Grand Theft Auto IV is better in every way possible. The more lifelike direction that the team went in takes a little getting used to, especially when it comes to getting behind the wheel, but once you get over the learning curve, you're handed an amazing experience and hands down the best work Rockstar North has ever put out. In previous games it felt like you were playing with action figures in this open world-it was fun, but it didn't feel real.
In Grand Theft Auto IV, the relationships you build, the activities you partake in, the dates you go on, and the city in which you live all feel genuine. You truly feel like you're living in the seedy underbelly of society.