GTA IV: Not very impressed.

[MiG-]

Few games exist on the scale that GTA IV does, there is a huge ton of detail, there is a lot going on all the time and it does all of this with pretty minimal loading time.

For me GTA has its flaws - the graphics aren't perfect, the controls can be a bit fiddly and I spend of as much time controlling the camera as I do controlling the character (though I do this to make it seem more like a movie than a game), but these points aren't enough to change the 10/10 rating I'd give it.

A lot of people bang on about the minimal loading times. Well, from my point of view, they have done a good job but its easy to achieve this. All they do is load the most used textures, sounds, models, and then whilst keeping an eye on whats being rendered in another thread, find out what needs loading, put that in another thread, ect.

Its easy to do with 3 CPU's and cleverish programming.

[acies]

You're not the only one that isn't impressed by GTAIV. To me, it's same old same old. The graphics are sub-par, framerate drops still occur (and I'm talking major drops), and the game is too repetitive.

Only gets a 6/10 from me.

6/10, that's extremely harsh. And repetitive?? It's one of the less repetitive games out there.

[Piggy]

This is the first GTA game that I actually played, and it has been a lot of fun so far. I'm only like 12% into the game, but still it is very enjoyable. Hell the radio stations alone make the game.

I don't think the graphics are great, but meh it's not like that matters that much. Look at the monkey island series, they are still great games till now.

[notuptome2004]

Let me point out that GTA 4 is the first game in the series to have Realism like graphics while GTA 3 to SA was not in that state the graphics of the last version of the game were always low low quality stuff so don't complain about the graphics since it is a hug leap forward in the series for the graphics part oh and about Car handling in the game also remember they have a real physics engine in this that equate for Mass and gravity and all the little things that happen in real life so the driving should be weird at first

[inactive]

well im roughly 40percent through the game now and overall the game is getting quite a bit better the further you get into it cause at first i was a little disappointed in the games graphics and camera angles etc but after i got used to the game more it's quite a bit better now although i wont be able to get FULL enjoyment out of the game til i get the PC version cause of the mouses superior aiming etc.

plus another thing thats making it better is the characters are getting much more interesting the further you get into it vs when you first start which are just 'ok'ish.

but the game does tend to get a little to much praise but at least it's not anywhere as overrated as the Halo series that stuff is extremely overrated!

but one things for sure, ill like Mafia 2 much more than GTA4. cause even though GTA4 will appeal to more people, Mafia just has better gameplay if you ask me as i like it's weapons feel and it's characters are more interesting cause it feels like mob movies like The Godfather/Road To Perdition etc etc.

overall i would say (so far) i would give GTA4 a 8-9/10... cause it's still easily better than vast majority of games out there as most games aint even worth playing.... but like i say im looking forward to Mafia 2 (on PC) much more than GTA4 in general cause it's characters are more interesting and sophisticated and it feels like a mob movie which in general im a big fan of mob movies.

[flyingroof]

the graphics aren't perfect

GTA: SA XBOX

GTA IV XBOX360

'nuff said :laugh:

[zeta_immersion]

the game is perfect, i would dare any of you do some clever programming and get an insane amount of detail at a playable frame rate , of course, you can pick at it and bitch like a smart critic, but even critics admit the innevitable ... while gta is not the best, for the time being i would say it is close, in 10 years ... maybe not ... but who cares ......

[inactive]

@ flyingroof... DAMN!, it appears i underestimated how bad the previous GTA games graphics where LOL

but overall though i think the graphics on GTA4 turned out a little worse than i expected from screenshots i seen vs actually seeing the game but then again im running a standard def tv so im sure thats playing a role in the graphics.... main thing i could notice is character physics as those act alot better when getting hit and people's reactions etc in general in GTA4 vs prior GTA's.

[+virtorio MVC]

A lot of people bang on about the minimal loading times. Well, from my point of view, they have done a good job but its easy to achieve this. All they do is load the most used textures, sounds, models, and then whilst keeping an eye on whats being rendered in another thread, find out what needs loading, put that in another thread, ect.

Its easy to do with 3 CPU's and cleverish programming.

Easy in theory, doing stuff like this adds another layer of complexity to the engine. That's why you spend so much time in front of loading screens for a ton of other, considerably less complicated games.

'nuff said laugh.gif

I assume that picture is from the PS3 because the Xbox 360 is jagged as hell. I said they weren't perfect, they are however very very good.

[Sethos]

because the Xbox 360 is jagged as hell.

Get a decent TV and stop whining.

[Huleboeren]

Get a decent TV and stop whining.

The decent'er it is - the more visible the jaggies become :p

They really stand out in 1080p

[Sethos]

The decent'er it is - the more visible the jaggies become :p

They really stand out in 1080p

Some TVs actually have some options to make a picture more smooth, mine does and the game looks awesome. Even my friends cheap LCD is able to do it.

[Huleboeren]

Some TVs actually have some options to make a picture more smooth, mine does and the game looks awesome. Even my friends cheap LCD is able to do it.

But..but thats cheating :o

Alright, Ill try fiddling with the settings..

[flyingroof]

Easy in theory, doing stuff like this adds another layer of complexity to the engine. That's why you spend so much time in front of loading screens for a ton of other, considerably less complicated games.

I assume that picture is from the PS3 because the Xbox 360 is jagged as hell. I said they weren't perfect, they are however very very good.

both screenshots are XBOX/XBOX 360 versions

[+virtorio MVC]

Get a decent TV and stop whining.

My TV is more than good enough. Fact is, GTAIV on the 360 is jagged as hell.

[flyingroof]

maybe it's your TV i haven't seen many jagged edges at all.. infact i don't think i've seen any

[Huleboeren]

Jaggies too visible?

What tv?

How many inches?

SD, HD or FULL HD? :p

Samsung M87

37"

1080p (Full HD)

I think the jaggies are too visible..

[+virtorio MVC]

Sony Bravia 32" 720p/also tried 1080i

Up close things look fine, things in the distance are jagged as can be. Not usually a problem, when driving fast however it can be hard to make out what is coming.

Also I wasn't bad mouthing the game; it?s the best game I've played. But I'm not going to define the graphics as perfect when they're clearly not.

Also the shadows sometimes look terrible, like they've been dithered like crazy.

[Sethos]

42" Pioneer Plasma HD-Ready and the game looks extremely smooth.

EDIT: I agree on the shadows though, they are horrible, most noticeable in daylight.

[SoCalledChaos]

PIXELS ARE SQUARE.. just so you know.

[+virtorio MVC]

PIXELS ARE SQUARE.. just so you know.

NO SH*T.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-aliasing

[SIE]

Jaggies too visible?

What tv?

How many inches?

SD, HD or FULL HD? :p

Samsung M87

37"

1080p (Full HD)

I think the jaggies are too visible..

You make me laugh, seriously, I don't own a console but looking at the comparable screenshots the game clearly looks loads better on the 360.

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?show...#entry589392393

I have no idea how anybody can argue it looks better on the PS3 ffs.

[Huleboeren]

42" Pioneer Plasma HD-Ready and the game looks extremely smooth.

EDIT: I agree on the shadows though, they are horrible, most noticeable in daylight.

BINGO - Plasmas

They make everything look beautiful :s

Is yours even native 720p/1080p?

Most arent - and it still looks great..

[SoCalledChaos]

NO SH*T.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-aliasing

find me an article where it says that GTA 4 would have 4x AA then come back to this thread.

[+virtorio MVC]

find me an article where it says that GTA 4 would have 4x AA then come back to this thread.

Where did I say that it did?