The Singleplayer



This new installation hasn't deterred as much from the last series in the features of story mode and its missions, the majority of the time you find a contact, he/she sends you on a mission and you carry out that mission. This may seem dull at first but Rockstar, the company who makes the Grand Theft Auto video game, have taken this genre of free roaming games and developed a detailed city map to enhance gameplay. The graphics have lifelike settings, scenery and character models that you can interact with although this can distract you from the story.

The new addition of the euphoria game engine helps to enhance the gameplay. The developers have scrapped the ragdoll engine and used the more realistic euphoria engine to bring its audience into the new era of gaming. Characters no longer flop about and bounce when hit or shot; they react to their environments around them and act accordingly to their situation. An example of this can be seen in the gameplay, originally if a character was run over, they would bounce off and fly around aimlessly, with the euphoria engine they bend around the car and dint it in the exact place they collided.

This new type of gaming brings in a whole new realism and looks in many places like you are watching a movie, with each area of scenery having a unique character. The story is gripping, with Nico Bellic - a fresh immigrant from a war-torn Eastern European country - having a real personality which you grow fond of, this is one story you actually want to see to the conclusion. The missions are broken up with side missions and many extra games such as bowling, pool and darts which are quite addictive in themselves.

Nico can now use a mobile phone to call his contacts, take girls on dates and find jobs and activities, this system adds to the overall fun factor and adult theme of the game.

The Multiplayer

As an addition to the single player the Rockstar team has bought us online and offline multiplayer. There are 14 game modes which can be played by up to 16 people, these include Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Car Jack City, Cops n Crooks and a favourite of many Free Mode where players can explore the whole island of Liberty City.

A plethora of customisable options allows each game to be unique from the rest. This can make the game almost impossible to get bored of.

Overall it can be seen, Grand Theft Auto IV is a strong rival to other games of its genre and other video games in general. Both single player and multiplayer modes can give the player many hours of enjoyment.