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GTA4 - Hands On (Finally) Preview
Chris Leyton
28/02/2008
The wait is nearly over, GTA4 is on the horizon and we recently got our grubby hands all over it...
Undoubtedly staking its claim as the game of 2008, if not the next few years, a number of hours with the Xbox 360 version satisfied our cravings, eased any of the fears we might have had, and most certainly left us desperate for more.
Finally being able to go hands on with a game that makes even the anticipation (though not necessarily the hype) for Halo 3 seem damp in comparison gave us the opportunity to sample the long list of improvements we've only been able to watch up until now. But now that wait is over, GTA4 is on the horizon and it's time to get very, very excited.
With months of anticipation manifesting itself in sweaty palms clasped around the 360 pad, our first few moments in Liberty City easily lived up to expectations. Whipping out an SMG and peppering bullets into the sky (a few might have hit the crowd, it's a game!), demonstrated the considerable improvements Rockstar North are undertaking when it comes to delivering a Liberty City evolved beyond recognition from the last time we saw it on the PSP. Sparked into chaos, Liberty citizens dropped their shopping bags, tossed away their newspapers, and ran away in all different directions as pandemonium filled the streets - quickly followed by the wail of sirens and shouts from the cops behind us, how we've missed GTA.
It's a hard thing to describe in words, but can largely be attributed to the sheer density and the massive improvements to the animations, which suggests within the first few minutes that Rockstar North are well on course to delivering a living, breathing city befitting its new home on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation3.
After a little time spent walking the streets of Liberty City, hijacking vehicles and being impressed by the wider number of reactions both Niko and citizens have, we decided it was about time to sample one of the missions Rockstar were happy for us to play. "Jamaican Heat" finds Niko teaming up with Little Jacob in a shootout that serves as a tutorial for the new targeting and covering system.
Following last month's look, GTA fans may remember that we had slight concerns over the new targeting system. Those fears can be allayed immediately; after a number of years trying it appears that Rockstar North has finally come across something they're happy with. Resembling a similar setup to that featured in Real Time Worlds' Crackdown, the auto-targeting is extremely precise, instigated by flicking between targets accurately with a quick nudge of the thumbstick. Although it's easy enough to lock onto a target and shoot them down in a hail of bullets, the skill revolves around subtly nudging the thumbstick upwards to gain a headshot or downwards to kneecap them, which coupled with euphoria technology ensures realistic animations dependant on where the bullets hit.
Working hand-in-hand with the targeting system is the all-new covering system. We've been excited by this from the very first moment we saw it in action, GTA has long needed such a feature, even more so with the increased action that GTA4 offers. Using a bumper button, Niko easily crouches up against objects whether it's a wall or the bumper of a car. The affect on the game is quite profound; no longer just a random cacophony of wild bullets, there's a considerable tactical element to the action with GTA4, resulting in a combat system that's much more effective and less frustrating than before.
Attempting a getaway on a scooter probably wasn't the wisest move, though it did serve as a reminder of the possibilities that GTA always provides - plus it's much more enjoyable this way. As has previously been reported, Niko dons a helmet for such rides, which on one or two encounters he kept wearing for a short period after he stepped away from the scooter. Whether you can use it for head armour or perhaps as a disguise remains to be seen.
Car handling is another area that has undergone a significant overhaul, resulting in what appears to be a much more distinctive ride. There's less of an arcade feel this time around, although Rockstar North has wisely decided not to take it too far in terms of realism. Hurtling around corners with the handbrake is pretty much a no-no now, unless of course you enjoy performing donuts before speeding off in another direction. As we talked about extensively during our last look, the Cinematic Cam is now much more of a viable option in GTA4. What we didn't realise until getting our hands on the game is the ability to slow everything down by holding onto the B button. The feature provides the time to perform slight and deft manoeuvres, scraping between narrow gaps and affording some helpful assistance when the camera changes perspective and leaves you temporarily disorientated.
