Grand Theft Auto 4

My initial impression of Grand Theft Auto 4 is that yes, it is probably the most well crafted game i have ever played, and yes, it deserves all of the 10s it has received. It's a self contained parody of our culture in America (I include Canada).

What was the first thing i did once the game gave me control, after driving to Nikos' cousin apartment? I watched TV, in a way it was the perfect mood setter for the rest of the game. The show was The Mens Locker room with this gay dude and some extremely violent individual who talked about beating the shit out of other people the entire show while the gay fellow tried to get his segment in about enemas or something. Anyways the television was entertaining enough for me to sit and watch 2 shows(including commercials) before i even walked outside. It was a great mood setter because here is Niko(me), a man who literally just got off the boat, getting his first taste of America (or the parody of America) through television.

The game itself is awesome too, eh.

I mean, when Jeff Gerstmann says: "All those early reviews, where everyone tossed out the highest score they could give, left me scratching my head a bit in the game’s early hours. But I get it now. I understand." you know you've got something special on your hands. The truth is the story has yet to actually capture my attention well, though if what Gerstmann says is true, that will change.