The open-world crime epic returns to the PlayStation 3. Grand Theft Auto IV gives players the ability to do nearly anything in a huge virtual city: everything from exploring seedy neighborhoods to visiting strip clubs to shooting Mafia goons.

You play as Niko, an immigrant with a dark secret. Grand Theft Auto IV has been one of the best-reviewed games of the decade, garnering wild critical acclaim for its dazzling graphics, fluid controls, and mature storyline. A new online mode extends the possibilities for years to come with over a dozen game play styles, from racing to deathmatch.

So with a feature list that's a step back from its predecessors, just what does GTA IV have? It's got the most realistic, believable and compelling game-world yet seen. The thick atmosphere and tireless detail, previously only seen in tightly scripted and confined games like Bioshock or Resident Evil 4, is now present in every square inch of Liberty City. Wherever you are and whatever you're doing it feels like a living, breathing world. And for this, Rockstar should feel very proud. Please not this review was based on the Xbox 360 version.

 

This is probably a good time to take a look at some of the detail that gives GTA IV its unparalleled atmosphere. Let's take the act of carjacking that gives GTA its name. Firstly, you'll notice most parked cars in Liberty City are now locked, so Niko will either elbow, punch or kick the window to shatter it before hotwiring it. When driving, you'll really get to appreciate the new physics and animations, as cars now feel far weightier. The realism is unshakeable as Niko hurtles around a corner, visibly fighting with the wheel and being pushed around by the g-forces, as the car itself slides across the road, leaving thick skid-marks and plumes of smoke from the screeching tyres. Hit another car and you'll really feel the impact as windows shatter, panels crumple or tear right off amidst a shower of sparks and the occupants in both cars are flung about violently.



Unless you're a very atypical GTA player, it won't be long at all until you get to experience being pursued by Liberty City's far smarter and more vigilant police force. You should be very pleased to hear that the omnipotent police of GTAs past, who would know where you were at all times and teleport into existence around you are gone. First you'll hear police chatter about whatever crime you've committed. Just firing a gun (without even shooting anyone) is usually enough to trigger a wanted level, as any police in earshot will be heard radioing comments like "responding to shots fired on Thompson street." When you're wanted by police, you'll see any beat cops and patrol cars marked on your radar, as well as the current search area they're hunting you in.

While evading wanted levels in previous games was a case of surviving long enough to run over some police star power-ups or getting your car resprayed, it's now much more logical and enjoyable. The new wanted system revolves around line of sight and your last known location and vehicle. If the police spot you the search area will be re-focused around your new location and if you're observed breaking into a new car, then a description of its make and colour will be sent over the police radio.



This system makes for far more cinematic and exciting police chases. GTA IV still excels at breakneck car chases as you hurtle through traffic in an effort to out-distance police, but it's also home to plenty of amazingly cool cinematic moments. For example, if you're far enough ahead of the police that you can tear into a narrow alley before the pursuing police can get around the corner to see you do it, they'll then speed right by the alley, oblivious of your escape. While you've lost your immediate tail, you'll now need to lay low as the police search the area. Ditching your car in the alley and breaking into a new vehicle before you're spotted is always a challenge, and one that's made all the more tense and exciting thanks to the new and more involved carjacking system.

The police in GTA IV sure are determined to catch you; something we learnt the hard way as we bailed out of our car in a suburban street and charged through a series of backyards; leaping over fences, disturbing home owners watering their gardens and sweeping their porches – all the while with police chasing us on-foot. After we bailed over the last fence onto the road, we pulled out an Uzi and aimed it at the driver. We'd learnt from experience this is the safest way to steal moving cars, because the occupant will get out of the car with their hands up, allowing you to hop in without risking a confrontation or alerting the nearby police by firing your gun. Unfortunately for us, the beat-cops on our tail were so determined to catch us that they commandeered some wheels by pulling a passing motorist out of his car and sped after us in a spectacular chase.