Mentioned in previous previews, combat in the car follows the same line of improved effectiveness. Throwing away the 90 degree constraints of the GTA3 trilogy, Niko taps out the window with the butt of the gun and shoots with a much wider degree of freedom. When holding onto a bumper button Niko shoots wildly, using a thumbstick to guide the reticule where's he's aiming. It's not just restricted to guns however, as one particular mission provided the opportunity to lob some grenades behind us at the chasing cars which showcased the phenomenally powerful explosions that propel the experience.
The second mission, 'Concrete Jungle' took the action inside the drug dealers den without a load screen. Instantaneously sparking a frantic shootout, which as you'd imagine with Niko, his Jamaican friend, and a bunch of gang members armed to the teeth, ensures plenty of action follows... objects fly all over the place and chunks of plaster explode from the walls.
NaturalMotion's Euphoria appears to be the package of choice for developers working on the Xbox 360 and PS3, its physical driven animation immediately creating a next-gen look and feel. We've described at lengths about its visual impact, but what we haven't been able to discover until now is its affect on the actual gameplay. There's a greater sense of controlling Niko as a result: tapping away on the A button to run; launching into a wider range of animations that makes for a more believable experience - you can almost feel the strain when he runs up the stairs. It's not only Niko that benefits from euphoria, as every citizen in Liberty City features the technology, bringing a level of NPC sophistication that we've yet to see in an open-world, free-roaming game.
One particularly noteworthy demonstration of the technology saw an armed thug standing on a balcony, clutching desperately to grab hold of the railings when a well placed RPG sent him flying from his lofty perch. Returning from San Andreas is the ability to hoist Niko across ledges, leaping over small obstacles, and other such strenuous activities. As you'd expect it's been much improved from San Andreas. It feels entirely natural thanks to euphoria and promises to become quite a key element in exploring the dense game world.
Away from the missions, much of our first Hands On was spent cruising around the sights of Liberty City while running amok and causing havoc.
Without a doubt the biggest impression was left by the new Wanted system. Explained in great depth many times before, all we'll say is that it changes the GTA format quite substantially. If you're anything like us, many hours have been lost causing chaos and wracking up the wanted system before attempting a getaway in past GTA titles. Sure, it's nothing but wanton carnage and mindless violence, but it's still damn good fun.
Employing a certain degree of real world logic, the art of getting away has evolved and is one of the major factors in GTA4 rightfully establishing the next-gen GTA formula for others to follow. Ditching the randomness of police chases that characterised the GTA3 trilogy, chases now involve plenty of skill and thought as opposed to blind luck. Attempting to get away from the chasing cops line of sight and move out of the radius of attention indicated on the map requires plenty of sneaky tactics. You'll have to escape into back alleys, switch cars, and drive cautiously away outside the perimeter of attention until the wanted stars fade away. The result is something much closer to what we've seen in many, many movies and easily the biggest improvement that we've seen from GTA4 so far, making those times when Niko's having trouble hotwiring the car seem even more frantic.
Quickly wracking up a four star wanted level showcased the heightened intensity that comes with GTA4. Helicopters quickly appeared overhead and the SWAT vans came out in force. Using precise skills with the sniper rifle it's possible to shoot the armed police in the helicopter, which quickly scooted away once its pilot realised he was a sitting duck. Naturally, with helicopters in the sky and an RPG by Niko's side, the result was massive explosions and hunks of metal crashing down to the ground below.
Beyond the fundamental changes making an appearance in GTA4, the demonstration also provided information on many of the game's further improvements.
We hope Niko's not on a Pay-As-You-Go contract, otherwise there's going to be hefty bills to pay if our short demonstration was anything to go by. Given the A-OK to answer phone calls and do what we wished (with one or two exceptions), calls pop-up frequently (subject to the phone's signal), providing missions and challenges in an organic and thoroughly believable way. We've been told that missions will intersperse with one another in an attempt to lend more dynamism to what was essentially a linear progression in previous GTA titles. Allegedly you'll be free to start another mission whilst you're in the middle of one, however the consequences of doing so could have an impact on what Niko was doing originally. Additionally each of the missions have several scenes of dialogue attached to them, meaning that repeated attempts will feel suitably fresh each time. The result of such a change to the structure of the game is something that will hopefully blur the line between playing GTA sensibly and just having some fun.
