Bit-tech.net: Grand Theft Auto IV Review

Grand Theft Auto is a top-notch game, but it isn't as mind-blowing and impressive as something like Portal, for example. It's building on the foundations of previous games in the series and adding on a few extra features each time – it isn't completely new and fresh itself.

That doesn't make Grand Theft Auto IV any less of a Game of The Year candidate and it doesn't take anything away from the insane amount of fun to be had. What it does do though is make the entire experience a little more predictable; a lot of the time you know what's coming beforehand and the first third of everything feels like jumping through hoops just to meet an old friend.

It's not game-wrecking and it doesn't detract from how great GTA IV is as a whole, but GTA IV isn't as original and shockingly good as the franchise once was. It's another re-polished and re-tuned iteration of a proven idea and though the game is definitely a must-buy, it also isn't all that startling.