Agreed..
It is an extremely well written review. One quick thing before my response: I don't know if N4G screwed up your formatting, or if it's just the way you write, but the whole review is missing a space after each punctuation! Annoying, but not a huge problem.
Okay, so I've talked about your writing, but now it's on to your content.
First and foremost, I have to disagree with you on graphics. I'm playing on a 60GB PS3, and have yet to experience any pop-ins or last-gen graphics. I have had one instance of texture failing to load for maybe a good second, but other than that the game has played silky smooth. While games like COD4 obviously put GTA IV to shame, GTA IV is still, hands down, the best graphics in its sandbox genre. When giving a review, you definitely have to take in account a game's competition, or else it simply isn't fair if you compare a game that has to model 50 different onscreen events every 2 seconds as you fly down the street at 100MPH to a 'cage match' style FPS shooter.
I would have to give graphics a 9.5, not an 8.0.
Audio gets an easy 10 for me. The amount of work that R* put into the audio is ridiculous. Have you checked out the in-game TV yet? 'The Men's Room' is one of the funniest, best acted gameplay video I've ever seen. Then you have to consider the even better selection of radio, on-the-fly news updates that correspond to the mayhem you've recently caused, and, of course, Brucie B. Has there ever been a better character in the history of gaming? The answer is an overwhelming "No." Oh, and don't forget the creepy-realistic speaker interference you hear when your about to receive a phone call in-game. Who honestly didn't reach for their own cell phone when they heard that?
Fun factor is an easy 10. The only reason I may put this game down is because of MGS4 in June. The replayability is ridiculous. If you ever find your self bored, run up to a roof top and rain Molotovs on the world below. You'll get 4 stars in no time!
Gameplay I do agree could use some work. While the cover system is appreciated, its sensitivity to auto-stick you when you're trying to break free of cover needs some work. S&A works great - I really like the full-L2 for auto-aim and half-L2 for free-aim system. Plus, the ability to use the right analog to tweak that auto-aim for a head shot is a necessity online. I'm loving driving too - much more realistic. You actually have to brake now.. Revolutionary!!! :P
9.0 for me.
Online gets a 9.5. Much better than nothing, but I still think some interfacing upgrades are definitely needed. I really think online could benefit from online-only levels, like a warehouse or something.. I can see how some people (including myself) would want something slightly more different than single player style missions with human-controller AI :D
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