Review: Grand Theft Auto IV

As always, there will be spoilers.

This weekend, I finally finished GTA IV. As the credits started rolling, I set down my controller down and sat in my seat a-washed in satisfaction.

While the ending left MUCH to be desired, the experience was amazing. Towards the end, I was emotionally moved by the tale that was being spun. That's when I realized that the "ending" was much more than the final cinematic. The final arc begins with the capture of Darko Brevic, and that's where the game just becomes a whirlwind.

The game started out enough as an enjoyable romp, but the weight and drama of the story set in soon after. I was sprung. The story wasn't anything too amazing, but, instead, Rockstar decided to allow the characters and experiences to carry the weight. The story of the McCreary's was fascinating, and Brucie (who just has to be related to the "Boom! Headshot!" guy from Youtube) is the most phenomenally gross generalization of a steroid-infused closet-homosexual ever.

The missions don't have a lot of range, but that goes to show that, when the game steps out of the normal fetch quests, it truly shines. Missions like bank robbery, jailbreak, McReary double-cross and the abandoned hospital stick out in my mind, and Rockstar was wise to pace them accordingly. If anyone plays long enough to reach the bank robbery, I doubt that they will ever quit playing.

Outside of the mission experiences, the rest of the game is absolutely immersive. I am not joking that I spent the first hour or two of the game watching Roman's TV. Also, attending Perestroika and Split Sides just had me amazed at the amount of content contained in the title.

Surely, the game has its flaws, but nitpicking a masterpiece gets you nowhere. This is the landmark of the generation to only be outdone by the next GTA.

Rating: Thumbs Up.