to it's hype, which, to be honest, has been a bit flat since the delay.

playwhutyalike: Jan 23rd 2008; 7:27PM

I can get drunk and drive? Holy shit, it's just like real life!

KushielsScion007: Jan 23rd 2008; 11:22PM

This game will be dank...

Brian Fantana: Jan 24th 2008; 1:29AM

So does anyone know if the demo was being played on a 360 or a PS3?

I looked on the websites and they didn't say.

Patrick: Jan 25th 2008; 3:11PM

IGN said it was 360, PS3 build sometime "soon"

Abscissa: Jan 24th 2008; 2:36AM

"they've added in the ability to get drunk which makes "walking and driving controls wobbly""

Conker did that on the N64, but nobody noticed.

Co: Jan 24th 2008; 3:27PM

Alot of things were done first on Nintendo platforms.

ThornedVenom: Jan 24th 2008; 3:06AM

I'll take one for the PC.

bigsofty: Jan 24th 2008; 4:48AM

GTA sucks ass... all animation and no content...

mike: Jan 24th 2008; 6:09AM

every site has a preview, the game is out in 2 months, yet they havent even released on in game screen shot with the hud and showing actual gameplay. This is pathetic. All they show are cut scene images now? Even if they are in game rendered I still want to see some,w actual gameplay footage.

Dan: Jan 24th 2008; 10:45AM

This 'splosion of news almost washed the nasty taste the waxy people like creatures from the last video of GTA IV out of my mind..."almost" being the operative word. All joking aside, this game is going to be worth the lashing of words I'll surely incur when my wife sees this game sitting on my console later this year.

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