Descripción del fabricante
What does the American Dream mean today?
For Niko Bellic, fresh off the boat from Europe, it is the hope he can escape
his past. For his cousin, Roman, it is the vision that together they can find
fortune in Liberty City, gateway to the land of opportunity. As they slip into
debt and are dragged into a criminal underworld by a series of shysters, thieves
and sociopaths, they discover that the reality is very different from the dream
in a city that worships money and status, and is heaven for those who have them
and a living nightmare for those who don’t.
Beginning with the 1997 release of the original Grand Theft Auto, the
GTA series has been one of the most prolific, controversial and down right
entertaining franchises in video games history. This pedigree of success
guarantees that the highly anticipated eleventh game in the series, Grand
Theft Auto IV, will garner at least as much attention if not more.
|
Return to Liberty City.
|
The dream as Niko expected it.
View larger.
|
There's always a catch.
View larger.
|
But some skills are international.
View larger.
|
The Plot
Grand Theft Auto IV is a brand new adventure in the GTA universe
following the experiences of Nikolai "Niko" Bellic, a new immigrant from an
undisclosed eastern European country whose troubled pa st and the persuasion of
his cousin Roman have brought him to the fictional Liberty City. Unfortunately,
Niko’s search for the American Dream and a much needed fresh start, hits an
immediate snag when the rags to riches story Roman spun to pique Niko's interest
is exposed as not only a complete fabrication, but a ploy to enlist Niko’s
well-known skills as a tough guy against the ample list of enemies clamoring for
Roman’s debt-ridden blood.
Because Roman is the only person Niko knows in Liberty City he begrudgingly
accepts his role as Roman’s protector despite the deception. But as time goes on
Niko comes into his own, and his experience on the wrong side of the tracks
proves more valuable than he could have ever imagined as he fights for survival
and later supremacy on the crime ridden streets of Liberty City.
Game Environments
Based on several of the boroughs of New York City and parts of New Jersey,
Liberty City, familiar to players of previous games in the series, has been
entirely redesigned for GTA IV. Players can expect visible detail down to
the weeds growing in the cracks in the sidewalk, cars and buildings of visibly
different ages and a much greater level if verticality in the buildings and
bridges that they are able to explore as Niko moves through the city streets. In
addition, pedestrians in GTA IV are much more realistic. No longer simply
moving cardboard cutouts, these NPCs are intelligent, modern, human
representations that laugh, cry, eat, drink, use cell phones and ATMs, and
talking amongst themselves regardless of Niko’s interaction with them.
Gameplay
Historically GTA games have focused heavily on mission-based play,
requiring successful completion of fixed tasks in order for players to progress
through the game, but this has changed to a great extent in GTA IV.
Players will experience an entirely new and exciting emphasis centered on the
blending of on-mission and off-mission play, resulting not only in an increased
sense of realism, but more interesting and unrestricted gameplay.
Features
Aside from the car jacking and a detailed city environment here are the new
features for GTA IV:
- Improved combat system - Now you can use cover and also a target lock system,
which allows you to take out targets with greater ease and accuracy. Plus, you
can engage in some hand-to-hand combat if you can't get your hands on a piece
quick enough.
- Cell phone - Not just for basic phone calls anymore. Use your in-game cell phone
to receive missions via SMS, snap photos, and ZiT (tag) songs that can be
downloaded exclusively on Amazon.com/mp3.
- Free time - In between missions you can take advantage of "me" time. There are
gentleman's clubs, comedy clubs, bowling alleys, and bars, which all house
unique activities.
- Take a break from the storyline - A variety of side missions allow you to help
run a car service, "borrow" cop cars, assassinate targets, help solve problems
for those on the street, or take to the air with stunt jumps that are scattered
all over the city.
- Control your own fate - Throughout the game choice moments will arrive causing
you to make a decision that will affect relationships and money.
Multiplayer
Give Niko a rest and create your own multiplayer "hero." GTA has added
multiplayer modes allowing you to take your creation out to play online in
competitive, co-op, and free form modes. Competitive mode has you fighting
against the cops, jacking cars, or racing to finish odd jobs. Co-op challenges
you and your friends with various tasks including Hangman's NOOSE where you are
responsible for escorting a wanted kingpin to a safe extraction point. Freeform
lets you and 15 others lose on Liberty City. Use this mode to hit up the bar and
play virtual darts versus each other or head out to the streets and set up your
own drag races. If you can dream it, you can do it in Freeform mode.