I got the game a minute ago. Since yesterday have managed to put 10+ hours into it, and am sitting at 20% completion (thats not story completion of course). So far I think it is the better of all the GTA's even managing to best SA which I thought was loads better than Vice City. As I said the storyline and the acting and the writing kick the other GTA's in the teeth, but it still is fundementally a GTA game. What makes it better is how much Rockstar has learned from their previous games, things are just more integrated and smoother and the "dynamics" of the game-system make sense.
For instance, most (although not all) story and side quests are handled through your cell phone: anyone needs a job done, they will text you or they will call you if its urgent. A text can be done at your leisure, a call you have to answer on the spot - very often your bitch or your cousin or someone will call you in the middle of a mission and you have to turn them down, affecting your "relationship" rating w/ them and forcing you to repair it (by going on a date or hanging out). Other missions will be had through the internet: Brucie will send you an email telling you that he needs a certain car lifted; the only way to get these missions is to actually go online - he wont text you or tell you to lift it (as part of this side-quest missions). Vigilante missions are handled through the onboard computer of cop cars, and now there are (so far) two types: respond to criminal activity (gangs, car jackings, etc) or hunt down someone on the most wanted list. I know the Wanted List is finite, but I'm almost positive the criminal activity portion is dynamic and random (it rewards cash from slain thugs and free ammo). I have yet to do any cab missions, however I'm certain that these are integrated into your cousin Romans business and is repeatable. So no more "hmm lemme just drive to these contacts houses or roll over the flashing circle" - its all more realistic from an "game system" standpoint.
Theyve also done away with that bullshit "drive through the stars to lose your wanted level". Now its more a mini-game of cat and mouse. Cops (in cars or on foot) show up on your minimap, and the last cop to see you forms a circle around your position. Get out of the circle, and you're wanted level (after about 15 seconds) will disappear. This is of course easy on one-star (you may be chased by just the cop who saw you commit the crime or responded to your crime), and fucking brutal on as little as 3 stars (the helis come out and they obviously can fly faster than you can drive. I've not gained (and evaded) a 6-star wanted level so I have no idea how ridiculous that is, but the armored swat cars and shotgun/semi-automatic wielding cops come out at I believe three stars. You can get clever though, hoping into an alley and ducking and letting the cops drive by before you make a run for it behind them, but they WILL call in backup and theres no greater blueball moment than outrunning them in that nice new car you got into all this trouble to steal, only to have some plainclothes asshole on the street spot you just as your about to cross the "circle" and reset the entire fucking chase. You can also your the Spray And Prays and run into a store to try and lose the cops (as well as starting a story mode to auto lose everything), but its easiest (and more satisfying) to just try and outrun the law.
Which brings me to the cars. When you first pick up the game, you will be pissed at the handling, if you're at all like me and are not used to playing racers that dont handle like Burnout Paradise. After awhile youll get used to the car handling, and will feel accomplished - only to get into another car and realize it handles completely fucking different and youll need to relearn that one as well (dont get me started on motorcycles).
All in all - great game so far, and I havent even gotten to any of the shit covered in ANY of the trailers (except two scenes), all the stuff with the blacks and the head mafia dude. . .hasn't even been alluded to.
Im a hardcore anti-buy-games. . .but if somehow I lost the ability to download shit, I'd buy this game, and the limited edition in a fucking heartbeat - just for the story alone. Nico is easily the best character out of EVERY GTA superstar (Sorry Ray Liotta). However, I've only spotted one "celebrity" in the game - Kat Williams, and I dont like him in person, but his shit in the game is hilarious (he plays himself and a comedian on one of the television stations).
|