In keeping with the move of offering a more realistic experience, items dropped by the various opponents Niko faces now land where they fall. So, if you blow somebody to smithereens with an RPG, expect their weapon to land in another Liberty City district. Employing a subtle glow as opposed to the bright shine in previous titles, Rockstar North's attempt to deliver something much more natural and believable is evident in everything we've seen so far. First aid kits are used to rejuvenate Niko's health, however you won't find these randomly spread across Liberty City as they're restricted to sensible locations, primarily inside buildings.
Let's get a few things clear. There's been some concern that Rockstar North is taking the easy option by returning to Liberty City; rehashing the same old map with nicer textures and next-gen effects. We've played GTA3 and Liberty City Stories till our thumbs bled, so the opportunity to drive from one end of the map to the other (approximately 10-15 minutes) revealed that such fears are completely misguided. Density is the keyword that keeps appearing whenever GTA4 is talked about. The map may not have the scale of San Andreas, but it does have the foreboding mass that you'd expect from a next-gen depiction of New York. As a result we can categorically say that new Liberty City is like an entirely new city. Moving away from the slightly repetitive designs of old Liberty City, the new design features plenty of overpasses, back alleys, and towering skyscrapers - we've never seen a city quite like it.
Presumably the HUD will still undergo something of a change; its minimalist style making it hard to instantly recognise things - or perhaps that's the way they're heading. What we did get a better handle on was the radar and health system, both of which have been integrated into an effective display. Health and armour are now displayed as gauges around the circular map, which helps to eradicate some of the clutter from previous games.
It's easy to realise GTA4 is going to be quite a looker when it arrives in just a couple of months. Just take a look at the trailers: it truly is that impressive and comes at a time when Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 owners are craving for a visually astute title to show more of what's possible. What we didn't quite expect is the insane level of detail Rockstar North has lavished upon the game's sound effects. The customary assortment of radio stations play the range of contemporary tracks from the genres you'd expect from a GTA game - naturally we can't mention specific tracks. What really stands out is the quality of the sound effects: walking past cars in the bustling interpretation of Times Square you can hear the muffled sound of what they're listening to on the radio. We've talked in the past about the cops' dynamic banter when chasing Niko, relaying where they last saw him and providing updates. On top of all this is a phenomenal range of sounds that heighten the sense of immersion. Bullets ricochet off different materials and sound exactly as you'd expect. This helps to dramatise the entire experience when air hisses from shot tires and Niko gets that ring in his ears when he's a little too close to an explosion. Truly the use of sound is shaping up to be as effective and impressive as the visuals.
Of course, there are still questions. We've yet to really see how the friendship dynamic turns out, and whether the need to continually 'entertain' them will get a little tiring. We're also promised that the next hands on opportunity will finally uncover details about the secretive multiplayer mode.
Anonymous
Date Added:Tue 2nd Sep 2008 15:59
Anonymous
Date Added:Wed 27th Aug 2008 12:46
firstmitsukai
Date Added:Wed 20th Aug 2008 20:58
gfh-77
Date Added:Mon 7th Jul 2008 16:14
yep the promotional codes for points and gamer pics no longer works, the codes have now expired even though there's no expiration date. nice one microsoft... [ Read full comment... ]
Anonymous
Date Added:Fri 20th Jun 2008 15:55
randomuser
Date Added:Wed 18th Jun 2008 00:05
Anonymous
Date Added:Tue 17th Jun 2008 01:47
gfh-77
Date Added:Sat 7th Jun 2008 08:10
gfh-77
Date Added:Sat 7th Jun 2008 08:06
Date Added:Tue 20th May 2008 11:56
where the love is the xbox 360 patch aint no update for us just love in Sony n its love in ps3 love dat n sort out 360 as well wiv it goin down in price it will b like all past consoles a flopp its getti... [ Read full comment... ]
Anonymous
Date Added:Fri 6th Jun 2008 20:16