Now that Grand Theft Auto IV is finally ready to stand up to the cold, hard gaze of the world's army of eager videogame critics, the reviews are flooding in. Has all the hard work of Rockstar's army of developers, artists and writers been in vain? Can Grand Theft Auto IV really live up to the hype? How will the critics score this long-awaited epic?
First out of the gate was IGN's review, written by Hilary Goldstein. Goldstein calls the GTA IV "the best game since Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time," and goes on to heap praise on Nico's characterization, the realism of Liberty City, the dialog, the multiplayer, and - well, everything, really. He also tips the PS3 version as the better-looking of the two, offering less scenery pop-up and smoother graphics overall. And the score? A perfect 10.
Gamespy's Will Tuttle characterizes the game as a commentary on the nature of the American Dream, and sets it on a par with crime epics from directors like Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola. He loved the lifelike Liberty City, calling it "the most important supporting character in the game," and paints a picture of wandering the streets for hours just watching life going on.
Tuttle also picks the PS3's version over the 360, although he's not impressed with the PS3's "forced" motion-sensitive controls. He notes the close-up combat still isn't quite right, and dings it for a few graphical issues, but all the same, rolls out the little-used five-star rating.
